Depending on who is counting, somewhere between 11 million and 20 million visitors visit New Orleans each year. That’s a lot of visitors for a city that has a population of less than 400,000. One of the frequently asked questions about visiting New Orleans is “Where can I get a short term rental?”
This is a complex question that can sometimes be met with frustration by New Orleans’ own residents. New Orleans, like many high tourism locations worldwide, is facing a housing crisis in both affordability and availability. Our main industry is tourism and the wages are low. A service industry worker, such as a waiter or bartender, makes $2.33 an hour plus tips. With rents and housing prices skyrocketing after Katrina, this has left our community unable to afford to live in New Orleans. Visitors have drifted into residential neighborhoods that were once completely off the tourist maps and that has led to many problems for residents.
In 2019 after an outcry from residents, New Orleans City Council passed a ban on whole-home, short term rentals with some caveats. So what makes a legal short term rental?
- Short term rentals are banned in the city’s oldest and most well-known neighborhoods: The French Quarter and The Garden District.
- In all other New Orleans neighborhoods, the owner must be a New Orleans resident and live on the premises in order to operate a short term rental.
- In addition to living on site, the owner must possess a permit issued from the city and that number must be displayed on the listing.
How do I know if the short term rental I am looking at is legit and legal?
1. You will see the permit number listed on the listing itself.
2. The owner will live on site. *
Does that mean only shared spaces or rooms only are available?
Not exactly. New Orleans has something known as “Shotgun Doubles,” known in many other places as a duplex. This is one home that is split into two units. The owner will live on one side and rent the other side out. Additionally, the owner may rent out the entire home and live on-premises in a mother in law or may live in the main house and rent out a mother in law, which is usually a detached, smaller structure on the property.
*Note: There are some exceptions to the above rule. There are a few corporate properties for rent as whole-home rentals, for example a Condo complex. They will still display a permit number on their listing.
How do I know if the permit number displayed on the listing is legit?
In short, you can search the permit number on the OneStop App. For instructions on how to search, click here. Please note New Orleans had a Cyberattack in late 2019 and some of their apps are not up and running all the way yet.
How do I report a listing that is not displaying a permit number?
For information on how to report an illegal short term rental, click here.
What else should I know about staying in a short term rental?
Far and wide New Orleans is known for its hospitality and nice people. If you’re staying in a residential neighborhood, be respectful of the people that live there. They aren’t on vacation and may have to get up very early to go to work or may get home from night shifts very late and sleep in the daytime. Say hello and goodnight to the people you walk past on the street. This is a customary greeting here, yes, we talk to strangers. Don’t leave any trash on the street. Make sure your music is turned down by 10:00 PM on both weekdays and weekends – even in a live music city, we have a noise ordinance. Enjoy your stay, enjoy our historic city, and thank you for supporting our culture and people.
