The following rules of interpretation shall apply to the text of this zoning ordinance:

(1)

The particular controls the general.

(2)

In the case of any difference in the meaning or implication between the text of this zoning ordinance and any caption or illustration, the text controls.

(3)

"Shall" is always mandatory and not discriminatory.

(4)

Words used in the present tense include the future; and words used in the singular include the plural, and the plural the singular, unless the context clearly states the contrary.

(5)

A "building" or "structure" includes any part thereof.

(6)

"Person" includes an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an incorporated association or any other similar entity.

(7)

Unless the context clearly indicates the contrary, where a regulation involves two (2) or more items, conditions, provisions or events connected by the conjunction "and" or "or", the following shall apply:

a.

"And" indicates that all the connected items, conditions, provisions or events shall apply.

b.

"Or" indicates that the connected items, conditions, provisions or events may apply singularly or in any combination.

(8)

Terms not defined in this ordinance have the meaning customarily assigned to them, or a meaning to be assigned by a designee of the City of Monroe.

(Ord. No. 11,443, 11-12-13)

For the purpose of these regulations, these terms and words are hereby defined:

Abandonment: (Also see discontinuance.) The cessation of the use of a property or of a particular use for at least twelve (12) months, or a sign that remains without bona fide advertising or which is located on a property that becomes vacant or unoccupied for more than six (6) months.

Accessory dwelling unit: A self-contained residential unit, considered subordinate to the principal use, and built on the same lot as an existing single-family home.

Accessory structure: A building or structure attached or detached from, but located on the same lot as, the principal structure and the use of which is clearly incidental and subordinate to the principal structure.

Accessory use: A use that is customarily incidental and subordinate to the principal use, and which is located on the same lot as the principal use.

Addition or enlargement: Any construction that increases the size of a building or structure in terms of site coverage, height, length, width or floor area.

Adult use: Any business as defined by Louisiana Revised Statute (LA R.S.) 14:106A, including adult bookstores, adult motion picture theaters, adult mini-motion picture theaters, adult live entertainment businesses, adult nightclubs or massage businesses. These uses are further defined in (LA R.S.) 14:106 and subsection 37-92(a) of this ordinance. However, those massage businesses where all employees associated with massage meet the ethical and educational requirements specified by the American Massage Therapy Association, or equivalent national or state standards, are exempt from this definition.

Airport: Facilities for the takeoff and landing of aircraft, including runways, aircraft storage buildings, helicopter pads, air traffic control facilities, informational facilities and devices, terminal buildings, airport-related uses; and airport auxiliary facilities, including fences, lighting and antennae systems, on-premises signs, driveways, and access roads. This term includes aircraft maintenance facilities, aviation instruction facilities, and heliports when part of a larger airport facility.

Airport-related use: A use or activity whose purpose or function is primarily or partially dependent on location or access to the operations of an airport and whose functions are necessary for the daily operations and economic viability of a full-service commercial airport.

Alcohol beverage sales: The sale of beer, wine, or other alcoholic beverages for on- or off-premises consumption.

Alcohol beverage sales, off-premises: The retail sale of alcoholic beverages in the original manufacturer sealed and labeled container in a business such as a grocery store, convenience store or liquor store for consumption off site.

Alcohol beverage sales, on premises: The sale of beer, wine, or other alcoholic beverages as the primary activity (e.g., bars, taverns, etc.) or as an incidental or secondary activity to another primary business activity (e.g., full-service or specialty restaurants, hotels, banquet halls) for consumption on site.

Alley: A dedicated right-of-way twenty (20) feet or less in width that affords only a secondary means of access to property abutting thereon.

Alteration: Any change, addition or modification in construction, use or occupancy.

Animal shelter: A facility that is used to house or contain animals and is owned, operated, or maintained by a government or nonprofit organization for the purpose of providing temporary kenneling and finding permanent adoptive homes for animals.

Applicant: Any person, firm or corporation requesting approval of any land use, development or improvement application, or similar entitlement regulated by the City of Monroe Municipal Code.

Application: The completed form(s) and all accompanying documents, exhibits and fees required of an applicant by the applicable department, board or commission of the City of Monroe for development review, approval or permitting process.

Appurtenance: An architectural feature of a structure that is higher than the adjacent portion of the structure, such as a chimney, cupola, spire or parapet wall.

Art gallery: An establishment engaged in the sale, loan, or display of art books, paintings, sculpture, or other works of art. This clarification does not include libraries, museums, or non-commercial art galleries.

Arts studio: An educational facility where classes in the various arts (e.g., dance, painting, sculpting, singing) are taught to four (4) or more persons at a time.

Attic: The finished or unfinished space of a building that is immediately below and wholly or partly within the roof framing.

Automobile/vehicle dealership: An establishment that sells or leases new or used, functional automobiles, trucks, vans, trailers, recreational vehicles, boats, motorcycles or other motorized transportation vehicles. An automobile/vehicle dealership may contain an inventory of the vehicles for sale or lease either on site or at a nearby location, and may provide on-site facilities for the repair and service of the vehicles sold or leased by the dealership.

Automobile rental/leasing establishment: Rental of automobiles, light trucks and vans, including incidental parking and servicing of vehicles for rent or lease. Typical uses include auto rental agencies, moving vehicle rental, and taxi-cab dispatch areas.

Automotive repair, major: An establishment primarily engaging in the repair or maintenance of motor vehicles, trailers and similar large mechanical equipment, including paint, body and fender, and major engine and engine part overhaul, which is conducted within a completely enclosed building.

Automotive repair, minor: An establishment primarily engaging in the repair or maintenance of motor vehicles, trailers and similar large mechanical equipment, including brake, muffler, upholstery work, tire repair and change, lubrication, tune-ups, and transmission work, which is conducted within a completely enclosed building.

Awning: A roof-like cover, often of fabric, metal or glass, designed and intended for protection from the weather or a decorative embellishment, and that projects from a wall or roof of a structure over a window, walk or door.

Banquet hall: (See also reception hall) An establishment that is rented by individuals or groups to accommodate private functions including, but not limited to, banquets, weddings and other celebrations, which may also include on-site kitchen/catering facilities. The sale of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption may only occur during scheduled events and is not open to the general public.

Bar: An establishment serving alcoholic beverages in which the principal business is the sale of such beverages for consumption on the premises. Snack food or other prepared food may be available for consumption on the premises as an accessory use only. No sales of alcohol for off-premises consumption are permitted. A bar may include a microbrewery on-site as an accessory use only.

Base flood elevation: The elevation, expressed in feet above mean sea level, to which flooding has a one per cent chance of equaling or exceeding that level in any given year.

Bed and breakfast: An owner-occupied residential structure that provides up to seven (7) sleeping rooms for overnight paid occupancy for a period not to exceed fourteen (14) days. Common bathroom facilities may be provided rather than private bathrooms for each room, however no cooking facilities are permitted in individual rooms. Limited social functions may be allowed, as regulated in subsection 37-92(b) of this ordinance.

Bingo hall: A facility used primarily for the conduct of manual or electronic video bingo games, open to the public and not in a subsidiary nature to another use.

Block: A parcel of land within a subdivision or development, which is bounded by streets or bounded by streets and the exterior boundary of the subdivision. For this definition, an alley is not considered a street but part of the block.

Blockface: The portion of a block or tract of land facing the same side of a single street and lying between the closest intersecting streets.

Board of adjustment: The term "board of adjustment" shall mean the Monroe Board of Adjustment created under LA.R.S. 33:4727 et seq., which shall have the powers provided for by Louisiana law to hear and decide appeals where it is alleged there is error in any order, requirement, decision, or determination made by an administrative official; and to grant variances where there are practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships in carrying out the strict letter of this ordinance and as may be provided for in this chapter 37 zoning of the City of Monroe Code of Ordinances.

Boardinghouse: A building where, for compensation and by prearrangement for definite periods, meals or lodging are provided for five (5) or more persons.

Boardwalk: An elevated public pedestrian connection constructed over a public street or along a waterfront.

Boathouse: A single-story structure consisting of posts and a roof, with or without walls, connected to either a dock or ground in a body of water, constructed for boat storage or related marine use only. The term "boat house" includes the anchoring system and any walkways or bridges that connect to the structure.

Brewpub: A restaurant that includes the brewing of beer as an accessory use. The brewing operation processes water, malt, hops, and yeast into beer or ale by mashing, cooking, and fermenting. The area used for brewing, including bottling and kegging, shall not exceed twenty-five (25) per cent of the total floor area of the commercial space. The brewery shall not produce more than one thousand five hundred (1,500) barrels of beer or ale per year.

Buffer: An area established in order to protect and separate one land use from another, which may include landscaping, fencing or other buffering materials.

Buildable area: The area of a lot remaining after the minimum yard and open space requirements of the zoning ordinance have been met.

Building Any structure, either temporary or permanent, having a roof and designed, intended or used for the sheltering or protection of persons, animals, or property of any kind.

Building, main or principal: A building in which is conducted the principal use of the lot on which it is situated. A dwelling shall be deemed to be the main building on the lot in all residential districts.

Building, temporary: A building that serves as office or storage for a given period of time. A temporary building may only remain on the site for six (6) months and is not permitted to serve as a residence at any time.

Building frontage: The linear dimension of the facade of a building that abuts the required front yard as stipulated in this ordinance. A corner building is permitted to use the secondary facade to determine building frontage.

Building inspector: A person employed by the City of Monroe who is charged with the administration and enforcement of building codes.

Building integrated solar energy system: A solar energy system that is an integral part of a principal or accessory building, rather than a separate mechanical device, replacing or substituting for an architectural or structural component of the building. Building integrated systems include but are not limited to photovoltaic or hot water systems that are contained within roofing materials, windows, walls, skylights, and awnings.

Building mounted solar energy system: A solar energy system affixed to a principal or accessory building.

Canopy: A roofed structure constructed of fabric or other material supported by the building or by support extending to the ground directly under the canopy placed so as to extend outward from the building providing a protective shield for doors, windows and other openings.

Cargo containers: A cargo container is an industrial, standardized reusable metal vessel that was originally, specifically, or formerly designed for or used in the packing, shipping, movement or transportation of freight, articles, goods or commodities by commercial trucks, trains and/or ships. A cargo container modified in a manner that would preclude future use by a commercial transportation entity shall be considered a cargo container for the purpose of this article.

Cargo terminal: A transportation facility in which quantities of goods or container cargo are stored without undergoing any manufacturing processes, transferred to other carriers, or stored outdoors in order to transfer them to other locations.

Carnival: (see also fair) A temporary outdoor event, with rides, animal events, art shows, concerts, craft fairs, itinerant shows and/or religious revival meetings, which is located outside of permanent structures and has a duration of no more than ten (10) days in a month.

Carport: An accessory structure consisting of a canopy or shed attached or adjacent to the main structure and open on two (2) or more sides for the purpose of providing shelter for one or more vehicles.

Carwash: A commercial establishment engaged in the washing and cleaning of passenger vehicles, recreational vehicles or other light dirty equipment, whether automatic in an enclosed structure or by hand.

Cemetery: Land used or dedicated for the burial of the dead, including crematoriums, columbariums, mausoleums and necessary sales and maintenance facilities. Mortuaries and chapels may be included when operated within the boundary of said cemetery.

Certificate of occupancy: A document issued by the director of planning and zoning allowing the occupancy or use of a building and certifying that the structure, use, and/or site have been constructed, installed, or will be used in compliance with all applicable codes and ordinances.

Check cashing facility: (See also pay-day loan agency) An establishment that is not a bank or financial institution subject to federal or state regulation, and that charges either a flat fee or a fee based on a per centage of the face value of a check to be cashed or processed by such establishment, and provides such services to the public.

Children's residential facility: (See also residential care facility) A building, other than an apartment, hotel, small or large group home, providing temporary lodging and board and a special program of specialized care and counseling on a full-time basis for twelve (12) or more children who are displaced from their normal living environment. A children's residential facility must be licensed by an agency of the State of Louisiana as a children's residential or similar care facility, and shall be operated by an entity that is similarly licensed by the State of Louisiana.

Church: (Also see house of worship) A building where persons regularly assemble for religious worship and which is maintained and controlled by a religious body organized to sustain religious expression, together with all accessory buildings and uses customarily associated with such primary purpose.

City: The City of Monroe, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana.

City council: The chief legislative body of the City of Monroe, Louisiana.

Clubhouse: The principal building associated with a golf course, tennis club, or similar recreational facility that typically contains the pro shop, administrative offices, exercise facilities and locker rooms, golf cart storage and maintenance, and may also contain food and beverage services, including public meeting and banquet rooms and related facilities.

Columbarium: An accessory structure or building and substantially exposed above ground, intended to be used for the interment of the cremated remains of deceased persons or animals. Columbaria shall be considered accessory uses to cemeteries or houses of worship.

Common structure: An accessory structure, such as a carport, laundry, gazebo or recreational facility used by more than one resident in a multi-family development or manufactured housing development.

Community center: A facility to be used as a place of meeting, recreation, adult training or social activity, and not operated for profit, which is open to the community and designed to accommodate the surrounding neighborhood or the larger community.

Community garden: Neighborhood-based developments that provide space for community members to grow plants for beautification, education, recreation, community distribution or personal use. These sites shall be owned and managed by public or civic entities, non-profit organizations, or other community-based organizations that are responsible for maintenance and operations.

Concept plan: A generalized plan drawn to scale for development of property requested to be zoned as a planned unit development and that identifies the following: the use of the property; the intensity of the uses expressed in number and type of dwelling units, gross square feet in commercial, industrial or other uses; general location and size of proposed buildings; streets and roadways within and adjacent to the property; access points, parking areas, and the number of spaces; open space to be preserved and open space to be created; general vegetation; legal description; total acreage; graphic scale; and north point.

Conditional use: A use that, because of special requirements or characteristics, may be allowed in a particular zoning district only after review by the planning commission and granting of a conditional use permit imposing such conditions as necessary to make the use harmonious or compatible with neighboring uses, as outlined in article IX of this ordinance.

Construction: Any act or process that requires a building permit and that adds an addition onto an existing building or erects a new principal or accessory structure on a lot which is subject to the design standards, the provisions of chapter 13 (drainage and flood control), or chapter 33 (storm water quality) of the City of Monroe Code of Ordinances for the district in which the property is located.

Construction, commencement: The physical improvement of land in accordance with a permit issued by the building inspector of the City of Monroe, such as the pouring of slabs or footings or any work beyond the stage of excavation or the first permanent framing or assembly of the structure or any part thereof on its piling or foundation when a structure is without a basement or poured footings.

Construction, substantial completion: The date at which the work or building project, or a designated portion of the work or building project is sufficiently complete, in accordance with the construction contract documents, so that the owner may use or occupy the work or building project, or designated portion thereof, for the intended use for which it is originally designed and intended for. This would include the completion of all life safety systems, a weather-tight envelope, and adequate protection of building occupants and or equipment from hazards posed by additional or possible construction activities or other potential harmful conditions that may exist or become evident during the final work effort to complete the project per the construction contract documents. This date is then certified by the architect to the owner or client. From this date a number of other provisions are started such as warranty, guaranties and liabilities.

Contractor storage yard: Any land or buildings used primarily for the storage of equipment, vehicles, machinery, or other building materials or construction contractor in the conduct of any building trade or craft.

Condominium: A single-dwelling unit in a multiunit dwelling or structure, that is separately owned and may be combined with an undivided interest in the common areas and facilities of the property.

Convalescent center: A facility that provides nursing services and temporary custodial care on a 24-hour basis for persons suffering from illness, other than mental illness, which is not of sufficient severity to require hospitalization, or persons requiring further institutional care after being discharged from a hospital other than a mental hospital.

Correctional facility: A public or privately-operated facility for the detention, confinement, treatment or rehabilitation of persons arrested or convicted for the violation of civil or criminal law. Such facilities include adult detention centers, juvenile delinquency centers, jails or prisons.

Craft brewery: A commercial facility that produces fermented malt beverages on site in quantities from 0 to 465,000 gallons (15,000 barrels) per year. If more than 15,000 barrels per year are produced, it will be considered light manufacturing. The facility may include an accessory tasting room where customers can taste samples of the products manufactured on-site and purchase related sales items. A maximum of 10% of production can be sold in the tasting room and any sale of alcohol in the tasting room or otherwise in the facility which is manufactured outside the facility is prohibited. The tasting room may only be open three (3) days a week with minimum hours of operation.

A craft brewery does not include restaurants with accessory brewing facilities or microbreweries.

Crematorium: An accessory use within a cemetery or mortuary containing properly installed, certified apparatus intended for use in the act of cremation.

Day: When used in this ordinance, day shall mean one business day.

Day care center, adult: A facility where, for a portion of a twenty-four (24) hour day, functionally-impaired adults that are not related to the owner or operator of the facility are supervised or participate in a training program. This excludes alcohol and drug abuse clientele, former inmates of prisons or correctional institutions or former patients of mental institutions who have been found not guilty by reason of insanity. An adult day care center does not include adult day care homes.

(1)

Day care center, small: Up to fifteen (15) adults;

(2)

Day care center, large: Sixteen (16) to fifty (50) adults;

(3)

Day care center, commercial: Fifty-one (51) or more adults.

Day care center, child: A facility where, for a portion of a twenty-four (24) hour day, supervision and guidance of children that are not related to the owner or operator of the facility is provided on a regular basis. A child day care center does not include a child day care home.

(1)

Day care center, small: Up to fifteen (15) children;

(2)

Day care center, large: Sixteen (16) to fifty (50) children;

(3)

Day care center, commercial: Fifty-one (51) or more children.

Day care home, adult; A private home in which a permanent occupant provides care for the elderly and/or functionally impaired adults in a protective setting for less than twenty-four (24) hours per day. This excludes alcohol and drug abuse clientele, former inmates of prisons or correctional institutions or former patients of mental institutions who have been found not guilty by reason of insanity.

(1)

Day care home, small: Up to five (5) adults,

(2)

Day care home, large: Six (6) to twelve (12) adults.

Day care home, child; A private home in which a permanent occupant provides care for children from outside households in a protective setting for less than twenty-four (24) hours per day. The number counted includes the family's natural or adopted children and all other persons under the age of twelve (12). A child day care home does not include homes that receive children from a single household.

(1)

Day care home, small: Up to five (5) children,

(2)

Day care home, large: Six (6) [to] twelve (12) children.

Day shelter: A facility operated by an organization or non-profit group that provides a place for indigent, needy, homeless or transient persons to wash and dry clothes, take showers; use the computer or other similar activities during the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. May include offices for social agencies and may provide meals.

Dedicate/dedication: The intentional appropriation or conveyance of land or an interest in land by the property owner to the city for public use.

Demolition by neglect: The destruction of a building through abandonment or lack of maintenance.

Density: The number of dwelling units that are allowed on an area of land, which area of land shall be permitted to include dedicated streets contained within the development.

Design standards: Specific criteria and limitations placed on development and uses that are intended to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.

Designee: Person or persons designated by the mayor and/or department head to check, review and comment on all submissions regarding their nonconformance to these regulations.

Detention/retention pond: (Also known as bio-retention pond) A man-made basin designed to protect against flooding by storing storm water for a limited period of time.

Development agreement: An agreement between a developer and the City of Monroe that clearly establishes the developer 's responsibility regarding project phasing, the provision of public and private facilities, improvements and any other mutually agreed to terms and requirements.

Development: The act of installing site improvements, building structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavating, drilling or other activity on improved or unimproved real estate.

Development plan: A generalized plan that becomes part of the zoning for a property. The plan depicts site characteristics and development information and provides guidance for site plans.

Diameter breast height (DBH): The diameter of a tree trunk or the cumulative diameter of multiple trunks measured four and one-half (4.5) feet above natural grade.

Digital flood insurance rate map (DFIRM): An official map of the community, on which the Administrator of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has delineated both the special flood hazard areas and the risk premium zones applicable to the community.

Discontinuance: (Also see abandonment) The abandonment of a property or of a particular use for a period of at least twelve (12) months. The determination of discontinuance for non-conforming uses or structures shall be supported by evidence, satisfactory to the planning and zoning division (e.g., the actual removal of equipment, furniture, machinery, structures, or other components of the non-conforming use and not replaced, the turning off of the previously connected utilities, or where there are no business receipts/records or any necessary licenses available to provide evidence that the use is in continual operation).

Dock: A wharf or a row of piers with no enclosed buildings or roofs, where boats can be moored, loaded, etc., including "U" shaped or other shaped structures.

Dormitory: A structure specifically designed for the long-term stay by students of a college, university or non-profit organization, for the purpose of providing rooms for sleeping purposes. A common kitchen and common gathering rooms for social purposes may also be provided.

Drainage plan: A plan showing proposed site drainage features for controlling storm water runoff and conveying it to public outfalls. A drainage plan shall also include runoff calculations and storm water pollution control (as needed) for engineering review, evidence that the drainage plan has been submitted to and reviewed by the storm water drainage authority with jurisdiction over the site, and that the drainage plan and storm water pollution control plan (as needed) has been approved by said authority.

Drive-through establishment: Premises used to provide or dispense products or services through an attendant, window or automated machine to persons remaining in their vehicle. A drive-through facility may be in combination with other uses such as a "financial institution," a "retail goods establishment" or "restaurant." A "car wash," "gas station" or "motor vehicle service and repair" shall not be considered a drive-through facility.

Driveway: A private accessway, not classified as a street, road or highway, the use of which is limited to persons residing, employed, or otherwise using or visiting the parcel in which it is located.

Dwelling: Any structure or portion thereof, which is designed or used for residential purposes.

Dwelling, multi-family: A building or portion thereof designed for occupancy by three (3) or more families living independently in which they may or may not share common entrances and/or other spaces. Individual dwelling units may be owned as condominiums, or offered for rent.

Dwelling, single-family: An individual dwelling unit in a structure, which is not physically connected with any other dwelling unit.

Dwelling, townhouse: A building on its own separate lot of record containing one dwelling unit that occupies space from the ground to the roof, and that is attached to one or more other townhouse dwelling units by at least one common wall.

Dwelling, two-family: A building designed or arranged to be occupied by two (2) families living independently, with the structure having only two (2) dwelling units.

Dwelling, zero lot line: Single-family dwellings arranged on individual lots as either detached structures with one or more side walls on a side property line.

Dwelling unit: Any room or group of rooms located within a structure forming a single habitable unit with facilities which are used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking, eating and sanitation by one family.

Easement: The right, granted by the property owner, to use a portion of a parcel of land for specified purposes, such as public utilities, drainage and other public purposes, the title of which shall remain with the property owner, subject to the right of use designated in the reservation of the easement (See servitude).

Eave: The projecting sides of a roof overhanging the wall of a building.

Educational facilities: (Also see schools) Any building or part thereof that is designed, constructed, or used for education or instruction in any branch of knowledge.

Educational facility, college/university: A post-secondary institution for higher learning that grants associate or bachelor degrees. The institution may also have research facilities and/or professional schools that grant master and doctoral degrees. This also includes post-secondary theological schools for training ministers, priests or rabbis.

Educational facility, elementary: A public, private or parochial school offering instruction at the elementary, middle and/or junior high school level. Religious facilities with elementary educational facilities shall be considered educational facilities, elementary.

Educational facility, secondary: A public, private or parochial school offering instruction at the senior high school level. This also includes secondary schools for training ministers, priests or rabbis. Religious facilities with secondary educational facilities shall be classified as educational facilities, secondary.

Educational facility, vocational school: A school established to provide for the teaching of industrial, clerical, computer, managerial, automotive, repair (electrical, plumbing, carpentry, etc.) or artistic skills; or a school conducted as a commercial or non-profit enterprise, such as a driving school, an adult training facility, or school for general education development. This definition applies to schools that are owned and operated privately and that do not offer a complete educational curriculum. Vocational educational facilities do not include university educational facilities.

Elderly housing: A facility consisting of three (3) or more dwelling units, the occupancy of which is limited to persons sixty (60) years of age or older. The facility may also include medical facilities or care.

Elderly housing, assisted living: A model of senior housing that provides a combination of residential quarters, supportive services, personalized assistance, 24-hour supervision, and health care. These facilities generally provide basic services such as laundry, light housekeeping, communal meals, and health-related services in an independent residential environment.

Elderly housing, continuing care community: Housing planned and operated to provide a continuum of accommodations and services for seniors including, but not limited to, independent living, congregate housing, assisted living, and skilled nursing care.

Elderly housing, nursing home: A facility designed and intended to provide nursing service on a continuing basis to persons, the majority of whom require such service under trained professional nurses or physicians, and for whom medical records are maintained. The term "nursing home" shall include post-operative convalescent centers but shall not include any facility used for providing service to any inmate of any prison or other correctional institution.

Elderly housing, retirement housing: A residential complex containing multi-family dwellings designed for and principally occupied by senior citizens. Such facilities may include a congregate meals program in a common dining area, but excludes institutional care such as medical or nursing care and are distinguished from assisted living centers as elsewhere defined.

Electric theft deterrent device: A free-standing, electric security fence installed inside an existing perimeter fence. This security fence issues a pulsating, short duration shock lasting only three-ten-thousandths (3/10,000) of a second. Attempts to climb or cut the fence will trigger an immediate audible alarm.

Emergency homeless shelter: (See also transitional housing) A facility that provides temporary or transitional shelter for the homeless in general or for specific populations of the homeless.

Emergency services: Publicly-owned safety and emergency services, such as, but not limited to, fire stations, police stations, and emergency medical and ambulance service.

Enclosed structure: A building enclosed by a permanent roof and by solid exterior walls pierced only by windows and customary entrance and exit doors.

Enclosure: The process of enclosing a previously open, or partially open, accessory structure or architectural feature adjacent to the front, rear or side of the principal structure with a roof or walls, or other screened or framed enclosure.

Encroachment: The extension or placement of any structure or component of a structure into a required yard, setback, street right-of-way, or floodplain/floodway.

Facade: The exterior wall of a building exposed to public view or that wall viewed by persons not within the building.

Fair: (see also carnival) A temporary outdoor event, with rides, animal events, art shows, concerts, craft fairs, itinerant shows and/or religious revival meetings, which is located outside of permanent structures and has a duration of no more than ten (10) days in a month.

Family: One or more persons related by blood, marriage, adoption or guardianship, the occupants of a community or group home for mentally or physically challenged individuals or not more than four (4) persons not so related occupying a dwelling unit and living as a single housekeeping unit shall be considered a family. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, this definition does not include individuals required to be assembled under one living unit for the purpose of drug or substance abuse rehabilitation or persons assigned to same as the result of criminal activity.

Family violence shelter: (See also residential care center) A program or facility that provides comprehensive residential and/or non-residential services to victims of family violence. A family violence shelter must be licensed by an agency of the State of Louisiana as such, and shall be operated by an entity that is similarly licensed by the State of Louisiana.

Farmer's market: The seasonal selling or offering for sale at retail of vegetables or produce, flowers, orchard products, and animal agricultural products, occurring in a pre-designated area, where the vendors are individuals who have raised the vegetables or produce or have taken the same on consignment for retail sale. (Includes vendors selling non-agricultural products as well.)

Fence: An artificially constructed barrier of wood, masonry, stone, wire, ornamental iron or other material erected to enclose, screen or separate uses. A fence may or may not include a gate, but a gate does not include a fence.

Financial institution: A bank, savings and loan, credit union, mortgage office, or automated teller machine (ATM).

Floodplain: The special flood hazard lands adjoining a watercourse, whose surface elevation is lower than the base flood elevation, that are subject to periodic inundation during floods.

Floodway; The channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the 100-year flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than one foot at any point determined by FEMA.

Floor area: The sum of the gross horizontal areas of the several floors of the main building but not including the area of roofed porches, terraces, or breezeways. All dimensions shall be measured between exterior faces of the walls.

Footcandle: A footcandle is a measure of light intensity. A footcandle is defined as the amount of light received by one square foot of a surface that is one foot from a point source of light equivalent to one candle of a certain type.

Foundation, permanent: A full, poured concrete or masonry foundation, or any foundation which, pursuant to the building code of the City of Monroe, is permitted for single-family dwellings.

Fraternity: A club or social activity officially associated with and recognized by and supervised by an institution for higher education whose membership is limited exclusively to students of said institution.

Fraternity house: A building used as a group living quarter for students of a college, university or seminary, who are members of a fraternity that has been officially recognized by the related college, university or seminary.

Freestanding solar energy system: A solar energy system with a supporting framework that is placed on, or anchored in, the ground and that is independent of any building or other structure.

Frontage: That portion of a lot abutting a street right-of-way measured along the property line of the public right-of-way and the private property.

Funeral home: (Also see mortuary) An establishment in which the dead are prepared for burial or cremation. The facility shall be permitted to include a chapel for the conduct of funeral services and spaces for funeral services and informal gatherings, and/or display of funeral equipment.

Gaming: The dealing, operating, carrying on, conducting, or maintaining for pay of any game.

Garage: An enclosed structure that is an accessory use to a dwelling unit that is used for the parking and storage of vehicles owned and operated by the residents thereof, and is not a separate commercial enterprise available to the general public.

Gas station: A business where flammable or combustible liquids or gases used as fuel for motor vehicles are stored and dispersed from fixed equipment into the tanks of motor vehicles. Accessory activities shall be permitted to include automotive repair and maintenance, car wash service, and food sales.

Gate: An opening in a fence. An artificial barrier capable of being opened and closed, permitting or denying access across a driveway or path.

Gated community: A limited access subdivision with privately owned streets and maintained infrastructure.

Government facility: A building or structure owned, operated or occupied by a governmental agency to provide a governmental service to the public, and shall include public works and public safety facilities.

Grade: The average level of the surface of the ground adjacent to the exterior walls of a building.

Grade, finished: The final elevation of the average ground surface adjoining a building at all exterior walls after man-made alterations, such as grading, grubbing, filling or excavating.

Grade, natural: The existing grade or elevation of the ground surface that exists or existed prior to man-made alterations, such as grading, grubbing, filling or excavating.

Group home or community home: A single-family residential structure, licensed by the State of Louisiana, designed or adapted for occupancy by unrelated developmentally disabled persons, not including alcohol and drug abuse clientele, former inmates of prisons or correctional institutions, or former patients of mental illness institutions who have been found not guilty of a criminal charge by reasons of insanity shall be excluded as occupants.

Group or community home (small): A small, residential facility located within a community, designed to serve children or adults with chronic disabilities. Small group homes may have six (6) or fewer occupants who are mentally, physically or developmentally disabled, and one or more resident counselors/trained caregivers on staff twenty-four (24) hours a day. A small group home must be licensed by an agency of the State of Louisiana, the political subdivision, and/or a state-licensed child placement agency, as a group home, receiving home, or similar care facility.

Group or community home (large): A residential facility located within a community, designed to serve children or adults with chronic disabilities. Large group homes may have twelve (12) or fewer occupants who are mentally, physically or developmentally disabled, and two (2) or more resident counselors/trained caregivers on staff twenty-four (24) hours a day. A large group home must be licensed by an agency of the State of Louisiana and/or a state-licensed child placement agency, as a group home, receiving home, or similar care facility.

Gross floor area: The total area of all the floors of a building, including intermediately floored tiers, mezzanine, basements, etc., as measured from the exterior surfaces of the outside walls of the building.

Halfway house, penal: A licensed home for inmates on release from more restrictive custodial confinement or initially placed in lieu of such more restrictive custodial confinement, wherein supervision, rehabilitation and counseling are provided to mainstream residents back into society, enabling them to live independently. A halfway house must be licensed by an agency of the State of Louisiana as a halfway house or similar facility, and shall be operated by an entity that is similarly licensed by the State of Louisiana.

Hazardous waste: A waste, or combination of wastes, regulated by Title 33, Part V of the Louisiana Environmental Regulatory Code (LAC 33.V), which because of its quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical or infectious characteristics may do either of the following:

(1)

Cause or significantly contribute to an increase in mortality or increase or serious irreversible or incapacitating reversible illness;

(2)

Pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of or otherwise managed.

Hazardous waste disposal facility: All structures, appurtenances and improvements on the land used for treatment, storage or disposing of hazardous waste, including all operations or storing areas, diked overflows, or emergency spillway areas. A hazardous waste disposal facility may consist of several treatment, storage or disposal operational units; it includes all areas where hazardous waste may be received, stored, handled or processed.

Hazardous waste incinerator; An enclosed device using controlled flame combustion, where the primary purpose of which is to thermally break down hazardous waste.

Hazardous waste processing facility: Any commercial facility, as defined by LAC 33.V § 106, that treats or stores hazardous waste generated on properties other than those on which the processing facilities are located.

Hazardous waste storage: Any environmentally sound facility used to store hazardous waste for a temporary period as regulated by LAC 33.V.

Hazardous waste treatment: The physical, chemical or biological processing of any hazardous waste so as to neutralize such waste or so as to render such waste nonhazardous, safer for transport, amenable for recovery, amenable for storage, or reduced in volume.

Heavy sales, rental and service: This use includes retail, rental and/or service establishments that have permanent outdoor service or storage yards, or partially enclosed structures including, but not limited to, large-scale home improvement centers with outdoor storage and rental components, lumberyards, playground equipment sales and rental, truck repair establishments, and uses with permanent outdoor service or storage areas for heavy equipment such as truck rental establishments, large-scale moving centers, and temporary storage container facilities.

Height: The vertical distance of a structure measured from the finished grade to the roofline. No height limitation in this ordinance shall apply to any of the following structures: silos, barns and other agricultural structures; church spires; cupolas; domes; monuments; water towers; smoke stacks; derricks; flag poles; masts; solar energy facilities; air conditioning equipment; elevator penthouses and similar structures required to be placed above the roof level and not intended for human occupancy.

Heritage preservation commission: The term "heritage preservation commission" shall mean the Monroe Heritage Preservation Commission created under Monroe Chapter 18.5-26, which shall have the powers to review and approve or deny requests for exterior alterations to structures in designated historic districts as provided for by Louisiana law and as may be provided for in this chapter 37, zoning of the City of Monroe Code of Ordinances.

Home occupation: A business, profession, occupation or trade conducted within the principle structure of a residential use by a resident of the dwelling which is incidental and secondary to the residential use of the dwelling, does not change the essentially residential character of the use, and which complies with the requirements of (subsection 37-92(g)) home occupations.

Homeless shelter: A facility providing temporary housing to indigent, needy, homeless, or transient persons; may also provide ancillary services such as counseling, vocational training. Such assistance may include food and/or shelter and may, in addition, include religious instruction. Such shelters shall not provide lodging on a regular basis and shall not provide shelter for the same individuals.

Hospital: An institution designed for the diagnosis, treatment and care of human illness or infirmity and providing health services, primarily for inpatients, and including as related facilities, laboratories, outpatient departments, training facilities and staff offices. A hospital may also include accessory uses such as "retail goods establishments" and "restaurants," provided that such facilities are incidental and subordinate to the main use and part of the main structure.

Hotel or motel: An establishment providing, for a fee, sleeping accommodations and temporary living accommodations to the general public. Related ancillary uses may include, but shall not be limited to, conference and meeting rooms, restaurants and recreational facilities.

House of worship: (Also see church) A building where persons regularly assemble for religious worship and which is maintained and controlled by a religious body organized to sustain religious expression, together with all accessory buildings and uses customarily associated with such primary purpose.

House of worship, small: A place of religious worship having four hundred (400) or fewer seats or no more than eight thousand (8,000) square feet of total gross floor area.

House of worship, large: A place of religious worship having more than four hundred (400) seats or eight thousand (8,000) square feet of total gross floor area.

House of worship, mega: A large, specialized type of house of worship that includes such non-traditional accessory uses as retail sales, residential uses, amusement parks, and/or sports and entertainment facilities, as an integrated part of the development.

Hydrostatic force: Standing water or slowly moving water that can induce horizontal force (collapse) or vertical force (flotation) against a structure when floodwater levels on different sides of a wall are not equal.

Independent living facility: A multi-family dwelling for persons with physical or developmental disabilities. Units may be comprised of efficiency, one, two (2) or more bedrooms with three (3) or more bedroom units restricted to occupancy by families comprised of at least one person with a disability. Each unit shall contain a kitchen and a bath. Related ancillary uses may include a congregate dining facility, community space, laundry facilities, small administrative offices, management staff residential quarters and/or storage. These facilities are generally developed and operated by non-profit organizations, and services may vary with the target population but could include case management, training in independent living skills, and employment assistance.

Intensity: Relative measure of development impact as defined by characteristics such as the number of dwelling units, amount of traffic generated, and amount of site coverage. To alter the character of a use to the extent that the use generates new or different impacts to the surrounding neighborhood constitutes an intensification of use.

Junkyard: A tract of land, including any accessory structure thereon, that is used for buying, selling, storing, baling, packing, disassembling, or handling waste or scrap materials. Such scrap materials include vehicles, machinery, and equipment not in operable condition, and metals, glass, paper, plastics, rags, and rubber tires. A lot on which three (3) or more inoperable vehicles are stored shall be deemed a junkyard.

Kennel: Any premises, except where accessory to an agricultural use, where domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, are boarded, trained, or bred.

Laboratory: A facility for scientific laboratory analysis of natural resources, medical resources, and manufactured materials. The scientific analysis is generally performed for an outside customer, to support the work of that customer. This category includes environmental laboratories for the analysis of air, water, and soil; medical or veterinary laboratories for the analysis of blood, tissue, or other human medical or animal products; and forensic laboratories for analysis of evidence in support of law enforcement agencies.

Landscape plan: Shall mean the preparation of graphic and written criteria, specifications, and detailed plans to arrange and modify the effects of natural features such as planting ground and water forms, circulation, walks and other features to comply with the provisions of this ordinance.

Landscaping: The installation of plant material or seed as a part of development.

Light trespass: The shining of light produced by a luminaire beyond the boundaries of the property on which it is located. The shining of light produced by a luminaire beyond the boundaries of the property on which it is located.

Line of sight clearance area: The triangular area formed by the lines extending from any corner of a corner lot adjacent to two (2) intersecting streets to a distance of twenty (20) feet along both property lines from the corner (constituting two (2) sides); and the diagonal connecting such lines (constituting the third side).

Live entertainment venue: An establishment for the presentation of live performances, including musical acts (including karaoke), theatrical plays or acts (including stand-up comedy and magic), revues, dance acts, or any combination thereof, performed by one (1) or more persons, whether or not they are compensated for the performance.

Loading space: A space within a main building on the same lot as a main building, providing for the standing, loading or unloading of trucks.

Lot: A designated parcel, tract or area of land established by plat, subdivision or as otherwise permitted by law, to be separated owned, used, developed or built upon.

Lot area: The total area within the lot lines of a lot, excluding any street rights-of-way.

Lot, corner: A lot or parcel of land abutting two (2) or more streets at their intersection or on two (2) parts of the same street forming an interior angle of less than one hundred thirty-five (135) degrees.

Lot coverage: The area of the lot covered by a structure or impervious surfaces.

Lot depth: The horizontal distance between the front and rear lot lines.

Lot, through: A lot having frontage on two (2) approximately parallel streets or places.

Lot, interior: A lot other than a corner lot.

Lot lines: The lines bounding a lot as defined below:

Front lot line: The line separating the lot from the street on the narrow side. Where no method determines conclusively the front of the lot, the planning and zoning director or his/her designee shall select one frontage on the basis of traffic flow on adjacent streets, so that the lot is considered to front on the street with the greatest traffic flow.

Rear lot line: The line opposite and most distant from the front lot line. In the case of a triangle or otherwise irregularly shaped lot, a line ten (10) feet in length entirely within the lot, parallel to and at a maximum distance from the front lot line.

Side lot line: A lot line other than the front or rear lot line.

Lot of record: A lot that exists as shown or described on a plat or deed as recorded in the Office of the Clerk of Courts of Ouachita Parish.

Lot width: The distance parallel to the front lot line measured between side lot lines.

Maintenance/repair services: An establishment providing appliance repair, office machine repair, or building maintenance services. This use does not include the maintenance and repair of vehicles.

Manufacturing, heavy: The assembly or fabrication of goods and materials, which may include the storage of large volumes of highly flammable or toxic matter. Heavy manufacturing processes ordinarily have greater impacts than average impacts on the environment, or that ordinarily have significant impacts on the use and enjoyment of adjacent property in terms of noise, smoke, fumes, odors, glare or health and safety hazards.

Manufacturing, light: The manufacturing from previously prepared materials of finished products or parts, including processing, fabrication, assembly, treatment and packaging of such products, and incidental storage, sales and distribution such products, providing all industrial activities are contained entirely within a building and noise, odor, smoke, heat, glare and vibration resulting from the industrial activity are confined within the building.

Marina: A facility for the storage, servicing, fueling, berthing and securing of boats, including eating and retail facilities.

Medical/dental clinic: A facility operated by one or more physicians, dentists, chiropractors, psychiatrists or other licensed health care practitioners for the examination and treatment of persons where neither meals nor lodging are provided.

Medical evacuation heliport: A public or private use helicopter landing area for the transport of persons in need of emergency medical care; the transport of patients needing specialized treatment; or the emergency transport of organs, blood, medicine, or medical equipment.

Metes and bounds: A system of describing and identifying land by measures (metes) and direction (bounds) from an identifiable point of reference such as a monument or other marker, the corner of intersecting streets, or, in rural areas, a tree or other permanent feature. It is the most precise of the three (3) most common forms of urban land description (the others are by street number of house and by blocks and lots in tract subdivision).

Microbrewery: A facility for the production and packaging of malt beverages of low alcoholic content for distribution, retail, or wholesale, on or off premises, with a capacity of not more than fifteen thousand (15,000) barrels per year. The development may include other uses such as a standard restaurant, bar or live entertainment as otherwise permitted in the zoning district.

Mini warehouse: A structure that rents individual compartments for the purpose of storing personal property. and complies with the supplementary use standards set forth in section 37-92(n). Individual compartments shall not exceed three hundred fifty (350) square feet.

Mixed-use: A tract of land or building or structure developed for two (2) or more different uses such as, but not limited to, residential, office, manufacturing, retail, public, or entertainment.

Mobile food truck: A double-axle vehicle that is completely mobile with no permanent fixed location, the vendor of which prepares all or most of its victuals on-board the vehicle to serve or distribute to its customers, in a form suitable for immediate ingestion or consumption. This definition excludes vendors selling only fresh, uncooked, or unprepared produce or seafood, or farmers selling their own produce or value-added products (oils, jams, jellies, etc.) directly to customers from their vehicles. Vendors selling only fresh, uncooked, or unprepared produce or seafood, or farmers selling their own produce or value added products (oils, jams, jellies, etc.) shall be regulated by the City Code.

Mortuary: (Also see funeral home) An establishment in which the dead are prepared for burial or cremation. The facility shall be permitted to include a chapel for the conduct of funeral services and spaces for funeral services and informal gatherings, and/or display of funeral equipment.

Non-conforming lot of record: A lot, the area, dimensions or location of which was lawful prior to the adoption, revision or amendment of the zoning ordinance but that fails by reason of such adoption, revision or amendment to conform to the present requirements of the zoning district.

Non-conforming structure: A structure or building, the size, dimensions or location of which was lawful prior to the adoption, revision or amendment of the zoning ordinance but that fails by reason of such adoption, revision or amendment to conform to the present requirements of the zoning district.

Non-conforming use: Any use of any land, building or structure, which was lawful prior to the adoption, revision or amendment of the zoning ordinance but that fails by reason of such adoption, revision or amendment to conform to the present requirements of the zoning district.

Office: A room or group of rooms used for conducting the affairs of a business, profession, service, industry or government and generally furnished with desks, tables, files and communication equipment.

Open space: That part of a lot, including all yards, which is open and unobstructed from grade level upward and is not occupied by off-street parking, streets, drives, or other surfaces for vehicles.

Outdoor storage yard: The storage of any material, as a principal use of the lot, or for a period of more than twenty-four (24) hours, including items for sale, lease, processing and repair not in an enclosed structure. Items within an outdoor storage yard must be owned or leased by the owner of the storage yard.

Owner/proprietor dwelling: Structures or spaces within a structure that are used jointly for commercial/industrial and residential purposes where the residential use is principally used by one or more of the commercial/industrial tenants.

Parapet wall: That portion of the wall that extends above the roofline.

Parcel:

(1)

A piece or area of land formally described and recorded with block and lot numbers, by metes and bounds, by ownership or in such a manner as to specifically identify the dimensions and/or boundaries;

(2)

informally, as land in general.

Parish: Ouachita Parish, Louisiana.

Parking lot: An open, hard-surfaced area, other than a street or public way, used for the storage of operable passenger motor vehicles for limited periods of time. Parking may be available for residents, visitors, employees, clients, customers or similar users whether for compensation or at no charge.

Parking space, automobile: A space within a building, private or public parking lot for the parking of an automobile.

Parking lot, commercial: A tract of land that is used for the storage of motor vehicles, that is not accessory to any other use on the same or any other lot, and that contains parking spaces rented to the general public or reserved for individuals by the hour, day, week, or month.

Parking structure: A structure or portion thereof composed of one or more levels or floors used exclusively for the parking or storage of motor vehicles. A parking structure may be totally below grade (as in an underground parking garage) or either partially or totally above grade with these levels being either open or enclosed.

Parks/playgrounds: A facility designed to serve the recreational needs of the residents of the community, and shall include but not be limited to, ball fields, basketball courts, skateboard parks, playgrounds and field house which may have indoor recreation facilities.

Party wall: A wall starting from the foundation and extending continuously through all stories to or above the roof that separates one building from another, but is in joint use by each building.

Passenger terminal: A facility or location where the principal use is the handling, receiving, and transfer of passenger traffic, and may include as an accessory use the loading, unloading, storing, receiving, assembling, dispatching, weighing, consolidating, classifying, switching, distribution, movement, or transfer of freight, as well as all equipment and facilities used to accomplish the foregoing activities.

Pay-day loan agency: (See also check cashing facility) An establishment providing loans to individuals in exchange for personal checks as collateral.

Pedestrian connection: A continuous, unobstructed, reasonably direct route between two (2) points that is intended and suitable for pedestrian use. Pedestrian connections include but are not limited to sidewalks, walkways, accessways, stairways, and pedestrian bridges.

Penthouse, mechanical: An enclosed structure above the roof of a building, other than a roof structure or bulkhead, that shelters mechanical equipment or vertical shaft openings in a roof.

Permitted use: A use meeting all of the requirements established by this ordinance for the district in which the use is located.

Person: An individual, corporation, public agency, business, trust, partnership, association, two (2) or more persons having a joint or common interest, or any other legal entity.

Personal services establishment: An establishment or place of business primarily engaged in the provision of frequent or recurrent services of a personal nature. Typical uses include, but are not limited to, beauty shops, barbershops, tanning salons, massage parlors, health club/gym, shoe repair, personal item repair shops, laundromats, dry cleaners, and tailors. Personal services establishments shall not include any adult uses.

Pet care facility: A facility designed for the indoor temporary housing and non-veterinary care of domestic pets such as dogs and cats. The facility shall include individual rooming units, but not the breeding or raising of household pets or animals.

Pet day care: A facility designed for the temporary and non-veterinary care of domestic pets such as dogs and cats. The pets shall be kept for a limited time (no more than twelve (12) hours) and the facility may also provide on-site grooming and training. This shall not include the breeding or raising of household pets or animals.

Pet grooming: An establishment providing services for domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, that may include bathing, clipping, or grooming for which a fee is charged.

Photovoltaic (PV): A semiconductor based device that converts light directly into electricity.

Planned unit development (PUD): A residential, commercial or mixed-use development guided by a total design plan in which one or more of the zoning or subdivision regulations, other than use regulations, shall be permitted to be waived or varied to allow flexibility and creativity in site and building design and location, in accordance with general guidelines.

Planning and zoning director: A person who is responsible for reviewing and providing recommendations on all zoning, rezoning, subdivision, re-subdivision, variance, and appeals requests to the city planning commission, the historic preservation commission and/or the board of adjustment.

Planning commission: The term "planning commission" shall mean the Monroe Planning Commission created under LA.R.S. 33:101 et seq., which shall have the powers to develop the master plan and administer the zoning map and ordinance as provided for by Louisiana law and as may be provided for in this chapter 37, zoning, of the City of Monroe Code of Ordinances.

Plat: A map representing a tract of land, showing the boundaries and location or individual properties and streets; or a map of a subdivision or a site plan.

Prefabricated housing: Any housing with structural or mechanical components manufactured and assembled away from the construction site. For purposes of this definition, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Manufactured housing: Dwelling units constructed primarily at a plant or facility on a production line basis and delivered to the site as an assembled unit or in modular form. Manufactured housing specifically refers to housing built to 42 U.S.C. Sec. 5403 Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Mobile home: Prefabricated trailer-type housing units that are semi-permanently attached to land, either the owner's fee land or leasehold. A mobile home is a moveable or portable structure designed and constructed on its own chassis and intended for connection to utilities for year-round occupancy as a dwelling. Any dwelling unit that qualifies as a manufactured or modular home according to the definitions herein is not considered a mobile home. Furthermore, a travel trailer is not considered a mobile home. Mobile homes may be single wide, no older that ten (10) years and only in a planned manufacture home community.

Manufactured home community: A unified development of two (2) or more manufactured home sites, plots or stands, arranged on a large tract usually under single ownership, meeting the area and yard requirements of this article, and designed to accommodate manufactured homes for a more or less permanent duration. Such term may include travel trailer accommodations, provided that no more than twenty-five (25) per cent of the park is used for such purpose.

Modular home: Modular homes are houses divided into multiple modules or sections, which are manufactured in a remote facility and delivered to their intended site of use. The modules are then assembled on a permanent foundation without a permanent chassis, into a single residential building. Unlike other prefabricated construction, modular homes conform to all state, local and regional codes (International Building Code standards) where the structure is to be located.

Manufactured housing sales lot: A facility for the display, service, and retail sale of manufactured housing or preassembled storage buildings.

Travel trailer: A vehicular, portable structure built on a chassis, designed to be used as a temporary dwelling and may be hauled along a highway.

Prefabricated commercial structure: Any building with structural or mechanical components manufactured and assembled away from the construction site and intended for commercial use.

Principal building: A structure in which the primary use of the lot on which the building is located is conducted.

Principal use: The primary use and chief purpose of a lot or structure.

Property line: The lines forming the boundary of a lot, whether those lines are determined by metes and bounds, single lot or combination of lots or portions of lots of record.

Public buildings and facilities: Any building used exclusively for public purposes by any department or branch of government.

Public improvement: Any drainage ditch, storm sewer or drainage facility, sanitary sewer, water main, roadway, parkway, sidewalk, pedestrian way, off-street parking area, lot improvement or other facility for which the local government may ultimately assume the responsibility for maintenance and operation, or for which the local government responsibility is established.

Public use: Any use operated by an agency of government which provides a direct service to the public including police, fire, library, schools (whether operated by a public body or not) and recreational services.

Public utility station: A structure or facility used by a public or quasi-public agency to store, distribute, and/or generate electricity, gas telecommunications and related equipment, or to pump or chemically treat water. This does not include storage or treatment of sewage, solid waste or hazardous waste.

Quasi-public: Essentially a public use, although under private ownership or control.

Quorum: A majority of the appointed board members of a board or commission for the transaction of all business. Any time the full body shall fall below the number of members of a full board or commission, a majority of the sworn members shall constitute a quorum.

Rail yard: An area of land and structures, a portion of which is covered by a system of tracks, that provides for the making up of trains by one or more railroads or private industry concerns. Necessary functions of a rail yard include but are not limited to the classifying, switching, storing, assembling, distributing, consolidating, moving, repairing, weighing, or transferring of cars, trains, engines, locomotives, and rolling stock.

Reception hall: (See also banquet hall) An establishment that is rented by individuals or groups to accommodate private functions including, but not limited to, banquets, weddings and other celebrations, which may also include on-site kitchen/catering facilities. The sale of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption may only occur during scheduled events and is not open to the general public.

Recreational facilities: Any facility that provides recreational opportunities such as tennis courts, health clubs or golf courses.

Recreational facilities, indoor: A commercial establishment providing completely enclosed recreation activities. Accessory uses shall be permitted to include the preparation and serving of food and/or sale of equipment related to the enclosed uses. Included in this definition shall be archery, bowling, roller-skating or ice-skating, billiards, swimming pools, rifle ranges, and related amusements.

Recreational facilities, outdoor: An area free of buildings except for restrooms, dressing rooms, equipment storage, maintenance buildings, open-air pavilions and similar structures used primarily for commercial recreational activities.

Recreational vehicle park: Any lot or parcel of land upon which two (2) or more recreational vehicle sites are located, established, or maintained for occupancy for a fee by recreational vehicles of the general public as temporary living quarters for recreation or vacation purposes.

Rehabilitative care center: (See also halfway house; substance abuse treatment facility) A building other than an apartment hotel, hotel, small or large group home, rooming house, tourist home, motel or motor lodge, providing temporary lodging and board and a special program of specialized care and counseling on a full-time basis. Such a center includes, but is not limited to, centers that provide for alcohol and drug abuse clientele, former inmates of prisons or correctional institutions, or former patients of mental illness institutions. A rehabilitative care center must be licensed by an agency of the State of Louisiana as a rehabilitative or similar care facility, and shall be operated by an entity that is similarly licensed by the State of Louisiana.

Residential care center: (See also family violence shelter; children's residential facility) A building, other than an apartment, hotel, small or large group home, or rooming house, providing temporary lodging and board and a special program of specialized care and counseling on a full-time basis for twelve (12) or more adults or children who are displaced from their normal living environment. A residential care center must be licensed by an agency of the State of Louisiana as a residential or similar care facility, and shall be operated by an entity that is similarly licensed by the State of Louisiana. Alcohol and drug abuse clientele, former inmates of prisons or correctional institutions, or former patients of mental institutions who have been found not guilty of a criminal charge by reasons of insanity shall be excluded as occupants.

Restaurant: Any establishment whose primary purpose is the service of food for consumption on or off the premises. Restaurants shall be classified as follows:

Restaurant, carry-out: An establishment where food, frozen desserts or beverages are primarily sold in a packaged, ready-to-consume state, intended for ready consumption by the customer on or off the premises. Carry-out restaurants shall not offer alcoholic beverages for sale.

Restaurant, fast-food: An establishment where most customers order and are served their food at a counter or in a motor vehicle in packages prepared to leave the premises, or able to be taken to a table or counter to be consumed. Fast-food restaurants shall not offer alcoholic beverages for sale.

Restaurants, full-service. A restaurant with table service (order placement and delivery on-site) provided to patrons, also including cafeterias; carry out service, if any, shall be a limited portion of the facility and activity. Full-service restaurants shall only offer alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption. (A conditional use permit may be needed for alcohol sales depending on the zoning classification.)

Restaurant, specialty: Establishments whose primary business is the sale of a single type of food or beverage that is not considered a complete meal (e.g., candy, coffee, or ice cream). The sale of other food, beverages or merchandise is incidental to the sale of the specialty food or beverage. Food and beverages are for customer consumption on or off-premises. Specialty restaurants shall not offer alcoholic beverages for sale.

Retail goods establishment: A commercial enterprise that provides physical goods, products or merchandise directly to the consumer, where such goods are typically available for immediate purchase and removal from the premises by the purchaser. Retail goods establishments shall not include alcohol, unless alcohol beverage sales for off-premises consumption is allowed within the district and a separate approval is obtained for such use.

Retail manufacturing: A commercial enterprise engaged in light manufacturing such as baking, confectionary, dressmaking (seamstress), tailoring, upholstering and similar establishments and businesses of a similar and no more objectionable character, subject to the following provisions:

(1)

All goods and products manufactured or processes shall be sold as retail on the premises.

(2)

All such manufacturing pr processing shall be done on the premises, and not more than five (5) persons, exclusive of drivers and owners, shall be so employed at any one time.

Revival church: A gathering of worshipers in a temporary structure or location erected specifically for a religious revival meeting, healing crusade or church rally.

Revocation: The intentional termination of a public interest in land by the city, with conveyance or sale to a property owner for private use.

Right-of-way: The term used to describe the publicly owned improved or unimproved areas between property lines. This area is dedicated for use by the public for pedestrian and vehicular travel, and may include elements such as streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, street furniture, bus stops, utility poles, landscaping and signage.

Roofline: The highest continuous horizontal line of a roof. On a sloping roof, the roofline is the principal ridgeline, or the highest line common to one or more principal slopes of roof. On a flat roof, the roofline is the highest continuous line of the roof or parapet, whichever is higher.

Rooming house: A building, other than a hotel, where for compensation and by prearrangement, five (5) or more persons other than occasional or transient customers are provided with lodging.

Setback: The required minimum horizontal distance between the building line and the related front, side, and rear property lines. For the purpose of this section, the setback will be measured to the nearest point of the foundation wall of the building. A roof overhang or projection not to exceed two (2) feet will be allowed to project past the foundation wall.

Setback line: The line that is the required minimum distance from any lot line and that establishes the area within which the principal structure may be erected or placed.

Schools: (See educational facilities) Any building or part thereof that is designed, constructed, or used for education or instruction in any branch of knowledge.

Servitude: Same as easement.

Sewage: All effluent carried by sewers, whether sanitary sewage, residential, commercial or industrial wastes, or storm water runoff. This also includes the entire system of sewage collection, conveyance, treatment and disposal.

Sewage treatment facility: Any plant or other facility providing service, maintenance, or repair of essential public water/wastewater utilities to one or more developments including but not limited to wells, pumping stations, boosters, reservoirs, repeaters, water storage tanks, lift stations, regulators, and other similar facilities.

Shelter: A facility providing temporary protective sanctuary for victims of crime or abuse, including emergency housing during crisis intervention for individuals, such as victims of rape, child abuse, or beatings.

Sidewalk: A paved pedestrian footpath within the public right-of-way between the curb lines or the lateral lines of a roadway and the adjacent property lines.

Sight triangle: The triangle at either side of an access way or public right-of-way at its junction with a public street with sides of not less than twenty (20) feet in length each along the public right-of-way and/or accessway within which clear visibility of approaching vehicular or pedestrian traffic must be maintained in all directions.

Sign: A board or other display used to identify or advertise a place, event, article or price that is affixed to, painted on, or otherwise placed upon any building, structure or property, and which is visible from a public right-of-way, sidewalk, alley park or other public open area.

A-frame sign: A double-faced advertising device, ordinarily in the shape of an "A" or some variation, located on the ground but not permanently attached and is easily movable.

Animated sign: A sign, or portion of a sign, that uses movement or changes in lighting to depict action or to create a special effect or scene. Time/temperature signs are not considered animated signs.

Attached sign: A sign attached to, applied on, or supported by any part of a structure.

Awning sign: A sign painted on, or attached to, the surface of an awning (see also marquee sign and canopy sign).

Banner sign: Any sign printed or displayed on cloth, canvas, fabric, or other temporary material, with or without a structural frame and intended for a limited period of display.

Canopy sign: A sign mounted on, printed on, or attached to a canopy.

Changeable copy sign: A sign that allows characters, letters, or illustrations to be changed without altering the sign.

Construction sign: A sign that identifies the name of contractors, architects and lending institutions responsible for construction on the site, limited in display to the duration of construction.

Copy: The wording on a sign surface that is either permanent or removable.

Detached sign: A sign that is attached to a self-supported structure and not attached to a building. (See also freestanding sign)

Directional sign: An on-premises sign identifying parking lot entrances and exits, restrooms, pedestrian/bicycle facilities, and features of a similar nature but no advertising copy.

Directory sign: A sign that serves as common or collective classification for a group of businesses operating within a multi-tenant structure. The sign may name the businesses and location for a business within the structure, but no advertising copy.

Dynamic display sign: A sign, or portion of a sign, that appears to have movement caused by any method, whether the apparent movement or change is in the display, the sign structure itself, the lighting, or any other component of the sign.

Electronic message sign: A sign, or portion of a sign, that displays an electronic image or video, which may or not include text. This definition includes television screens, plasma screens, digital screens, light emitting diode (LED) screens, video boards, flipper matrices, holographic displays, and signs lit with incandescent lamps. Time/temperature signs are not considered electronic message signs.

Flashing sign: An illuminated sign on which the artificial or reflected light changes in intensity or color when in use, and gives the impression of flashing or blinking. Rotating signs are not considered flashing signs.

Flip sign: A sign, usually the size of a traditional billboard that displays two (2) or more different ad messages in the space of just one sign face. The sign utilizes a turning triangle, cube or "louver" to achieve this look. Each side of the louvers together displays a different ad or message.

Freestanding sign: A sign that is attached to a self-supported structure and not attached to a building. (See also monument sign or pole sign).

Government sign: Any temporary or permanent sign erected and maintained by the city, parish, state, or federal government for traffic direction or for designation of or direction to any school, hospital, or public service property or facility.

Identification sign: A sign containing only the name and address of the structure, institution, or person, and/or to the activity or occupation being identified. (See also nameplate).

Incidental sign: A sign, usually smaller in size and of a non-commercial nature, permitted without the need for a sign permit (e.g., credit card signs, hours of operation, etc.).

Light emitting diode (LED): A semiconductor diode that emits light when a voltage is applied to it and that is generally used in electronic devices.

Marquee sign: Any sign attached to, or hung from, any permanent roof-like structure projecting beyond the wall of a building, generally designed and constructed to provide protection from the weather.

Monument sign: Any sign, other than a freestanding pole sign, placed upon or supported by the ground and an internal structural framework, and typically with a low overall height. The base of a monument sign must be a minimum of seventy-five (75) per cent of the width of the sign face situated upon the base.

Nameplate: A non-electric on-premises identification sign giving only the name and address and/or occupation of the occupant(s). Nameplates are limited to one square foot in size and shall be attached flat against the structure.

Non-conforming sign: Any sign which was lawful prior to the adoption, revision or amendment of the zoning ordinance but that fails by reason of such adoption, revision or amendment to conform to the present requirements of the zoning district.

Off-premises advertising sign: Any sign advertising a commercial use, facility, service, or product that is not located, sold, or manufactured on the same premises as the sign, and whose advertising or information content is visible from the interstate highway or any public street in the city.

On-premises sign: A sign that pertains to the use of the premises on which it is located.

Parking lot directional sign: A sign within a parking lot that identifies entrances and exits.

Permanent sign: A sign attached to a structure of the ground that is made of materials intended to remain indefinitely.

Point of purchase display: An advertising device used to call attention to a retail item(s) sold at a particular commercial location.

Political sign: A temporary sign advocating action on a political issue, recommending a candidate for public office, or advocating a position on a local, state, or national election.

Portable sign: Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported, including but not limited to, signs mounted on wheels or trailers and A-frame signs.

Projecting sign: A sign attached to, and projecting more than twelve (12) inches from, a building wall, but does not project above the parapet or eave line of the building.

Real estate sign: A temporary sign that relates to the sale, lease, or rental of a property or building.

Residential identification sign: A sign that identifies the name and address of a multi-family dwelling or residential subdivision.

Roof sign: Any sign erected and constructed wholly or partially above the roofline of a building, that is fastened to, and supported by the roof of the structure.

Sign clearance: The smallest vertical distance from the finished grade directly below the sign to the lowest point of any sign, including framework and embellishments.

Sign face: The particular area of a sign upon which a message, copy, or advertisement is displayed for viewing, excluding the base, supports, and other structure elements.

Snipe sign: A temporary sign or poster affixed to a tree, pole, stake, fence or other object.

Temporary sign: A sign, banner, pennant, flag, or streamer that is constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, plywood or other light materials, intended to remain for a limited time.

UL: Underwriters Laboratory, Inc., a nationally recognized testing laboratory.

Under-awning sign: A sign attached to and suspended beneath a canopy, ceiling, roof, gallery or marquee.

V-type sign: A structure or structure with two (2) or three (3) sign faces, forming the shape of a "V" or a triangle when viewed from above, with an angle between any two (2) faces of not more than forty-five (45) degrees.

Wall sign: A sign mounted flat against, or painted on, the wall of a structure and not projecting more than sixteen (16) inches from the wall surface.

Window sign: A sign that is attached to or printed on the interior or exterior of the windowpane of a door or structure, or mounted directly inside the window intended for viewing from the exterior of such building. A window sign may be either permanent or temporary.

Site improvements: Construction of, or improvements to, streets, access roadways, parking facilities, sidewalks, drainage structures and utilities in connection with any development.

Site plan: (Also called development plan) An accurate, scaled drawing showing the location of buildings, the landscaping, parking, circulation and such other features as floor plans and elevations to help describe the existing and proposed development of a specified area.

Sober living home: A home for persons who are recovering from a drug and/or alcohol addiction and who are considered handicapped under state or federal law. Sober living homes shall not include the following:

(1)

Rehabilitative care centers;

(2)

Residential care centers;

(3)

Group or community homes;

(4)

Or halfway houses.

Social club or lodge: Buildings and facilities or premises used or operated by an organization or association for some common purpose, such as, but not limited to, a fraternal, social, educational or recreational purpose, but not including clubs organized primarily for profit or to render a service that is customarily carried on as a business. Such organizations and associations shall be incorporated under the laws of the State of Louisiana as a non-profit corporation or registered with the Secretary of State of Louisiana.

Social service agency: A facility operated by an organization which provides services such as training, counseling, health, or the distribution of food or clothing. This term includes, but is not limited to, a facility offering life skills training, substance abuse counseling, or housing services. This term does not include an emergency residential shelter.

Solar collector: A device, structure, panel or part if a device or structure for which the primary purpose is to transform solar radiant energy into thermal, mechanical, chemical, or electrical energy.

Solar energy: Radiant energy received from the sun that can be collected in the form of heat or light by a solar collector.

Solar energy system: A device or structural design feature intended to provide for collection, storage, and distribution of solar energy for heating or cooling, electricity generation, or water heating.

Solar farm: The use of land where a series of one or more solar collectors are placed in an area on a parcel of land for the purpose of generating photovoltaic power and said series of one or more solar collectors are placed in an area on a parcel of land collectively and has a generation capacity of at least fifteen (15) kilowatts (kW) direct current (dc) or more when operating at maximum efficiency.

Solid waste: Any garbage, refuse, or sludge from a waste treatment plant, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility, and other discarded material, including solid, liquid, semisolid, or contained gaseous material resulting from industrial, commercial, mining, and agricultural operations, and from community activities. However, the term "solid waste" does not include solid or dissolved material in domestic sewage; solid or dissolved materials in irrigation return flows or industrial discharges that are point sources subject to permits under LA R.S. 30:2074; source, special nuclear, or byproduct material as defined by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (68 Stat. 923 et seq.), as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 2011 et seq.); or hazardous waste subject to permits under LA R.S. 30:2171 et seq.

Solid waste collection facility: A facility that is used to accumulate solid waste generated by and delivered by more than one household or commercial establishment for pickup by a transporter, including, but not limited to, facilities typically located in rural areas where garbage collection does not occur. This definition does not include containers that receive only solid waste generated on property that is contiguous with the property on which the container is located (e.g., containers located at and receiving solid waste only from a multiunit dwelling or a commercial establishment or an industrial establishment).

Solid waste compost facility: A facility where organic matter is processed by natural or mechanical means to aid the microbial decomposition of the organic matter.

Solid waste transfer station: A solid waste processing facility where solid waste is transferred from collection vehicles, processed, and placed in other vehicles for transportation (e.g., a facility that separates recyclables from industrial or putrescible waste streams).

Sorority: A club or social activity officially associated with and recognized by and supervised by an institution for higher education whose membership is limited exclusively to students of said institution.

Sorority house: A building used as a group living quarter for students of a college, university or seminary, who are members of a sorority that has been officially recognized by the related college, university or seminary.

Soup kitchen: A place where food is prepared and offered to the hungry for free or at a below-market price and is staffed by volunteer organizations such as church or community groups.

Storage, large: A space or place of over five thousand (5,000) square feet where goods, materials, or personal property is stored in a fixed location for a specific or unspecified period of time.

Storage, small: A space or place of five thousand (5,000) square feet or less, where goods, materials or personal property is stored in a fixed location for a specific or unspecified period of time.

Story: That portion of a building included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor next to it; or, if there is no floor above it, the space between the floor and the ceiling above it.

Streets: A public right-of-way or private thoroughfare, which provides vehicular and pedestrian access to adjacent properties. All streets will be within dedicated rights-of-way that have been properly processed, approved and recorded. The following shall be used to classify all streets:

Arterial streets: Public thoroughfares that serve the major movements of traffic within and through Ouachita Parish.

Collector streets: Public thoroughfares that serve to collect and distribute traffic primarily from local residential streets to arterial streets.

Local streets: Facilities that are used primarily for direct access to abutting properties and leading into the collector street system.

Frontage road or service road: A street adjacent to a freeway, expressway or an arterial street separated there from by a dividing strip and providing ingress and egress from abutting property.

Cul-de-sac: A street having an outlet at one end only and having the other end permanently closed with facilities permitting vehicles to turn around.

Dead-end street: A street having an outlet at one end only and terminated at the other end by undeveloped property. It may or may not have facilities permitting vehicles to turn around.

Public streets: A public street is a road, thoroughfare, alley, highway, or bridge under the jurisdiction of a public agency.

Private streets: Private streets are owned by residents, and have a publicly recognized indenture, or covenant, that outlines governance and acts as a deed restriction. In order to create a private street, property owners must pay the fees to support upgrades and maintenance of said street. The City of Monroe shall provide police and fire protection, as well as trash removal services. The residents shall pay for maintaining or paving sidewalks and street surfaces, maintaining or planting trees, and maintaining or installing streetlights and entry gates. Private streets must meet minimum design standards for drainage and storm water regulations, pedestrian safety regulations, and fire/emergency street design requirements.

Major state or interstate highway: Those highways, which have an average daily total of at least twenty-five thousand (25,000) vehicles at the intersection or section nearest to the use in question.

Structure: A combination of materials constructed or erected with a fixed location on, above or below the surface of land or water.

Structure, permitted: A structure meeting all the requirements established by this ordinance for the district in which the structure is located.

Subdivision: The division of a parcel of land into two (2) or more lots, tracts, or parcels for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of sale, lease or building development, or if a new street is involved, any division of a parcel of land. The term includes re-subdivision and when appropriate to the context, shall relate to the process of subdivision or to the land subdivided.

Subdivision regulations: The City of Monroe Subdivision Regulations.

Substance abuse treatment facility: (See also rehabilitative care center) A facility for the purposes of temporary or long-term treatment of victims of alcohol or drug use addiction.

Substance abuse treatment facility, halfway house: A facility used for the treatment of alcohol or other drug abuse, which provides training, care, supervision, treatment or rehabilitation to mainstream residents back into society, enabling them to live independently. A halfway house must be licensed by an agency of the State of Louisiana as a substance abuse halfway house or similar facility, and shall be operated by an entity that is similarly licensed by the State of Louisiana.

Substance abuse treatment facility, inpatient: A facility used for the treatment of alcohol or other drug abuse where one or more patients are provided with care, meals and lodging. An inpatient substance abuse treatment facility must be licensed by an agency of the State of Louisiana as an inpatient substance abuse treatment facility or similar facility, and shall be operated by an entity that is similarly licensed by the State of Louisiana.

Substance abuse treatment facility, outpatient: A facility used for the treatment of alcohol or other drug abuse where neither meals nor lodging is provided. An outpatient substance abuse treatment facility must be licensed by an agency of the State of Louisiana as an outpatient substance abuse treatment facility or similar facility, and shall be operated by an entity that is similarly licensed by the State of Louisiana.

Surveyor: A qualified registered land surveyor in good standing with the Louisiana Board of Registration.

Tattoo parlor: Establishments where services offered are tattooing, body piercing and non-medical body modification.

Taxidermy: The business of preparing, stuffing, and mounting the skins of animals.

Telecommunications tower: A tower, pole, or similar structure that supports a telecommunications antenna operated for commercial purpose above ground in a fixed location, freestanding, guyed, or on a building or other structures.

Tire store: A place where the principal business is the sale or installation of new, used, or retread tires and tubes.

Tract: A parcel of land identified by letter or number the boundaries of which are shown on the recorded subdivision or development plat. A tract need not be suitable for development.

Traffic calming: the installation of speed bumps, traffic circles, roundabouts, or similar devices intended to reduce motorist speed, discourage through traffic, decrease vehicle volumes, and increase pedestrian/cyclist safety.

Traffic impact analysis: A technical analysis of the effect of traffic generated by a development on the capacity, operations and safety of the adjacent public street, affected intersections, and/or community highway system including traffic signals, as appropriate.

Transitional housing: (See also emergency homeless shelter) A type of supportive housing designed to facilitate the movement of homeless individuals and families to permanent housing. Shelter is provided for the homeless for an extended period of time, often as long as twenty-four (24) months, and is generally integrated with other social services and counseling programs to assist in the transition to self-sufficiency through the acquisition of stable income and permanent housing.

Trash/garbage storage area: That area of a development used for the storage and containment of refuse and refuse containers (i.e. dumpsters).

Urban agriculture: An activity that produces, processes and markets food and other products within the urban areas of the city, applying large-scale, intensive production methods to yield a diversity of crops.

Use: The activity occurring on a lot or parcel, for which land or a building is arranged, designed or intended, or for which land or a building is or may be occupied, including all accessory uses.

Use, change of: The change within the classified use of a structure or parcel.

Use, permitted: A use meeting all of the requirements established by this ordinance for the district in which the use is located.

Use, temporary: A use that is authorized by this code to be conducted for a fixed period of time. Temporary uses are characterized by such activities as the sale of agricultural products, contractors' offices and equipment sheds, carnivals flea markets, and garage sales.

Variance: A deviation from the height, bulk, setback, parking or other dimensional requirements established by this code.

Vehicle Any means of transport on land, especially on wheels (e.g., a car, bus, bicycle etc.)

Vehicle, commercial: Those exceeding one ton in size with advertising or special equipment, which distinguish it from private automobiles. Any vehicle used for commercial purposes, except passenger vehicles used for to and from work. All vehicles with more than two (2) axles, except motor homes used for recreation and not used in commerce. Note: A sign alone on a vehicle does not make the vehicle commercial.

Vehicle, recreational: A vehicle designated as temporary living quarters for camping, traveling, or recreational use. It may have its own motive power, or be mounted on or pulled by another vehicle.

Vehicle storage yard: Any land or buildings used primarily for the permanent or temporary storage of inoperable vehicles, machinery, or other equipment on a temporary or permanent basis.

Veterinary hospital: An establishment where animals or pets are given medical or surgical treatment and are cared for during the time of such treatment. Use as a kennel shall be limited to short-time boarding and shall be incidental to said hospital use.

Video bingo: A machine designed for the specific purpose of playing the game of bingo where a random number generator is utilized to select numbers in lieu of the drawing of numbers from a receptacle and that one or more video images containing numbers or other designations five (5) or more in one line may be utilized instead of a card.

Warehouse, wholesale: A building or premises in which goods, merchandise or equipment are stored for eventual distribution.

Yard: An open space at grade between a building and the adjoining lot lines, unoccupied and unobstructed by any portion of structure upward except as otherwise provided herein. In measuring a yard to determine the width of a yard, the minimum horizontal distance between the lot line and the maximum permissible main building shall be yard dimension.

Yard, front: A yard extending across the full width of a lot between the side lot lines and between the front property line and the front line of the building projected to the side lines of the building site. The depth of the front yard shall be measured between the front line of the building and the street line. On corner lots, the front yard shall be considered as parallel to the street upon which the lot has the least dimension. This space is considered open space.

Yard, rear: A yard extending across the rear of the lot between the side lot lines and being the minimum horizontal distance between a rear lot line and the rear of the maximum main building. The rear yard shall be at the opposite end of the lot from the front yard. However, on through lots fronting two (2) streets, two (2) front yards shall be provided.

Yard, required: The minimum open space between a lot line and the building setback line within which no structure is permitted to be located as provided in this ordinance.

Yard, side: A yard extending from the front yard to the rear yard between the side lot line within which no structure is permitted to be located as provided in this ordinance.

Yard, side corner: The area extending between the front yard and the rear yard and situated between the side street lot line and the side of the principal building which is parallel to, or most nearly parallel to, the side street lot line.

Yard, through: A through yard is any single zoning lot that is not a corner lot and that connects two (2) generally parallel streets. On through yards fronting two (2) streets, two (2) front yards shall be provided.

Zoning commission: The term "zoning commission" shall mean the Monroe Zoning Commission created under La. R.S. 33:4721 et seq., which shall have the powers provided for by Louisiana law and as may be provided for in this chapter 37 zoning of the City of Monroe, Code of Ordinances.

(Ord. No. 11,443, 11-12-13; Ord. No. 11,549, 3-10-15; Ord. No. 11,584, 6-23-15; Ord. No. 11,590, 7-28-15; Ord. No. 11,641, 1-12-16; Ord. No. 11,704, 8-9-16; Ord. No. 11,757, 2-28-17; Ord. No. 11,758, 2-28-17; Ord. No. 11,810, 11-28-17; Ord. No. 11,828, 2-27-18; Ord. No. 11,883, 10-23-18; Ord. No. 11,933, 5-14-19; Ord. No. 12,085, 10-26-21; Ord. No. 12,197, 9-26-23; Ord. No. 12,277, 10-28-25)