New Orleans has one of the most tightly regulated short-term rental markets in the country, and the rules have been reshaped by city ordinances, lotteries and federal court rulings over the past few years. Before you line up a cleaner or co-host, make sure your property can legally be permitted, because thousands of listings in the city operate without a license and enforcement against them has been increasing.
As of 2026, any stay of 30 days or less requires a city permit. The city issues two main types: a Non-Commercial Short Term Rental permit (NSTR) for residential properties and a Commercial Short Term Rental permit (CSTR) for properties in commercial zoning, which also needs conditional use approval and a noise monitoring device. Licenses are not transferable when a property sells.
In residential neighborhoods, only one permit is allowed per square block. When more than one property on a block applies, the city runs a lottery, and NSTR lotteries are held on a recurring schedule posted on the city's short-term rental page. Short-term rentals are not permitted in the French Quarter or in parts of the Garden District.
In October 2025 the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (Hignell-Stark v. City of New Orleans) upheld the one-per-block limit and the operator presence requirement, but read "reside" to mean the operator must be present during guest stays rather than live there permanently. The court struck down the ban on business entities such as LLCs holding permits and the one-unit-per-advertisement rule. Expect the city to keep adjusting its ordinance, so check the official page before you apply.
Taxes are layered: state and city sales tax plus several city occupancy and short-term rental fees. Airbnb and Vrbo collect many of these on platform bookings, but you still need to register with the city and file returns, including for any direct bookings.
We did not find a reliable published price survey specific to New Orleans, so get at least three written quotes. Shotgun doubles, Creole cottages and older homes with original floors, high ceilings and ceiling fans take longer to clean than their square footage suggests. Courtyards, balconies and galleries add outdoor work, and humidity means checking for mildew in bathrooms and closets at every turnover.
Demand follows the festival calendar. Carnival season and Mardi Gras (late winter), French Quarter Fest and Jazz Fest (April into early May), Essence Fest around the Fourth of July, the Sugar Bowl at New Year's and Saints home games all create clusters of same-day turnovers. Summer heat and hurricane season, June through November, are generally slower outside of event weekends. Book your crew for Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest dates months in advance, since cleaners commit those weekends early.
The October 2025 Fifth Circuit ruling struck down the city's ban on business entities holding permits. Confirm how the city is applying that ruling with the Short Term Rental Administration before you apply.
In residential zones only one permit is allowed per block. If a neighbor holds it, you generally cannot get one unless it lapses, and competing applications go to a lottery.
No. As of 2026, short-term rentals are not permitted in the French Quarter or in parts of the Garden District.
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