New Orleans Already Rethinking its Short-Term Rental Regulations

New Orleans passed short-term rental regulations into law in October 2016, and launched a permitting process launched in April 2017. By May 2018, some city councilmembers are already proposing change.

1 minute read

May 24, 2018, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


New Orleans City Park

Britt Reints / Flickr

"The New Orleans City Council will consider a temporary freeze on new and some existing short-term rentals in large parts of the city, including the central business district and areas surrounding the French Quarter," reports Kevin Litten.

"The proposal, if approved by the council, would mean that owners of short-term rentals not located in a commercial district would be unable to legally rent their properties on platforms like Airbnb for at least 12 months once their license expires," adds Litten. "The commercial districts, which are exempt to a 90-day cap under current rules, could continue to operate with renewed permits but new permits wouldn't be issued for previously unlicensed properties."

The city's current regulations were approved in October 2016 in a process surrounded by controversy.

According to a separate article by Jeff Adelson, the potential for the City Council to rewrite those fairly new rules amounts "to an aggressive curtailment of the type of short-term rentals that have drawn the most ire from neighborhood groups and residents…"

A hat tip to Rachel Kaufman for sharing news of the changing politics of short-term rentals in New Orleans.

Monday, May 21, 2018 in The Times-Picayune

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Concrete Brutalism building with slanted walls and light visible through an atrium.

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities

How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

February 28, 2025 - Justin Hollander

Complete Street

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge

Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

February 27, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Green electric Volkswagen van against a beach backdrop.

The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan

Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.

March 3, 2025 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

View of mountains with large shrubs in foreground in Altadena, California.

Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire

In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.

7 hours ago - Pasadena NOw

Aerial view of single-family homes with swimming pools in San Diego, California.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule

The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

March 9 - Axios

Close-up of row of electric cars plugged into chargers at outdoor station.

Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives

A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.

March 9 - UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation