Restoration Tax Abatement (RTA) Program

Summary

The Restoration Tax Abatement (RTA) Program provides to commercial property owners and homeowners who expand, restore, improve, or develop an existing structure in a downtown development district, economic development district, historic district, or opportunity zone the right to pay ad valorem taxes based on the assessed valuation of the property for the year prior to the commencement of the project for five years after completion of the work.

Program Rules

• View the Louisiana Economic Develpoment's Restoration Tax Abatement Program Rules (Go to Part I, Chapter 9)
• 2025 Rules: View the Restoration Tax Abatement Rules  for projects with Advance Notifications filed on or after May 8, 2025. Click here for access to all RTA exhibits required for local review. 
• 2020 Rules: View the Restoration Tax Abatement Rules for projects with Advance Notifications filed on or after January 16, 2020, but before March 8, 2025. Click here for access to all RTA exhibits required for local review. 
• 2011 Rules: View the Restoration Tax Abatement Rules for projects with Advance Notifications filed on or after November 3, 2011, but before January 16, 2020.

Locally Requested Information

• Affidavit
• Project Description
• Investment Total
• As-Is & As-Completed Appraisals
• Pro Forma (applicable to income producing projects)
• Additional Tax Breaks (if any) 
• Property Owner(s) 
• Cost Benefit Analysis Data (applicable to sales tax revenue generated projects)
• Eligibility Certification Information 
• Construction and Permanent Jobs Created
• Tax Status
• Sales Tax Revenue
• Building Permits (identifying reported construction value)
• Proof of DBE Participation (owner occupied residential projects with 6 or fewer units and projects valued less than $15,000 are exempt)
• Hire NOLA and Living Wage Requirements (applicable to projects valued $150,000+)
• Inclusionary Zoning Permits (if any)
• Act of Sale and Property Management Agreement (applicable to transfer projects ONLY)
• Pre-Construction and Improvement Photos (if available) of both the Exterior and Interior Structure

Apply

Log in to FastLane on the Louisiana Economic Development website, and fill out an Advance Notification form and Application. Both forms should be filed prior to construction commencement. Failure to do so may result in ineligibility of this tax exemption. 

NOTE: A tax abatement is not available if property taxes have been paid on the improvements made by the project.  In order to maintain compliance, the City of New Orleans advises those pursuant of this incentive to “pay under protest” the portion of the taxes subject to abatement (the improvements) upon approval of the RTA to avoid any penalties, interest and/or tax sale (R.S. 47:1998) and the amount not being abated to be paid against the account.  Paying under protest shows a good faith effort by the applicant and keeps the tax account current.  If approved, the RTA is applied to the tax rolls and a refund is granted to the applicant for the subject years based on reassessments. 

RTA FAQs

A list of frequently asked questions for the program can be found here.

RTA Meeting Schedule

The RTA meeting schedule for 2025 schedule can be found here. 

The agenda for the upcoming meeting may be found here.

Please see RTA public meeting procedures.