Beautiful Virgin Islands

Friday, Apr 18, 2025

New Orleans cracks down on influx of Airbnb-style short-term rentals with new restrictions

New Orleans cracks down on influx of Airbnb-style short-term rentals with new restrictions

New Orleans regulations limit owners to licensing one short-term rental property per block and require that operator live on the property

New Orleans, a city dependent on tourism, adopted new regulations on Airbnb-style short-term rentals on Thursday after an emotional debate between residents and council members.

When the new rules take effect in July, owners of short-term rentals in the city will be limited to licensing one property per block and the operator must live on the property – whether it's the owner or a renter allowed to reside there.

The decision came after a federal appeals court ruling in August obliterated a regulation designed to stop "whole house" vacation rentals by absentee homeowners, The Associated Press reported. The ruling also reignited heated arguments surrounding short-term rentals in the city since they became popular in the mid-2010s.

"The neighborhoods are split on this," New Orleans city council member Freddie King said. "Neighbors are split on this."

A resident speaks out against short-term rentals during a City Council meeting at City Hall in New Orleans, Thursday, March 23, 2023.


Opponents and supporters of increased regulations have been vocal about their contrasting feelings on the effects of the short-term rental market on the city.

Those against the new rules say the Airbnb-style properties broaden the city's tourism market and provide "necessary supplemental" income to homeowners.


Supporters of the regulations say the influx of vacation rentals, typically driven by outside investors and absentee owners, inflate property costs and taxes for residents. They also believe short-term rentals cater to partiers and have changed the atmosphere of the "once quiet and charming areas."

One New Orleans native in favor of the regulations said his neighborhood has been "taken over by wealthy investors."

"It's become a playground for tourists and for those wealthy investors," he said. "We're becoming a smaller, whiter tourist resort. Less like the city I grew up in with every passing year."

The old regulation limited short-term rental licenses to the license-holder's primary residence – a residence for which they claim a Louisiana homestead property tax exemption, according to The AP, which eliminated out-of-state property owners.

Upon review, a panel of three judges at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that the aforementioned regulation unconstitutionally restricted interstate commerce.

Dawn Wheelahan, an attorney for short-term rental interests, told The AP on Friday that the challenges in court will continue. Two of her clients are reportedly a woman who has residences in Portland, Oregon, and New Orleans, and a company that manages short-term rentals in various cities.

Wheelahan said the new rules have multiple legal and constitutional problems, adding that the new requirement states only a "natural person" can hold a property license, not a cooperation.

"The prohibition against corporate entities holding permits violates the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision holding that corporate entities have the same First Amendment rights as natural persons," she said in an email to The AP.

Some people already holding licenses said they are worried about their future income as existing holders who want to renew their licenses will have to win a lottery against other applicants on their block.

"You might put me in a lotto and, just like that, I could lose my retirement income," said one woman, adding that renting part of her house to vacation guests is more lucrative than having long-term tenants. "If I have to go back to long-term rental, I will have to sell my house."

Councilmembers Jean Paul "JP" Morrell and Helena N. Moreno listens to public comments on short-term rentals during a City Council meeting at City Hall in New Orleans, Thursday, March 23, 2023.


Council member Eugene Green said the one-per-block limit is a compromise with the people who want vacation rentals completely eliminated.

"I've seen the signs saying, ‘My STR is my retirement,’" Green said. "But for the people that I've spoken to, their homes and their neighborhoods are their retirement."

Council members included an amendment from King that gives property owners the opportunity to apply for an increase in the limit for a given area. In order for the application to be approved, there would be bureaucratic review, public comment from affected neighbors and a vote by the council.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
U.S. State Department Raises El Salvador’s Safety Ranking, Making It Safer Than France and Other European Nations
UK Government Assumes Control of British Steel's Scunthorpe Plant Amid Shutdown Threat
UK MP Wera Hobhouse Denied Entry to Hong Kong During Family Visit
Bangladesh Issues Arrest Warrant for UK MP Tulip Siddiq
China Urges United States to Cancel Tariffs Amid Escalating Trade Tensions
The Empire’s USD Pyramid Scheme Is Working Brilliantly—So Why ‘Fix’ It?
China Raises Tariffs on U.S. Goods to 125% Amid Escalating Trade Dispute
Elon Musk Reports $150 Billion in Projected Government Savings Amid Fraud Investigations
U.S. and Panama Finalize Defense Agreements Amid Canal Access and Chinese Influence Concerns
China Stands Firm Amidst Trade Disputes with the US: A Factual Analysis
U.S. Tariff Escalation Sparks Global Trade Tensions
Helicopter crashes in NYC with four people on board.
Australia Dismisses China's Suggestion to Collaborate Against US Tariffs
EU Postpones Response to US Tariffs
The Trump Administration is contemplating removing Chinese companies from U.S. stock exchanges.
Violent Incidents and Public Safety Concerns Escalate in London and County Durham
UK MP Arrested on Suspicion of Rape and Child Sex Offences
UK Gears Up to Respond to US Tariffs with Industrial Strategies and Trade Initiatives
‘Rocky’ star Dolph Lundgren and his wife Emma Krokdal bask in the Miami sunshine following the actor’s lengthy health struggles.
Spain Encounters Countrywide Protests as Housing Crisis Intensifies
Alisha Lehmann's Modeling Campaign and Public Controversy Stir Debate Ahead of UEFA Women's Euro
U.S. Firms with Major International Revenue Exposure in Light of New Tariffs
President Trump Calls on the Federal Reserve to Reduce Interest Rates in Light of New Tariffs
President Trump Prolongs TikTok Sale Deadline by 75 Days
Global Markets Dive Amid Rising U.S.-China Trade Conflicts
British comedian Russell Brand faces charges of rape and several sexual assaults.
Kanye West Reveals in a New Song That His Wife Bianca Censori Has Departed from Him
Actor Jean-Claude Van Damme Accused of Having Sex with Human Trafficking Victims
Tom Cruise Pays Tribute to Val Kilmer at CinemaCon
Europe Pursues Digital Autonomy Amidst Transatlantic Strains
OpenAI Lands Unprecedented $40 Billion Funding.
Charity Chairwoman Accuses Prince Harry of Bullying and Harassment
DOGE revealed that USAID provided $84 million to the Clinton Foundation. Of this amount, $3 million was spent on Chelsea Clinton's wedding, and $10 million was used to acquire a lavish mansion.
The State Department has announced the formal closure of USAID.
Apple's Innovation Deficit: Falling Behind in AI and Foldable Technology as Chinese Developments Progress
President Trump Proposes Military Intervention to Obtain Greenland
Passenger Taken into Custody After Engaging in Masturbation on SWISS Air Flight
Barcelona player Dani Alves found not guilty of rape accusations.
PUTIN'S LIMOUSINE DETONATES—SECURITY CHAOS ENSUES
French Foreign Ministry Denounces U.S. Interference in Corporate Diversity Initiatives
Copyright Issues Emerge as AI-Generated Studio Ghibli Images Gain Popularity
This is what we refer to as CREATIVITY.
Removing the Political Opponent Means Dismissing the Remnants of Turkey's Economy.
Malaysia Strengthens Semiconductor Regulations in Response to U.S. Pressure to Restrict AI NVIDIA Chip Exports to China.
OpenAI Launches New Image Generation Tool for ChatGPT
Ex-FIFA President and French Football Icon Acquitted of Corruption Allegations
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz Under Investigation After Journalist Added to Secret Military Chat
Ex-Business Partner of Hunter Biden Discusses Possible Pardon from President Trump
U.S. Attorney General Announces Task Force to Prosecute Government Fraud
American Brands Face Consumer Boycott in Europe Amid Escalating Trade and Political Tensions
×