New Orleans, LA Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)
Key Facts
- Certificate term
- 2 years, renew each cycle
- Late fee
- $50 within 60 days, then $200
- Timely registration fee
- no fee if filed on time
- Covers
- long-term leases AND short-term rentals
- Denial grounds
- delinquent taxes, open violations/permits
- Governing sections
- City Code §§ 26-660, 26-661
Summary
New Orleans' Healthy Homes Program bars anyone from renting out a residential unit, long-term or short-term, without first registering it and holding a certificate of compliance from the department of safety and permits, under City Code §§ 26-660 and 26-661.
Sec. 26-660: It shall be unlawful for any person who does not possess a valid certificate of compliance to permit occupancy of a rental housing unit in Orleans Parish. Sec. 26-661(a): A certificate of compliance shall be valid for a period of two years from the date of issuance, and must be reapplied for and renewed every two years.(b)A separate certificate of compliance shall be required for each rental housing unit located on a single lot of record...(d)An applicant will not be eligible for a certificate of compliance if any of the following conditions exist:(1)There are delinquent property taxes on the subject property;(2)There are outstanding fines on the subject property;(3)There are open permits that would render the unit unfit for habitation; or(4)There are open violations on the subject property related to electrical or mechanical code violations or to work without permits.
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
S. Ordinance No. § 26-661 sets the registration mechanics: a certificate is valid for two years and must be renewed on that cycle, with a separate certificate required for each rental unit on a lot (streamlined for multi-unit lots). § 26-661(d) bars issuance where the property has delinquent taxes, outstanding fines, open permits that leave the unit unfit for habitation, or open unpermitted electrical or mechanical work. Registration itself is free on time, the companion fee provision only charges $50 for a late application filed within 60 days of delinquency, rising to a $200 reinstatement fee after that.
Violations & Fines
Renting out a unit without a current certificate of compliance violates § 26-660 and is enforced as a 'housing violation' under Chapter 6's administrative hearing process, with each day of continued violation a separate offense and penalties up to the maximum state law allows; the city can also pursue court relief, including discontinuing electrical service once a certificate is revoked under § 26-671, and a revoked certificate can't be reissued until fines and liens are satisfied.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do New Orleans landlords have to register their rental property with the city?
How much does it cost to register a rental unit in New Orleans?
What can stop a landlord from getting a certificate of compliance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Orleans
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