New Orleans Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance

Printed: 3/29/2024 12:24:42 AM

21.3 Environmental Performance Standards

All uses shall be operated to comply with standards of performance, or their equivalent, which have been, or which may be adopted or amended from time to time, by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) pursuant to the Revised Statutes of Louisiana. All uses shall be operated to comply with the performance standards described in this section below. In addition to these performance standards, all uses shall be constructed, maintained, and operated to prevent negative impacts to the use and occupation of adjacent premises, including impacts from the emission or creation of noise, vibration, odor, radiation, fire, explosive hazard, or glare. Nothing in this section is intended to alter, change, modify, or abrogate any authority granted exclusively to any State commission. These standards do not apply to construction sites.

A.  Noise

No activity or use may be conducted in a manner that generates a level of sound, as measured on another property, greater than that allowed by the Health Department and any federal or state regulations, as amended from time to time. These limits do not apply to noises that result from safety signals or warning devices, and moving sources such as motor vehicles, railroads, and aircraft. This section does not apply to noises not directly under the control of the owner or occupant of the property.

B.  Vibration

In general, this means that a person of normal sensitivities does not feel any vibrations at any point off the lot where the use is located and shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. Vibrations from vehicles that leave the site, such as trucks, trains, airplanes, and helicopters, are exempt from this regulation.

C.  Dust and Air Pollution

Dust and other types of air pollution, borne by the wind from sources such as storage areas, yards, roads, conveying equipment, and the like within lot boundaries, shall be kept to a minimum by appropriate landscape, screening, sheltering, paving, fencing, wetting, collecting, or other acceptable means. All activities producing dust and other types of air pollution shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. 

D.  Regulated Materials

The storage, handling, or transport of regulated materials shall comply with all federal, state, and local regulations.

E.  Fire and Explosion Hazards

Materials that present potential fire and explosion hazards shall be transported, stored and used only in conformance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

F.  Proper Drainage

The operation of any use in any district shall provide for adequate stormwater drainage of the site and shall be designed to prevent overloading the capacity of the drainage system, including the requirements of the Code of Ordinances.

G.  Litter Control 

All non-residential uses are required to submit a litter abatement plan to the Sanitation Department for their review and approval.

H.  Debris 

The retention and removal of all construction and demolition related debris generated by permitted projects shall comply with Section 103 of the International Building Code as amended by the City of New Orleans. 

Ord. 27,683 MCS, ยง4, March 6, 2018, Zoning Docket 086-17