Code of Ordinances

Joseph S. Yenni Building
1221 Elmwood Park Blvd., Suite 601
Jefferson, LA 70123
Phone Numbers:
Planning Main Line      (504) 736-6320
Fax                            (504) 731-4560

Email the Planning Department

Applications

The Code of Ordinances is hosted on the Municode website and may be accessed via the links below. Please note the website may not reflect the most current legislation adopted by the Jefferson Parish Council. Additionally, interim development standards authorized by Parish Council Resolution may be in place. If you are reviewing the Code for proposed development of property, please contact the Planning Department to ensure your design professional has the most up-to-date regulations.

Chapter 25 Article 6 Comprehensive Plan

Chapter 33 Unified Development Code


Chapter 40 Zoning

      Moratoria and Interim Development Standards

      When the Parish Council adopts a resolution that authorizes a study of the parish’s development regulations, it may choose to impose a moratorium or interim development standards during the course of the study. Moratoria or interim development standards go into effect immediately upon adoption of the resolution by the Council, and they stay in place for up to one year but may be extended for up to six additional months. (Chapter 40 Zoning, Sec. 40-880 Permits pending amendments; Moratorium and Chapter 33 UDC, Sec. 33-2.21.5. Approvals pending ordinance amendments; moratorium.)

      The table below lists the moratoria or interim development standards that are currently in effect, with the zoning districts affected and when the moratorium or interim development standards will expire. The table also provides a link to the resolutions which contain the details of the moratoria or interim development standards. 

      Please contact a planner for a complete understanding of these moratoria or interim development standards.

      Districts Affected

      Summary

      Resolution(s)

      Expiration Date

      All properties parishwide

      For reuse of existing nonresidential uses in nonresidential zoning districts, off-site parking is allowed, subject to additional criteria

      Incentives for bicycle parking 

      The following updated off-street parking requirements shall apply:

      • Office: One (1) space per three hundred fifty (350) square feet of gross floor area
      • Restaurant: One (1) space per two hundred fifty (250) square feet of gross floor area
      • General Business, Commercial, or Personal Service Establishments, catering to retail trade, including “Supermarkets”: One (1) space per three hundred (300) square feet of gross floor area
      • Multi-tenant retail center: One (1) space per three hundred (400) square feet of gross floor area

      139454

      141585

      10/6/2023

      All reasonable accommodations applications 
      1. An application for reasonable accommodation may be made by any individual with a disability, his or her representative, or a developer or provider of housing for individuals with disabilities. Additional documents shall be required.
      2. The Department of Building Permits shall forward the application to the Parish Attorney’s Office, which will submit the application to the Land Use Review Technical Committee (LURTC) for review. The written decision to grant, grant with modifications or conditions, or deny a request for reasonable accommodation shall be consistent with applicable fair housing laws and based upon certain factors.
      3. The Parish may condition the approval of a reasonable accommodation or may approve alternative reasonable accommodations.
      4. A reasonable accommodation request does not affect an applicant’s obligations to comply with other applicable regulations not at issue in the requested accommodation.
      5. Any accommodation granted to an individual with a disability shall be considered personal to that individual and shall not run with the land. 

           139786

           139979

           142122

      12/29/2023
      Off-track wagering facilities and gaming establishments

      1. Definitions. Definitions established for off-track wagering facility, historical horse racing, and pari-mutuel wagering.   
      2. Minimum distance. The minimum distance between any off-track wagering facility and any property on the National Register of Historic Places, any public playground, any residential property, or a building used primarily as a church, synagogue, public library, or school shall be one (1) mile.
      3. Additional standards related to historical horse racing:
        1. Historical horse racing shall not be conducted via a machine, website, or mobile application beyond the property of an off-track wagering facility that offers historical horse racing.
        2. Any off-track wagering facility shall have no more than three (3) historical horse racing machines in operation.

      140056

      142400

      1/27/2024
      Single-, two-, three-, and four-family dwellings located in the unincorporated areas of the Parish of Jefferson, on the unprotected side of the West Bank and Vicinity Hurricane Protection Levee
      • Prefabricated or corrugated metal panels, and other related material shall be considered compatible with the existing residential development of the parish and permitted as exterior wall material.
      • The use of prefabricated or corrugated metal panels as exterior wall material shall not require a variance from the Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) or be limited to fifty percent (50%) of the total surface area of any single wall.

      141261

      2/8/2024
      All properties parishwide 
      • Definitions for the following: Firearm(s), firearm related commercial establishments, ammunition, firearm-free zone, school, school campus
        • Additional standards:
          • The minimum distance between any firearm related commercial establishment and any school campus shall be one thousand (1,000) feet, measured in a straight line from the nearest point of the firearm related commercial establishment property line to the nearest point of the property line of the school campus.
          • Provisions related to firearm related commercial establishments shall not apply to existing firearm related commercial establishments legally permitted and operating prior to the adoption date of this resolution.

        141684

        4/12/2024

        Certain properties located between Claiborne Avenue, Causeway Boulevard, and Lausat Street zoned R-3 Multiple-Family Residential District 

        		 R-2 Two-Family Residential District shall apply

        141955

        5/17/2024

        All properties parishwide 
        • Definitions for the following:
          • Assisted living
          • Assisted living facility
          • Board and care home

        142067

        5/26/2024

        Certain properties zoned C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District, C-2 General Commercial District, and R-2, Two-Family Residential District and overlaid with the Commercial Parkway Overlay Zone generally bounded by Airline Drive, Severn Avenue, Johnson Street, Causeway Boulevard, and North Labarre Road.

        		 Commercial Parkway Overlay Zone shall not apply

        142068

        5/26/2024

        All single-family dwellings, excluding townhouses

        Establishes definitions for the following: 

        • Driveway
        • Driveway apron
        • Front yard 
        • Permeable or porous paving 
        • Drive Aisle

        Parking is prohibited in the required front yard, with limited exceptions.

        No more than 50% of a front yard shall be paved, but provisions allow for a variance from the Board of Zoning Adjustments if someone wants to pave above the 50%.

        However, a variance to pave more than 50% can only be granted if the additional coverage is permeable and is of a material approved by the Director of Engineering.

        The regulations also establish a front yard paving application that is submitted to the Department of Building Permits and has a $50.00 fee.

        142202

        6/14/2024 

        Recently Approved Text Amendments

        The Code of Ordinances hosted on the Municode website may not reflect the most current legislation adopted by the Jefferson Parish Council. Below is a list of recently adopted text amendments and their corresponding ordinances.

        Description of Study

        Ordinance No. 

        Council Action Date

        Ordinance Effective Date

        Council Staff Report

        TXT-1-22 – Tree Preservation Study – A text amendment of Chapter 33 Unified Development Code and Chapter 40 Zoning of the Code of Ordinances of the Parish of Jefferson; to amend standards and procedures pertaining to tree preservation, including tree replacement, violations, enforcement, and penalties; and provide for related matters; as authorized by Council Resolution No. 136707 adopted December 9, 2020 and extended via Council Resolution No. 138642 adopted December 8, 2021. (Parishwide)

        		 26480

        9/14/22

        Eastbank

        9/24/2022

        		 TXT-1-22 Report and Graphics

        TXT-3-22 – Housekeeping Study- A text amendment of Chapter 33 Unified Development Code and Chapter 40 Zoning of the Code of Ordinances of the Parish of Jefferson; to amend zoning and development regulations and administrative provisions and procedures, and provide for related matters; as authorized by Council Resolution No. 139765 adopted May 25, 2022. (Parishwide)

        26490

        9/28/22

        Westbank

        10/8/2022

        TXT-3-22 Report and Graphics

        TXT-2-22 – Mechanical Equipment Study – A text amendment of Chapter 33 Unified Development Code and Chapter 40 Zoning of the Code of Ordinances of the Parish of Jefferson; to establish and amend zoning regulations and standards for mechanical equipment; and provide for related matters; as authorized by Council Resolution No. 137391 adopted on March 31, 2021. (Parishwide)

        26526

        12/14/22

        Westbank

        12/24/2022

        TXT-2-22 Report and Graphics

        TXT-1-23 - Green Infrastructure Plan – An ordinance to amend the text of Chapter 25 Planning and Development of the Code of Ordinances of the Parish of Jefferson to adopt the Jefferson Parish Green Infrastructure Plan as a subplan of the Comprehensive Plan, and provide for related matters; as authorized by Council Resolution No. 128317 adopted December 7, 2016. (Parishwide)

        26577

        3/15/23 

        Eastbank

        3/25/2023

        TXT-1-23 Report and Graphics 

        TXT-2-23 PMZ and ICE Renaming - An ordinance to amend Chapter 33 Unified Development Code and Chapter 40 Zoning of the Code of Ordinances of the Parish of Jefferson, to update references for department names, clarify and amend related provisions associated with permitting, applications, and procedures, and provide for related matters. (Parishwide)

        26625

        6/14/23

        Eastbank

        6/24/2023

        TXT-2-23 Report and Graphics