New Orleans Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance

Printed: 3/28/2024 12:22:48 PM

17.4 Site Design Standards

17.4.A Bulk and Yard Regulations   

17.4.A.1 General Requirements   

Table 17-2: Bulk and Yard Regulations establishes bulk and yard regulations for the Central Business District.

Table 17-2: Bulk and Yard Regulations
Table 17-2: Bulk and Yard Regulations

BULK AND YARD REGULATIONS

DISTRICTS

CBD-1

CBD-2

CBD-3

CBD-4

CBD-5

CBD-6

CBD-7

BULK REGULATIONS

MINIMUM LOT AREA

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

MINIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT

36’ & 3 stories

36’ & 3 stories

36’ & 3 stories

None

36’ & 3 stories

36’ & 3 stories

36’ & 3 stories

MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT

See Figure 17-2 and Section 17.4.A.2

See Figure 17-2 and Section 17.4.A.2

See Figure 17-2 and Section 17.4.A.2

See Figure 17-2 and Section 17.4.A.2

See Figure 17-2and Section 17.4.A.2

See Figure 17-2 and Section 17.4.A.2

See Figure 17-2 and Section 17.4.A.2

MAXIMUM FLOOR AREA RATIO

See Figure 17-3; may be increased through bonus1

See Figure 17-3; may be increased through bonus 1

See Figure 17-3; may be increased through bonus 1

See Figure 17-3; may be increased through bonus 1

See Figure 17-3; may be increased through bonus 1

See Figure 17-3; may be increased through bonus 1

See Figure 17-3; may be increased through bonus 1

YARD REQUIREMENTS

FRONT YARD

None required, but a 5’ maximum

Larger front yard permitted by conditional use

None required, but a 5’ maximum

Larger front yard permitted by conditional use

None required, but a 5’ maximum

Larger front yard permitted by conditional use

None

None required, but a 5’ maximum

Larger front yard permitted by conditional use

None

None required, but a 5’ maximum

Larger front yard permitted by conditional use

MINIMUM INTERIOR SIDE YARD

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

MINIMUM CORNER SIDE YARD

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

MINIMUM REAR YARD

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

TABLE 17-2 FOOTNOTES

1 Public benefit FAR bonuses may enable developments to exceed the maximum base FAR indicated in Figure 17.3, in accordance with the provisions of Section 17.5. Bonuses are only available in the areas regulated by Floor Area Ratio. Bonuses are not available in the areas with maximum height established by Figure 17-2 and Section 17.4.A.2.

Table 17-3: The Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning Sub-District (MIZ) regulations establish mandatory inclusionary unit thresholds, set aside requirements, and Area Medium Income (AMI) levels and is required for any development that contains residential development of 10 or more dwelling units, including rental and homeownership dwelling units. Affordable Housing Units shall be in accordance with the standards outlined in the table below. All other bulk and yard regulations for the sub-districts are subject to the corresponding non-inclusionary zoning base district regulations.

Table 17-3: Central Business Inclusionary Zoning

 Sub-District Regulations1, 2

Zoning Sub-District

Affordable Housing Unit Threshold

Set Aside Requirement

%

Area Medium Income Level (AMI) Rental Units (%)

Area Medium Income AMI Homeownership (%)

CBD-1-IZ

10

10

60

60

CBD-2-IZ

10

10

60

60

CBD-3-IZ

10

10

60

60

CBD-4-IZ

10

10

60

60

CBD-5-IZ

10

10

60

60

CBD-6-IZ

10

10

60

60

CBD-7-IZ

10

10

60

60

  TABLE 17-3 FOOTNOTES

1The terms for the Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning Sub-Districts in this section are outlined in Article 28.

2These districts do not require a minimum lot area per dwelling unit.

Adopted by Ord. 28036 MCS, Sec. 1, March 28, 2019, ZD 112/18; Ord 28178, 9-5-19, ZD 49/19

17.4.A.2 Building Height   

a.  The maximum building height on a lot is indicated in Figure 17-2: Maximum Building Height. Those lots that are not subject to building height limits are subject to maximum floor area ratio (FAR) limits and are indicated in Figure 17-3: Maximum FAR.

b.  Within those blocks bounded by Canal, Iberville, North Peters, and Crozat Streets, where a lot fronts on two (2) or more principal street frontages, each with a different maximum building height, the maximum building height for each street frontage applies for a distance of eighty-three (83) feet from the centerline of the street. (See Figure 17-4: Height Applicability to Street Frontage for Certain Blocks for illustration and Figure 17-5: Height Example for Certain Lots Along Canal Street for an example). 

c.  The height designation of “75/125 ft & 6/10 Stories” on Figure 17-2 is interpreted as follows: a height limit of six (6) stories and seventy-five (75) feet applies within twenty (20) feet of all property lines adjacent to any public right-of-way, and a height limit of ten (10) stories and one hundred twenty-five (125) feet applies to all other portions of the lot.

d. Where provided as accessory flat roof features, open spaces located on roofs shall be excluded from the calculation of building height in accordance with Section 21.6.

FIGURE 17-2: MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT

Art-17-Max-Building-Height.jpg

FIGURE 17-3: MAXIMUM FLOOR AREA RATIO

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FIGURE 17-4: HEIGHT APPLICABILITY TO STREET FRONTAGE IN CERTAIN BLOCKS

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FIGURE 17-5: HEIGHT EXAMPLE FOR CERTAIN LOTS ALONG CANAL STREET

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Adopted by Ord. 27,723 MCS, §1, April 11, 2018, Zoning Docket 106-17

17.4.B Required On-Site Open Space   

All townhouse and multi-family dwellings in the CBD Districts shall provide at least one-hundred twenty (120) square feet of usable on-site open space per dwelling unit. Where individual balconies are authorized as open space for individual dwelling units, a minimum depth of four (4) feet shall be required. This open space may be either private open space for the dwelling unit or common open space restricted to the use of residents of the townhouse or multi-family dwelling. Such open space shall meet the following requirements:

1.  Required open space shall have a minimum dimension of at least seven (7) feet on any side.

2.  Required open space shall be located on the same lot as the dwelling unit it serves.

3. Required open space shall be built so as to make these spaces physically accessible for all residents of said townhouse or multi-family dwelling.

3.  Required open space shall be outdoors and designed for outdoor living, recreation, or landscaping, including areas located on the ground and areas on decks, balconies, galleries, porches, or roofs. For multi-family dwellings, when open space is above grade, such as a balcony or gallery, it may not be located over on-site surface parking areas.

4.  Required open space areas are is not required to be contiguous, but each open space area, whether common or private, shall comply with minimum dimensional standards of Table 17-2. Common open space areas shall be accessible to all residents of the townhouse or multi-family dwelling.

5.  When located at ground level, the required open space area shall be substantially covered with grass, live groundcover, shrubs, plants, trees, or permeable outdoor hardscape features or amenities, such as seating areas, patios, or pools.

6.  Off-street parking and loading areas, driveways or required landscaping for parking lots and screening do not count towards open space requirements. Bollards, curbs, wheel stops, or other similar features shall be provided to ensure that required open space areas are not used for off-street parking or any other vehicular use.

7.  Mechanical equipment, dumpsters, or service areas are prohibited in required open space areas.

8.  All required open space areas shall be located and designed to take advantage of sunlight and other climatic advantages of the site.

9.  Where provided as accessory flat roof features, open spaces located on roofs shall be excluded from the calculation of gross floor area in accordance with Section 21.6.

Adopted by Ord. No. 27,722, §10, April 11, 2018, Zoning Docket 113/17