City Watch: New Orleans
New Orleans rewrote its STR ordinance in 2024: one permit per block face, homestead requirement for residential zones, and mandatory 24/7 operators who live within 25 miles.
- Residential permits tied to homestead exemption and lottery selection.
- Commercial permits capped by zoning overlays and hotel buffers.
- $500–$1,000 per day fines with fast-track hearings and lien threats.
ASTRO’s Gulf desk sits in every City Council meeting, monitors the litigation versus the Fifth Circuit, and tracks how Safety & Permits actually processes renewals. Members get the real story behind public statements.
New Orleans compliance hurdles
- Block-face cap: Only one residential permit per block face, issued by lottery and renewed annually.
- Local operator rule: Responsible parties must live nearby, respond within one hour, and log every incident.
- Hybrid taxes: 6% STR tax + 4% hotel/motel tax + nightly infrastructure fee.
- Advertising audits: Listings must show permit numbers; platforms remove anything unmatched.
ASTRO aggregates permit data, neighborhood objections, and lawsuit timelines so members know when to double down or lie low. We coordinate with housing advocates and hospitality unions to position responsible owners as part of the solution.
We also help members pivot: pairing them with medium-term relocation programs, cultural residencies, or member swaps when a permit is denied so revenue doesn’t evaporate.
- What do members get? Toolkits, governance tracking, and a trusted exchange.
- How fast can we launch? Paste Markdown, run the pave script, verify.