# Sign Regulations in Bossier City, Louisiana

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Bossier City, Louisiana, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Bossier City, Louisiana (LA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/louisiana/bossier-city
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/LA/Bossier_City/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_APXAUNDECO_ART8EMSIRE)

## At a glance

Bossier City, Louisiana regulates 15 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the National Cyber Research Park Overlay District (NCRP-OD) zoning district are capped at 8 ft 1 in tall, 8 ft 1 in high x 8 ft wide x 12–18 in depth; upper 4 ft for names/logo, lower 4 ft for address/directional, and 8 ft wide, with a Min. 20 ft from public road curb, min. 15 ft from curb of access road setback (Sec. Sec. 5.7.3.R.4.a). Most commercial signs in Bossier City require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residence-Agricultural District (R-A) | 1 | 45 ft or 3 stories, whichever is less | — | — |
| Residential Estate District (R-E), Residential, Low Density District (R-LD), Residential, Medium Density District (R-MD), Residential, High Density District (R-HD), Residential, Manufactured Housing Park District (R-MHP), Residential Manufactured Home Subdivision (R-MHS) | 1 | — | 4 sq ft per side | — |
| Business, Commercial Office District (B-1), Limited Business District (B-2), General Business District (B-3), Downtown Business District (B-4), Interchange Business District (B-5), Light Industrial District (I-1), Heavy Industrial District (I-2), Riverfront Development District (RFD), Racetrack District (RT), Airbase Buffer Zone—North (A-1) | 5 | 35 ft or 2 stories, whichever is less (in B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, and RT except where noted); 45 ft or 3 stories in I-1, I-2; RFD same as B-3 | Max 400 sq ft unless approved by MPC (for single occupancy); refer to Table 8.3.1.B | — |
| Airbase Buffer Zone—South (A-2) | 1 | Same as R-A (45 ft or 3 stories, whichever is less) | — | — |
| Gateway Overlay District (GW-OD) | 2 | — | — | — |
| National Cyber Research Park Overlay District (NCRP-OD) | 3 | 8 ft 1 in | Max 10% of gross area of main building face fronting street (1 sign per firm/complex/building/street frontage); multiple tenants with 2-3: combined 20%; 4 or more: no tenant names, only facility name, max 10% area | — |
| Barksdale Boulevard Redevelopment Overlay District (B-BROD) | 1 | 35 ft (per B-3), except existing nonconforming | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 64 sq ft per sign face without MPC approval | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Business, Commercial Office District (B-1), Limited Business District (B-2), General Business District (B-3), Downtown Business District (B-4), Interchange Business District (B-5), Light Industrial District (I-1), Heavy Industrial District (I-2), Riverfront Development District (RFD), Racetrack District (RT), Airbase Buffer Zone—North (A-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 35 ft or 2 stories, whichever is less (in B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, and RT except where noted); 45 ft or 3 stories in I-1, I-2; RFD same as B-3 | — | — | — | 5 per occupancy per street frontage | On building wall | — | Sec. 8.3.1.A, Tables 6.5 |
| Freestanding Sign | Same as maximum building height: generally 35 ft (see Table 6.5; 75 ft if oriented to interstate or raised expressway and within 400 ft of right-of-way) | Max 400 sq ft unless approved by MPC (for single occupancy); refer to Table 8.3.1.B | — | 5 feet minimum from property line (Sec. 8.3.3D) | 1 sign per street frontage, multi-tenant buildings: 1 per frontage | On premises, not in clear visibility triangle | — | Sec. 8.3.1.B, Table 8.3.1.B, Sec. 8.3.2 |
| Canopy Sign | Same as canopy | 30 sq ft per face (for gas station canopies) | — | — | — | On canopy face | — | Sec. 8.3.1.C |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | Within Wall Sign total allowed | Attached perpendicular to wall; in B-4 district, may abut or overhang right-of-way by permission | — | Sec. 8.3.1.A |
| Changeable Copy Sign | — | Within sign area allocation for wall/freestanding/monument sign | — | — | — | On wall/monument/freestanding sign | — | Sec. 8.3.1.F |

### National Cyber Research Park Overlay District (NCRP-OD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft 1 in | 8 ft 1 in high x 8 ft wide x 12–18 in depth; upper 4 ft for names/logo, lower 4 ft for address/directional | 8 ft | Min. 20 ft from public road curb, min. 15 ft from curb of access road | One per access road to a site | Placed parallel to public road, min. 20 ft from curb of public road, 15 ft from curb of site access road | — | Sec. 5.7.3.R.4.a |
| Incidental Ground Sign | 6 ft | — | 4 ft panel width | Not within 50 ft of public street ROW, 10 ft from curb of access drive | As needed for site traffic | On premises as traffic control/information | — | Sec. 5.7.3.R.4.b |
| Building Mounted Sign | — | Max 10% of gross area of main building face fronting street (1 sign per firm/complex/building/street frontage); multiple tenants with 2-3: combined 20%; 4 or more: no tenant names, only facility name, max 10% area | — | — | 1 per firm/complex/building/street frontage | Directly mounted to building wall | — | Sec. 5.7.3.R.4.c |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 35 sq ft per side (residential/commercial); up to 32 sq ft on unimproved property | — | — | One per street frontage | On property being advertised | — | Sec. 8.2.2.H |
| Political Sign | — | 9 sq ft (in R-Districts except R-A) | — | — | — | On private property | — | Sec. 8.2.2.I |
| Construction Sign | — | 64 sq ft per sign face without MPC approval | — | — | — | On construction site | — | Sec. 8.2.2.F |
| Public Sign | — | — | — | — | As applicable | As required by governmental entity | — | Sec. 8.2.2.A, Sec. 18.2.87 |

## Prohibited signs in Bossier City

- No sign may be constructed, erected, altered, or maintained without a required permit, except for exempt categories specified in the Code.
- All temporary signs are prohibited unless approved in conjunction with a Certificate of Occupancy for a temporary use, are limited in number and size, and subject to expiration.
- Banners or similar cloth-based signs shall not be used as permanent signage or to cover an existing sign for more than 30 days.
- Signs imitating an official traffic sign, signal, or traffic-control device are prohibited.
- Signs over three (3) feet in height are prohibited within a clear visibility triangle at intersections.
- Window and door signs may not occupy more than 50 percent of an individual window or door frame's area.
- No sign or portion of a sign may be constructed of wood, cloth, vinyl, or similar fabric-type material.
- All commercial advertising signs are prohibited in residential districts, except for listed exceptions.
- On-Premises Sign Location Permits may not be assigned to a successor as owner or business license holder.
- If a previously approved or preexisting sign is not in compliance with this Code, it must be removed or brought into compliance before the Certificate of Occupancy may be issued.
- All prohibited sign types listed for off-premises signs (e.g., beacons, windblown devices, pennants, portable signs, signs attached to accessory structures, signs emitting smoke/vapor/odor, etc.) are not allowed anywhere in the jurisdiction.
- No sign may be located or project over a building unless specifically permitted.
- Signs located in the public right-of-way are prohibited.
- It is prohibited to erect, use, install, maintain, or alter a sign in any way not consistent with the requirements of the Code.
- It is a violation to obscure or obstruct any notice required to be posted or otherwise given under the Code.
- No sign shall be of such intensity/brilliance as to impair the vision or hinder operation of a motor vehicle, or to interfere with an official traffic sign, device, or signal.
- Nonconforming signs (on- or off-premises) that are abandoned for six months must not be reestablished.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bossier City

- Public signs, which are exempt from all provisions of the sign ordinance except for required structural and safety regulations.
- Flags of the United States and/or State of Louisiana (and one additional flag), when displayed in accordance with National Flag Code.
- Identification signs (no more than one per entrance).
- Small outdoor signs integral to Retail Sales and Service uses, directed to persons who have already entered the premises, if lettering is no greater than 8 inches high.
- Decorative banners and flags of any type displayed on publicly-owned light poles within a street right-of-way.
- Construction signs identifying architects, engineers, owners, and other firms involved in a project, subject to size limits, no advertisement, and prompt removal after project completion.
- Temporary real estate signs (sale, lease, rent) on the property, limited in number/size, and duration, containing only property availability message.
- Political signs meeting size, placement and duration limitations.
- In residential districts, one home-based business sign of no more than 4 square feet per side, where a valid Certificate of Occupancy exists for a home occupation.
- In non-residential districts, a maximum of 1 banner per building façade, 2 wind feather flags per street frontage, and one inflatable sign for special events (limited in size/placement/frequency), per property.
- Off-premises traffic control signs on private property conforming to engineering standards, with no commercial message.
- Flags of governments, such as state, federal, foreign nations, or agencies, with no commercial connection.
- Garage/yard sales in residential districts are allowed without a permit, but are subject to frequency and duration limits.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A site plan indicating the location and type of all existing and proposed signs is required as part of a Major Site Plan submittal for commercial/retail, office, industrial, and certain planned unit developments.
- On-premises signs requiring a permit must be reviewed and issued under a Sign Location Permit, which must include detailed drawings of dimensions, design, structure, and location for each sign.
- No building permit for a sign may be issued until a Sign Location Permit is first issued by the Executive Director.
- A Sign Location Permit application may include multiple signs for the same lot or parcel.
- Previously approved or preexisting signs must be permitted in accordance with a new Sign Location Permit before a new Certificate of Occupancy may be issued due to change of use or ownership.
- If a preexisting sign is not in compliance, it must be brought into compliance or removed before Certificate of Occupancy is issued.
- Site plans for major commercial projects, planned unit developments, and all conditional/special/operational site plan reviews must show all sign types and locations.
- For Off-Premises signs, a site plan is required with an application for a Sign Location Permit, showing existing/proposed signs, distances, setbacks, and required separation from other signs.
- Amendments to Planned Unit Developments, major subdivisions, and zoning changes may require resubmittal and review of revised site plans (including sign locations) if material changes occur.
- Any exceptions to the on-premises sign requirements must be applied for as a Conditional Use Approval, which necessitates submission of a complete proposal including location, size, material, and elevations for the sign(s).
- All exterior signs in the National Cyber Research Park Overlay District and Commercial District must be reviewed and approved by the Design Review Board for architectural consistency.
- Sign Location Permits may not be assigned to a successor owner or licensee; a new permit application is required for new occupants.
- Temporary Use Permits requiring signage must provide details and may be subject to specific signage limitations as per temporary signage sections.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 8 zoning districts in Bossier City — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Bossier+City+LA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-bossier-city

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