New Orleans concentrates many development approvals in the Department of Safety & Permits, whose divisions cover building permits, plan review, electrical and mechanical work, zoning administration, stormwater, and coastal and floodplain management. Applications are generally routed through the One Stop App, where users can apply for permits and licenses, upload information, track cases, schedule inspections, and search existing permit and planning records.
Land use is governed by the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (CZO). Safety & Permits administers day-to-day zoning compliance, while the City Planning Commission reviews matters such as conditional uses, zoning changes, and subdivisions. The City’s Property Viewer can help applicants identify the zoning district and site-specific land-use actions affecting a parcel before plans are prepared.
Historic review is especially important in New Orleans because two separate preservation authorities operate within the city. The Historic District Landmarks Commission (HDLC) reviews applicable exterior work on locally designated landmarks and properties within local historic districts. The Vieux Carré Commission (VCC) has separate jurisdiction in the French Quarter, where exterior work generally requires VCC approval even when the work would not otherwise need a building permit.
Floodplain and public-space requirements can add further approvals. New Orleans treats grading, filling, new construction, and repairs as development for floodplain purposes, with additional standards applying to substantial improvements and substantially damaged buildings. Cutting, trenching, or digging in streets, sidewalks, alleys, or other public right-of-way requires separate City authorization. Applicants can start with the One Stop App and then identify the zoning, historic, floodplain, and right-of-way reviews relevant to the property.