"The mission for the Planning and Zoning Division is to provide guidance for growth and change in Monroe while maintaining and enhancing the high quality of life. The mission is fulfilled through the use of generally acceptable planning principles and enforcement of the City's policies and procedures, codes, and programs."

FLOOD REPAIR PERMITING/FEMA & NFIP COMPLIANCE FOR APRIL 27, 2011
THE CITY OF MONROE PLANNING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS REQUIRING CITIZENS THAT THEIR HOMES WERE FLOODED IN THE APRIL 27, 2011 FLOOD TO OBTAIN RENOVATION PERMIT FROM THE DEPARTMENT FROM OUR OFFICE LOCATED AT 3901 JACKSON STREET, MONROE LA. 71202. THIS WILL ALLOW FEMA AND THE NFIP TO DOCUMENT AND AUTHENTICATE THE FACT THEIR HOMES ARE FLOODED.

The Planning and Zoning Division works with various land development ordinances and plans. These include the Comprehensive Plan and its elements, the zoning ordinance, the subdivision ordinance, the telecommunications ordinance, the landscape ordinance, the off-premise sign ordinance, and the Historic Preservation ordinance.

The Comprehensive Plan - A comprehensive long-range plan intended to guide the growth and development of a community. The plan includes analysis, recommendations and proposals for the community's population, economy, housing, transportation community facilities and land use. The plan sets the basic policies for the development of and in the city. The various ordinances listed above are the implementing tools the planner uses to regulate the development of the land as written in the comprehensive plan.

The Zoning Ordinance - Zoning is the legal regulation of the use of the land. The Zoning Ordinance is made up of two parts - a map and a text of regulations.

The Zoning Ordinance refers to the local law containing the zoning requirements of the jurisdiction. The ordinance divides a community into districts or zones, and regulates land use activity in each district, specifying the permitted uses of land and buildings, the intensity or density of such uses, and the bulk (size) of buildings on the land.

The Zoning Map simply shows the boundaries and labels of zones into which the community has been divided. Legally it is adopted as a supplement to the local zoning ordinance.

The Subdivision Ordinance - governs both the division of land into two or more lots, parcels, or sites for building and the location, design, and installation of supporting infrastructure.

Telecommunications Ordinance - This ordinance governs the location and type of telecommunications towers in the City.

Landscape Ordinance - This ordinance govern land which is being developed to have substantial landscaping area placed on the site. This would include frontage strips with trees, interior tree planting area and flower/bush planting areas. Variances can be sought through the review of the City Council.

Off premise Sign Ordinance - This ordinance governs the location, spacing, height, lighting and placement of off-premise advertising signs within the city.

Historic Preservation Ordinance - This ordinance governs any work in the erection of any new building, or in the structural alteration, addition to, or demolition of any existing building, any portion of which new building, alteration, or addition is to front on any public street in any historical district in the City of Monroe.

Planning and Zoning Division also acts as staff for the Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment and the Heritage Preservation Commission. Staff process applications and aid in conducting public hearings for:

• Planning Approval
• Planning Approval/Special Exceptions
• Variances
• Annexations
• Revocations of streets or alleys
• Dedication of streets
• Planned Building Groups
• Zoning Ordinance text and map changes
• Historic District developments

Update and keep the following maps on file:

• Zoning
• Council District
• Neighborhood
• Flood Zone
• City Limits
• Census Tract
• Enterprise Zone and Empowerment Community Zone
• Historic District
• Schools and Parks
• Mobile Home Distribution
• Subdivision