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.
New Orleans dramatically restructured its STR regulations in 2023 in response to court rulings, neighborhood complaints, and legislative changes. The current framework under CZO Section 20.3.PP requires that residential short-term rentals in most of the city be operated only by an owner who maintains the property as their primary residence. The owner must be a natural person, must hold a homestead exemption on the property, and may operate only one STR.
Within the French Quarter, whole-home short-term rentals are prohibited. Only commercial STRs in approved mixed-use buildings, or a small set of grandfathered uses, are permitted. The intent is to preserve the residential character of the Vieux Carre, which had seen substantial conversion of long-term housing to tourist lodging before the rule change. In the Garden District and other historic residential neighborhoods, similar primary-residence requirements apply.
Louisiana HB 617 from the 2023 session set the framework allowing local governments to impose primary-residence requirements and density caps. New Orleans took advantage of this authority to layer additional restrictions, including caps on the number of STR units per block in some districts. The number of nights a unit can be rented is generally not capped when the property qualifies, but the practical effect of the primary-residence rule is to limit absentee investor operations across most of the city.
Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact New Orleans code enforcement directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.
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