New Orleans vs Palm Springs: Short-Term Rental Rules Compared (2026)
New Orleans is currently "restricted" while Palm Springs is "restricted". On cost, New Orleans is the cheaper market to license ($500 vs $1,046). Full verified details for both markets below — always confirm current requirements with each jurisdiction.
Side by side
| Rule | New Orleans, LA | Palm Springs, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Restricted | Restricted |
| Permit required | Yes | Yes |
| Permit name | Non-Commercial Short-Term Rental (NSTR) Owner Permit (residential zones); Commercial Short-Term Rental (CSTR) Owner Permit (commercial/mixed-use zones); plus a separate STR Operator Permit | Vacation Rental Registration Certificate |
| Permit fee | $500 | $1,046 |
| Renewal | Annual | Annual |
| Primary residence only | No | No |
| Owner occupancy required | No | No |
| Night cap / year | None found | None found |
| Minimum stay | None found | None found |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~16.75% | ~12.5% |
| Last verified | July 10, 2026 | July 10, 2026 |
Compare guest tax loads
Switch between the two markets to see itemized occupancy taxes on the same stay.
| Gross rent | $450.00 |
| Louisiana State Sales Tax (5%)· usually collected by platform | $22.50 |
| Orleans Parish Gross Rentals Tax (5%)· usually collected by platform | $22.50 |
| Orleans Parish Occupancy Tax (STR) (6.75%)· usually collected by platform | $30.38 |
| Occupancy Privilege Tax + city nightly STR fees (0%)· usually collected by platform | $0.00 |
| Total tax (16.75%) | $75.38 |
| Guest pays | $525.38 |
Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.
New Orleans, LA
Short-term rentals are legal in New Orleans only with a city STR Owner permit plus a separate Operator permit: residential properties need a Non-Commercial (NSTR) owner permit ($500/yr plus $50 application fee), awarded by quarterly lottery with a hard cap of one NSTR or B&B per city square, and a permitted operator must live on site during every guest stay. STRs are banned in most of the French Quarter and in the Garden District, each owner may hold only one STR permit, and the city has accepted no new Commercial (CSTR) applications since June 8, 2023; since June 2025 platforms like Airbnb must verify a valid city permit before allowing bookings. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
Full New Orleansrules, playbook & sources →Palm Springs, CA
Short-term rentals (stays of 28 nights or less) are legal in Palm Springs only with a city Vacation Rental Registration Certificate ($1,046 per year as of December 1, 2025, plus a one-time $25 TOT permit), and each owner may hold just one certificate. The biggest restrictions are the annual contract caps — 26 rental contracts per calendar year for post-October 17, 2022 permittees (grandfathered 'existing permittees' keep 32 plus 4 third-quarter contracts after Ordinance 2118 cancelled a planned 2026 reduction) — and a 20% per-neighborhood certificate cap under which new applications are refused in neighborhoods at or above the limit. Rentals are limited to single-family dwellings (prohibited in apartments), and hosts remit 11.5% city TOT plus a 1% TBID monthly. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
Full Palm Springsrules, playbook & sources →Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change frequently in both markets; verify current requirements with each jurisdiction before operating.