NEW ORLEANS — As New Orleans considers changes to its short term rental policies, we took a closer look at the short-term rental rules in the parishes surrounding New Orleans.
When we’re talking about short-term rentals, that’s any privately owned home or room rented for less than 30 days at a time. They’re frequently rented on websites like AirBnB, VRBO, and HomeAway.
First: St. Bernard Parish.
Things there are simple. Short term rentals are permitted as both whole house and room rentals. Per the parish ordinances, the owners have to pay a $500 per year permit fee, and those permits can be revoked at any time.
A quick look at the AirBnB website shows loads of rentals in Arabi and Chalmette advertising their proximity to the French Quarter and other New Orleans tourist attractions.
Next: Jefferson Parish.
Things there get a bit more complicated. Short term rentals are banned in all residential areas and only allowed in commercial and mixed-used zoning districts and six municipalities.
Even in those commercial areas, short-term rentals are forbidden within 300 feet of residential zones.
Owners are subject to a 750-dollar licensing fee and a long list of requirements and rules.
On AirBnB’s website, you’ll see there are at least a dozen listings just on the East Bank. But those rentals would be illegal. The Planning and Zoning Department told us only two properties in Jefferson Parish have been issued permits to rent short-term. Both of those rentals are in lower Jefferson Parish.
The parish said it cites about 10 properties a month for violations. They said via email that only five or so end up in an administrative hearing, because most owners take down their listings shortly after receiving a violation.
Of course, short term rentals are a complicated topic. What works in one parish doesn’t always work in another.
We’re seeing that in Orleans Parish, where the rules are complicated and enforcement is seriously lacking.
We’ll be covering the city council’s meetings as they hear-out potential changes to short term rentals there.
