Bossier City City Zoning Code

9.1.1

The purpose of this article is to:

A.

Promote public health, safety, and welfare through effective, reasonable, content-neutral and nondiscriminatory standards and requirements for the time, place, and manner of off-premise signs.

B.

Improve safety for vehicular and pedestrian travel by regulating placement, density, size, illumination, safety, and potential hazards.

C.

Support an attractive business climate that promotes commerce with the orderly and effective display of off-premise advertising.

D.

Enable identification of destinations and locations.

E.

Protect property values.

F.

Ensure compatibility of off-premise advertising devices with applicable land uses.

G.

Establish standards and requirements for safety and maintenance of off-premise advertising devices.

H.

Effectuate the intent of the U.S. Congress and the Louisiana State Legislature in adopting the Highway Beautification Act and the state version of that law, who, in so acting, have declared that it is in the public interest to regulate and restrict the erection and maintenance of outdoor advertising devices along the interstate and primary highway systems.

9.1.2

These regulations, when properly enforced, will control the locations, size, spacing, illumination and maintenance of all off-premise advertising devices thereby resulting in the overall enhancement of the safety, health and welfare of the citizens residing in the planning limits of the Bossier City-Parish Metropolitan Planning Commission (the "MPC").

(Ord. No. 72-2025, § 12, 7-1-2025)

This article shall apply to "off-premise advertising devices," as herein defined in Article 18. Signs with subject matter relating to the premises (business signs) or signs entirely of a non-commercial nature placed on the premises by the owner or occupant thereof are subject to regulation under article 8 of this Code. All signs located in the public right-of-way are expressly prohibited.

(Ord. No. 72-2025, § 13, 7-1-2025)

9.3.1

No off-premise sign shall be erected, altered, or relocated without first securing a sign location permit from the MPC and a building permit from the Permits and Inspections Department.

9.3.2

Application and approval procedures for construction or modification of an off-premise sign are specified in subsection 3.4.2 of this Code and the Bossier City Code of Ordinances and the Bossier Parish Police Jury Code of Ordinances.

(Ord. No. 72-2025, § 14, 7-1-2025)

The following off-premises signs shall be allowed and shall not require a permit, although they may otherwise be subject to this Code:

9.4.1

A traffic control sign on private property, such as "Stop," "Yield" and similar signs, the face of which meet Traffic Engineering standards and which contain no commercial message of any sort;

9.4.2

Flags of the United States, state flags, municipal flags, flags of foreign nations and any other flag representing a governmental agency. These flags shall not be associated with any commercial message whatsoever.

9.5.1

No new off-premise outdoor advertising device shall be permitted unless it is located adjacent to and oriented toward an interstate highway or otherwise permitted herein as a Residential Message Board, Residential Electronic Message Center, or a Subdivision or Development Entrance Sign.

9.5.2

Approved off-premise outdoor advertising displays, signs or billboards may be constructed, erected and maintained in the commercial and industrial zoned areas listed in this subsection and as further defined by the zoning ordinances of the City and Parish and the respective official zoning maps. Off-premise signs shall be permitted only in the following zoning districts and not in any others: B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, RT, I-1, I-2, A-1, and in Residentially zoned districts when approved and permitted as a Residential Message Board or a Subdivision or Development Entrance Sign.

9.5.3

No property shall be rezoned to one of the specified zoning districts for the sole purpose of allowing the erection of an off-premises advertising device unless the property proposed for rezoning:

A.

Is designated on the adopted Comprehensive Plan for future industrial or business use or at least 25 percent of the perimeter of the property proposed for rezoning abuts land zoned for industrial or business use and has actually been developed for one or more industrial or business uses other than outdoor advertising devices; and

B.

Has contiguous access to a major arterial or Interstate Highway frontage road and is otherwise suitable for industrial or business use, although it is not essential that sewer and water service be immediately available.

9.5.4

Off-premises advertising devices shall be separated from one another and from other specified uses as set forth in Table 9.5.6. Measurements between off-premises signs shall be performed without regard to which side of the street or highway the sign is on, except the Interstate.

9.5.5

For the purpose of these regulations, each side of the interstate system shall be considered separately.

9.5.6

V-type or back-to-back sign surfaces on the same device shall be considered one sign.

Table 9.5.6
Separation Requirements
for Off-Premise Advertising Devices (feet)

9.5.7

Off-premises advertising devices shall be setback from the front property lines on the properties on which they are located by the distances set forth in this paragraph. Setbacks shall be measured from the sign surface. Minimum front yard setbacks shall comply with the requirements of Table 9.5.7.

Table 9.5.7
Required Setbacks for Off-Premises Advertising Devices from Front Property Lines (in feet)

9.5.8

Side and rear minimum setbacks shall be 5 feet.

9.5.9

Where Table 9.5.6 requires a separation from another sign or another use and that separation requirement is greater than the setback requirement under this paragraph, the greater separation requirement shall apply.

9.5.10

No off-premises sign shall be located on or project over a building.

9.5.11

No off-premises sign shall be located in such a manner as to obscure, obstruct, or otherwise physically interfere with the clear or unobstructed view of an official traffic sign, signal, or device, or obstruct or physically interfere with the driver's view of approaching merging or intersecting traffic.

9.5.12

No off-premises outdoor advertising device shall be located within 1,000 feet of the Arthur Ray Teague Parkway.

9.5.13

No off-premises advertising sign larger than 72 square feet, except temporary signs may be built on wooden poles; all other off-premises signs must be constructed on steel beams, metal pipes, or similar material and painted with a neutral or subdued color.

9.5.14

Public transportation benches and transit shelters or similar structures are permitted within the public right-of-way only and must have approval of the Bossier City Council or Bossier Parish Police Jury. Off-premises advertising on the bench or shelter shall not exceed 50% of the surface area.

(Ord. No. 72-2025, §§ 15—18, 7-1-2025)

No off-premises advertising device shall exceed the most restrictive height applicable to it under Table 9.6, subject to the further specific conditions set forth in this section:

Table 9.6
Height Limits for Off-Premises Advertising Devices (in feet)

(Ord. No. 72-2025, § 19, 7-1-2025)

9.7.1

Table 9.7.1 below specifies the maximum permitted sizes for off-premises advertising devices by zoning district.

Table 9.7.1
Size Limits on Off-Premises Advertising Devices, by Zoning District (sizes in square feet)

9.7.2

The maximum area, heights of surface, and length of surface dimensions in the above table are exclusive of any border or trim, the base or supports, and other structural members. For signs in I-1, I-2, A-1, RT, B-3 and B-4 Districts, cut-outs or extensions up to 50 square feet of additional area may be allowed without MPC approval and cut-out from 51 to 150 square feet may be permitted with MPC approval.

9.7.3

When 2 off-premises sign surfaces are placed back-to-back or V-type on the same device with an angle between them of not more than 60 degrees, each side shall conform to the maximum size limitations. No more than 2 sign surfaces are allowed on one device. Two-sided signs must have the same surface area one each side.

9.7.4

Signs and sign faces shall not be stacked; only one sign face is allowed on each side.

9.7.5

The maximum area, heights of surface, and length of surface dimensions in the above table are exclusive of any border or trim, the base or supports, and other structural members.

9.7.6

For purposes of measurement, Electronic Message Centers (EMCs), Trivision technology, or comparable electronic video or animation technology, faces shall be considered to be one face.

(Ord. No. 72-2025, §§ 20, 21, 7-1-2025)

A 5 percent distancing reduction shall be available as a bonus to applicants who choose to landscape non-interstate oriented sign location sites. To be eligible for the distancing reduction, the required landscaping shall be shown on the site plan, and maintenance of such landscaping shall be required as a continuing condition of the permit for the sign. The landscaping shall meet at least the following standards:

9.8.1

Area to be Landscaped. An 8-foot radius around the base of the sign.

9.8.2

Required Plant Materials, Type, Quality and Quantity. Acceptable plant materials include shrubs, grasses, ground covers, and other plants. Note: Landscaped boards accepted under the distance bonus program shall be considered conforming locations.

Signs may be illuminated, subject to the following restrictions:

9.9.1

No revolving or rotating beam or beacon of light that simulates any emergency light or device shall be permitted as part of any sign. Flashing devices shall not be permitted upon a sign except illuminated signs which indicate such customary public service information such as time, date, temperature or other similar information. No flashing sign shall be allowed within 1,000 feet of residential property.

9.9.2

No animated signs, including message center or video boards, shall be allowed within 720 feet of property zoned for residential use from which the sign face can be seen; no animated signs, including message center or video boards, shall be allowed under any circumstances within 500 feet of property zoned for residential use. LED or similar electronic static face signs shall not be closer than 200 feet from residential property as defined in table 9.5.6.

9.9.3

No neon, LED or similar electronic technology signs shall be allowed within the air base buffer-north (A-1) district or within the area designated by Barksdale Air Force Base as the north approach zone (site map and legal description available in the MPC office).

9.9.4

External lighting, such as flood lights, thin line and goose neck reflectors are permitted provided the light source is directed on the face of the sign and is effectively shielded as to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed or reflected onto any portion of the interstate highway or public street. All lighting shall be located below the sign face and directed upward at the sign.

9.9.5

Within the A-1 district and the north approach zone any legal alterations to existing signs shall include conversion of external lighting so that the lights will be located above the sign and directed downward at the sign face. Any new sign location with the A-1 district and north approach zone shall have all external lighting located above the sign and directed downward at the sign face.

9.9.6

Neon Signage and Back-Lit Signage is Permitted Subject to the Same Guidelines as External Lighting.

9.9.7

All internally illuminated signs shall meet the following brightness standards:

A.

No sign shall be brighter than .3 footcandles over ambient lighting conditions and shall have automatic dimming capability. An automatic light sensing device (such as photocell or similar technology) shall be utilized for automatically adjusting the Electronic Message Center brightness.

B.

Brightness measurement shall be taken with a footcandle meter, perpendicular to the sign face from a distance of 200 feet for signs less than 390 square feet in size and 250 feet for all others.

C.

No sign shall be of such intensity or brilliance as to impair the vision of a motor vehicle driver or to otherwise interfere with the driver's operation of a motor vehicle.

D.

No sign shall be of such intensity or brilliance that it interferes with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, device, or signal.

E.

If the MPC receives a nuisance complaint about a sign in violation of this requirement regarding sign illumination, the property owner shall be required to submit a manufacturer's or engineer's report with technical details explaining that it complies with the standards in this section within ten calendar days. If such report is not submitted to the MPC within fourteen (14) calendar days of notification, the sign must be disabled or removed.

(Ord. No. 72-2025, § 22, 7-1-2025)

An Electronic Message Center (also may be known as a "Digital Sign") that uses computer-generated messages or some other electronic means of changing the display face of the sign as defined in Sec. 18 shall be allowed only on signs that are in nonresidential zoning districts or are approved and permitted in residentially zoned districts under Sec. 9.12, subject to the following:

9.10.1

An Electronic Message Center shall not exceed the size limitations of other signs permitted in the zoning district as described in Section 9.7.1 Permitted Signs.

9.10.2

Display shall comply with the following: Displayed copy shall not be animated, blinking, chasing, flashing, or have other moving effects. This provision shall not restrict the copy from changing from one message to another.

A.

Each message shall be displayed for a minimum of 8 seconds.

B.

Changes of message shall be accomplished within two seconds.

C.

Changes of message shall occur simultaneously on the entire sign face.

D.

No flashing, dimming, or brightening of message shall be permitted except to accommodate changes of message.

E.

If an electronic message center sign malfunctions, fails, or ceases to operate in its usual or normal programmed manner, causing motion, movement, flashing or any similar effects then the sign display shall cease and must be disabled.

F.

Sign owner or manager shall provide to the MPC current or updated emergency contact information of two representatives available throughout the life of the sign.

G.

The MPC may require electronic message center signs to be turned off at night during late evening and early morning hours if determined by the MPC to be a nuisance during such non-daylight hours.

9.10.3

Applications for new Electronic Message Center signage or changing an existing sign to an Electronic Message Center, in all locations except Residential Electronic Message Centers approved under Sec. 9.12 shall be issued only if the applicant agrees in writing to remove one or more existing off-premise signs, including the poles, with a total area of two times the square footage of the sign face or faces to be approved, altered or upgraded.

For example: an off-premise sign with a sign face area of 300 square feet may be upgraded if one or more signs, including the sign poles, that have a sign face area of at least 600 square feet, are removed from the MPC jurisdiction. For the purpose of upgrading to LED or other electronic technology, each sign face shall be treated separately. Any additional square footage, greater than the require amount that is removed, may be credited toward future sign face conversions. Approval shall follow the same process as a new sign location and the location and square footage of signs to be removed shall be included in the application package.

(Ord. No. 72-2025, §§ 23, 24, 7-1-2025)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 72-2025, §§ 23—26, adopted July 1, 2025, added new §§ 9.10—9.12, and §§ 27—31 of said ordinance then renumbered the former §§ 9.10—9.14 as §§ 9.13—9.17.

A Residential Message Board integrated with a well-designed monument sign can complement a neighborhood while providing targeted information quickly to residents. Monument signs draw attention and make an immediate impression of stability and neighborhood identity by harmonizing with the surrounding environment and architecture. Typical messages displayed on a Residential Message Board may include meeting schedules, HOA dues, school or other special events. Sponsorship messages are addressed in 9.12.

9.11.1

Design submittals for neighborhood message boards must consider key elements for protection of affected homeowners:

A.

Preservation of neighborhood character: and,

B.

Aesthetic compatibility with neighborhood residences; and,

C.

Safety standards for vehicular and pedestrian traffic; and,

D.

Property value protection for homeowners.

9.11.2

Each eligible neighborhood may apply for one residential message board, which may be either:

1.

Permanent changeable copy sign, or

2.

Electronic message center

9.11.3

Eligible neighborhoods. Residentially zoned neighborhoods eligible to apply for a Residential Message Board are:

A.

Subdivisions or multiple subdivision units, containing at least 100 buildable residential lots within the boundary of the application area, and which has an active home owners association (HOA); or,

B.

Approved Neighborhood Conservation Conditional Use Overlay Districts as provided in Sec. 5.7.2 of the UDC; or,

C.

Planned Unit Developments as provided in Article 11; or,

D.

A neighborhood area established by Resolution of the Bossier City Council or Bossier Parish Police Jury for the purposes of this Section.

9.11.4

Application for Residential Message Board. Application for a Residential Message Board shall include the following:

A.

Application submission requirements of Sec. 3.4.2 of the Unified Development Code.

B.

Agreement of property owners within the boundaries of the neighborhood making the application shall be evidenced by one of the following:

1.

Legal documents demonstrating to the satisfaction of the City or Parish Attorney that an HOA board or HOA representative has been delegated authority to file the application on behalf of the neighborhood, and, if approved, to install and operate the Residential Message Board on behalf of the applicable neighborhood; or,

2.

Inclusion within application for a Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District; or,

3.

Inclusion within an application for a new Planned Unit Development or modification to an existing, approved Planned Unit Development.

4.

For those neighborhoods as provided in Subsection 9.11.3.D, petitions signed by a majority of resident property owners within the eligible area is required. Petitions must state the purpose of the application and contain the signature, date, and legibly printed or typed name and address.

C.

Deed, lease, or written agreement from the property owner allowing the Residential Message Board to be permanently installed on the property.

D.

Emergency contact information for the Residential Message Board manager and at least one alternate.

E.

Applications for Electronic Message Centers shall also contain a written description of plans for emergency disconnection of power to the sign.

F.

Where applicable, electrical plans from a licensed electrician.

9.11.5

Residential Message Board Location.

1.

Residential Message Board shall be located on common area or privately owned property (with evidence of permission provided) outside the public right-of-way; and,

2.

Shall not impede vehicular or pedestrian traffic; and,

3.

Shall not be located within a sight triangle; and,

4.

Shall not supersede any covenants or private agreements; and,

5.

Shall not be located on a lot with a residence or on a lot intended for a residence.

9.11.6

Residential Message Board Construction. Residential Message Boards shall be monument signs designed to complement the materials and architecture of the surrounding residential construction and shall be of the highest design and construction standards for protection of the property values, aesthetics, sustainability, and quality of life of the neighborhood residents. Standards include:

1.

Maximum size of Display Portion: 32 square feet

2.

Maximum height: 6 feet

3.

Minimum standards:

(a)

The sign base must be brick, stone, masonry, or other compatible, durable material.

(b)

The monument sign panel must be framed by columns or pilasters with a minimum width of 6 inches.

(c)

Durable materials such as solid material background with metal letters, aluminum panels, or routed wood must be used for the sign panel.

4.

Names commemorating contributions or dates may be added to metal plaques installed on the bottom portion of the monument sign. Plaque size and placement shall be diagramed in the sign application construction plans for approval by the MPC. Plaques must be securely attached to the monument sign. Manner of attachment of plaques may allow for removal, replacement, or rotation as desired by the sign manager, provided the plaques do not exceed the design location approved by the MPC.

9.11.7

Residential Message Board Landscaping.

A.

Plant material landscaping shall cover a minimum radius of 2 feet around the base of the Neighborhood Message Center monument sign.

B.

Landscaping shall be maintained in good condition and kept free of trash and weeds.

(Ord. No. 72-2025, § 25, 7-1-2025)

Editor's note— See editor's note for § 9.10.

A.

In addition to the provisions of this subsection, the subsections shall apply:

Sec. 9.9 Lighting

Sec. 9.10 Electronic Message Center

Sec. 9.11 Residential Message Boards

B.

The electronic display portion of the sign shall not exceed 32 square feet nor shall the electronic display portion exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total monument sign area..

C.

A minimum of the upper twenty percent (20%) of the monument sign shall not include an electronic display component

D.

Message sponsorships for a fee may be available to resident property owners. 75% or more of the message must be non-commercial and of community interest, such as notices, messages, reminders, or announcements of general interest. Text identifying the name of the sponsor may occupy up to 25% of the message.

E.

Display shall include a minimum of one public service announcement of general interest at least one time weekly. Examples of such announcements include missing person alerts, safety advisories, traffic information.

(Ord. No. 72-2025, § 26, 7-1-2025)

Editor's note— See editor's note for § 9.10.

Temporary signs containing no commercial message and related to an election or other event or matter of public interest may be erected in any zoning district of the City or Parish but not within the public right-of-way. Such signs shall not exceed nine square feet in residential districts. For the purposes of this paragraph, "temporary signs" shall refer to those described in Article 18.

(Ord. No. 72-2025, § 27, 7-1-2025)

Editor's note— See editor's note for § 9.10.

The following signs or sign components shall not be permitted to remain or be erected as a part of an off-premise sign:

9.14.1

Any sign that copies or imitates an official sign or purports to have official status;

9.14.2

Beacons;

9.14.3

Windblown devices;

9.14.4

Pennants;

9.14.5

Portable signs, excluding temporary off-premise signs allowed by Sec. 9.10. Prohibited portable signs include snipe signs and any sign that is not securely fixed on a substantial structure, securely connected to the ground in such a way that it cannot easily be moved from one location to another, including skid mounted, trailer mounted signs, or mobile billboards;

9.14.6

Any sign attached to an accessory structure, except an incidental sign, if such sign is legible from the public right-of-way or from other property;

9.14.7

Any other attention-attracting device, except for those conforming to the dimensional, design, lighting and other standards applicable to a sign in the same location;

9.14.8

Any sign and its supporting structures, which is obsolete or abandoned, including any sign which does not have 100 percent of the sign surface fully covered with a promotional panel for a continuous period of six months;

9.14.9

Any sign which is illegal under state laws or regulations;

9.14.10

Signs which are erected or maintained upon trees or painted or drawn upon rocks or other natural features;

9.14.11

Signs located on public property, unless placed thereon under lease arrangements or otherwise permitted by legal authority;

9.14.12

Signs which contain statements, words, or pictures of an obscene nature as defined by law;

9.14.13

Signs which contain as part of the message mirror-like surfaces (note: one-inch reflective discs that do not cover more than five percent of the sign surface and produce no traffic impeding glare will be permitted);

9.14.14

Signs which are constructed so as to periodically change the direction toward which any place containing the sign surface area is oriented; and

9.14.15

Signs which emit smoke, vapor, particles, or odor.

(Ord. No. 72-2025, § 28, 7-1-2025)

Editor's note— See editor's note for § 9.10.

9.15.1

Construction Standards. All off-premise signs shall be designed, constructed and maintained in accordance with the following standards:

A.

All signs shall comply with applicable provisions of the City or Parish building code.

B.

All wiring to new signs and existing signs that are being upgraded shall be placed underground. Electric signs that have internal wiring or lighting equipment, and external lighting equipment that directs lights on signs, shall not be erected or installed until an electrical permit has been obtained from the appropriate Building Official. Signs and their installation shall conform to applicable construction and electrical codes. All wiring to electric signs or to freestanding equipment that lights a sign shall be installed underground, unless a hardship variance is approved by the MPC. All electric signs shall have a power disconnect switch located either on the exterior of the sign or accessible through an operable cover, and shall be labeled with a sticker or other notice on the exterior of the sign to indicate the voltage and amperage of electrical circuits connected to the sign.

C.

Except for permitted banners, flags, temporary signs and window signs conforming in all respects with the requirements of this article, all signs shall be constructed of permanent materials and shall be attached to the ground, a building or another structure by direct attachment to a wall, frame or structure.

9.15.2

Backs of Signs. Visible backs of signs shall be suitably painted or otherwise covered to present a neat and clean appearance.

9.15.3

Maintenance Standards. All signs shall be maintained in good structural condition, in compliance with all building and electrical codes, and in conformance with this Code. Specifically:

A.

A sign shall have no more than 20 percent of its surface area covered with disfigured, cracked, ripped or peeling paint, poster paper or other material for a period of more than 30 successive days.

B.

A sign shall not stand with bent or broken sign facing, with broken supports, with loose appendages or struts, or more than 15 degrees from vertical for a period of more than ten successive days.

C.

A sign shall not have weeds, trees, vines, or other vegetation growing upon it, or obscuring the view of the sign from the public right-of-way from which it is to be viewed, for a period of more than 30 successive days.

D.

An internally illuminated sign shall be allowed to stand with only partial illumination for a period of no more than 30 successive days.

9.15.4

Signs in A-1 or A-2 Airbase Buffer District. In addition to meeting the above standards, any sign constructed in the A-1 district must also meet regulations set forth by the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Air Force.

(Ord. No. 72-2025, § 29, 7-1-2025)

Editor's note— See editor's note for § 9.10.

Nonconforming off-premise signs shall comply with the requirements specified in Section 7.6 of this Code.

(Ord. No. 72-2025, § 30, 7-1-2025)

Editor's note— See editor's note for § 9.10.

In the event of eminent domain, the relocation of an existing sign on the same land parcel shall follow the same approval procedures of section 3.4.2 of this Code. The new location shall meet all requirements of this article.

(Ord. No. 72-2025, § 31, 7-1-2025)

Editor's note— See editor's note for § 9.10.