1,547 street miles. 149 bridges.
The Department of Public Works (DPW) is responsible for maintaining and improving the city’s streets, sidewalks, streetlights, traffic signals, parking enforcement, and public right-of-way infrastructure. Our mission is to enhance mobility, safety, and accessibility for residents, businesses, and visitors while ensuring compliance with city codes and standards.
The Department of Public Works is comprised of five (5) divisions:
- Engineering
- Ground Transportation Bureau
- Maintenance
- Traffic
- Parking & Towing
Report a Problem
If you see an issue with streets, streetlights, traffic signals, or sidewalks, report it to NOLA 311—New Orleans’ official non-emergency government service.
📞 Call 311 or visit nola.gov/311 to submit a service request.
The Department of Public Works (DPW) is dedicated to maintaining and improving our city's infrastructure. While we handle many roadway and traffic-related issues, some concerns—such as water, sewer, and drainage—are managed by the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO).
- For assistance with water and sewer issues, please contact SWBNO at 504.52WATER (529.2837) or report a leak online: Report a Leak.
- To report street flooding or clogged/broken catch basins, please call NOLA 311 or visit the NOLA311 Citizen Home Page for more information.
Working together, we can keep our city's infrastructure running smoothly.
Divisions
Engineering
DPW offers Construction Engineers working in the City specific guidelines to ensure they meet all City codes and standards.
Ground Transportation Bureau
GTB oversees permitting, regulating and enforcement of vehicles and drivers operating for-hire, including taxis, pedicabs, and buses, as well as tour guides, tour planners and tour companies within the city of New Orleans. The GTB office is closed to the public so all applications for GTB are required to be submitted online.
Maintenance
The DPW Maintenance Division is responsible for filling potholes, and ditching. To report a maintenance issue, click here to contact 311.
Traffic
The Department of Public Works Traffic Division is responsible for installing and maintaining the city's traffic signs, signals, and roadway striping. The Division also handles permits for street closures and construction activities in public rights-of-way, including work on streets, sidewalks, and underground utilities.
Additionally, the Traffic Engineering Division oversees the city's streetlight system. This includes repairing and replacing streetlight fixtures, poles, pole bases, wiring, circuitry, and junction boxes. To report a traffic-related issue, click here to contact 311.
Parking & Towing
The Department of Public Works Parking & Towing Division issues tickets when parking regulations, outlined in the City of New Orleans Municipal Code, are violated. Avoid parking tickets by referencing the list of frequently violated parking regulations here.
The Division is also responsible for enforcement of City ordinances in regard to public safety by managing curb space (on-street parking) in certain densely populated areas. Measures include ticketing and towing violating vehicles, immobilizing vehicles, and towing abandoned vehicles. Additionally, this Division is responsible for establishing and managing residential parking zones throughout the City. The City may tow cars immediately in the interest of public safety.