Slidell City Zoning Code

A.

This part of the City of Slidell Code of Ordinances is titled the "Unified Development Code of the City of Slidell, Louisiana." It may also be cited as the "Unified Development Code," or the "UDC," or the "city UDC," and the Code of Ordinances may also be referred to as "the Code," or "this Code." The Code of Ordinances includes the UDC. The UDC shall have the same force of law as the Code of Ordinances for the city.

B.

The UDC is enacted under the authority of Article VI, Section 17 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, LA R.S. 33:101 through 33:119, LA R.S. 33:4780.40 through 33:4780.50, all other constitutional and statutory authorities which may be applicable hereto, and the City of Slidell's Home Rule Charter.

A.

This Unified Development Code is necessary to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the city and its residents.

B.

The zoning commission and city council have divided the city into districts and prepared regulations pertaining to such districts in accordance with the comprehensive plan. The establishment of these districts is designed to:

1.

Lessen congestion in the streets;

2.

Prevent overcrowding of land;

3.

Secure safety from fire, panic, and provide adequate light and air;

4.

Avoid undue concentration of population;

5.

Support future sustainable land development patterns; and

6.

Facilitate the adequate provisions of transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks, and other public requirements.

C.

The zoning commission and city council have given reasonable consideration, among other things, to the character of the districts and their peculiar suitability for particular uses, with a view to conserving the value of, and reinvestment in, existing buildings and encouraging the most appropriate use of land throughout the city.

A.

Generally. No building, structure, or land can be used or occupied; or erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved, or structurally altered unless such activity complies with all of the requirements of this city UDC, including, but not limited to: height, density, infrastructure (road, sewer, water, utilities) lot area, yard, open space, parking, landscaping, tree preservation, building construction, or land use requirements.

B.

Regulations of land underwater. All city lands under water and not located within a zoning district are subject to all the regulations of this city UDC and the zoning district adjacent to the water area. If the water area adjoins two or more zoning districts, the boundaries of each district shall be construed to extend into the water area in a straight line.

C.

Location of streets and public ways. Whenever any street, alley, or other public way is vacated by official action of the governing body of the city, the zoning district adjoining each side of such street, alley, or public way will automatically extend to the center of the street or public way, and all area included therein will then become subject to all appropriate regulations of the extended districts.

The comprehensive plan is an official document that sets forth the vision, goals, and actions to direct the present and future physical, social, and economic development that occurs within the City of Slidell. The Plan is designed to be used by city officials to guide development decisions, to assist with budgeting and capital improvement prioritization, and to steer private investment within the community. The rules in this Code and UDC are intended to implement the vision and goals of the comprehensive plan. If, in administering the rules in this UDC, the administration, planning commission, or council has need to make interpretations, recommendations, or judgements not clarified by this Code, they shall consider such actions' alignment with the comprehensive plan.

A.

Whenever any provision of this UDC or any other applicable law, rule, contract, resolution, or regulation of the city, parish, state, or federal government contains certain standards covering the same subject matter, the more restrictive requirements or higher standards shall govern, unless otherwise provided.

B.

This UDC is not intended to abrogate, annul, or otherwise interfere with any servitude, covenant, or any other private agreement or legal relationship; provided, however, that where the regulations of this UDC are more restrictive or impose higher standards or requirements than such servitude, covenant, or other private agreement, the regulations of this UDC shall govern.

C.

This UDC establishes many, but not all, standards and procedures for development. Other portions of the City of Slidell Code of Ordinances, as well as other applicable standards, shall also apply to applications for development in the City of Slidell.

A.

This UDC is effective on [February 1, 2026] per Ordinance Number [4264].

B.

Any development application found to be complete by the applicable reviewer prior to the effective date of this UDC shall be processed under the prior regulations in effect before the adoption of this UDC.

C.

Lots of record that were created before the adoption of this UDC shall be allowed to remain even if they are substandard within their zoning district as assigned by this UDC. Future development of such lots thereon must comply with all applicable building, zoning, and development regulations of this UDC.

The sections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses and phrases of this UDC are severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph, or section of this UDC is declared unconstitutional or invalid by the judgement of any court of competent jurisdiction, such unconstitutionality or invalidity shall not affect any of the remaining phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs, and sections of this UDC.