Home Business Rules in New Orleans, LA (2026)

In New Orleans, LA, home-based businesses are permitted subject to specific rules designed to preserve residential character while allowing residents to run legitimate businesses from their homes. No city permit is required, though deed restrictions or state licensing may apply. The New Orleans Office of Safety and Permits or New Orleans City Planning Commission handles home occupation applications and enforcement. Regulations generally prohibit on-site employees, customer visits, and any external evidence of business activity. Below you will find the current permit requirements, restrictions, prohibited business types, and cottage food law provisions for New Orleans.

Permit Requirements

No separate permit — regulated under CZO home occupation standards. No city permit application or fee is required to operate a home-based business in New Orleans under current regulations. However, state professional licensing requirements still apply (contractors, real estate agents, cosmetologists, etc.). Check your property's deed restrictions — many New Orleans neighborhoods have private deed restrictions that prohibit commercial activity in residential areas regardless of city rules.

Operating Restrictions

Home Business Restrictions in New Orleans: 1. Business must be incidental to primary residential use 2. No customer or client visits to the premises in most residential zones 3. No exterior signage or visible evidence of business activity 4. No non-resident employees on premises 5. No storage of business inventory, equipment, or vehicles visible from street 6. Business use limited to 25% of dwelling gross floor area 7. No alterations that change the residential character of the structure Violations of home occupation rules can result in complaints from neighbors, code enforcement investigations, permit revocation, and daily fines.

• •Business must be incidental to primary residential use
• •No customer or client visits to the premises in most residential zones
• •No exterior signage or visible evidence of business activity
• •No non-resident employees on premises
• •No storage of business inventory, equipment, or vehicles visible from street
• •Business use limited to 25% of dwelling gross floor area
• •No alterations that change the residential character of the structure

Prohibited Business Types

The following business types are specifically prohibited from operating as home businesses in New Orleans: Retail or service businesses requiring customer visits; Food service establishments (requires commercial kitchen); Auto repair with customers on premises; Medical or dental offices with patients; Instructional uses with groups of students. This list may not be exhaustive — contact the New Orleans City Planning Commission to verify whether your specific business type is allowed under home occupation rules.

• ✕Retail or service businesses requiring customer visits
• ✕Food service establishments (requires commercial kitchen)
• ✕Auto repair with customers on premises
• ✕Medical or dental offices with patients
• ✕Instructional uses with groups of students

Cottage Food Law

Frequently Asked Questions