Long-term rentals (30+ days) of New Orleans ADUs are permitted by right in most residential districts under CZO Article 21. Short-term rentals (under 30 days) are tightly restricted under CZO Article 20 (the 2023 amended STR ordinance, Ordinance 33,706). Residential STRs in HU and S districts require owner-occupancy with homestead exemption, are limited to one per property, and one per square in most of the city. ADUs cannot be standalone STRs in single-family districts.
Long-term rental (30 days or more) of an ADU is permitted by right in New Orleans residential districts (HU-RD2, HU-RM1, HU-MU, S-RS, S-RD, S-RM) under CZO Article 21 without owner-occupancy. Short-term rentals (under 30 days, e.g., Airbnb, VRBO) are tightly regulated under CZO Article 20 (the Short-Term Rental ordinance, last comprehensively amended by Ordinance 33,706 in 2023 after the Fifth Circuit's Hignell v. New Orleans decision struck down the prior residency-restriction structure). The 2023 ordinance restored a residency requirement based on homestead exemption tied to the property, limits Residential STRs to one per property and generally one per square (city block) in HU and S residential districts, requires annual STR permit ($1,000), Orleans Parish business license, sales tax registration, and lodging tax collection (combined ~13–16% state, parish, and city). The Vieux Carré (French Quarter) and most of the historic neighborhoods (Faubourg Marigny, Bywater, Tremé) are subject to even stricter sub-area limits. Commercial STRs are permitted only in specific Mixed-Use, Commercial, and Central Business districts. An ADU operated as a standalone STR while the principal dwelling is owner-occupied may qualify as a Residential STR. An ADU operated as STR without owner-occupancy violates Article 20 in HU/S districts. The Department of Safety and Permits aggressively enforces using Granicus-based Airbnb/VRBO monitoring.
Operating an unpermitted STR carries fines up to $1,000 per day under CZO Article 20 and Code Section 6-22. The Department of Safety and Permits maintains an STR Enforcement team. Repeat violations result in revoked principal-dwelling Certificate of Occupancy in extreme cases. State lodging tax violations are prosecuted by Louisiana Department of Revenue.
New Orleans, LA
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