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PERMITS AND FEES

New Orleans City Code ch. 134, art. II, div. 2
in effect

New Orleans City Code § 134-76 Operating permit required.

Sec. 134-76. - Operating permit required. No person shall erect, construct, reconstruct, create, alter, use, or lease a sign without first having secured a written operating permit from the department of safety and permits. (Code 1956, § 3A-3(a))

New Orleans City Code § 134-77 Application procedure.

Sec. 134-77. - Application procedure. (a) Every application for a permit under this division shall be executed and verified under oath by both the owner of the premises upon which the sign is to be or has been constructed, or the authorized lessee of such premises, and the sign company if the sign is an off-premises sign, that the sign is authorized to be erected or to be thereafter maintained on the premises, and shall contain the sworn affidavit of the owner or lessee and the sign company that the sign does not violate any applicable building restriction, servitude, or other similar restrictions on the premises. (b) If the location, plans and specifications set forth in any application for a permit conform to all of the requirements of this chapter and other applicable provisions of this Code, of the building code, and of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, the department shall issue the permit. (Code 1956, § 3A-3(b))

New Orleans City Code § 134-78 Operating permit effectiveness; renewal.

Sec. 134-78. - Operating permit effectiveness; renewal. Each operating permit issued shall be effective for a period of one year. Not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the conclusion of each one-year period, applications may be made for a one-year extension of the permit. Such application shall be submitted in such form as the department may prescribe, accompanied by payment of applicable fees, and shall be executed, verified, and contain the sworn affidavit described in section 134-77(a). Each permit for a mural shall be effective for a period of one year and may be renewed from year to year, as long as the mural continues to comply with the regulations set forth in the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, and any applicable regulations promulgated by the department of safety and permits. (Code 1956, § 3A-3(c); M.C.S., Ord. No. 21916, § 3, 4-21-05; M.C.S., Ord. No. 28121, § 1, 6-6-19)

New Orleans City Code § 134-79 Existing signs.

Sec. 134-79. - Existing signs. (a) After the date of passage of the ordinance from which this chapter was derived, all signs legally existing shall receive, upon application, operating permits according to a phased schedule to be determined by the department of safety and permits so as to require the permitting of the signs on or before certain dates in each of the municipal districts or in each of the wards of the city. The regulations governing the phase schedule shall be published upon issuance and again at least 15 calendar days prior to each deadline date established therein. The operating permit required by this paragraph shall not be required for any flat sign, as defined in Article 12, Section 12.1.8 of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, which is permanently attached to a building owned or controlled by a private nonprofit organization or a local, state or federal government agency and which displays only the name and address and/or other identifying information relative to the building or the nonprofit or governmental agency occupying the building. For the purposes of this section, a private nonprofit organization is defined as an organization which possesses tax exempt status under section 501C of the Internal Revenue Code or is organized as a nonprofit corporation under the laws of any of the states of the United States of America. (b) In order to receive operating permits, all signs existing on the date of passage of the ordinance from which this chapter was derived must conform to the requirements of sections 134-3 and 134-85 and all other applicable provisions of law when an operating permit is issued. (Code 1956, § 3A-3(d))

New Orleans City Code § 134-80 Subterfuge.

Sec. 134-80. - Subterfuge. Any permit secured before or after the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter was derived which in the opinion of the department of safety and permits has been secured through subterfuge and not in full compliance with the provisions of this chapter shall be revoked by the department provided that, such revocation shall conform with the provisions of this chapter regarding notice and hearing. (Code 1956, § 3A-3(e))

New Orleans City Code § 134-81 Construction permit effectiveness; renewal.

Sec. 134-81. - Construction permit effectiveness; renewal. Any permit for construction of a sign shall become null and void unless construction of the sign is completed within 180 days, otherwise a new application must be made. (Code 1956, § 3A-3(f))

New Orleans City Code § 134-82 No refund of fees.

Sec. 134-82. - No refund of fees. The applicant for a permit under this division or holder of a permit shall not be entitled to a refund of any fee paid in case the permit is revoked. (Code 1956, § 3A-3(g))

New Orleans City Code § 134-84 Electrical signs.

Sec. 134-84. - Electrical signs. Any electrical sign shall conform fully to the requirements of the building code, electrical and mechanical codes and shall receive a permit under the provisions thereof. (Code 1956, § 3A-3(i))

New Orleans City Code § 134-85 Fees.

Sec. 134-85. - Fees. Fees are hereby levied and imposed on advertising signage and all other signage constructed, erected, created, or leased in the city: (1) Review of the plan of the location or construction of a sign, prior to any physical inspection, or as a part of the permit application review, or otherwise: .....$ 125.00 (2) Inspection in advance of any sign for conformity with city sign site or for conformity with city ordinances, regulations, building restrictions, servitudes, or other restrictions: .....100.00 (3) Reinspection of a sign after a prior inspection of a sign has discovered a violation and the operator has been given notice of the same, to determine whether there has been a correction of the violation: .....100.00 (4) Inspection at the place of manufacture or delivery [of] an electrical, gas, or vacuum tube sign to ensure conformity with applicable electrical codes and law: .....100.00 (5) Inspection at site of use, erection, or placement of an electrical, gas, or vacuum tube sign after its installation, to ensure conformity with applicable electrical codes and laws: .....100.00 (6) Review of an application for a one-year renewable operating permit, or renewal thereof: ..... a. Accessory signs .....40.00 b. For general advertising billboard permits: ..... 1. Junior billboard (up to 100 square feet), per sign face .....60.00 2. All billboards over 100 square feet, per sign structure .....125.00 (7) Special events—Temporary banners .....50.00 (8) Applications to paint city owned utility boxes .....50.00 (Code 1956, § 3A-7; Ord. No. 19,969, § I, 12-14-00; Ord. No. 20,383, § 1, 10-4-01; M.C.S., Ord. No. 21916, § 7, 4-21-05; M.C.S., Ord. No. 23816, § 2, 12-1-09; M.C.S., Ord. No. 28121, § 1, 6-6-19; M.C.S., Ord. No. 28436, § 1, 8-6-20)
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_CH134SI_ARTIIAD_DIV2PEFEFetched: 10/28/2026

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