A.

The regulations for each district set forth in this Zoning Code shall be minimum regulations for the promotion of the public health, safety, morals, comfort, convenience, prosperity and general welfare.

B.

No portion of any lot, whether improved or unimproved shall be sold, granted or otherwise divided if such division will cause the lot width, lot frontage, lot area, setbacks, maximum lot coverage, floor area ratio or required open space of any of the resulting parcels to be less than the minimum requirements set forth in this Zoning Code for the particular zoning district in which the property is located.

C.

Where two or more contiguous substandard lots of record or parts of lots of record are in common ownership and are of such size as to constitute at least one conforming zoning lot, such lots of record or portions thereof shall be joined, developed and used jointly for the purpose of forming an effective and conforming zoning lot(s). Such contiguous substandard lots of record in common ownership on the effective date of this zoning code shall be considered jointly thereafter as being a single parcel, lot or zoning lot for the purposes of this zoning code.

D.

Section 7:3.2 of this Code.

(Ord. No. 2024-41, 10-22-2024)

A.

All yards:

1.

Chimneys not more than two feet into a required setback;

2.

Bay windows not more than two feet into a required setback;

3.

Eaves not more than two feet into a required setback;

4.

Gutters and downspouts not extending more than 12 inches from the edge of the eaves;

5.

Basketball poles, hoops and backboards.

B.

Side Yards:

1.

Stairs from a side door not more than three feet into the required setback;

2.

Canopy over a side door entrance not more than three feet into the required setback;

3.

Garages in interior side yards provided there is at least a three foot setback from the Side Lot Line and a five foot setback from the alley, if there is an alley entrance.

C.

Front and corner side yards:

1.

Open, unenclosed porches and stairs not more than eight feet into the required setback;

2.

Enclosed vestibule not more than four feet into the required setback.

D.

Rear Yards:

1.

Swing sets and other similar recreation equipment;

2.

Decks and patios;

3.

Swimming pools;

4.

Accessory structures in accordance with Section 7:3.21. of this Code;

5.

Radio or television poles, towers, or antennae, including satellite dishes.

(Ord. No. 2017-11, 6-3-2017; Ord. No. 2020-23, 7-27-2020; Ord. No. 2024-41, 10-22-2024)

The following regulations shall apply to all home office/occupation and home business uses. A home office/occupation and home business shall only be permissible in accordance with the standards in this section:

A.

Home office/occupation (Sec. 2.3(a)): Means any office use conducted within the home and required to possess an occupational license. Requires administrative review and final decision by the Zoning Administrator.

B.

Minor home business (Sec. 2.3(b)): Requires administrative review by the planning department and final decision by the Planning Commission under the site plan review process.

C.

Major home business (Sec. 2.3(c)): Requires administrative review by the zoning department, a recommendation by the Zoning Commission and final decision by the City Council under the conditional use application process (Sec. 13.7. Conditional uses).

(Ord. No. 2023-24, 8-3-2023)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 2023-24, effective August 3, 2023, repealed the former Appendix 1, Chapter 2, § 2.3, and enacted a new § 2.3 as set out herein. The former § 2.3 pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. No. 2013-29, effective Nov. 12, 2013.

The following standards shall apply to all home office/occupations:

A.

All home office/occupations require an occupational license.

B.

The use of the principal residential structure for a home office/occupation shall be clearly incidental and subordinate to its use for residential purposes by its occupants, and not more than twenty-five (25%) percent of the floor area of the dwelling unit shall be used in the conduct of the home office/occupation.

C.

A home office/occupation shall not be permitted prior to the establishment of a legal residential use in the principal structure.

D.

No person other than a resident of the dwelling may be employed as part of a home office/occupation.

E.

There shall be no change in the outside appearance of the building or premises or other visible evidence of the conduct of such home office/occupation.

F.

No signs shall be permitted.

G.

No home office/occupation shall be conducted in any accessory structure.

H.

No on-site retail sales are allowed.

I.

Commercial vehicle storage and/or parking is prohibited.

J.

No outside storage or display of materials, merchandise, inventory or heavy equipment is permitted.

K.

No traffic shall be generated by such home office/occupation in greater volume than would normally be expected in a residential neighborhood and any need for parking generated by the conduct of such home occupation shall meet the off-street parking requirements in Chapter 16.

L.

No equipment or process shall be used in such home office/occupation that creates noise, vibration, glare, fumes odors or electrical interference detectable to the normal senses off the lot. There shall be no storage of hazardous or toxic materials. In the case of electrical interference, no equipment or process shall be used that creates visual or audible interference in any radio or television receivers off the premises or causes fluctuations in line voltage off the premises.

M.

All/any type of motor vehicle service and repair, taxicab or other vehicle dispatch are prohibited.

(Ord. No. 2023-24, 8-3-2023)

The following standards shall apply to all minor home businesses:

A.

All minor home businesses require site plan review and approval.

B.

All minor home businesses require an occupational license.

C.

A minor home business may employ up to two (2) employees on-site who are not residents.

D.

The use of the principle residential structure for the minor home business shall be clearly incidental and subordinate to its use for residential purposes by its occupants, and no more than twenty-five (25%) percent of the floor area of the dwelling unit shall be used in the conduct of the minor home business.

E.

A minor home business shall not be permitted prior to the establishment of a legal residential use in the principal structure.

F.

There shall be no change in the outside appearance of the building or premises or other visible evidence of the conduct of such minor home business.

G.

No signs shall be permitted.

H.

A minor home business may be operated in an accessory structure provided:

1.

The accessory structure is legally permitted in the zoning district and meets all standards of the zoning ordinance.

2.

A minor home business may not be located in an accessory structure that is legal non-conforming in regards to any standard of this zoning ordinance, unless the accessory structure is specifically granted a variance through the provisions of this ordinance.

3.

A variance for building height, building area, and/or rear yard coverage shall not be allowed for an accessory structure that is used for a minor home business.

I.

No on-site retail sales are allowed.

J.

Equipment storage and/or parking is not allowed in any required yard or in front of the principal structure front building line. No heavy equipment over 15,000 lbs. shall be parked or stored on-site.

K.

No outside display of materials, merchandise, inventory or heavy equipment is permitted.

L.

No traffic shall be generated by such minor home business in greater volume than would normally be expected in a residential neighborhood and any need for parking generated by the conduct of such minor home business shall meet the off-street parking requirements in Chapter 16.

M.

No equipment or process shall be used in such minor home business that creates noise, vibration, glare, fumes odors or electrical interference detectable to the normal senses off the lot. There shall be no storage of hazardous or toxic materials. In the case of electrical interference, no equipment or process shall be used that creates visual or audible interference in any radio or television receivers off the premises or causes fluctuations in line voltage off the premises.

N.

All/any type of motor vehicle service and repair, taxicab or other vehicle dispatch are prohibited.

(Ord. No. 2023-24, 8-3-2023)

The following standards shall apply to all major home businesses:

A.

A Major home business is only allowed in a RA district, and only when approved through the conditional use process (Sec. 13.7. Conditional uses).

B.

All major home businesses require an occupational license.

C.

A major home business may have employees on-site that are not residents.

D.

The use of the principle residential structure for the major home business shall be clearly incidental and subordinate to its use for residential purposes by its occupants, and no more than fifteen (15%) percent of the floor area of the dwelling unit shall be used in the conduct of the major home business.

E.

There shall be no change in the outside appearance of the building or premises or other visible evidence of the conduct of such major home business.

F.

A wall sign is permitted, not to exceed 2 square ft in area, unless specifically allowed as part of a conditional use approval.

G.

A major home business may be operated in an accessory structure provided:

1.

The accessory structure is legally permitted in the zoning district and meets all standards of the zoning ordinance.

2.

A major home business may not be located in an accessory structure that is legal non-conforming in regard to any standard of this zoning ordinance, unless the accessory structure is specifically granted a variance through the provisions of this ordinance.

3.

A variance for building height, building area, and/or rear yard coverage shall not be allowed for an accessory structure that is used for a major home business.

H.

Site Standards for Major Home Business

1.

The property shall meet the minimum bulk regulations for the RA district located in Chapter 12, with the following additional requirements:

a.

Minimum lot size: Two (2) acres.

b.

Minimum side yard setback: Forty (40) feet.

c.

Minimum rear yard setback: Forty (40) feet.

d.

Property shall be accessible from a public street, or a private servitude, only if the servitude is officially recorded on the subdivision plat of record and agreeable maintenance is established by all parties.

2.

Any of part of the site occupied/used by the major home business shall be setback at least thirty (30) feet from any property line.

3.

Buffer required: A minimum twenty (20) feet buffer shall be required on the side and rear property lines and include a wall or fence not less than six feet.

I.

Permissible uses allowed in a major home business: The following uses may be allowed as a major home business:

1.

No on-site retail sales are allowed in conjunction with any of the uses listed in I.2 of this section.

2.

Permissible uses.

a.

Bakery

b.

Rural event venues (only in conjunction with an approved conditional use and current license as specified in the code of ordinances)

c.

Barber shops or beauty parlors (no more than two (2) employees on-site)

d.

Bed and breakfast inns

e.

Bicycle repair

f.

Cabinet manufacturing shops (no more than four (4) employees on-site)

g.

Contractors' office

h.

Dancing and music schools (private lessons only)

i.

Florist

j.

Furniture cleaning shops

k.

Furniture/upholstery repair shops (no more than four (4) employees on-site)

l.

Sports Training Facilities (private lessons only)

m.

Crop and Livestock Research, development and testing

n.

Office

o.

Services businesses (no more than four (4) employees on-site)

p.

Veterinary clinics

J.

Commercial vehicle and equipment storage is not allowed in any required yard or in front of the principal structure front building line. No heavy equipment over 15,000 lbs. shall be parked or stored on-site.

K.

No outside display of materials, merchandise or inventory is permitted.

L.

Any need for parking generated by the conduct of such major home business shall meet the off-street parking requirements in Chapter 16.

M.

No equipment or process shall be used in such major home business that creates noise, vibration, glare, fumes odors or electrical interference detectable to the normal senses off the lot, if the occupation is conducted in a single-family residence or outside the dwelling unit if conducted in other than a single-family residence. There shall be no storage of hazardous or toxic materials. In the case of electrical interference, no equipment or process shall be used that creates visual or audible interference in any radio or television receivers off the premises or causes fluctuations in line voltage off the premises.

N.

Percussive sounds (such as, but not limited to, machinery, tools, and equipment) exceeding 75 DB at the property boundary are not allowed.

1.

All motorized equipment that is permanently mounted or continuously used (such as, but not limited to, dust collectors, air compressors, and other intermittently noisy equipment) shall not be installed or used outside of the building structure except for mobilization.

(Ord. No. 2023-24, 8-3-2023)

A.

Noise. No person shall cause, suffer, allow, or permit the operation of any source of sound on a particular category of property or any public space or right-of-way in such a manner as to create a sound level that exceeds the particular sound level limits set forth in this below when measured at or within the real property line of the receiving property.

Sound levels shall be measured by a duly trained representative of or contractor for the City with a sound level meter and associated octave band filter manufactured according to standards prescribed by the American National Standards Association ("ANSI"). Measurements shall be made using the flat network of the sound level meter. Impulsive type noises shall be subject to the performance standards hereinafter prescribed, provided that such noises shall be capable of being accurately measured with such equipment. Noises capable of being so measured, for the purpose of this Zoning Code, shall be those noises which cause rapid fluctuations of the needle of the sound level meter with a variation of no more than plus or minus two decibels. Noises incapable of being so measured, such as those of an irregular and intermittent nature, shall be controlled so as not to become a nuisance to adjacent uses.

Sound level measurements shall be taken at or within the complainant's property line or no less than 100 feet from the source of the sound, whichever is closer to the source of the sound. Measurements shall be of sufficient number to ensure that the sound levels measured are typical of the source under observation, but in no event should the duration of the test be less than two tests during a five-minute span.

Exemptions. The following are exempt from the sound level limits:

1.

Noise from domestic power tools, lawn mowers, and agricultural equipment when operated with a muffler between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on weekends and legal holidays, provided they produce less than 85 dBa at or within any real property line of a residential property;

2.

Sound from church bells and church chimes when a part of a religious observance or service;

3.

Noise from construction activity provided all motorized equipment used in such activity is equipped with functioning mufflers and, when operated adjacent to residential property, is limited to the hours between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on weekends and legal holidays;

4.

The emission of sound for the purpose of alerting persons to the existence of an emergency;

5.

The emission of sound in the performance of emergency work; or

6.

The emission of sound from municipally sponsored or approved celebrations or events.

Dumpsters. It shall be unlawful for any person to collect, dump or remove any material from any dumpster between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.

B.

Smoke and Particulate Matter. The emission of smoke or particulate matter in such manner or quantity as to endanger or to be detrimental to the public health, safety, comfort or welfare is declared to be a public nuisance and shall henceforth be unlawful.

For the purposes of grading the density of smoke the Ringelmann chart, published and used by the United States Bureau of Mines, shall be employed. The emission of smoke or particulate matter of a density greater than No. 2 on the Ringelmann chart is prohibited at all times, except as otherwise provided hereinafter.

Dust and other types of air pollution, borne by the wind from such sources as storage areas, yards, roads, and the like, within lot boundaries, shall be kept to a minimum by appropriate landscaping, paving, fencing or other acceptable means. Emission of particulate matter from such sources in excess of the weight limitation hereinafter specified is prohibited.

The emission of more than eight smoke units per hour per stack is prohibited, including smoke of a density in excess of Ringelmann No. 2. However, during one one-hour period in each 24 hour day each stack may emit up to 16 smoke units when blowing soot or cleaning fires. Only during fire-cleaning periods, however, shall smoke of Ringelmann No. 3 be permitted, and then for not more than three minutes.

C.

Toxic or Noxious Matter. No use shall, for any period of time, discharge across the boundaries of the lot wherein it is located, toxic or noxious matter in such concentrations as to be detrimental to or endanger the public health, safety, comfort or welfare, or cause injury or damage to property or business.

D.

Odors. The emission of odorous matter in such a quantity as to be readily detectable at any point along lot lines, or as to cause a public nuisance or hazard beyond lot lines is prohibited.

E.

Fire and Explosion Hazard. The storage, utilization, or manufacture of materials or products which are themselves flammable or explosive or which produce flammable or explosive vapors or gases shall comply with National Fire Protection Association 30 (NFPA 30) or such other rules and regulations set forth by the Louisiana State Fire Marshal.

F.

Glare or Heat. Any operation producing intense glare or heat shall be performed within completely enclosed buildings in such a manner as not to create a public nuisance or hazard along lot lines.

G.

Vibration. No industrial operation or activity shall cause at any time ground transmitted vibrations in excess of the limits set forth below. Vibration (the periodic displacement, measured in inches of earth) shall be measured at any point along a residence district boundary line with a three-component measuring instrument commonly accepted in the field, and shall be expressed as displacement in inches.