By Site Plan Creator Team • March 6, 2026

New Orleans Site Plan Requirements: Complete Guide for Building Permits

Creating a site plan for a building permit in New Orleans, Louisiana requires meeting specific requirements set by the Department of Safety and Permits (DSP). New Orleans' development is governed by the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (CZO), with critical considerations for floodplain management, historic preservation across its numerous historic districts, and coastal resilience in one of America's most flood-vulnerable cities.

What Is a Site Plan and Why Does New Orleans Require One?

A site plan is a scaled drawing showing your property boundaries, existing structures, proposed construction, setbacks, and site features. DSP requires a site plan for all building permit applications to verify compliance with the CZO and the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code. Look up your property's zoning through the New Orleans Property Viewer at property.nola.gov.

Required Site Plan Elements for DSP

• Property boundaries with dimensions and total lot area
• Setbacks per CZO
• Existing and proposed structures with dimensions, height, and use
• Lot coverage calculation
• Floor Area Ratio (FAR) for applicable districts
• Parking spaces per CZO (reduced/eliminated in many zones)
• Base Flood Elevation (BFE) and proposed finished floor elevation
• FEMA flood zone designation
• Stormwater management features
• North arrow and scale
• Orleans Parish tax assessor parcel number

New Orleans Zoning and Setback Requirements

• HU-RS (Historic Urban Residential Single-Family): Front 15-25 feet (contextual), side 3 feet, rear 20 feet. Lot coverage max 50%. Height max 35 feet.
• HU-RD (Historic Urban Residential Two-Family): Front 15-25 feet, side 3 feet, rear 20 feet. Lot coverage max 55%.
• HU-RM (Historic Urban Residential Multi-Family): Front 10-20 feet, side 3-5 feet, rear 15 feet.
• S-RS (Suburban Residential Single-Family): Front 25 feet, side 5 feet, rear 20 feet. Lot coverage max 40%.
• HU-MU (Historic Urban Mixed-Use): Front 0-10 feet (build-to), side 0 feet, rear 15 feet.
• Contextual front setbacks: Many residential zones use the median front setback of existing houses on the same block face.

Floodplain Management Requirements

Floodplain compliance is the most critical aspect of New Orleans site plan preparation:

• Flood zone determination: Nearly all of New Orleans is in a FEMA flood zone (AE, VE, X, or Shaded X). Your site plan must show the applicable flood zone.
• Base Flood Elevation (BFE): The minimum elevation at which the lowest floor must be constructed. New Orleans requires freeboard — typically 1-3 feet above the BFE.
• Elevation Certificate: Required for construction in flood zones; must be prepared by a licensed surveyor
• Substantial Improvement Rule: If renovation costs exceed 50% of the structure's market value, the entire building must be brought to current flood elevation standards
• Flood insurance: Required for properties with federally-backed mortgages in Special Flood Hazard Areas
• Foundation types: Slab-on-grade, raised foundation, or pier-and-beam depending on flood zone and BFE

Historic Preservation Requirements

New Orleans has more National Register historic districts than almost any other American city:

• Historic District Landmarks Commission (HDLC): Reviews all exterior work in local historic districts, including the French Quarter, Marigny, Bywater, Garden District, Uptown, Mid-City, and Treme
• Vieux Carré Commission (VCC): Separate commission governing the French Quarter with the strictest standards in the city
• Certificate of Appropriateness: Required for any exterior work visible from a public way in HDLC or VCC jurisdictions
• Louisiana and federal historic tax credits: 25% state credit plus 20% federal credit for certified rehabilitation of income-producing properties
• HDLC/VCC review adds 30-90 days depending on project scope

Stormwater Management Requirements

New Orleans faces unique stormwater challenges due to its below-sea-level elevation and subsidence:

• Stormwater management plan: Required for projects creating significant impervious surface
• Green infrastructure: The city's Stormwater Management Guidelines strongly encourage rain gardens, bioswales, permeable pavement, and cisterns
• Sewerage & Water Board (S&WB): Manages the city's drainage infrastructure; coordination required for connections
• Subsidence awareness: Drainage design must account for the city's ongoing subsidence and below-sea-level geography
• Stormwater utility fee: Monthly fee based on impervious surface with credits for green infrastructure

ADU Requirements in New Orleans

• Accessory structures: Allowed in most residential zones per CZO
• Size limit: Varies by zone (typically 750-1,000 sq ft)
• Setbacks: Side 3 feet, rear 3 feet for accessory structures
• Height: Generally limited to the height of the primary structure
• Short-term rental regulations: New Orleans regulates STRs separately and ADU rental rules vary by district

How to Submit Your Site Plan

OneStop Portal

Submit through New Orleans' OneStop online permitting portal at onestopapp.nola.gov for electronic plan review.

In-Person

Walk-in at 1300 Perdido Street, City Hall, Room 7E06.

Permit Fees and Timeline

• Fees: Per DSP fee schedule based on construction cost and project type
• Impact fees: Limited compared to many cities; utility connection fees apply
• Timeline: Residential 10-20 business days. Commercial 20-40 business days. HDLC/VCC review adds 30-90 days. Flood zone compliance review is concurrent.

Creating Your New Orleans Site Plan with Site Plan Creator

Site Plan Creator makes it easy to generate a professional, permit-ready site plan for your New Orleans property. Simply enter your address, and the tool automatically loads your property boundaries, building footprints, and aerial imagery. You can then add setback lines, label structures, draw proposed construction, and export a scaled PDF ready for DSP submission.