How to get a short-term rental permit in New Orleans, LA (2026)
New Orleans requires 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 — the fee is $500, renewed annual. Here's how to get and keep it.
Permit at a glance
| Permit required | 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 |
| Permit fee | $500 |
| Renewal | Annual |
Step by step
- 1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. NSTRs are allowed only in specific residential/historic/mixed-use districts (city checklist lists eligible zones including R-RE, M-MU, HMR-1/2/3, VCE, HMC-1/2, HM-MU, HU-RS, HU-RD1/RD2, HU-RM1/RM2, HU-B1A/B1, HU-MU, S-RS, S-RD, S-RM1/RM2, S-LRS1, S-LB1/LB2, S-LC, S-MU, MU-1, MU-2, EC, CBD-1/2/3/5/6), capped at one NSTR or bed-and-breakfast per city square and awarded by quarterly lottery. STRs are prohibited in the French Quarter (Vieux Carre) except the small VCE entertainment district on Bourbon Street, and prohibited in the Garden District. CSTRs are limited to commercial/mixed-use zones (max 25% of units in a building, up to 5 bedrooms/10 guests per unit), and new CSTR applications have not been accepted since June 8, 2023 under CZO 19.4.A.20. The special-exception path that allowed up to two extra NSTR permits per square was abolished by Ordinance 30311 MCS (March 27, 2025).
- 2
Apply for the 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
Submit the 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 application to New Orleans and pay the $500 fee. NSTR owner permit: $500/year plus $50 non-refundable application fee; first-year fee is prorated by lottery quarter (100/75/50/25%). CSTR owner permit: $1,000/year plus $50 application fee (new CSTR applications suspended since June 8, 2023). Separate STR Operator permit: $150 (single NSTR unit) or $1,000 (single CSTR unit or multiple STR units). Nightly city STR occupancy fees also apply: $5/night (NSTR), $12/night (CSTR). Platform (PSTR) permit listed at $10,000 on the city page; 2024 platform ordinance reportedly created tiered fees of $5,000-$30,000.
- 3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for New Orleans. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.
- 4
Renew on schedule
The permit renews annual — set a reminder so it never lapses, since operating on an expired permit typically triggers fines.
STR rules change without warning.
Get an email the moment New Orleans changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
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Verified July 10, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with New Orleans before applying.