Effective immediately upon adoption of this article, any off-premises outdoor advertising sign situated within the unincorporated areas of Calcasieu Parish, erected along any parish right-of-way, or portion of any state, United States or interstate highway system located in this parish shall be subject to the regulations and standards set out in this article.

(Ord. No. 6143, § II, 12-6-12)

(a)

Off-premises outdoor advertising signs shall be permitted within C-2 (general commercial), C-3 (central business commercial), I-1 (light industrial), I-2 (heavy industrial), I-2R (heavy industrial restricted), and I-3 (hazardous industrial) zoning districts, except as provided for in section 26-57.

(b)

The planning and zoning board may permit zoning exceptions for off-premises outdoor advertising signs in A-1 (agricultural) and C-1 (light commercial) zoning districts.

(c)

The planning and zoning board may permit zoning exceptions for off-premises outdoor advertising signs in R-1 (single-family residential), R-2 (mixed residential), R-M (multi-family residential) and R-MHP (manufactured home park) for churches, schools, low intensive recreational uses, museums and other similar-type uses permitted in the aforementioned zones. Off-premises signs for these type uses shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in size.

(d)

Applications to petition for rezonings or exceptions for properties parallel to Interstate 10 shall only be taken in cases where an owner/lessee is reconstructing an existing billboard parallel to Interstate 10 or where an owner/lessee has removed an existing billboard parallel to Interstate 10 and would like to construct a new billboard in another location parallel to Interstate 10.

(Ord. No. 6143, § II, 12-6-12)

(a)

Roof, "piggy back," i.e., stack signs, side-by-side, multiple-panel signs, and back-to-back signs are hereby prohibited.

(b)

No off-premises advertising structure shall be located or situated in such a manner as to obscure or otherwise physically interfere with the effectiveness of any official traffic sign, signal or device, or obstruct or physically interfere with the driver's view of approaching, merging or interstate traffic.

(c)

No off-premises signs shall be located parallel to Interstate 10 in Sections 3 and 4, Township 11 South, Range 13 West, and Sections 34, 35 and 36, Township 10 South, Range 13 West, and parallel to Interstate 210 in Sections 9, 10, 15 and 16, Township 10 South, Range 9 West, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, other than those currently permitted by the state and parish, which may not be replaced.

(Ord. No. 6143, § II, 12-6-12)

(a)

An off-premises sign must be located within one hundred fifty (150) feet of the highway right-of-way. An off-premises sign must be set back at least five (5) feet from the highway right-of-way. An off-premises sign including the face shall be set back a minimum of ten (10) feet from any structure or building.

(b)

An off-premises sign is not allowed within or nearer than one hundred (100) feet of a residential zoned district abutting the same highway to which the sign is oriented.

(c)

In adjoining or intersecting roadways, the minimum distance between any off-premises sign shall be no less than three hundred (300) feet in any direction from any other off-premises sign.

(Ord. No. 6143, § II, 12-6-12)

(a)

The maximum area of any off-premises sign face shall be eight hundred (800) square feet, with a maximum height of the face of twenty (20) feet and a maximum length of forty-eight (48) feet, including temporary embellishments in size, height and length, inclusive of any border and trim and excluding the base supports or other members, but not to exceed one (1) display panel per sign face.

(b)

The lowest point of any off-premises sign shall extend not less than five (5) feet and the highest point shall extend not more than sixty (60) feet measured from either the ground level at its support or the nearest edge of the main traveled way, whichever is higher in elevation.

(Ord. No. 6143, § II, 12-6-12)

No two (2) off-premises outdoor advertising structures shall be spaced less than seven hundred fifty (750) feet apart where the sign face exceeds two hundred fifty (250) square feet. When the sign face is two hundred fifty (250) square feet or less, the structures shall be spaced no less than five hundred (500) feet apart.

(Ord. No. 6143, § II, 12-6-12)

(a)

An off-premises sign must be located within six hundred sixty (660) feet of the highway right-of-way. An off-premises sign must be set back at least five (5) feet from the highway right-of-way. An off-premises sign, including the face, shall be set back a minimum of ten (10) feet from any structure or building. An off-premises sign, including the face, shall be set back a minimum of ten (10) feet from any structure or building.

(b)

An off-premises sign is not allowed within or nearer than one hundred (100) feet of a residentially-zoned district abutting the same side of the highway to which the sign is oriented.

(c)

An off-premises sign is not allowed within five hundred (500) feet of exit or entrance ramps for interchanges or rest areas.

(Ord. No. 6143, § II, 12-6-12)

(a)

The maximum area of any off-premises sign shall be eight hundred (800) square feet, with a maximum height of the face of twenty (20) feet and maximum face length of forty-eight (48) feet including temporary embellishments in size, height and length, inclusive of any border and trim and excluding the base or supports and other structural members, but not to exceed one (1) display panel per sign face.

(b)

The lowest point of any off-premises sign shall extend not less than ten (10) feet and the highest point of any off-premises sign shall extend not more than sixty (60) feet measured from either the ground level at its supports or the nearest edge of main traveled way of the highway, whichever is higher in elevation.

(Ord. No. 6143, § II, 12-6-12)

No two (2) off-premises outdoor advertising structures shall be placed less than one thousand (1,000) feet apart.

(Ord. No. 6143, § II, 12-6-12)

(a)

An off-premises sign must be located within one hundred (100) feet of the highway right-of-way. An off-premises sign must be back at least five (5) feet from the highway right-of-way. An off-premises sign including the face shall be set back a minimum of ten (10) feet from any structure or building.

(b)

An off-premises sign is not allowed within or nearer than one hundred (100) feet of a residentially zoned district abutting the same highway to which the sign is oriented.

(c)

In adjoining or intersecting roadways, the minimum distance between any off-premises sign shall be no less than three hundred (300) feet in any direction from any other off-premises sign.

(Ord. No. 6143, § II, 12-6-12)

(a)

The maximum area of any off-premises sign shall be three hundred (300) square feet, with a maximum height of the face of twelve (12) feet and a maximum face length of twenty-five (25) feet.

(b)

The lowest point of any off-premises sign shall extend not less than five (5) feet and the highest point of any off-premises sign shall extend not more than forty-five (45) feet measured from either the ground level at its support or the nearest edge of main traveled way of the highway, whichever is higher in elevation.

(Ord. No. 6143, § II, 12-6-12)

No two (2) off-premises outdoor advertising structures shall be placed less than five hundred (500) feet apart.

(Ord. No. 6143, § II, 12-6-12)

Off-premises signs may be illuminated, subject to the following restrictions:

(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.

(2)

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 so as to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed into any portion of the main travel way of the highway system.

(3)

The illumination of any off-premises sign within one hundred (100) feet of a residential zone lot line shall be diffused or indirect in design to prevent direct rays of light from shining into adjoining residential districts.

(Ord. No. 6143, § II, 12-6-12)

(a)

No off-premises sign shall contain more than two (2) faces per structure.

(b)

V-type off-premises signs shall be permitted provided said sign is located on one (1) structure with no more than two (2) supports at an angle which shall not exceed forty-five (45) degrees, and each sign face shall conform to the maximum size limitations as per the roadway classification.

(c)

No off-premises sign shall be erected, placed, or maintained within the triangular area formed by the intersecting roadway pavement lines and a straight line joining said roadway and pavement lines at points which are forty (40) feet from the point of intersection, measured along said roadway/pavement lines.

(d)

Off-premise signs located parallel to Interstate 10 shall be constructed with metal supports only.

(Ord. No. 6143, § II, 12-6-12)

The following signs shall not be allowed to remain or to be erected:

(1)

Signs which are obsolete, including outdoor advertising that has been blank for twelve (12) months, out-of-date political advertising and advertising of defunct businesses, and signs or structures which have been erected without a development permit having been issued.

(2)

Signs which are illegal under state laws or regulations.

(3)

Signs which are not clean and in good repair.

(4)

Signs which are not securely fixed on a substantial structure.

(5)

Signs which attempt or appear to attempt to regulate, warn or direct the movement of traffic or which interfere with, imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal or device.

(6)

Signs which are not consistent with the standards in this section.

(7)

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

(8)

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

(9)

Signs which are nonconforming and damaged or destroyed to an extent of more than sixty (60) percent of fair market value.

(10)

Signs which prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape; or which are attached to a standpipe, fire escape.

(11)

Signs which are erected or maintained upon self-propelled vehicles or trailers designed to be attached to self-propelled vehicles.

(Ord. No. 6143, § II, 12-6-12)

(a)

No off-premises outdoor advertising structure shall be erected, nor shall construction commence thereon, without first obtaining a development permit from the parish office of planning and development.

(b)

The application therefor shall be on a form prepared by said office which shall be uniform and consistent with the provision hereof.

(c)

An inspection fee for an off-premises outdoor advertising sign required hereunder shall be ten dollars ($10.00), which amount must be attached to the application for development permit, in addition to development permit fees. An inspection shall be completed within twenty-four (24) working hours based on a completed application.

(Ord. No. 6143, § II, 12-6-12)

(a)

The director of planning and development, or his designee, is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to enforce all provisions.

(b)

Any sign in violation shall be removed within five (5) calendar days of receipt of a written notification by certified mail, return receipt requested, to be sent by the division of planning and development. If the person owning or responsible for the placement of the sign fails to remove such sign within five (5) calendar days, the director of planning and development may remove the sign at the expense of the owner or responsible party. Any person feeling aggrieved by the receipt of said notice to remove may, within ten (10) calendar days of the receipt of the notice, file an application for appeal directly to the planning and zoning board through the division of planning and development.

(c)

Any person violating any of these provisions shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, shall be punished as provided in section 1-9 of this Code.

(d)

In the absence of just compensation, all legal existing nonconforming signs shall remain subject to the provisions of sections 26-69 and 26-71 hereof. In performing any maintenance or repair required hereunder, the owner/lessee shall not do anything to increase the degree of nonconformity.

(Ord. No. 6143, § II, 12-6-12)

(a)

All off-premises outdoor advertising structures located within the unincorporated areas of Calcasieu Parish shall be registered with the parish office of planning and development within ninety (90) days of the adoption of these provisions.

(b)

The purpose of this registration is to identify those structures which do not conform to these provisions. The registration application shall be on a form prepared by the office of planning and development.

(c)

If the owner fails to register the structure, the director of planning and development may recommend removal of the structure in accordance with section 26-71 above.

(Ord. No. 6143, § II, 12-6-12)