NEW ORLEANS - At today's regular City Council meeting, Councilmembers voted to ask the City Planning Commission (CPC) to consider certain amendments to the City's Short Term Rental (STR) program. The motion (M-19-4) establishes only two types of STR permits: Residential and Commercial.

The Residential Permit, applicable only in residential zones, requires a homestead exemption. Owners are allowed up to three permits for that property, and each permit is valid for a unit of up to three rooms and a maximum of six guests.

Commercial STR Permits are only issued in mixed-use and commercially-zoned districts. The motion creates four commercial categories, one that allows a condo owner with a homestead exemption to receive up to three permits.  All other commercial STR permits will require a security plan with cameras, lighting, landscaping, and life safety.

The motion would also ban STRs in the French Quarter and Garden District and eliminate whole-home STRs in residential zones. 

A separate motion (M-19-6) asks the CPC to analyze ways for the City to use STRs to incentivize economic development in targeted areas, whether there should be a cap on the number of residential STR permits, and the possibility of grandfathering in current or former temporary or commercial license holders.

"The Council's action today accomplishes two important things: protecting neighborhoods and better enforcement. When you buy in a neighborhood, you expect to live in a neighborhood," said District "A" Councilmember Joseph Giarrusso.

"The motions are a good first step but zoning is only one part of the overall STR program. Neighborhoods are for neighbors, and while STRs are not the sole cause of the City's housing crisis, we must use them as a tool to create affordable housing opportunities. Over the next few months, we will be working to ensure STR platforms are complying with City regulations and laws, and increasing licensing fees to generate money for the Neighborhood Housing Improvement Fund (NHIF) which would provide much-needed assistance to first-time homebuyers." said District "C" Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer.

"For too long we have focused on making New Orleans great for tourists. The technology of STRs is not going away, so we're working towards making sure the citizens of this City get as much of a benefit as possible including affordable housing. We're working to make sure the operation of STRs isn't to the detriment of this City, but more importantly, not to the detriment of the people who live here," said District "B" Councilmember Jay H. Banks.

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Media Contact:

Tiffaney Bradley
Communications Director
Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer, District "C"

Tiffaney.bradley@nola.gov

(504) 295-4970