With the revamp of the residential short-term rental regulations passed recently, the New Orleans City Council has turned its attention to commercial short-term rental (“CSTR”) regulations.  The City Council has asked the City Planning Commission (“CPC”) to study the regulations to determine the overall impact of CSTRs on the City’s neighborhoods.  In particular, the CPC

On February 2, 2023, the New Orleans City Council adopted an ordinance modeled after that of the City of Baltimore, Maryland, wherein properties found to be “chronic public nuisances” may be prohibited from holding occupational licenses for a period of up to two years. The ordinance does not apply to residential properties. The so called

In response to a court ruling finding that New Orleans’ requirement that the holder of a residential short-term rental (“RSTR”) license hold a homestead exemption violated the Constitution’s Commerce Clause, the New Orleans City Planning Commission is making recommendations for changes to the RSTR regulations.  In particular, on January 27, 2023, the City Planning Commission

On August 8, 2020, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”) to “consider whether any measures temporarily halting residential evictions of any tenants for failure to pay rent are reasonably necessary to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 …”.  On September 1, 2020, the CDC, using its quarantine

The Louisiana Governor has issued a proclamation that permits Louisiana to move to Phase 2, effective June 5, 2020. Restaurants and bars with food permits issued by the Louisiana Department of Health may open at 50% of its State Fire Marshal maximum capacity (including employees in the capacity count), an increase over 25% permitted in

The Louisiana Governor and State Fire Marshal have issued updated guidelines that take effect on May 15, 2020. As of the time of this post, the New Orleans Mayor has not yet issued her formal proclamation, but references are made to those differences with State law that the Mayor has verbally communicated in press conferences.

UPDATE:  All casinos, bars, and movie theaters in the entire state are ordered closed and restaurants are limited to delivery, take-out, and drive thru.  The change takes effect at midnight tonight and remains in effect until April 13.

Yesterday, Mayor LaToya Cantrell of the City of New Orleans issued restrictions concerning bar and restaurant operations

Effective June 6, 2019, Act 164 of the 2019 regular session of the Louisiana legislature legalized the use of Cannabidol (CBD) for certain applications.  The Act permits the use of industrial hemp, which was declassified from being a Schedule 1 controlled dangerous substance by the US Congress last year in the 2018 Farm Bill.  Industrial

Some exciting news for liquor license holders in the City of New Orleans! Effective August 27, 2018, the City of New Orleans (“City”) has transferred the administration of liquor licenses from the Department of Revenue to the Department of Safety and Permits in an effort to streamline the permitting process.  Years ago, the City created

Sales Tax Changes:

The Louisiana Legislature has simplified the effective state tax rates for most taxable transactions, eliminating the previous five potential tax rates (as applicable to various exemptions) to two possible rates: either fully exempt from state tax or  4.45% for most purchases (down from 5%).  Effective July 1, 2018, House Bill (“HB”) 10