Conditional Use Request

All land within the city is regulated by the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (CZO). The CZO includes a text with sets of zoning districts and a map that assigns each property in the city to one of the districts. Each zoning district in the city includes land uses that are defined as conditional uses.

A conditional use is allowed on a particular site only after a determination has been made by the City that the external effects of the land use on adjacent properties and on the surrounding neighborhood can be effectively mitigated by conditions. The CZO contains standards for consideration of conditional uses. Examples of common types of conditional uses include fast food restaurants in neighborhood commercial areas and large child care centers in residential areas. In some zoning districts, the size of a new development can trigger the need for a conditional use review. Conditions, which are normally called provisos by the City Planning Commission (CPC), may address the size and design of a building, landscaping, signage, hours of operation, and various other aspects of the requested conditional use.

Requests for conditional uses may also be initiated by the owner of a property or by the City Council. The CPC holds a public hearing on all conditional use requests and makes a recommendation to the City Council. The City Council then makes a final decision on each conditional use request, following a public hearing.

Land Use Request Application

Fees

  • Structures between 0-4,999 square feet: $1,160.00 
  • Structures between 5,000-24,999 square feet: $2,320.00 
  • Structures between 25,000-74,999 square feet: $3,480.00 
  • Structures of 75,000 square feet or more: $4,640.00
  • Established Two-Family, Multi-Family, and Townhouse Dwellings with an increase in floor area: $700
  • Established Two-Family, Multi-Family, and Townhouse Dwellings with no increase in floor area: $500

Invoices are issued for only these amounts.  They are emailed from CPCinfo@nola.gov or from City Planning staff with an @nola.gov email address.  Please be aware of and disregard fradulent invoices sent from an email address that does not end in @nola.gov. 

Required documents/steps

  • File a completed application with the City Planning Commission (CPC) 
  • After submission of a full and complete application that is accepted by the City Planning staff, the applicant will be given a zoning docket number
  • Notice of the request will be published in the journal of record and notices will be mailed to adjoining property owners
  • The case will be heard at the first available CPC public hearing after the receipt of a complete application. The public hearings are held on the second Tuesday of every month at 1:30 p.m., in the City Council Chamber (unless otherwise posted).
  • During a public meeting, the Commission will either recommend approval, modified approval, or denial to a zoning request, or it may defer action to a later meeting.  The Commission must act within 60 days of its first public hearing. 
  • The Commission's action on a zoning request is a recommendation to the City Council.  It is not a final decision.  
  • After formally receiving the Commission's recommendation on a zoning request, the City Council has 60 days to act on the request by motion and an additional 90 days to act by Ordinance.  An ordinance is then considered by the Mayor.
  • For conditional use/planned development applications approved by ordinance, the applicant must submit final development plans that depict compliance with the ordinance.  These plans are submitted to CPC staff to be reviewed and stamped.  
  • The applicant must record CPC-stamped plans with the Clerk of Civil District Court's Land Records Division.  This is the final step in the conditional use/planned development process.

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Service provided by

City Planning Commission

(504) 658-7033 CPCinfo@nola.gov
1300 Perdido Street 7th Floor New Orleans, LA 70112 View on map

9am—4pm
Monday—Friday

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