13 verified short-term rentals rules for New Orleans, Louisiana, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
New Orleans requires every short-term rental to hold a city-issued permit under Code Chapter 26, Article IX, with permit type matching the underlying zoning district and the operator's relationship to the dwelling.
Short-term rentals (STRs) in New Orleans must comply with the general noise ordinance in Chapter 66 and the operator responsibility provisions in the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Section 20.3.PP. Operators are responsible for guest behavior, and repeated noise violations can lead to permit suspension or revocation.
Short-term rentals in New Orleans must collect and remit Louisiana state sales tax, Orleans Parish hotel-motel sales tax, and a city short-term rental occupancy tax. Combined lodging taxes typically total around 16 to 17 percent, plus a per-night fee that supports infrastructure and tourism.
Short-term rentals in New Orleans must address parking for guests through the application process, with off-street parking required where feasible. In high-density historic neighborhoods like the French Quarter and Marigny, on-street parking is heavily regulated, and operators must inform guests of parking restrictions to avoid towing.
Short-term rentals in New Orleans are subject to occupancy caps under CZO Section 20.3.PP, generally limited to two guests per bedroom plus two additional guests, with a hard cap regardless of bedroom count. Limits are designed to prevent party-house operations and protect neighborhood character.
Short-term rental operators in New Orleans must carry liability insurance as a condition of receiving an STR permit under CZO Section 20.3.PP. The minimum coverage is generally $500,000 per occurrence, and proof of coverage must be submitted with the permit application and renewed annually.
New Orleans imposes some of the strictest short-term rental rules in the United States. Following the 2023 CZO Section 20.3.PP update and the impact of state law changes such as Louisiana HB 617, whole-home STRs in residential zones now require an owner-occupant primary residence, and whole-home short-term rentals are banned in much of the French Quarter.
All short-term rentals in New Orleans must obtain a permit from the Department of Safety and Permits before listing. Permits are issued under three categories established by CZO Section 20.3.PP: Residential, Small Commercial, and Commercial. Applicants must demonstrate ownership, primary residency where applicable, insurance, and tax compliance.
T1 and T2 residential STR permits require the permitted operator to be physically present in the dwelling unit during guest stays, prohibiting unhosted whole-home rentals in residential neighborhoods.
After the Fifth Circuit's Hignell-Stark v. New Orleans (2022) ruling struck the homestead-exemption rule, the city restored a primary-residence requirement using non-domiciliary alternatives for residential STR permit eligibility.
New Orleans operates a graduated strike system that revokes STR permits after three substantiated code violations within a rolling 12-month window, with platform-listing removal triggered automatically on revocation.
Airbnb, Vrbo, and similar platforms must verify a valid New Orleans STR permit number before listing publication and remit transient occupancy taxes directly, with platforms exposed to per-listing fines for non-compliance.