New Orleans vs Scottsdale: Short-Term Rental Rules Compared (2026)
New Orleans is currently "restricted" while Scottsdale is "allowed with permit". On cost, Scottsdale is the cheaper market to license ($250 vs $500). Full verified details for both markets below — always confirm current requirements with each jurisdiction.
Side by side
| Rule | New Orleans, LA | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Restricted | Allowed with permit |
| 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 License (Short-Term/Vacation Rental License) |
| Permit fee | $500 | $250 |
| 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% | ~13.97% |
| 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 →Scottsdale, AZ
Short-term rentals are legal throughout Scottsdale (Arizona state law bars cities from prohibiting them), but every property rented for less than 30 days must hold an annual City of Scottsdale vacation rental license ($250 per property per year), plus a state TPT license and Maricopa County rental registration. There are no owner-occupancy, night-cap, or per-owner limits; the biggest restrictions are strict operational rules — $500,000 liability insurance, neighbor notification, sex-offender checks on booking guests, and a ban on commercial/event-center use that was significantly strengthened by Ordinance 4719 effective July 23, 2026. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
Full Scottsdalerules, playbook & sources →Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change frequently in both markets; verify current requirements with each jurisdiction before operating.