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New Orleans permit search

Find New Orleans building permits through the Department of Safety and Permits’ One Stop App, using the house number and street. The city publishes a residential non-structural renovation duration of 2-5 business days; projects needing plans receive a permit after plan review. Search permits on One Stop App

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Sources read: 2026-11-01Updated 2026-11-01

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New Orleans permit requirements

The building guide distinguishes work that needs an application from work listed as exempt. Its general rule covers construction, alteration, repairs, moving, demolition and a change of occupancy. Plans, when required for new construction or structural work, go through plan review before the building permit is issued.

The New Orleans Building Code states, in part, “any owner, authorized agent, or contractor who desires to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect or construct a sign of any description, or to install or alter fire extinguishing apparatus, elevators, engines, or to install a steam boiler, furnace, heater, incinerator or other heat producing apparatus or other apparatuses, the installation of which is required by this code, or to cause any such work to be done shall first make application… and obtain the required permit for the work.”

Source: Services - Permits & Licenses - Building - Guide to Building Permits - City of New Orleans, Last updated: 10/28/2026 7:53:44 AM, read 2026-11-01

For a project that needs plans, completing the application and receiving the permit are separate steps. The city’s guide places completion of plan review before issuance; the published duration is not a substitute for the permit itself.

New Orleans residential permit durations

Non-structural renovation — residentialResidential projects, 2-5 business daysServices - Permits & Licenses - Building - Renovation (Non-Structural) Permit - City of New Orleans, City of New Orleans (authority grain), Last updated: 10/28/2026 7:54:34 AM, read 2026-11-01
Structural renovation / elevation — residentialResidential projects, 2-5 business daysServices - Permits & Licenses - Building - Renovation (Structural) - Elevation Permit - City of New Orleans, City of New Orleans (authority grain), Last updated: 10/28/2026 7:54:47 AM, read 2026-11-01
New construction — residentialResidential projects, 2-5 business daysServices - Permits & Licenses - Building - New Construction (Building Permit) - City of New Orleans, City of New Orleans (authority grain), Last updated: 5/18/2026 12:17:58 PM, read 2026-11-01

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Do I need a permit for a fence in New Orleans?

Section 105.2 of the New Orleans building guide includes a fence exemption tied to height and compliance with the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance. Read that condition with the city’s broader caveat: an exemption from the building permit does not remove code requirements or historic-district permitting. The Director can require permitting for hazardous or complex conditions.

Fences up to seven ft. in height, when in compliance with the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance.

Source: Services - Permits & Licenses - Building - Guide to Building Permits - City of New Orleans, Last updated: 10/28/2026 7:53:44 AM, read 2026-11-01

A fence in a local historic district may still need action through the Vieux Carré Commission or Historic District Landmarks Commission. The guide tells owners in those districts to contact the appropriate agency before beginning work.

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Do I need a permit to repair or replace a roof in New Orleans?

The guide’s section 105.2 exemption is limited to replacement of less than half the roofing or gutter work on one- and two-family dwellings. Its exact threshold appears in the city’s sentence. This is a partial-replacement exemption; the sentence does not say that a full reroof is exempt.

Replacement of less than 50% of the roofing and/or gutter work with respect to one and two family dwellings.

Source: Services - Permits & Licenses - Building - Guide to Building Permits - City of New Orleans, Last updated: 10/28/2026 7:53:44 AM, read 2026-11-01

The section’s code-compliance and historic-district caveats accompany this roof exemption. Hazardous or complex conditions can also trigger permitting and inspection under the Director’s determination. For historic property, consult the appropriate preservation agency before the roof work begins.

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Can a homeowner pull their own permit in New Orleans?

The New Orleans non-structural renovation application lists an alternative document for owner-occupied residential projects: State Exemption Form R-1364 can replace contractor license information. That is a document option for the stated residential situation, rather than permission to omit the rest of the application.

Contractor’s license information. (If the project is owner-occupied residential, State Exemption Form R-1364 may be submitted in lieu of contractor license information.)

Source: Services - Permits & Licenses - Building - Renovation (Non-Structural) Permit - City of New Orleans, Last updated: 10/28/2026 7:54:34 AM, read 2026-11-01

For new construction, the city separately asks a resident acting as general contractor to submit an exemption affidavit. Keep the form requirement with the permit application; the owner-occupied document option and the affidavit are described on different city permit pages.

If you are acting as the general contractor for your residence, you must submit an Affidavit Claiming Exemption from Licensure.

Source: Services - Permits & Licenses - Building - New Construction (Building Permit) - City of New Orleans, Last updated: 5/18/2026 12:17:58 PM, read 2026-11-01

What work does not need a permit in New Orleans?

Section 105.2 lists interior finish work and certain cabinet replacements among its exemptions. The cabinet item excludes projects that also replace plumbing fixtures or fixed equipment. These selected items sit within the city’s conditional exemption list; they do not remove the broader obligations in that section.

Source: Services - Permits & Licenses - Building - Guide to Building Permits - City of New Orleans, Last updated: 10/28/2026 7:53:44 AM, read 2026-11-01

The exemptions do not authorize a code violation. The Director can require a permit and inspection for hazardous or complex conditions. Historic-district requirements may still apply, and the guide instructs owners in local historic districts to consult the appropriate preservation agency before starting. The city also describes how this local list relates to the unamended code and the IRC or IBC.

Before you apply in New Orleans: checklist

For non-structural renovation, prepare a plot plan that shows lot and structure dimensions, setbacks and off-street parking. The city also asks for the previous or current use and the proposed use of the structure. If ownership recently changed, include the recorded Act of Sale.

Plot plan reflecting all dimensions of the lot and all structures, setbacks to property lines and the location and dimensions of off-street parking spaces

Source: Services - Permits & Licenses - Building - Renovation (Non-Structural) Permit - City of New Orleans, Last updated: 10/28/2026 7:54:34 AM, read 2026-11-01

For a new building, log in or register in One Stop and select New Construction under Permits – Building. This is the city’s application path; the address-search box serves a different task, finding an existing record.

Select New Construction permit type under “Permits – Building” and complete the application.

Source: Services - Permits & Licenses - Building - New Construction (Building Permit) - City of New Orleans, Last updated: 5/18/2026 12:17:58 PM, read 2026-11-01

New Orleans permit status

Open the permit through Your Items or through search results, then choose Print Summary beneath its address. The city says this printable page includes the current permit status, review comments and inspection results. This gives a record-level view rather than merely showing that an application exists in the search results.

Click "Print Summary" link beneath your permit address when you are viewing it in Your Items or in search results. Print Summary opens a printable web page that includes the current status of your permit, any review comments that have been made, and results of any inspections that have occurred. You should also receive an email or Plan Review Letter with all your application review comments, but you can preview the same comments at that link.

Source: Services - Permits & Licenses - Monitoring and Updating Permits - How Can I Check Progress On My Reviews And Inspections? - City of New Orleans, Last updated: 8/29/2022 1:52:47 PM, read 2026-11-01

How do I contact the New Orleans building department?

The City of New Orleans Department of Safety and Permits publishes a Contact page from its department home. Use that city page for department contact information.

Department contact: Contact. Source read 2026-11-01.

Sources

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