New Orleans Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance
Printed: 10/3/2023 8:06:06 AM
12.3 Site Design Standards
12.3.A Bulk and Yard Regulations
12.3.A.1 General Regulations
Table 12-2: Bulk and Yard Regulations establishes bulk and yard regulations for the Historic Urban Neighborhood Districts. (Highlighted letters in Table 12-2 indicate where those bulk and yard regulations are illustrated on the accompanying site diagram.)
Table 12-2: Bulk & Yard Regulations
Table 12-2: Bulk & Yard Regulations |
BULK & YARD REGULATIONS
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DISTRICTS
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HU-B1A
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HU-B1
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HU-MU
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BULK REGULATIONS
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MINIMUM
LOT AREA
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SF: 1,500sf/du
2F: 1,200sf/du
MF: 1,000sf/du
MF - 3-4 Units: 1,000sf/du (maximum of 4 units)
Small MF Affordable: None
Non-Residential: None
Dwelling Above Ground Floor: 800sf/du
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SF: 1,500sf/du
2F: 1,200sf/du
MF: 1,000sf/du
MF - 3-4 Units: 1,000sf/du (maximum of 4 units)
Small MF Affordable: None
Non-Residential: None
Dwelling Above Ground Floor: 800sf/du
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SF: 1,500sf/du
2F: 1,200sf/du
MF: 1,000sf/du
Small MF Affordable: None
Townhouse: 2,000sf/du
Dwelling Above Ground Floor: 800sf/du
Non-Residential: None
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MAXIMUM TOTAL
FLOOR AREA – COMMERCIAL USE1
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Permitted up to 5,000sf of total floor area
Conditional use approval required for 5,000sf to 10,000sf of total floor area
Uses with over 10,000sf of total floor area are prohibited
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Permitted up to 5,000sf of total floor area
Conditional use approval required for over 5,000sf of total floor area
Uses with over 10,000sf of total floor area are prohibited
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Permitted up to 5,000sf of total floor area
Conditional use approval required for over 5,000sf of total floor area with the exception of grocery stores which are permitted by-right up to 10,000 square feet in area.
Uses with over 10,000sf of total floor area are prohibited with the exception of grocery stores which are permitted through the conditional use process over 10,000sf of total floor area and within existing structures over 10,000 square feet in area.
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A
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MINIMUM
LOT WIDTH
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SF & 2F: 25’
Non-Residential: None
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SF, 2F, & MF: 25’
Non-Residential: None
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SF, 2F & MF: 25’
Townhouse: 18’ per du
Non-Residential: None
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B
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MAXIMUM
BUILDING HEIGHT
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SF, 2F, & MF: 35’
Non-Residential: 40’ & no more than 3 stories
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SF & 2F: 35’
Non-Residential: 40’ & no more than 3 stories
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SF & 2F: 35’
MF, Townhouse & Non-Residential:
40’ & no more than 3 stories
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MINIMUM PERMEABLE OPEN SPACE |
10% of lot area |
10% of lot area |
10% of lot area |
MINIMUM YARD REQUIREMENTS
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C
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FRONT YARD
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SF, 2F, & MF:
See Section 11.3.A.2
Non-Residential/Mixed-Use/dwelling above ground floor:
0’ build-to line
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SF, 2F, & MF:
See Section 11.3.A.2
Non-Residential/Mixed-Use/dwelling above ground floor:
0’ to 10' build-to line
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SF, 2F:
See Section 11.3.A.2
Non-Residential/Mixed-Use/MF:
0’ to 10' build-to line
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D
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INTERIOR
SIDE YARD
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3’
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SF, 2F, MF: 3’
Non-Residential/Mixed-Use/dwelling above ground floor: None, unless abutting a residential district then 3’2
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SF & 2F: 3’
Townhouse, MF & Non-Residential/ Mixed-Use: None, unless abutting a residential district then 3’2
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E
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CORNER
SIDE YARD
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SF, 2F, & MF:
See Section 11.3.A.3
Non-Residential/Mixed-Use/dwelling above ground floor: None, to a maximum of 3’
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SF, 2F, & MF:
See Section 11.3.A.3
Non-Residential/Mixed-Use/dwelling above ground floor: None, to a maximum of 5’
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SF & 2F: 10% of lot width, but a minimum of 3’
Townhouse, MF & Non-Residential/Mixed Use: None, to a maximum of 5’
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F
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REAR YARD
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20% of lot depth or 15’, whichever is less
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SF,2F, & MF: 20% of lot depth or 15’, whichever is less
Non-Residential/Mixed-Use/dwelling above ground floor: None, unless abutting a residential district then 15’2
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Residential: 20% of lot depth or 15’, whichever is less
Non-Residential/Mixed-Use/MF: None, unless abutting a residential district then 15’2
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TABLE 12-2 FOOTNOTES
1 Total floor area limits per commercial use.
2 If a property abuts more than one zoning district, the more restrictive yard requirement applies.
Table 12-3: 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 12-3: Historic Urban Non-Residential Inclusionary Zoning
Sub-District Regulations1
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Zoning Sub-District
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Minimum Lot Area Requirement
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Affordable Housing Unit Threshold
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Set Aside Requirement %
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Area Medium Income (AMI) Rental Units (%)
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Area Medium Income AMI Homeownership (%)
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HU-B1A-IZ
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1,000 sf/du
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10
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5
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60
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60
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HU-B1-IZ
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1,000 sf/du
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10
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5
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60
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60
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HU-MU-IZ
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1,000 sf/du
Dwelling Above Ground Floor: 800 sf/du
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10
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5
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60
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60
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TABLE 12-3 FOOTNOTE
1The terms for the Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning Sub-Districts in this section are outlined in Article 28.

Adopted by Ord. 27,722 MCS, §5, April 11, 2018, Zoning Docket 113-17; Ord 28036, §1, March 28, 2019, ZD 112/18; Ord 28800 MCS, 10-21-21, ZD 56/21; Ord. No. 28,911, §4, January 6, 2022, Zoning Docket 84/21; Ord. 29126, 8-12-22, ZD016/22
12.3.B Building Design Standards
1. The following standards shall apply to all sites, except single and two-family residential dwellings:
a. All buildings shall provide a clearly identifiable entry from the public sidewalk at the front (primary street) elevation.
b. Structures on a corner lot shall be built to the corner.
c. Where reuse of an existing gas station is proposed, parking is permitted in the front of the structure, subject to the landscape standards of Article 23.7 provided that a designated pedestrian access way between the sidewalk and main entrance is provided. This access way shall be separated from parking areas by a landscaped area no less than five (5) feet wide.
d. The ground floor of newly constructed commercial buildings shall contain a minimum transparency of fifty percent (50%) on the primary street and windows shall be constructed of transparent glass. Opaque, highly tinted, or reflective glass is prohibited. Transparency into the building shall be maintained. Any window signs shall consist of individual letters and numerals without the use of any background.
e. For new construction, ADA accessible ramps and lifts shall compliment the building and be visually unobtrusive, preferably through internalized ramps or sloped walkways.
f. The first floor of commercial buildings shall be designed with a minimum ceiling height of twelve (12) feet.
g. Security bars, if installed, shall be on the inside of windows. Roll-up or accordion security grilles are permitted on the ground floor when constructed of a see-through, non-solid material. The Casing shall be painted to match the building and shall not damage or obscure architectural detailing.
h. The following restrictions apply to building materials:
i. The following materials are prohibited as the predominant surface finish material on exterior elevations visible from the public right-of-way. However, such materials may be used as part of decorative or detail elements, or as part of the exterior construction, such as a foundation course, that is not used as a predominant surface finish material.
(1) Exterior insulating finish systems (EIFS, “Dryvit”)
(2) Stuccato Board
(3) Vinyl
i. The siting and design requirements for buildings in the HU-MU District are illustrated in Figure 12-2: HU-MU District Illustrative and Site Diagram.
2. The following standards shall apply to all sites that meet the applicability thresholds of Section 4.5 Development Plan and Design Review:
a. Windows and doors shall have raised elements to create shadow and articulation. In addition, three-dimensional elements, such as balconies and bay windows, shall be incorporated to provide dimensional elements on a façade. Windows shall be set back into or projected out from the façade to provide façade depth and shadow and a consistent style.
b. Facades shall be designed to be viewed from multiple directions with consistent materials and treatments that wraps around all facades. There shall be a unifying architectural theme for an entire multi-family or townhouse development, utilizing a common vocabulary of architectural forms, elements, materials, and colors around the entire structure.
FIGURE 12-1: PARKING LOT LOCATION

FIGURE 12-2: HU-MU DISTRICT ILLUSTRATIVE AND SITE DIAGRAM

FIGURE 12-2: HU-MU DISTRICT ILLUSTRATIVE AND SITE DIAGRAM

Adopted by Ord. 29126, 8-12-22, ZD016/22
12.3.B.3 Townhouse and Multi-Family Dwelling Design Standards
See Section 11.3.B for building design standards for townhouse and multi-family dwellings in the Historic Urban Neighborhood Non-Residential Districts.