GENERALLY

New Orleans City Code ch. 162, art. XVI, div. 1

in effect

New Orleans City Code § 162-1800 Certificate required.

Sec. 162-1800. - Certificate required. (a) No school bus shall be operated on the streets of the city unless the owner of such vehicle has first applied for and received a certificate of public necessity and convenience (CPNC) in the manner provided in this chapter. (b) It shall be unlawful for any person to transport or offer to transport passengers in any school bus which does not have affixed to the windshield thereof a valid for-hire vehicle inspection certificate issued along with a valid CPNC as set forth by the director of public works. (c) All certificates of public necessity and convenience shall remain as the property of the city. (d) Notwithstanding section 162-321, school bus CPNCs shall not be transferred, sold, or given from one holder to another including the sale of one company in its entirety to another. (e) Delinquency penalty. A CPNC expires on April 30 of each year and must be renewed within the month following expiration (May) for a fee of $150.00. A CPNC renewal that is submitted in the month of June is subject to a delinquency penalty of $150.00 in addition to the renewal fee of $150.00. A CPNC renewal that is submitted in the month of July is subject to a delinquency penalty of $150.00 in addition to the renewal fee and the June delinquency penalty. A CPNC shall not be renewed after July 31; however, the director of the department of public works (or his designee) at his discretion may make an exception for good cause shown by the CPNC holder. The request for an exception must be made in writing before August 1 and if granted is subject to a delinquency penalty of $50.00 per month beginning in the month of August. This delinquency penalty shall be in addition to the fees and penalties outlined above. (f) Revocation of CPNC. A CPNC that is not renewed by July 31 is suspended. A CPNC shall be revoked if a renewal is not submitted in May, June, July or within the extended time period granted by the director or the designee. (g) Extension for acquiring a vehicle and fee. Compliance with the requirement that a CPNC holder must have a vehicle in service may be extended for a period of time by the director of the department of public works (or his designee) for good cause. The first extended time period is limited to a maximum of 90 days. Additional extensions may be granted but the aggregate of such extensions is limited to a maximum of one year. There is no fee for the first extension. Additional extensions are subject to a fee of $50.00 per month. If a vehicle is not placed into service within the extended time period granted by the director or the designee, the CPNC shall be revoked. (M.C.S., Ord. 27992, § 2, 2-7-19; M.C.S., Ord. No. 28624, § 2, 3-11-21)

New Orleans City Code § 162-1801 Special regulations for school buses.

Sec. 162-1801. - Special regulations for school buses. In addition to the other applicable provisions of this chapter, all holders of a school bus certificate of public necessity and convenience and school bus operators shall comply with the applicable provisions of this article. (M.C.S., Ord. 27992, § 2, 2-7-19)

New Orleans City Code § 162-1802 School bus liability insurance coverage.

Sec. 162-1802. - School bus liability insurance coverage. All school buses operating in the city shall have current liability coverage for each vehicle. (a) The liability coverage for a school bus engaged exclusively in the transport of children to and from school and related activities shall be represented by a policy of liability insurance issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in the state, either as an admitted company or a surplus line company certified to do business in the state eligible under R.S. 22:431 et seq., and such policy shall provide for payment of a sum of not less than $1,000,000.00 to satisfy all claims for damages by reason of death, personal injury, and property damage from any one accident by reason of the ownership, operation, maintenance, or use of such vehicle union and street. (b) The liability coverage for a school bus that is additionally engaged in transport for hire to parties other than schools or traveling more than ten miles outside of the city shall be represented by a policy of liability insurance issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in the state, either as an admitted company or a surplus line company certified to do business in the state eligible under R.S. 22:431 et seq., and such policy shall provide for payment of a sum of not less than $5,000,000.00 to satisfy all claims for damages by reason of death, personal injury, and property damage from any one accident by reason of the ownership, operation, maintenance, or use of such vehicle upon any street. (M.C.S., Ord. 27992, § 2, 2-7-19)

New Orleans City Code § 162-1803 School bus parking and waiting areas.

Sec. 162-1803. - School bus parking and waiting areas. School buses shall be prohibited from parking, waiting, or being stored in areas which are prohibited or restricted by Chapter 154 of this Code or the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance. Vehicles found to be parked, stored, or otherwise not actively operating in any such area shall be subject to administrative action by the ground transportation bureau under the provisions of this chapter in addition to action by any other enforcement agency of the city. (M.C.S., Ord. 27992, § 2, 2-7-19)

New Orleans City Code § 162-1804 CPNC pre-requisite for contracting for service.

Sec. 162-1804. - CPNC pre-requisite for contracting for service. (a) The owner, operator, or any other person in possession of a school bus as defined by this Chapter shall not contract with the owner, operator, institution, or entity responsible for the students who will be transported in said vehicle without the issuance of a CPNC and presence of a valid inspection certificate. (b) Owners, operators, institutions, and/or entities responsible for the students for whom transportation is being provided shall ensure potential vendors possess the requisite documentation from the City of New Orleans prior to allowing such vendor to transport children. (M.C.S., Ord. 27992, § 2, 2-7-19)

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_CH162VEHI_ARTXVISCBU_DIV1GEFetched: 10/28/2026