Keywords:
THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS
ADOPTED AT THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WESTLAKE,
LOUISIANA ON
APRIL 20, 2026.
ORDINANCE
NO. 1085
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF WESTLAKE, LOUISIANA PROHIBITING THE PLACEMENT OR CONSTRUCTION OF ACCESSORY BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES IN THE FRONT YARD OF ANY RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY; REQUIRING THE REMOVAL OF EXISTING ACCESSORY STRUCTURES LOCATED IN FRONT YARDS; PROVIDING DEFINITIONS; PROVIDING FOR ENFORCEMENT, PENALTIES, APPEALS, ABATEMENT, AND COST RECOVERY; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR RELATED MATTERS.
BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Westlake, Louisiana and in Regular Session convened, that:
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Westlake finds that accessory buildings located within front yard areas negatively impact the visual appearance of neighborhoods and commercial areas and may reduce surrounding property values; and WHEREAS, the City Council further finds that such structures may obstruct visibility for motorists and pedestrians near streets, intersections, and driveways, thereby creating potential hazards to the public health, safety, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City finds it necessary to regulate the placement of accessory buildings and structures in order to promote orderly development and protect the safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of Westlake.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City
of Westlake, in legal session convened:
Section 1: Definitions
For purpose of this ordinance, the following definitions shall apply:
Accessory Building or Structure: A subordinate building or structure detached from the principal building and located on the same lot, the use of which is incidental to the principal building.
Such structures may include but are not limited to:
Storage sheds
Portable buildings
Prefabricated buildings
Detached garages
Workshops
Metal buildings
Shipping containers used for storage
Similar detached accessory structures
Portable or Temporary Building: Any building or structure capable of being transported or relocated, including structures placed on skids, trailers, blocks, or similar supports.
Principal Building: The primary building located on a lot in which the principal use of the property is conducted.
Front Yard: The open space extending across the full width of the lot between the front property line and the nearest point of the principal building.
Corner Lots: For purposes of this ordinance, any lot having frontage on two intersecting streets shall be considered to have two front yards, both of which shall be subject to the provisions of this ordinance.
SECTION 2: Structures Subject to this Ordinance
For purposes of enforcement, the provisions of this ordinance shall apply to any structure placed within a front yard, regardless of the description or label assigned by the property owner.
Structures subject to this ordinance may include but are not limited to:
Playhouses
Garden structures
Tool sheds
Equipment covers
Lawn equipment shelters
Pool equipment enclosures
Animal shelters or small barns
Any roofed, enclosed, or partially enclosed accessory structure.
No structure shall be exempt from the requirements of this ordinance solely because it is described as a playhouse, decorative structure, garden structure, equipment cover, temporary structure, or similar designation.
The determination of whether a structure constitutes an accessory structure under this ordinance shall be made by the Citys Building Official or Code Enforcement Officer.
SECTION 3: Prohibition
No person shall place, construct, install, maintain, or allow any accessory building, portable building, or temporary structure to be located within the front yard of any residential or commercial property located within the corporate limits of the City of Westlake, Louisiana.
Accessory structures may only be located in side or rear yards in accordance with all applicable zoning and building regulations of the City.
Temporary placement or storage of accessory structures within the front yard is prohibited.
SECTION 4: Public Safety and Visibility Protection
The City Council finds that structures located within front yard areas may obstruct driver and pedestrian visibility near
intersections and driveways.
Accessory structures located within front yards may interfere with visibility triangles necessary for safe vehicular travel, including sight lines required for street intersections, driveways and pedestrian crossings.
The regulations contained in this ordinance are therefore necessary to protect public safety, traffic visibility, and emergency vehicle access.
SECTION 5: Removal of Existing Structures
Any accessory building or structure located within a front yard as defined herein shall be removed within ninety (90) days from the effective date of this ordinance.
No such structure shall be considered a legal nonconforming
use, and no grandfathering shall apply.
Failure to remove the structure within the required period shall constitute a violation of this ordinance.
SECTION 6: Notice of Violation
Upon determination that a violation exists, the Citys Code Enforcement Officer, Building Official, or other authorized representative shall issue a written Notice of Violation.
Such notice shall:
1. Identify the property adddress;
2. Describe the violation;
3. Provide a deadline for compliance;
4. Inform the property owner of penalties;
5. Inform the property owner of the right to appeal.
Notice may be provided by Certified Mail, hand delivery or posting notice on the property.
SECTION 8: Penalties
1. Any violation shall be subject to the following graduated fines per 30 day period of noncompliance:
a. $100 for the first 30 days;
b. $250 for the second 30 days;
c. $500 for the third 30 days and each successive 30 day period thereafter until compliance is achieved.
2.Each successive 30 day period that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.
3.The assessment of fines does not relieve the property owner of the obligation to correct the violation.
SECTION 9: Appeals
Any person cited for violation of this ordinance may appeal by appearing before the Mayors Court of the City of Westlake within fifteen (15) days of receiving notice of the violation.
The Court may uphold the violation; dismiss the violation; or modify the compliance deadline when appropriate.
SECTION 10: Enforcement and Presumption of Responsibility
It shall be unlawful for any owner, occupant, lessee, tenant, agent, contractor, or other person having control of property to place or allow any accessory building to remain in violation of this
ordinance.
Both the property owner and the occupant may be cited and held responsible.
The record owner of the property, as reflected in the parish tax records, shall be presumed responsible for violations occurring on the property.
Each day that a violation exists after the expiration of the compliance period shall constitute a continuing violation, and violations my be enforced in thirty day increments.
The Ordinance may be enforced by Code Enforcement Officer, Building Officials, Police Officers and any authorized
representative of the City.
SECTION 10: Abatement by the City
If a violation continues after notice and expiration of the compliance period, and after any appeal process has concluded, the City may enter the property and remove the accessory structure in violation.
All costs incurred by the City shall be charged to the property owner. Such costs may be recovered through civil action, assessment as a municipal lien against the property, and any lawful method permitted under Louisiana law.
SECTION 11: Severability
If any section or provision of this ordinance is declared invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction,
such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions.
SECTION 12: Repeal of Conflicting Ordinances
All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict.
SECTION 13: Effective Date
This ordinance shall become effective upon adoption and publication in the official journal fo the City of Westlake as
required by law.
THIS ORDINANCE having been introduced on March 16, 2026, publication of proposed Ordinance having been published, the title having been read with opportunity for discussion and the Ordinance considered, on motion of Council Member Peterson and seconded by Council Member Brown, to adopt the Ordinance, a record vote was taken and the following result was had:
YEAS: Peterson, Cryer, and Brown.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Rougeou and Harrison.
ABSTAINED: None.
THUS ADOPTED AND APPROVED at Westlake, Louisiana on this 20th day of April, 2026.
HAL MCMILLIN, MAYOR
ATTEST:
ANDREA MAHFOUZ, CITY CLERK
Apr 28 1t
2115193
Notice Cost- $251.50