New Orleans City Code § 26-650 Title.
Sec. 26-650. - Title.
This article shall be known as the healthy homes program.
(M.C.S., Ord. No. 29239, § 1, 11-3-22)
IN GENERAL
New Orleans City Code ch. 26, art. XIII, div. 1
in effectNew Orleans City Code § 26-651 Purpose and scope.
Sec. 26-651. - Purpose and scope.
The purpose of this article is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public by ensuring persons who reside in Orleans Parish occupy safe and habitable dwellings. The purpose shall be accomplished by requiring registration of residential rental property, by imposing basic requirements for habitability, and by securing the rights of lessees to report violations without fear of retaliation. This article shall be construed liberally to secure this express intent.
(M.C.S., Ord. No. 29239, § 1, 11-3-22)
New Orleans City Code § 26-652 Definitions.
Sec. 26-652. - Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
(a) Certificate of compliance means a certificate or other instrument issued by the department to the owner or lessor of a residential housing unit evidencing registration of that unit in accordance with this article.
(b) Department means the department of safety and permits or its designee.
(c) Director means the director of the department or the director's designee.
(d) Lessee means a person occupying or in possession of a rental housing unit pursuant to a written or oral agreement.
(e) Lessor means the owner or owners of the rental housing unit.
(f) Rental housing unit means a room, or group of rooms, providing complete, independent living facilities, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation for one or more persons that is or will be occupied by a lessee for residential purposes in exchange for any form of consideration. Rental housing unit shall include short-term rentals but shall not include the following:
(1) Dwelling units located in hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, hostels, or RV parks;
(2) Dwelling units located in any state-licensed hospital, hospice, community-care facility, intermediate-care facility, or nursing home; or
(3) Dwelling units owned, managed, or operated by an educational or medical institution, or by a third party for any of the above institutions, when units are used for the sole use of employees, students, patients or others directly related to the academic or medical mission of the institution.
(M.C.S., Ord. No. 29239, § 1, 11-3-22; M.C.S., Ord. No. 29758, § 1, 12-1-23)
New Orleans City Code § 26-653 Administration.
Sec. 26-653. - Administration.
The department, or its designee, shall be responsible for the administration and enforcement of this article. The department shall promulgate regulations that set forth criteria for determining compliance with the requirements and minimum rental standards set forth herein.
(M.C.S., Ord. No. 29239, § 1, 11-3-22)
New Orleans City Code § 26-654 Fees.
Sec. 26-654. - Fees.
(a) There shall be no fee imposed for the timely registration of a rental housing unit or any renewal thereof.
(b) A lessor who fails to timely apply for or renew a certificate of compliance shall be assessed a fee of $50.00 if the application is made during the first 60 days that the certificate of compliance is delinquent and, thereafter, a $200.00 reinstatement fee.
(M.C.S., Ord. No. 29239, § 1, 11-3-22)
New Orleans City Code § 26-655 Database.
Sec. 26-655. - Database.
The city shall ensure the following data is publicly available:
(a) The address of the registered rental housing unit;
(b) Information regarding past and pending inspections, including the result of any inspections;
(c) The date on which the certificate of compliance was received;
(d) Violations of section 26-656 that were cited at the property; and
(e) Revocations of certificates of compliance.
(M.C.S., Ord. No. 29239, § 1, 11-3-22)
New Orleans City Code § 26-656 Minimum rental standards.
Sec. 26-656. - Minimum rental standards.
A rental housing unit leased for occupancy in Orleans Parish shall comply with the following standards:
(a) Each rental housing unit shall have an operable fire and smoke detection system and alarm. A system with missing or expired batteries shall still be deemed operable if it functions properly when new batteries are inserted.
(b) When required by the Fire Code of the City of New Orleans or by La. R.S. 40:1581, each housing unit shall have an operable carbon monoxide detector with a long-life sealed battery.
(c) Each rental housing unit shall contain one or more bathtubs or showers, lavatories, flush-type water closets or toilets, and kitchen sinks. All such plumbing fixtures shall be maintained in a sanitary and good working condition and shall be properly connected to the public sewer system or to an approved private system if the public system is not available.
(d) All kitchen sinks, lavatories, bathtubs and showers shall be supplied with hot and cold running water and shall be otherwise operable.
(e) Water heating facilities shall be in good working condition, and capable of providing an adequate amount of water to be drawn at every required sink, lavatory, bathtub, and shower at a minimum temperature of 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
(f) Each rental housing unit shall have heating facilities in good working order that can safely maintain a minimum room temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit in all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet rooms. Cooking appliances shall not be used to provide space heating to meet the requirements of this section.
(g) Each rental housing unit shall have a cooling system in good working order that can safely maintain a maximum temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit in all bedrooms, measured at a point three feet above the floor and two feet from exterior walls.
(h) Each rental housing unit shall have a properly maintained electrical system, which shall be in a safe working condition and capable of performing its intended function.
(i) If provided by the lessor, all mechanical appliances, operative fireplaces, solid-fuel-burning appliances and cooking appliances shall be properly installed and maintained in a safe working condition, and shall be capable of performing the intended function.
(j) Roofs, windows, and exterior doors must be adequate to prevent dampness or deterioration in the walls or interior portions of the rental housing unit. No evidence of mold shall be present on the interior of the unit. The roof and flashing shall be sound, tight and free of defects that admit rain.
(k) All interior surfaces shall be maintained free of significant cracking, decaying or other defective surface conditions. Holes in interior walls and floors shall be sealed as necessary.
(l) Each rental housing unit and its exterior property shall be kept free from visible rodent harborage and infestation.
(M.C.S., Ord. No. 29239, § 1, 11-3-22; M.C.S., Ord. No. 30078, § 1, 10-10-24; M.C.S., Ord. No. 30564, § 1, 3-12-26)
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_CH26BUBUREHOST_ARTXIIIHEHOPR_DIV1INGEFetched: 10/28/2026