New Orleans, LA

When deciding whether to become an Airbnb Host, it is important for you to understand the laws in your city. We recommend that you do your own research as this article isn’t fully comprehensive and, as a platform and online marketplace, we do not provide legal or tax advice. 

Nonetheless, we want to provide resources that may help you better understand the laws and regulations in New Orleans. This list is not exhaustive, but it may give you a good start in understanding your local laws.   If you have questions, you can visit the City of New Orleans Short-Term Rental Administration, contact the STR Administrator directly at str@nola.gov or consult a local lawyer or tax professional.

Airbnb doesn’t update this article in real time and isn’t responsible for the reliability or correctness of the information contained in any links to third party sites. Please check each source and make sure that the information provided hasn’t recently changed.

Short-term rental regulations

Required permit numbers

Hosts seeking to operate a short term rental (STR) for less than 30 nights at a time must enter both an Operator permit and an Owner permit on our platform.

• The Operator permit contains “OSTR”.
• The Owner permit contains either “NSTR” or “CSTR”.
• Permit numbers containing “ISTR” and “RSTR” are no longer accepted.

Operator STR (OSTR)

An Operator permit is a permit that allows an individual to operate or manage one or more STRs. Every STR unit in Orleans Parish must have both an Owner permit and an Operator permit associated with it. STR Owner permit holders may act as their own permitted operators or may designate another permitted STR Operator. Find out more here. 

Owner - Non-Commercial STR (NSTR)

Anyone wishing to operate a STR in New Orleans that is in a Residential zone must apply for a Non-Commercial Short-Term Rental Permit (NSTR). See full ordinances available here and here.

Owner - Commercial (CSTR)

Property owners or renters in non-residential zones can apply for a CSTR license. CSTR licenses allow Hosts to rent up to 5 guest bedrooms to up to 10 guests in any building where fewer than 25% of the total dwelling units are currently licensed for STRs. The fee for this license type is $1,000. There is no limit to how many CSTR licenses a Host can obtain.

Applications

The City of New Orleans Short-Term Rental Administration has begun accepting NSTR permit applications. The first application period began March 1, 2024 and ends March 7, 2024. Applications must be complete at the time of submission. The Department holds online information sessions, as well as in-person sessions and office hours, to assist citizens with completing the application to ensure that your application is complete.

A complete application should include:

• Operator permit, either issued or a complete application;
• Proof of completion of the STR Owner training class as provided by the Department;
• A floor plan;
• An evacuation plan;
• A noise abatement plan that provides, at a minimum, a noise monitoring device. NSTRs shall not be required to include a noise monitoring device as part of their noise abatement plan; and
• A sanitation plan that includes at least daily visual inspections.

A complete application will also require that the property has no outstanding electrical or mechanical violations, violations for work without permits, open building permits, or unresolved zoning or addressing issues. Applicants are advised to begin working on these issues and verifying their zoning and addressing status with the Department immediately.

A maximum of 1 NSTR or Bed & Breakfast (B&B) is permitted per square block. Where more than one person applies per square for a NSTR permit, permits will be allocated by lottery

Applications for NSTR permits will only be accepted during the specified application periods in the calendar. The application periods for 2024 are from June 1 - 7, September 1 - 7, and December 1 - 7th. Operators can renew NSTR permits April 1 - 7. Only complete applications, including payment of the application fee, will be eligible for the lottery process.

Lotteries

Lotteries will be held quarterly. The Department annually publishes a calendar with application period, lottery, and renewal period dates. The first year of the lottery program shall follow the schedule available here.

Lotteries will be live-streamed via Zoom, YouTube, and/or other similar technology. Lotteries will utilize a bingo or other comparable machine.

Permit numbers will be drawn in order, so that if there are three applicants for a square, there will be a "first", "second", and "third". This order will only apply if there is non-payment of the permit fees. If the permit is lost for any other reason—forfeiture (a permittee sells, moves, or doesn't want to continue to short term rent the property), non-renewal, revocation, or rescission—unsuccessful permittees may apply for the next quarterly lottery.

Permittees selected in the lottery will be issued a permit upon payment of all fees. All fees must be paid within 5 calendar days, or the selected permittee forfeits their right to the permit. If the first selected permittee forfeits their right, the second selected permittee will have five days to pay their fees (and so on). Unsuccessful permittees may reapply for the following lottery if the block is reopened for any reason or may apply to the City Planning Commission to participate in the special exception process. An overview of this process is available here.

Permit Duration

Permits will be valid until June 30 of the following year, regardless of which lottery they are issued during. Permit fees for the first permit year will be prorated as follows:

• July lottery winners: Full fees
• October lottery winners: 75% fees
• January lottery winners: 50% fees
• April lottery winners: 25% fees

Hotels, Motels and Bed and Breakfasts

Lodging exempt ID number (XSTR)

This free registration is required for hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts that wish to advertise on short term rental platforms. Only lodging businesses that have an active occupational license in good standing with the City's Bureau of Revenue to operate a hotel/motel/bed and breakfast may register. Businesses without this registration or a valid STR license may not advertise on STR platforms. You will need to provide your City Tax ID as part of your registration application to verify that your business is eligible.

Hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts that operate on our platform must enter the exemption number issued by the city. This exemption number contains “XSTR.”

Hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts may apply for an XSTR permit # here.

Additional information

Payment

The total cost for a Non-Commercial STR License is $500. The cost for a Commercial STR permit is $1,000.

Renewals

Renewal of Non-Commercial STR Permits

Permit holders who remain in good standing with the Department of Safety and Permits will be eligible to apply for renewal of their permits. This requires:

1. A complete application;
2. Permittees to apply within the designated renewal period provided in the annual calendar;
3. Payment of permit fees within five (5) calendar days of application approval;
4. A valid operator license;
5. Proof of completion of a short-term rental course to be provided by the Department;
6. Satisfaction of all judgments, liens, fines, and fees related to the property;
7. Resolution of any electrical, mechanical, or work without permit violations; and
8. Closure of all open building permits or written approval of the Chief Building Official for renewal despite the open permit.

Permit holders whose permits have been revoked or rescinded are not eligible for renewal. If a permit holder fails to renew timely, the square will be eligible for participation in the next quarterly lottery.

Please email STR@NOLA.GOV with any questions.

Taxes

As of January 1, 2017, Airbnb collects and remits taxes to the City of New Orleans on behalf of its users. Find out more about that process. If you rent on other platforms in addition to Airbnb, you are responsible for collecting and reporting the taxes and fees from any rental arrangement made on those other platforms or through any other means. For more information, visit the Short Term Rental Taxation page.

Other contracts and rules

It's also important to understand and abide by other contracts or rules that bind you, such as leases, condo board or co-op rules, HOA rules, or rules established by tenant organizations. Please read your lease agreement and check with your landlord if applicable.

Our commitment to your community

We are committed to working with local officials to clarify how local rules impact the community. We will continue to advocate for changes that will enable people to rent out their homes.