New Orleans regulates accessory dwelling units — including the city's traditional 'carriage houses' — under the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (CZO) Article 21 (Use Standards). ADUs are permitted as accessory uses in most residential districts (HU-RD2, HU-RM1, HU-MU, S-RS, S-RD, S-RM) subject to a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) or by-right in some historic preservation overlays. Vieux Carré Commission or Historic District Landmarks Commission (HDLC) review applies to most ADU construction.
New Orleans regulates accessory dwelling units under the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (CZO) adopted in 2015, codified in the Code of the City of New Orleans. Article 21 (Use Standards) defines accessory dwelling units and permits them in most residential districts including HU-RD2 (Historic Urban Two-Family), HU-RM1 (Historic Urban Multi-Family), HU-MU (Historic Urban Mixed-Use), S-RS, S-RD, and S-RM. New Orleans has a long-standing tradition of carriage houses and slave-quarter-style detached accessory units behind principal dwellings dating to the 18th century. These pre-existing structures often have non-conforming legal status under CZO Article 25. New construction or substantial alteration of an ADU requires a Building Permit through the Department of Safety and Permits via the One Stop App permitting portal. Properties in any of the city's 14 local historic districts (Vieux Carré, Faubourg Marigny, Tremé, Esplanade Ridge, Lower Garden District, Garden District, Irish Channel, Algiers Point, etc.) require pre-application Certificate of Appropriateness from either the Vieux Carré Commission (VCC) for the French Quarter or the Historic District Landmarks Commission (HDLC) for the other districts. National Register-only properties trigger lighter Federal/State review. ADUs in flood zones (most of New Orleans, see FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps) must satisfy elevation requirements under New Orleans Building Code adopting the IRC with local amendments — typically Base Flood Elevation plus 1 foot freeboard. CZO setbacks under Article 4 vary by district.
Building an ADU without permits is a violation of CZO Article 27 with fines up to $500 per day under the Code of the City of New Orleans Section 6-22. Unpermitted historic district alterations face additional VCC or HDLC enforcement including stop-work orders and removal/restoration orders. Flood elevation violations can void NFIP insurance coverage.
New Orleans, LA
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New Orleans, LA
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New Orleans, LA
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New Orleans, LA
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New Orleans, LA
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New Orleans, LA
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