Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the City of New Orleans making changes to the Residential Parking Permit (RPP) Program?
The Residential Parking Permit Program is designed to manage residential parking in high-traffic neighborhoods with limited off-street parking where non-residents park. The program was established in 1984, in advance of the World’s Fair, and had not been updated to meet the changing needs of constituents until now.
What changes should residents and property owners living in Residential Parking Permit zones expect?
DPW held public meetings and conducted in-person and phone interviews before revising the Residential Parking Permit program. Once that input was synthesized, DPW worked closely with the City Council to revise the City Ordinance governing the program in order to better meet constituent needs.
Residents are now able to apply for and renew their RPP passes online, as well as in person at City Hall, 1300 Perdido St. Rm 2W89, New Orleans, LA 70112 Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. The improved program now:
- Better defines who is eligible to participate
- Offers passes to property owners
- Increased the citation fee for violations from $40 to $75 to deter offenders
- Updates the fee schedule for pass holders and funds positions for additional Parking Enforcement Officers.
The price of my Residential Parking Permit pass increased, what am I getting in exchange for this additional fee?
Feedback provided to the Department of Public Works at public meetings, and through in-person and telephone interviews helped frame the revised program. The lack of consistent enforcement was often cited a reason for dissatisfaction with the program. In response, the increased fee schedule will be used to help fund the approximately 20 Parking Enforcement Officer positions required to fully monitor and enforce all active RPP zones.
How do I activate my Daily Visitor pass?
The Daily Visitor Pass should be displayed by hanging the red tag on the rearivew mirror of the vehicle with the permit side facing out. The permit must be purchased and activated by midnight the day before it is used. To active the permit, visit our website or visit the Parking Division at 1300 Perdido St., Rm 1w09 on Monday-Friday from 8 am to 4 pm.
To activate your daily permit, log into your existing account online (DO NOT CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT) then click ‘ORDER PERMIT’. Select “DAILY ACTIVATION” from the drop down list (Please note: If you have purchased a Senior Property Owner, Senior Residential, or a Senior New Resident Permit you will have the option to select DAILY ACTIVATION SENIOR.) Next, click the down arrow for the box labeled Daily Permit Number. If your account includes multiple Daily Permits, each Daily Permit number will be shown here. Most users will have only 1 account listed. After selecting the correct Daily Permit Number, enter the day that you would like to use your Daily Permit in the box labeled “Start Date.” Next, add the Activation to your cart by clicking the “Add To Cart” button. Activate each day that you would like to use your Daily Permit by repeating the steps above. Once you are finished, click the “Check Out” button: (Please note: You may return to purchase more activations at a later time.)
What's the process to establish a new Residential Parking Permit zone?
- A letter from the Neighborhood Association must be sent to:
PARKING DIVISION, Residential Parking Permit Office
1300 Perdido Street Rm 2W89
New Orleans, LA 70112
- The letter may also be emailed to kendall.teel@nola.gov. This correspondence should verify the need of area residents for RPP in conjunction with the current Code of the City of New Orleans relative to Residential Parking. The letter should also identify a block captain and include his or her contact information including e-mail address.
- A meeting must be held with the Executive Board of the organization and representatives from the RPP office. At this meeting a review of the ordinance, the process and policies will be provided by RPP office.
- A public forum must be scheduled by the Neighborhood Association. Information on the place and date should be coordinated with the RPP office.
- The RPP office will publish a notice in the newspaper. Flyers will be provided to the Neighborhood Association for distribution to area residents.
- A full report must be prepared by members of the Neighborhood Association for presentation to the City Council. (The RPP office will advise the association which data must be included in this report.)
- The forum will be conducted by RPP staff and officers of the Neighborhood Association.
- A report of recommendations will be submitted to the City Council. This report will include parking survey data and other activities related to RPP in the specific neighborhood.
- The City Council will review the report and take appropriate action to approve or disapprove.
- If approved by the City Council, petitions from residents must be submitted to the RPP office. A majority of households on the block must sign the petition for that block to have RPP signs installed. Each side of the block is petitioned separately. If the block is 51% or more commercial, signs will not be installed on that block.
- Signs (with 2 hr. restrictions) will be installed block by block if the majority of residents on a block have signed the petition. The RPP office will verify the residents identity working with the block captain.
- Courtesy tickets will be issued for several days prior to enforcement
What information is required when I apply for a permit?
Annual Residential Parking Permit
Required Documents (4): All documents must list the residential address of the applicant in the designated RPP zone.
- Proof of Residency:
- Tax bill showing "homestead exemption" - OR -
- An executed, current lease
- SWBNO bill or Entergy bill at current address
- Vehicle Registration (or letter from company on company stationery if titled in company's name)
- Applicant's valid driver's license
Annual Visitor (Dependent)
Required Documents: No further documentation is required upon Annual Residential Application approval.
Annual Residential-New Resident
Required Documents (4): All documents must list the residential address of the applicant in the designated RPP zone.
- Proof of Residency:
- Tax bill showing "homestead exemption" - OR -
- An executed, current lease
- SWBNO bill or Entergy bill at current address
- Vehicle Registration (or letter from company on company stationery if titled in company's name)
- Applicant's valid driver's license
Annual Visitor (Standalone)
Required Documents (2), (3 if Senior): All documents must list the residential address of the applicant in the designated RPP zone.
- Proof of Residency:
- Tax bill showing "homestead exemption" - OR -
- An executed, current lease
- SWBNO bill or Entergy bill at current address
- Applicant's valid driver's license or other State issued identification displaying applicant’s date of birth.
Annual Residential Property Owner
Required Documents (3)
- Proof of at least 51% ownership in property at the address within a designated RPP zone as reflected on property tax records for a real property address.
- Vehicle Registration (or letter from company on company stationery if titled in company's name)
- Applicant's valid driver's license
Temporary 30-day Permit
Required Documents (3)
- Proof of Residency:
- Tax bill - OR -
- An executed, current lease
- SWBNO bill or Entergy bill at current address
- Vehicle Registration (or letter from company on company stationery if titled in company's name)
- Applicant's valid driver's license
Student (Fall and Spring Semesters)
Required Documents (5)
- Proof of Residency:
- Tax bill - OR -
- An executed, current lease
- SWBNO bill or Entergy bill at current address
- Vehicle Registration (or letter from company on company stationery if titled in company's name)
- Applicant's valid driver's license
- Valid student identification card
If, for example, your water bill is paid by your landlord, a document stating as much can be used in lieu of a water bill. The contact information for the lease or rental agreement would need to match the letter provided in lieu of the water bill.
Who can obtain a residential parking permit?
Any resident of a designated RPP zone who can show appropriate documentation is eligible for a RPP. View the application criteria here.
What are the benefits of obtaining a residential parking permit?
A residential parking permit allows the holder to park a motor vehicle for up to 24-hours in their designated residential parking permit zone without being subject to the limitations imposed on vehicles that do not possess the residential parking permit. A RPP is not a guarantee of a parking spot, it simply increases the likelihood that residents may find a curbside parking space.
How much does a Residential Parking Permit cost?
The residential parking permit application fee is $40. The permit fee is $30 for residents up to 64 years and under, $20 for residents age 65 and older. Student permits are $20 per semester. Optional passes such as Visitor passes are $30 and daily passes are $4 or $2 for seniors. View the application here.
Can students living in RPP zones obtain a Residential Parking Permit?
Yes. Students residing in an RPP zone may obtain a permit each semester they are registered in classes. View the required documents here. The application fee is $40 and the permit is $20 per semester.
Can I apply online for a residential parking permit?
Yes, apply online here. Applications submitted online may take up to two weeks for fulfillment.
Residents living in an area designated as a residential parking permit zone may also apply for a permit in person at the City of New Orleans Parking Division, Residential Parking Permit Office at 1300 Perdido St., Suite 2W84 Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.
Does a residential parking permit reserve a parking space for my vehicle or confer any special traffic or parking privileges?
No, a residential parking permit does not guarantee or reserve a curbside parking space in the designated parking zone. The residential parking permit does not allow the holder of the permit to park a motor vehicle in areas where parking is prohibited or assigned to specified types of vehicles. The permit does not exempt the holder from adhering to traffic or parking regulations. For guidance on how to avoid citations visit our Parking Rules and Regulations page.
Is my residential parking permit transferable?
No. The vehicle must be used with the vehicle that is on file for the residential parking permit. Any misrepresentation by the applicant or illegal use of a permit will constitute a violation of the ordinance and subject the permit holder to revocation of the permit.
Annual visitor passes are transferrable.
Can I get a permit for visitors to my residence?
Yes. There are two types of visitor permits. Residents living in areas designated for the Residential Parking Permit program who have an annual permit may purchase an annual visitor pass for $30 ($20 for residents 65 and over).
Residents who do not own a motor vehicle but would otherwise qualify for a residential parking permit may apply for an annual visitor permit at a cost of $30 ($20 for residents 65 and over). The $40 application fee would also be due at the time of purchase.
Residents may also apply for a daily visitor permit at a cost of $4/day ($2/day for residents 65 and older) to accommodate guests to their homes, assuming the $40 application has already been paid.
Are annual visitor permits transferable?
Yes. While the annual visitor permit cannot be duplicated, it is transferable to different visitors at the permit holder’s discretion.
Can I have more than one daily visitor permit at a time?
No. Only one daily visitor permit is allowed at any given time.
I have guests visiting for a week. What kind of permit do they need?
For temporary visitors, an annual or daily visitor permit may be used.
I own residential property in an area designated for the residential Parking Permit Program, but do not reside there. Can I obtain a parking permit?
Yes. Property owners of residential property in RPP zones may purchase one non-transferable property owner pass as long as the applicant can prove that they have at least 51 percent ownership of the property in question, as well as a current vehicle registration, driver’s license and license plate number.
Property owner pass holders are not eligible for annual transferable visitor passes but are eligible to purchase daily visitor passes at a rate of $4/day ($2/day for residents 65 and older) to accommodate guests to their homes.
Can I have more than one residential property owner permit per zone?
No. A residential property owner may not be issued or possess more than one residential parking permit per zone. The parking administrator may grant a waiver, which may be subject to approval by the director of public works.
Are there penalties for parking violations in RPP zones?
Yes. Any person parking a motor vehicle without a valid residential or special parking permit in a zone designated for residential parking for more than two hours is subject to the applicable parking violations and fines. The citation fee is $75. For guidance on how to avoid citations visit our Parking Rules and Regulations page.
I have multiple contractors working on my house. What type of permit is required for parking?
Service vehicles are exempt from the residential parking permit requirement, as well as exempt from the posted time limits. Service vehicles must display a work slip showing the name and address of the residence being serviced in the windshield on the passenger side of the vehicle. Residents are responsible for informing their contractors that workslips must be placed in the windshield.
Where do I place the parking permit in my vehicle?
Parking permit hang tags should be hung from the vehicle’s rearview mirror. Motorcycle passes should be placed on the motorcycle fork.
My car is being serviced and I have a rental car. What type of permit do I need?
Your Residential Parking Permit pass is linked to your vehicle license plate. If you hold an annual visitor pass, you may use your temporary pass while you have a rental vehicle. You may also use a daily visitor pass.
I receive daily in-home health care services because of my special medical needs. Is there a special permit that my health care provider can receive?
Yes, your caretaker may use your visitor pass.
What's the process to eliminate a block from a Residential Parking Permit zone?
The process to remove a block from the program is similar to establishing a zone. We would expect about 85 percent of the property owners/residents to agree that they no longer wish to participate in the program to eliminate it from the zone by signing a petition indicating as much.
The signed petition may be submitted to the RPP office by writing dpw@nola.gov or mailing the signed petition to the RPP office at 1300 Perdido Street Rm 2W89, New Orleans, LA 70112. The petition should include the full contact information for a block captain.
The Parking Division will confirm the content of the petition.