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

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 10, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

A line of white wind turbines surrounded by wheat and soybean fields with a cloudy blue sky in the background.

Wind Energy on the Rise Despite Federal Policy Reversal

The Trump administration is revoking federal support for renewable energy, but demand for new projects continues unabated.

5 hours ago - Fast Company

Red and white Caltrain train.

Passengers Flock to Caltrain After Electrification

The new electric trains are running faster and more reliably, leading to strong ridership growth on the Bay Area rail system.

6 hours ago - Office of Governor Gavin Newsom

View up at brick Catholic church towers and modern high-rise buildings.

Texas Churches Rally Behind ‘Yes in God’s Back Yard’ Legislation

Religious leaders want the state to reduce zoning regulations to streamline leasing church-owned land to housing developers.

7 hours ago - NBC Dallas