Case Name: Fisher E. SIMMONS, Jr. and H. D. Webster, M.D. v. The BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENTS FOR the CITY OF NEW ORLEANS et al.
Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1976-10-13
Citations: 338 So. 2d 752
Docket Number: No. 7584
Parties: Fisher E. SIMMONS, Jr. and H. D. Webster, M.D. v. The BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENTS FOR the CITY OF NEW ORLEANS et al.
Judges: Before SAMUEL, REDMANN and SCHOTT, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 338
Pages: 752–753

Head Matter:
Fisher E. SIMMONS, Jr. and H. D. Webster, M.D. v. The BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENTS FOR the CITY OF NEW ORLEANS et al.
No. 7584.
Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fourth Circuit.
Oct. 13, 1976.
Rehearing Denied Nov. 16, 1976.
Henry B. Alsobrook, Jr., Robert E. Couh-ig, Jr., Adams & Reese, New Orleans, for plaintiffs-appellants.
Philip R. Riegel, Jr., Sydney J. Parlongue, New Orleans, for intervenors-appellees.
Joseph E. Berrigan, Jr., New Orleans, for defendants-appellees.
Before SAMUEL, REDMANN and SCHOTT, JJ.

Opinion:
REDMANN, Judge.
Residence-owners whose lot adjoins the rear of a corner lot appeal from a judgment upholding New Orleans' having granted permits for construction of an accessory building on that rear line.
We reject the argument that the zoning ordinance unconstitutionally differentiates by allowing construction on rear lines but not-side lines (here, the common line between the lots): art. 10 § 12(2) allows construction on [interior] side as well as on rear lines.
We also reject the argument that the neighbors' having begun work (with expired permits) prior to obtaining (valid) permits should visit upon them some penalty other than the doubled or quadrupled permit fees of Building Code arts. 204-205. One has "the right to use, to enjoy and to dispose of one's property in the most unlimited manner, provided it is not used in any way prohibited by laws or ordinances." C.C. 491. The neighbors' work was not, in substance, contrary to any ordinance. It was, in procedure, contrary to Building Code art. 201's requirement of a permit: but that Code only penalizes work started without a permit, if the work is otherwise permittable, by increased permit fees.
Affirmed.