New Orleans, LA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing rule
- City Code § 26-15 (IBC § 105.1)
- Trigger
- Construct, alter, repair, move, demolish, occupancy change
- Permitting office
- Dept. of Safety and Permits, the Director
- Listed exemptions
- 15 categories in § 105.2, Director discretion applies
- Emergency work
- Application due next business day, § 105.2.1
- Illegal demolition cost
- Post-permit fee = 15% of assessed value, § 26-7
Summary
Under City Code § 26-15's amended IBC § 105.1, anyone who intends to construct, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building, or install regulated electrical, gas, or mechanical systems, must first apply to the Director and obtain a permit. Section 105.2 lists 15 specific exemptions.
SECTION 105 - PERMITS. 105.1 Required. Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas or mechanical system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the Director and obtain the required permit. ... 105.2 Work Exempt from Permit. ... A building permit shall not be required for the following, unless in the opinion of the Director it involves hazardous or complex conditions which require permitting and inspection: ... 10.Fences up to seven ft. in height, when in compliance with the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 116 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Section 26-15 amends the adopted 2021 International Building Code's administrative chapter for New Orleans. 1, is the Director of the Department of Safety and Permits. 2. 2 lists 15 specific exemptions, but only where the Director doesn't find the work hazardous or complex: examples include under-50%-per-wall siding replacement, interior painting/papering, retaining walls under three feet, fences up to seven feet tall that comply with the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, uncovered residential decks up to 200 square feet and 30 inches high, and roofing/gutter replacement under 50% on one- and two-family dwellings. 3. 3.
Violations & Fines
Section 105.2 warns that any listed exemption "shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this Code or any other laws or ordinances," including Vieux Carré Commission and Historic District Landmarks Commission rules that may still require separate permitting. Under § 26-7, an illegal demolition performed without securing required permits results in the Director issuing a post-demolition permit at a cost of 15 percent of the building's assessed value, and if the owner won't obtain it, the city can record a lien against the property that flows into the next ad valorem tax bill; an owner may appeal the assessed fee to the city council within 30 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in New Orleans?
Can I build a fence without a permit in New Orleans?
Who issues building permits in New Orleans?
What happens if I demolish a building without a permit?
Sources & Official References
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