NEW ORLEANS -  Today, Thursday, October 15, the New Orleans City Council passed an ordinance reducing conditional use application fees for established multi-family homes.

This ordinance, led by Councilmembers Joseph I. Giarrusso III and Jay H. Banks, creates an easier pathway for families seeking to bring their generational homes back into commerce.

"There are three ways government can kill development: study it, delay it or make it too expensive. We should be making things easier and better for everyone, and this new fee structure does just that," said Councilmember Giarrusso. "These reduced fees allow the city to provide services that help families re-establish multi-family homes without spending thousands of dollars in application fees."

Originally, fees for established multi-family conditional uses were based on square footage. Those fees ranged from $1,160 to $4,640, based on the size of the structure. Now, applications for established double- and multi-family residences cost $500. Any increase in floor area is an additional $200, totaling a $700 application fee for these expanded established structures.

"By the nature of what it is, affordable housing is not the most lucrative real estate investment, but affordable housing is the most essential real estate investment," said Councilmember Banks. "Reducing these fees lowers the barrier for the re-establishment of multi-family housing so that homeowners can get more units back into service and create housing opportunities for our residents. Recreating affordable housing in existing properties is just one of the tools we can use to help address this affordable housing crisis we are facing."

This new fee structure only applies to established townhomes, double-family, and multi-family homes.

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Contact:

Claire Byun

Office of City Council District A Joseph I. Giarrusso, III

claire.byun@nola.gov

504.883.1724