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A.(1)(a)  Whenever the governing authority of any port commission, or in the absence of such commission, the governing authority of a municipality having a population in excess of five thousand inhabitants, owns, leases, or otherwise lawfully occupies or uses property on a navigable river, lake, or stream, which is within the territorial limits of such commission or municipality, or the bed of such river, lake, or stream adjacent to such property, and the governing authority in its discretion determines that the needs of commerce, navigation, or other public purposes respecting such property are being satisfied and would not be unduly interfered with, the governing authority may permit and grant to the riparian owner or owners, or their lessees or persons occupying with the riparian owner’s consent, the use of such property owned, leased, or otherwise lawfully occupied or used, including the air space above any wharves, buildings, or improvements constructed by the governing authority, for the construction and maintenance of buildings or improvements for any purpose, including residential purposes.

(b)  The use and construction of any buildings or improvements on such property by the riparian owner, or owners, or their lessees or persons occupying with the riparian owner’s consent, shall be subject to the terms and conditions, including compensation to be paid to the governing authority, which the governing authority in its discretion determines to be appropriate under the circumstances.

(c)(i)  These terms and conditions may include arrangements whereby any wharves, buildings, or other improvements made by the governing authority on such property may be made to connect with or provide structural support to buildings or improvements which the riparian owner or owners, or their lessees or persons occupying with the riparian owner’s consent, have been granted permission to erect; or

(ii)  They may include arrangements whereby separate structural supports may be provided for any building or improvements constructed by the riparian owner or owners, or their lessees or persons occupying with the riparian owner’s consent, in the air space over any wharves, buildings, or improvements of the governing authority, whether by extending such supports through the wharves, buildings, or other improvements constructed by the authority, or otherwise.

(d)  Unless expressly provided otherwise by the governing authority in writing, any buildings or improvements erected by the owner or owners, or their lessees or persons occupying with the riparian owner’s consent, and any use made thereof, or any activity conducted thereupon, shall be the separate property of the owner or owners, or their lessees or persons occupying with the riparian owner’s consent.

(e)  Any such buildings or improvements erected by the owner or owners, or their lessees or persons occupying with the riparian owner’s consent, shall be subject to the administration and control of the governing authority with respect to their maintenance and, should such buildings or improvements be used for purposes of commerce, navigation, or other public purposes, with respect to the fees and charges exacted for their use by the public, and shall also remain subject to expropriation by any such authority should same become required for public purposes.

(2)(a)  The governing authority of each port commission of the state shall have the right to lease or sublease any property, whether movable or immovable, that is owned or leased by it, on a long-term basis and without the necessity of public bidding.  Any such lease or sublease may be for such purpose or purposes and subject to such terms and conditions, including such compensation to be paid to the governing authority, which the governing authority, in its discretion determines to be in the public interest.

(b)  Without limitation, the right herein granted includes the right to lease or sublease for purposes of commerce, navigation or other public purposes, any wharves, buildings, or improvements that are owned or leased by the governing authority that are located on any riparian lands that are subject to the servitude existing in favor of the public for purposes of commerce and navigation.

(3)  The provisions of this Subsection shall not be applicable to any river which is part of the Louisiana Natural and Scenic Rivers System as defined in La. Rev. Stat. 56:1841 et seq.

B.  Nothing herein shall deprive the levee boards of their authority with respect to levees in their respective districts or their right to appropriate such wharves, buildings, or improvements.

C.  The provisions of this Section shall not be applicable in the parish of St. Tammany.

Added by Acts 1981, No. 454, §1, eff. July 18, 1981; Acts 1982, No. 858, §1, eff. Aug. 4, 1982; Acts 1984, No. 498, §1; Acts 2012, No. 388, §1.