# Sign Regulations in Westwego, Louisiana

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Westwego, Louisiana (LA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/louisiana/westwego
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/LA/Westwego/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH34PLZO_ARTIIZO_S34-67GESIRE)

## At a glance

Westwego, Louisiana regulates 17 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Detached Sign (Option 1)s in the C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District zoning district are capped at District maximum (45 feet) tall and 300 square feet, with a Shall comply with district yard or sign regulations; permitted in front yard when 75+ ft from R-1/R-2 (Sec. 34-67(a)(2)) setback (Sec. Sec. 34-63(b)(19)a). Most commercial signs in Westwego require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| B-1 Batture District | 2 | — | 12 square feet | — |
| R-1 Single-Family Residential District, R-2 Two-Family Residential District | 3 | — | 12 square feet | — |
| R-3 Multiple-Family Residential District | 1 | — | 20 square feet | — |
| C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District | 4 | District maximum (45 feet) | 300 square feet | — |
| C-2 General Commercial District | 5 | District maximum (65 feet) | 850 square feet | — |
| M Industrial District | 2 | — | 850 square feet | — |
| C-V-1 Village District | 1 | — | Not to exceed 20% of the primary building frontage elevation area | — |
| SHD-1 Salaville Historic District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 32 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### R-1 Single-Family Residential District, R-2 Two-Family Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bulletin Board (Churches, Temples, Educational/Public Buildings) | — | 12 square feet | — | Shall comply with yard requirements of district. | 1 per lot | Premises of church, temple, educational institution, or public building | — | Sec. 34-60(b)(2), Sec. 34-61(b)(1), Sec. 34-67(c)(3) |
| Sign (For Sale/Rent/Lease) | — | 12 square feet | — | Shall comply with yard requirements of district. | 1 per lot | On property which is for rent, lease, or sale | — | Sec. 34-60(b)(2), Sec. 34-61(b)(1); Sec. 34-67(c)(3) |
| Nameplate (Home Occupation/Accessory Use) | — | 2 square feet | — | Shall comply with yard requirements of district. | 1 per home occupation or accessory use | Building wall, visible from outside | — | Sec. 34-60(b)(6),(15),(17),(18); Sec. 34-67(c)(3) |

### C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Detached Sign (Option 1) | District maximum (45 feet) | 300 square feet | — | Shall comply with district yard or sign regulations; permitted in front yard when 75+ ft from R-1/R-2 (Sec. 34-67(a)(2)) | 1 per lot (2 if corner lot, frontage >300 ft) | On-premises, in required front yard allowed if 75+ feet from R-1/R-2 | — | Sec. 34-63(b)(19)a |
| Roof Sign (Option 2) | District maximum (not to exceed height limitation) | 300 square feet | — | Shall comply with district yard or sign regulations | 1 per lot (2 if corner lot, frontage >300 ft) | On-premises, installed on building roof | — | Sec. 34-63(b)(19)a |
| Wall Sign / Other Exterior Signs Combined | — | No total size listed; not to exceed 15% of primary building frontage | — | — | Not specified, area controlled | Building elevations; windows; awnings | — | Sec. 34-63(b)(19)b |
| Marquee Sign (Theaters) | — | 200 square feet | — | — | 1 per theater | Free-standing marquee at theater | — | Sec. 34-63(b)(19)a |

### C-2 General Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Detached Sign (Main Frontage, 0-400 linear feet, Option 1) | District maximum (65 feet) | 450 square feet | — | Shall comply with district yard or sign regulations; permitted in required front yard when 75+ ft from R-1/R-2 (Sec. 34-67(a)(2)) | 1 per lot; developments >400 ft may have additional per 400 ft | On-premises, in required front yard allowed if 75+ ft from R-1/R-2 | — | Sec. 34-64(b)(31)a |
| Wall Sign / Other Exterior Signs Combined | — | Not to exceed 20% of primary building frontage elevation area; see also area calculations for setbacks of 200 ft or more | — | — | Not specified, area controlled | Any building elevation; windows/awnings included in calculation | — | Sec. 34-64(b)(31)c,d; Sec. 34-67(a)(3) |
| Roof Sign | District maximum (65 feet), and shall not project more than 6 feet above highest point of main structure except West Bank Expressway | 450 square feet | — | — | 1 per lot; more for larger developments | On-premises roof | — | Sec. 34-64(b)(31)a; Sec. 34-67(a)(6) |
| Marquee Sign (Theaters) | — | 400 square feet | — | — | 1 per theater | Free-standing marquee at theater | — | Sec. 34-64(b)(31)a |
| General Advertising Sign | — | 850 square feet | 50 feet | — | 1 / 500 ft of frontage (per side) | On-premises in C-2 only | — | Sec. 34-67(b); Sec. 34-74(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Westwego

- Pennants, banners, streamers, and other fluttering, spinning or similar type signs and advertising devices are prohibited except for national flags, flags of political subdivisions, flags of bona fide civic, charitable, fraternal, religious and welfare organizations, and up to three flags with the name/logo of a business located on the premises; temporary allowance requires city council resolution.
- No sign shall be erected, constructed, posted, painted, altered, maintained, or relocated without a permit from the director of inspection and code enforcement, unless specifically exempted.
- The erection of billboards and/or renting of space on private signs for billboards or advertising of other companies by any person within the city limits is prohibited.
- Animated and scintillating lights are permitted only in C-2 General Commercial Districts and must be limited to 11 watts of illumination.
- Beacon lights are permitted only as required by the Federal Aviation Administration or other governmental agencies.
- Signs may only be erected in the required front yard in specified districts (R-3, C-1, C-2, M-1 with certain distance from R-1 and R-2); in other districts, front yard signs are not permitted.
- Roof signs on buildings shall not project more than six feet above the highest point of the main structure except on the West Bank Expressway.
- Portable signs, pole signs, and roof signs are not permitted in the C-V-1 Village District (only wall signs allowed).
- No sign shall be approved for use unless it has been inspected by the permitting department and is found to be in compliance with this article and other applicable technical codes.
- Every sign requiring a permit must be clearly marked with the permit number and the name of the person or firm placing the sign on the premises, marking placed no higher than six feet above grade.
- Billboards are only permitted as general advertising signs, subject to distance and zoning limitations (see general advertising sign regulation).
- General advertising signs (billboards) are only permitted in C-2 and M-1 (Industrial) districts.
- Only one general advertising (billboard) sign is permitted per every 500 feet on the same side of the street, and only single-faced or double-faced on corner lots.
- Maximum length and area for general advertising signs are enforced (max 50 feet length and 850 square feet area).

## Signs exempt from permit in Westwego

- Official traffic signs, warning signs or signs’ structures, and temporary signs indicating danger, when erected or required by a governmental agency, are exempt from these sign regulations.
- Temporary nonilluminated signs, not more than eight square feet in area, advertising real estate for sale or lease or announcing contemplated improvements, and located on the premises (one per street frontage), are exempt from permit requirements.
- Except in R-1, R-2, R-3 districts, temporary nonilluminated signs not more than 64 square feet in area erected in connection with new construction work and displayed during the time actual construction is in progress (one per street frontage), are exempt from permit requirements.
- Cornerstone or tablet of bronze, brass or other noncombustible material built into or attached to a wall, stating only name, use, date, owner, architect, number, public officials, or commemorative information, is exempt from permit requirements.
- Signage on trucks, buses, or other operable vehicles while in use in the normal course of business is exempt, as long as the vehicle is not used as a permanent identification device or to circumvent other sign regulations.
- Signs necessary for address identification are exempt from permit requirements.
- Temporary political signs, maximum 32 square feet, are exempt from permit requirements.
- A sign limited to the identification of a structure (in an R-3 Multiple-Family Residential zone) up to 20 square feet may be permitted in the front yard area.
- Directional signs (up to 10 square feet each) giving direction to motorists or pedestrians about parking, access and egress, are permitted as accessory signs and not included in total sign area computations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit requirement for a master sign plan or sign plan appears in the ordinance.
- Permit applications for signs (unless exempted) must be filed with the director of inspection and code enforcement, including two sets of drawings/specifications by a licensed architect or engineer (unless the total sign area is less than 20 sq ft or the sign is a general advertising sign/accessory sign with anticipated copy change).
- Permit applications for electrically illuminated signs require an additional electrical permit, UL seal, and separate inspection.
- All signs must be inspected and found compliant with building code and sign ordinance before use.
- In mixed use developments, a preliminary site plan must include all proposed signage shown on elevations, and must be reviewed as part of the development approval process.
- All nonconforming signs must be labeled as such during the inventory process.

## 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 9 zoning districts in Westwego — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Westwego+LA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-westwego

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/louisiana/westwego