The C-1, Commercial, Zoning Designation Means Different Permitted Uses In Orleans and Jefferson Parish

You would think if a property in Orleans Parish has the same zoning designation as a property in Jefferson Parish, that the permitted use would be the same. Logical, but not true. In Orleans Parish, the C-1, Commercial, zoning designation allows residential, single-family development, but in Jefferson Parish, new single family development is not allowed. You have to read the Jefferson Parish Zoning Code carefully, since the language initially states residential is allowed, but that means existing residential. If you are developing residential on vacant land in Jefferson Parish, you cannot do so in C-1 zoning. Here is how the zoning code actually reads in each parish. Notice how in Orleans Parish you have to follow the lineage since one zoning designation allows a different zoning designation.

C-1 Zoning, Jefferson Parish, Sec. 40-322. Permitted Uses

In C-1 districts only the following uses of property shall be permitted:

(1)  Any existing stand-alone single-family, two-family, three-family, or four-family dwelling shall be recognized as a conforming use; however, the existing stand alone single-, two-, three-, or four-family dwelling cannot be restored if it is destroyed beyond seventy-five (75) percent or more of its value.

C-1 Zoning, Orleans Parish, 5.7.3.? Permitted Uses

The following uses of land are authorized as permitted uses with the C-1 General Commercial District subject to the performance standards of Section 7.5:

1. Any use permitted in the B-1 or B-2 Neighborhood Business District without limitations to floor area.

B-1 Zoning, Orleans Parish, 5.4.3.? Permitted Uses

The following uses of land are authorized as permitted uses in the B-1 Neighborhood Business District subject to the performance standards of Section 7.5, except that timeshare buildings, transient vacation rentals, bowling alleys, and uses which sell alcohol for consumption on the premises or for consumption off the premises occupying 5,000 square feet or less are prohibited.

1. Any use permitted in the RM-1 Multiple-Family Residential District.

B-2 Zoning, Orleans Parish, 5.6.3.? Permitted Uses

The following uses of land are permitted uses within the B-2 Neighborhood Business District subject to the performance standards of Section 7.5, except that timeshare buildings, transient vacation rentals, and bowling alleys are prohibited:

1. Any use permitted in the B-1 Neighborhood Business District or the RM-2 Multiple-Family Residential District.

RM-1 Zoning Orleans Parish, 4.8.3.? Permitted Uses

The following uses of land are authorized as permitted uses in the RM-1 Multiple-Family Residential District except that timeshare buildings and transient vacation rentals are prohibited:

1. Any permitted use authorized in the RS-1 Single-Family Residential District.

RM-2 Zoning Orleans Parish, 4.9.3.? Permitted Uses

The following uses of land are authorized as permitted uses in the RM-2 Multiple-Family Residential District except that timeshare buildings and transient vacation rentals are prohibited:

1. Any permitted use authorized in the RS-1 Single-Family Residential District.

RS-1 Zoning, Orleans Parish, 4.1.3.? Permitted Uses

The following uses of land are authorized as permitted uses within the RS-1 Single-Family Residential District, except that timeshare buildings and transient vacation rentals are prohibited:

1. Detached single-family dwellings.

The chart below summarizes the Orleans Parish Zoning Code relationships for the C-1, Commercial, designation.

zoning code chart

Figure 1-Orleans Parish Zoning Ordinance C-1