Appeal Safety and Permits Decision

A decision appeal is an appeal of an administrative decision of the Department of Safety and Permits in circumstances where the applicant believes the Department made an error in the interpretation of the zoning ordinance.

Appeals to the Board of Zoning Adjustments may be filed by an aggrieved party or by any officer, department, commission, board, bureau or any other agency of the City affected by any decision of the Director of the Department of Safety and Permits. Appeals shall be based in, and provide evidence of an error in application of the law or a conflict in the law.

Appeals may be filed concerning any decision of the Director of the Department of Safety and Permits on the following applications of this Ordinance:

The decision of the Director of the Department of Safety and Permits on zoning verifications.
The decision of the Director of the Department of Safety and Permits on Zoning Ordinance interpretations.
The decision of the Director of the Department of Safety and Permits on permits issued under the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance.

Note: An appeal must be submitted to the City Planning Commission staff within forty-five (45) days from the date the decision is rendered by the Department of Safety & Permits.

Board of Zoning Adjustments Application

Fees

$250

Acceptable forms of in-person payment include: Checks, Cashier’s Checks, Money Orders, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. Please make all checks and money orders payable to City of New Orleans

Process

File a completed application with a “planner on duty” within forty-five (45) days of the date of the decision.
Board of Zoning Adjustments staff have ten (10) days to review your application for completeness. They may request additional information from you in order to mark the application “complete” and schedule it for a hearing.
Board of Zoning Adjustments staff will notify you when your application has been docketed.
The official journal of record will publish notice of the request, and Board of Zoning Adjustments staff will mail notification postcards to nearby property owners and residents.
The Director of the Department of Safety & Permits will prepare a summary report, which will be made available to you and the public on the Wednesday prior to the hearing.
The Board will hear the appeal at the first available BZA meeting after the application is marked “complete.” Meetings are held the second Monday of every month at 10:00 a.m., in the City Council Chamber (unless otherwise noticed). Applicants should plan to attend the meeting to speak on behalf of the appeal.
The Board will take action on your application. Within ten (10) days of the Board’s action, the staff will send you a written record, or resolution, of the Board’s action.
You or any other person may appeal the Board’s decision to Civil District Court within thirty (30) days of the date on the resolution. Decision appeals cannot be appealed to the City Council.