Metropolitan Planning Commission

Explain the sign ordinance.

• The purpose of this Article is to maintain and enhance the aesthetic environment of the City and Parish, the ability to attract economic development and growth to the area, improve pedestrian and traffic safety, and minimize the potential adverse effects of signs on nearby property through the consistent enforcement of reasonable sign regulations.

Is my residence in the City of Bossier City, city limits?

• By contacting the Metropolitan Planning Commission, the zoning inspectors will be able to tell you if you're in the Bossier City city limit by accessing the city computer system maps.

What is the MPC Jurisdiction?

• The Code and the provisions contained herein shall hereafter govern all land development within the incorporated areas of the City of Bossier City, Louisiana, as now or may be hereafter established, together with such adjacent unincorporated areas of Bossier Parish which the Bossier City City Council and the Bossier Parish Police Jury may jointly agree to become governed by this Code.

How do I start a business in Bossier City?

• A. Certificate of Occupancy:
  You must first apply for a Certificate of Occupancy, which will be issued by the Metropolitan Planning Department after all, intended site improvements and building construction has been completed in accordance with the Zoning or Building Permit. Single Family residences are excluded from this requirement.
• B. Application and Fees:
  In those cases where a Zoning Permit has already been issued, no additional fees or application procedures are required. The Certificate of Occupancy shall be issued after final approval of the Building Permit.
• C. Inspections:
  An inspector from the Metropolitan Planning Department or a designated inspector from the Bossier City Inspections Department shall perform a field inspection to determine compliance with the regulations of this Code. a.
  1. Any change in occupancy, ownership, or proprietorship.
  2. Any change in use or increase in intensity of existing uses.
  3. Any change in exterior dimensions(s) of the principal structure.
  4. Any change in off-street parking or loading configuration.
  5. Any subdivision of or sale in property that results in reduction of lot size.
• 
  D. Certificate of Occupancy without Zoning Permit:
  If a change in use or occupancy requires no site improvements of structural changes that require a Building Permit or other certificate, and applicant may apply directly for a Certificate of Occupancy. The fee for a Zoning Permit shall apply.
• E. Period of Effect:
  Once issued, a Certificate of Occupancy shall be in effect for its specified occupant, use, lot, and site configuration for an indefinite period, until any of the following occurs.
• F. Exclusion for Residential Occupancy Changes:
  Any change in residential occupancy of a residential unit within a multiple-family structure, or manufactured housing park site shall be excluded from the requirements of obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy, unless the change in occupancy occurs directly in conjunction with:
  
  1. New construction
  2. Remodeling that results in a change of exterior dimensions, or
  3. Increase in the number of dwelling units within a structure.

How close to the property line can I build an Accessory Structure?

Miscellaneous Accessory Structures:

• A: Setback and Yard Requirements:
  No accessory structure shall be located in a required yard, except in residential districts where the following standards shall apply:
  
  1. Accessory structures shall be permitted in the rear yard only; except in the R-A and R-E districts, where accessory structures will also be permitted in the side yard.
  2. Accessory structures shall occupy no more that 30 percent of a rear yard.
  3. No accessory structure shall be erected or altered so that it is closer than 5 feet to any rear or side lot line.
  4. Accessory structures must be outside any utility easements.

• B. Storage or Utility Sheds:
  
  1. Converted semi-trailers, mobile homes, modular shipping containers, dumpsters, or similar wheeled vehicles shall not be used as accessory structures but can be used as temporary storage units in commercial districts in conjunction with renovations.
  2. Industrial districts may retain the use of modular containers or semi-trailers.

Can I put a MFR Home on my property?

• Within the jurisdiction of the Bossier MPC, placement of a manufactured home within 300 ft of an R-E, R-LD, or R-MD zoned tract will required review and approval by the Board of Adjustment following a public hearing in accordance with the procedures of section 3.3.3. Measurement shall be made in a straight line, without regard to intervening structures or objects, from the nearest property line of the tract where a manufactured home is to be located to the nearest property line of the residentially zoned tract.

Are there any easements on my property?

• Permanent Utility Easements:
  • Permanent utility easements shall be provided where necessary to accommodate utilities that will serve the subdivisions. Permanent utility easements shall be centered on rear or side lot lines and shall be at least 15 feet and 10 feet wide respectively, except that easements for street lighting purpose only need not exceed 10 feet in width.
• Drainage Easements:
  • Drainage easements for water courses, drainage channels or streams which traverse a subdivision my be required. When required, drainage easements shall be exclusively for that use and separate from the dedication of other utility easements. Upon the request of the Metropolitan Planning Commission, the City Engineer or Parish engineer, as applicable, shall make recommendation to the Metropolitan Planning Commission regarding the desired width of the drainage easement. Such study and report shall be based on the 100-year flood depth, or other regulatory flood elevation when provided by the Federal emergency Management Agency.

What is my property zoned?

• For this Ordinance's purpose, all land and water areas in the Bossier City/Parish Metropolitan Planning Area are divided into the zoning districts listed as follow:
  • R-A - Residence-Agricultural District intended for agricultural or forestry uses.
  • R-E - Residential Estate District intended to provide for single-family residential development.
  • R-LD - Residential Low Density Districts intended to provide for the compact development of single-family dwellings.
  • R-MD - Residential Medium Density District composed mainly of areas containing a mixture of single-family dwellings and group living quarters situated in or near the downtown area.
  • R-HD - Residential High Density District composed mainly of areas containing manufactured home sites.
  • B-1 - Business, Commercial Office District intended to function as a medium-intensity district for office and medical uses.
  • B-2 - Limited Business District is to provide for commercial retail and service uses intended to serve a neighborhood or the entire community but, due to
    the size limitations of structures, would have a limited impact on traffic or nearby neighborhood.
  • B-3 - General Business District intended to provide commercial areas for a wider range of retail goods and services that satisfy all needs of the City, Parish
    and region.
  • B-4 - Downtown Business District created to control and guide the attractive development of commercial uses in Bossier City's original downtown area
    and to provide dimensional standards that will encourage construction of a compact, pedestrian-oriented "main street" commercial environment.
  • B-5 - Interchange Business District intended to permit development of service uses relating to expressway interchanges or near other major arterial
    intersections, particularly at the edge of Bossier City and within the Bossier Parish portion of the jurisdiction.
  • I-1 - Light Industrial District intended to provide for intense or heavy industries. It is designed for manufacturing and production industries particularly those
    having external effects that could impact less intense adjacent uses.
  • I-2 - Heavy Industrial District intended to provide for intense or heavy industries. It is designed for manufacturing and production industries, particularly those
    having external effects that could impact less intense adjacent uses.
  • RFD - Riverfront Development District is to provide for complementing recreational and commercial uses that take advantage of the Red River
    riverfront's scenic characteristics, convenient location, and proximity to existing commercial activities.
  • RT - Racetrack District created to provide a highly limited range of uses that accommodate the racetrack complex, supporting services associated with
    racing, and gaming activity allowed by state law.
  • A-1 - Air Base Buffer North District is established to limit use and development within and near the north-northwest approach to Barksdale Air Force Base
    to those activities that reflect land uses recommended in the most current Air Installation Compatible Uses Zone Study.
  • A-2 - Air Base Buffer South District is established to restrict development within and near the south-southeast approach to Barksdale Air Force Base, which
    is an undeveloped area having no existing or planned municipal services.

Metropolitan Planning Commission
Municipal Complex
620 Benton Rd
P.O. Box 5337
Bossier City, LA 71171-5337
Phone: 318.741.8824
Fax: 318.741.8827

Sam Marsiglia, Director
Carlotta Askew, MPC Planner
Lynda Davis, Office Manager
Brook Monroe, Assistant Office Manager
Adolph Young, Zoning Administrator Supervisor
David Davis, Zoning Inspector

Office Hours M-F: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm