I'm buying property in Lakeview and will build a new structure there. Does anyone have a copy of the subdivision covenants for this area? Setback requirements, side lot requirements, any property restrictions. It would help me to get started with my home design. Thanks

I would also like to know who has this info.
Great Post

I may be incorrect, but I don't believe there are any restrictive covenants in Lakeview other than the New Orleans Zoning Ordinance. Lake Vista has covenants that are more restrictive than the City, but when doing any architectural plans for Lakeview, I've followed the city setbacks and limitations.
You can go to the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance through the City's website, but try:

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If you know which zoning district you're in, then you can look up all of the setback requirements for your lot. Make sure you're looking at the right list- if you fax a survey to the Planning Dept. they can tell you which residential district that you live in.
Good luck!

I thought there is something with the height of the home, driveways, etc....

The height restriction is 35'. (This is to the mid-point of the roof from grade). I'm not sure if they're going to give variances for this or not. If some people want to build up, this may be restrictive. There are alot of people that will fight it, though.

There are no stipulations that the driveways need to be in the rear instead of the front. Some of the newer houses have driveways in the front. It is not addressed in the City Ordinances.

A typical Lakeview 50' lot has an aggregate side yard requirement of 10' (3' minimum and a total of 10'). The rear yard depends upon the depth of your lot (it's usually 20% with a maximum). You need to keep 40% of the rear yard area green (in other words, you can't put a detached 3 car garage in the rear yard at the alley).

Asked Leslie Alley to weigh in on the zoning related questions. Here's her reply.




On the first question relative to covenants:

Generally there are no restrictive covenants other than in Lake Vista which falls under Levee Board jurisdiction. The City of New Orleans does assist in enforcement of the Levee Board regs. Homeowners will need plan approval from the Levee Board prior to obtaining a Building Permit from the City of New Orleans.

Each individual zoning district has a height, area and bulk chart included in its regulations that goes thru the requirements for setback, paving, parking etc.. for all properties. These are all listed in the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance which is on the City Planning Commission's page on the City of New Orleans site

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The twist in Lakeview is that there is an overlay district (IZD) in the RD-2 Two-Family Residential zoned portions, that establishes increased restrictions on the building of doubles, as well as increase setback and decreased height limits for both single and two-family.

If someone is looking to develop in that RD-2 zoned section, they should contact the Councilmember's Office 658-1010 or City Planning 658-7000 and get a copy of that Interim Zoning District (IZD) Ordinance.

Anyone that has an existing double and wants to build it back on the exact same foot print at the exact same cubical content can. They need to get permits within one year of the damage and have one year from the date of the permit to finish construction.

Relative to driveways, the CZO does not address driveways, rather parking spaces and paving allowances. You cannot pave more than 40% of the required front yard setback, which will be on the chart I mentioned above, and it typically is the first 20 feet of the lot. Additionally, you cannot provide your required parking space in that 20 foot setback. It must be behind the 20 foot line or the building line, whichever is the smaller.

Lakeshore, Lake Vista, Lake Terrace and Lake Oaks all have building restrictions in addition to the City of New Orleans requirements.

Cheers,
C.