TOUR PLANNER; LICENSE

New Orleans City Code ch. 30, art. XXI, div. 2

in effect

New Orleans City Code § 30-1511 Required, scope.

Sec. 30-1511. - Required, scope. Pursuant to the requirements below, tour planners are required to obtain a tour planner license from the department of public works, which shall expire on September 30 of each year and must be renewed in the month following expiration subject to the same standards as initial issuance. (1) Category 1: All parties, except CPNC holders, contracting to provide transportation services within the parish in for-hire vehicles through CPNC companies must be licensed by the department of public works as tour planners. A tour planner license does not give the licensee any right to sell sightseeing tours on a per-capita basis unless the permit holder has been granted by written contract the exclusive right to sell per capita tours to a particular convention or conference group, in which case the license holder is authorized to sell sightseeing tours on a per capita basis only to members of that group to whom the party is granted this exclusive right by contract. (2) Category 2: Any person or entity marketing, selling, scheduling, arranging, or organizing tours to be conducted on the public right of way, regardless of whether such tours are conducted by employees, independent contractors, or any other person representing said person or entity, must be licensed by the department of public works as tour planners. Such person or entity is responsible for maintaining compliance with all regulations of this article. Issuance of a tour planner permit does not convey any legal authorization to obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic on the streets, sidewalks, banquettes, or other publicly owned right-of-way. Tour planners holding a license under this category are considered a "tour company" for the purposes of this article. (Code 1956, § 12-234; M.C.S., Ord. No. 21480, § 1, 4-1-04; M.C.S., Ord. No. 27526, § 2, 9-14-17; M.C.S., Ord. No. 28624, § 1, 3-11-21)

New Orleans City Code § 30-1512 Requirements.

Sec. 30-1512. - Requirements. All applicants for tour planner licenses must comply with the following requirements: (1) The applicant shall maintain a business office within Orleans Parish; (2) Comprehensive liability insurance must be obtained and maintained in the amount of $300,000.00; and (3) A fidelity bond in the amount of $10,000.00 shall be secured by the applicant. (Code 1956, § 12-235; M.C.S., Ord. No. 27526, § 2, 9-14-17)

New Orleans City Code § 30-1513 Fees.

Sec. 30-1513. - Fees. The fees charged by the department of public works for a tour planner license shall be as follows: (1) Category 1 Tour Planner Licenses: a. Initial license issuance and annual renewal: $500.00. (2) Category 2 Tour Planner Licenses (Tour Company): a. Initial license issuance and annual renewal: $1,000.00. (Code 1956, § 12-236; M.C.S., Ord. No. 21480, § 1, 4-1-04; M.C.S., Ord. No. 27526, § 2, 9-14-17; M.C.S., Ord. No. 28624, § 1, 3-11-21)

New Orleans City Code § 30-1514 Limitations on solicitation.

Sec. 30-1514. - Limitations on solicitation. Tour companies required to hold licenses from the department of public works pursuant to section 30-1511(2) of this article shall not conduct, condone, encourage, permit, authorize, or allow advertising of tour services in any manner inconsistent with the City Code, including but not limited to the provisions of sections 110-222, 134-121, 146-4, and/or 146-494. (M.C.S., Ord. No. 27526, § 2, 9-14-17; M.C.S., Ord. No. 28624, § 1, 3-11-21)

New Orleans City Code § 30-1515 Standards for operation on the public right-of-way.

Sec. 30-1515. - Standards for operation on the public right-of-way. Tour companies required to hold licenses from the department of public works pursuant to section 30-1511(2) of this article, are required to monitor and maintain compliance with all provisions of this article during tours conducted under its license, including: (1) Distribution of rules and regulations, pursuant to section 30-1488 of this article. (2) Monitoring of tour guides associated with each tour company for compliance with the regulations set forth in section 30-1489 of this article. (3) Identification standards set forth in section 30-1490 of this article. (4) In addition to identification of the tour guide, as proscribed in section 30-1490 and in subpart (3), above, tour companies are required to provide all tour participants with an identifiable indicator of the company from whom they have secured tour services. This identification may be in the form of a sticker, decal, wristband, or other device, subject to the review and approval of the director of the department of public works. (5) In addition to the standards explicitly provided in this article, tour companies are required to make all reasonable effort to ensure customers, patrons, employees, independent contractors, and any other individual conducting business with the company do not damage public or private property while conducting or patronizing tours. This standard shall include placement of group identification stickers or decals on any public or private property encountered during or subsequent to a tour. (6) Failure to maintain compliance with the standards of this section is subject to issuance of an administrative citation by the department of public works, levying of fines by administrative hearing, or the suspension or revocation of the tour planner license, pursuant to division 4 of this article. (M.C.S., Ord. No. 27526, § 2, 9-14-17; M.C.S., Ord. No. 28624, § 1, 3-11-21)

New Orleans City Code § 30-1516 Exceptions for public benefit.

Sec. 30-1516. - Exceptions for public benefit. Tours sold by certified, licensed non-profit organizations for the benefit of a public institution where tours are conducted by volunteers without compensation or remuneration are exempt from the licensing requirements of section 30-1511 through 30-1513 of this article. (M.C.S., Ord. No. 27526, § 2, 9-14-17)

Source: City of New Orleans, Code of Ordinances and Home Rule Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/la/new_orleans/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_CH30BU_ARTXXITOGUTOPL_DIV2TOPLLIFetched: 10/28/2026