New Orleans Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance

Printed: 4/24/2024 6:46:35 PM

4.10 Interpretation

4.10.A Purpose   

The interpretation process recognizes that the provisions of this Ordinance, though detailed and extensive, cannot, as a practical matter, address every specific situation to which they are applied. Many such situations can be readily addressed by an interpretation of the specific provisions of this Ordinance in the context of other general and specific Ordinance provisions. The interpretation authority is not intended to add or change the essential content of this Ordinance, but only to allow authoritative application of that content to specific cases. In addition, this interpretation process also provides a process to interpret the Master Plan Future Land Use Map.

4.10.B Initiation   

1.  A written application for a zoning ordinance text or map interpretation or Future Land Use Map interpretation may be filed by any interested party.

2.  The Mayor, City Council, the Executive Director of the City Planning Commission, or the City Planning Commission may request that the Director of the Department of Safety and Permits render a zoning text interpretation.

3.  The Mayor, City Council, or the Director of the Department of Safety and Permits may request that the Executive Director of the City Planning Commission render a zoning map interpretation.

4.  The Mayor, City Council, or the City Planning Commission may request that the Executive Director of the City Planning Commission render a Master Plan Future Land Use Map interpretation.

4.10.C Application   

1.  All applications for a zoning ordinance text interpretation shall be filed with the Director of the Department of Safety and Permits in accordance with the requirements in Section 3.2.

2.  All applications for a zoning map or Master Plan Future Land Use Map interpretation shall be filed with the Executive Director of the City Planning Commission in accordance with the requirements in Section 3.2.

4.10.D Authority   

1.  The Director of the Department of Safety and Permits will make and approve final written decisions on requests for zoning text interpretations. The Director shall cite the rationale for such interpretations.

2.  The Executive Director of the City Planning Commission will make and approve final written decisions on requests for zoning map interpretations. The Executive Director shall cite the rationale for such interpretations.

3.  The Executive Director of the City Planning Commission will make and approve final written decisions on requests for Master Plan Future Land Use Map interpretations. The Executive Director shall cite the rationale for such interpretations.

4.10.E Procedure   

1.  All applications for a zoning text interpretation shall be filed with the Director of the Department of Safety and Permits in accordance with the requirements in Section 3.2. The Director of the Department of Safety and Permits shall review a request for an interpretation and render the written interpretation within forty-five (45) days of receipt of a complete application. The Director of the Department of Safety and Permits has the authority  to request additional information prior to rendering an interpretation. The Director of the Department of Safety and Permits shall maintain a written record of all interpretations.

2.  All applications for a zoning map or Future Land Use Map interpretation shall be filed with the Executive Director of the City Planning Commission in accordance with the requirements in Section 3.2. The Executive Director of the City Planning Commission shall review a request for an interpretation and render the written interpretation within forty-five (45) days of receipt of a complete application. The Executive Director of the City Planning Commission has the ability to request additional information prior to rendering an interpretation. The Executive Director of the City Planning Commission shall maintain a written record of all interpretations.

4.10.F Appeals   

1.  An aggrieved party may appeal a zoning text interpretation decision by the Director of the Department of Safety and Permits to the Board of Zoning Adjustments within forty-five (45) days of the decision.

2.  An aggrieved party may appeal a zoning map or Future Land Use Map interpretation decision by the Executive Director of the City Planning Commission to the City Planning Commission within forty-five (45) days of the decision.