Calcasieu Parish Code Enforcement – Agricultural and Residential Zoning

Note: This is the fourth article in a series on code enforcement in Calcasieu Parish. This article highlights agricultural and residential zoning districts, including highlights of what may or may not be allowed in each. Remember that code enforcement is not law enforcement. There are items in our code of ordinances that may involve law enforcement, but this blog will focus on the “other” things.

If you’re on my email list or if you follow me on Facebook, you’ve likely seen the agendas I share prior to Calcasieu Parish Planning & Zoning board meetings. This board regularly reviews requests for re-zoning or requests for variances within an existing zone. These may be as minor as an accessory building being one foot closer to a property line than allowed, but it can also be as big as rezoning an entire tract from industrial to residential or vice versa. 

But how do you know you need a variance…or whether your neighbor does? The Calcasieu Parish Code of Ordinances lays it all out. 

If you’ve got specific questions, I’d suggest contacting the Calcasieu Parish Division of Planning & Development. I’ll cover the basics in this series, but consider this a brief overview. Always check the code of ordinances or contact the experts at the Division of Planning & Development if you need more information. 

This article focuses on agricultural and residential zoning. Check out my other posts on commercial and industrial zones!

What is zoning...and why do we do it?

Zoning is an effort to create a broad plan and vision for a community. If it’s done well, we can ensure property values are protected and that larger considerations – like drainage for all properties – are correctly managed. 

As with other code enforcement issues, the Calcasieu Parish Division of Planning & Development monitors zoning in unincorporated areas of the parish. Any property that falls within the limits of a city is subject to that municipality’s zoning requirements. That said, there are plenty of areas in Calcasieu Parish where unincorporated areas may be impacted by properties inside a city’s limits. In that case, contact your police juror. We’re happy to help start conversations between parish residents and city officials. 

In Calcasieu Parish, properties may fall into one of several zoning categories and thus be subject to that zone’s restrictions. Click here for an interactive parish map to identify zones relevant to your property, and read on for more.

Agricultural Zones (A-1)

These zones aren’t just for farmland! Agricultural zones may include animal hospitals, churches, cemeteries, community homes, modular homes, wildlife reservations, and more. There are also built-in exceptions for things like airports, borrow pits, schools and shooting ranges, among others. 

Zone	Lot Size	Building Height	Density	Setback/Frontage	Buffer Strips/Yards	Notes
A-1	0.5 - 1 acre	Max 35 feet	N/A	100-125 ft	30 ft (front) 10 ft (sides) 15 ft (back)	Lot size & setbacks vary depending on development size, sewer systems & water service.

Residential Zones

There are many types of residential zones, and various types of housing may fall into different zones. Some standards apply to all residential zones, including:

• Accessory buildings: Accessory buildings must be at least 3 feet from a property line (60 ft from the front if in a side yard). Full guidelines are outlined in Chapter 26, Article III, Division 7 of the Code of Ordinances.

  • They may not exceed 2,000 square feet (on lots 0-1.99 acres) or 3,500 square feet (on lots 2-3.99 acres). Lots of 4+ acres have no maximum. 

  • Height may never exceed 17 feet. 

  • The purpose of accessory buildings must comply with existing ordinances and not cause excessive annoyance or injury to neighbors. 

• Driveways: These standards are meant to promote safe and efficient access. In some cases, certain development types may require additional driveway frontage. When the requirements differ, the more stringent rule applies. 

  • See Article III, Division 4 for specifics on driveways. 

• Borrow pits and ponds: Those not required as a drainage/runoff feature must have a setback of at least 50 feet from all property lines, right-of-way lines or easements.

R-1: Single Family Residential This zone includes single family detached dwellings at a density of one per lot (excluding manufactured homes). But it may also include things like churches, museums, community homes, private schools and temporary buildings (associated with construction for a period of up to six months). The zoning board also may allow exceptions for single-unit manufactured or modular homes, railroads, daycares and more. 

Zone	Lot Size	Building Height	Density	Setback/Frontage	Buffer Strips/Yards	Notes
R-1	0.17 - 1 acre	Max 35 feet	1 per lot	100-125 ft	30 ft (front) 5 ft (sides) 15 ft (back)	Lot size & setbacks vary depending on development size, sewer systems & water service.

R-2: Mixed Residential Similar to R-1, R-2 zones allow single family dwellings at a density of one per lot. Unlike R-1, R-2 zones explicitly allow duplexes, modular homes and manufactured homes at a density of one per lot. The same other uses and exceptions as in R-1 may apply, with the addition of triplexes and fourplexes (one per lot) also available as an exception.

Zone	Lot Size	Building Height	Density	Setback/Frontage	Buffer Strips/Yards	Notes
R-2	0.17 - 1 acre	Max 35 feet	1 per lot (incl single duplex)	100-125 ft	25 ft (front) 3.5 ft (sides) 15 ft (back)	Lot size & setbacks vary depending on development size, sewer systems & water service.

R-M: Multi-Family Residential

In R-M zones, you can expect to find apartments, cluster housing, university dormitories, townhouses and more. This zone also permits things like cemeteries, single family residences (excluding manufactured homes), churches, bed and breakfast facilities, and more. Exceptions may be granted for things like daycares and professional offices, among others. 

Unlike other residential zones, this one has more specific driveway requirements that hinge on the type of street, speed limit, type of dwelling and more. Check out Article III, Division 4 of the Code of Ordinances for more information.

Zone	Lot Size	Building Height	Density	Setback/Frontage	Buffer Strips/Yards	Notes
R-M	R-2 min for single family only	Max 50 ft	7 per acre	See Article III, Division 4.	20 ft (front) 2.5 ft (sides) 15 ft (back)	Screening/fences are subject to Article III, Division 6. This section includes guidance on materials, placement and more.

R-MHP (Manufactured Home Park)

This zone generally has the same permitted uses as R-M, with the addition of manufactured home parks (leased or for sale). Exceptions may apply for airports, business and professional offices, drug stores, personal service shops, utilities and more. 

Zone	Lot Size	Building Height	Density	Setback/Frontage	Buffer Strips/Yards	Notes
R-MHP	0.11 - 1 acre	Max 50 ft	7 per acre for duplex,condo, etc.	See Article III, Division 4.	15 ft (front) 3.5 ft (sides) 5 ft (back)	- Lot size minimums vary depending on the type of dwelling and/or development. - Screening/fences are subject to Article III, Division 6.

R-RVP: Recreational Vehicle Park

This zone is similar to R-MHP except that it explicitly allows RV parks with rental spaces. It has similar exceptions for things like convenience stores, bed and breakfast facilities, duplexes, utilities and more. 

This zone allows RV parks alongside other types of housing or other uses. But it’s important to note that RV parks must also meet the requirements laid out in Article III, Division 13. These include things like:

• Solid waste disposal – RV parks must have a central collection point or disposal system that is well-maintained and enclosed with an 8-foot fence built from approved materials. 

• Development size – RV parks may only be developed on lots of at least 1 acre (within the urban service area) or 2 acres (outside the urban service area). 

• Buffer – No RV may be parked within 20 feet of a property line. 

Click here for more details on the specific restrictions that apply to RV parks.

Zone	Lot Size	Building Height	Density	Setback/Frontage	Buffer Strips/Yards	Notes
R-RVP	0.05 - 1 acre	Max 50 ft	1 per lot	See Article III, Division 4.	15 ft (front) 3.5 ft (sides) 5 ft (back)	- Lot size minimums vary depending on the type of dwelling and/or development. - Screening/fences are subject to Article III, Division 6. - See Article III, Division 13 for additional requirements for RV parks.

Questions?

Zoning is extremely nuanced – even more so as various exceptions are granted by the Planning & Zoning Board. Please don’t rely on this blog post for specifics, as countless alternatives exist within the Code of Ordinances. 

If you’ve reviewed the code and still aren’t sure about something, contact the Calcasieu Parish Division of Planning and Development. They’ll be glad to help!  What would you like to know more about? 

In this ongoing series, I’ll address various sections of the Calcasieu Parish Code of Ordinances. Have specific questions or topics you’d like to see covered? Let me know!