Do You Need a Roofing Permit in New Orleans?

Short answer
Yes (50%+)

For one- and two-family homes, Ordinance 30,235 MCS requires a separate residential re-roofing permit when 50% or more of the roof is replaced. Replacing less than 50% is exempt unless other criteria require a permit. Historic districts (HDLC and VCC) need extra review.

Source: City of New Orleans: Re-Roofing Permit

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New Orleans Roofing Permits at a Glance

Permits, last 12 months
1,553
Issued, last 30 days
110
Median application to issue
11 days
Median declared job value
$65,658
Issuing office
New Orleans Department of Safety and Permits
Rule last checked
October 30, 2026

Permits Issued per Month

115 Nov 77 Dec 137 Jan 103 Feb 125 Mar 160 Apr 172 May 114 Jun 143 Jul 127 Aug 159 Sep 110 Oct
New Orleans roofing permits issued per month, Nov 2025 to Oct 2026. Lighter bar = current month to date.

Counts are approximate: we match permit types and descriptions to roofing work. Data from NOLA Permits, refreshed October 30, 2026.

What New Orleans's Rules Say

  • Required for replacing 50% or more of the roof on one- and two-family homes.
  • Geotagged photos of each installation stage must be uploaded to the permit.
  • Buildings with 3+ units and commercial roofs need a structural or non-structural renovation permit instead.

New Orleans Roofing Permit Fees

ItemOfficial fee
Residential re-roofing base fee$60
Historic districts (HDLC and VCC)+$30

From City of New Orleans: Re-Roofing Permit (listed under Sources below). Fees are set by the city and can change.

Busiest Areas for Roofing Permits

NeighborhoodPermits (12 mo)
Audubon80
Little Woods63
Lakeview58
Old Aurora57
French Quarter52
Gentilly Terrace44

How to Get a Roofing Permit in New Orleans

  1. Confirm the rule for your exact job on the official page cited above. Size, height, structure and location (historic district, floodplain) can change the answer.
  2. Choose who applies. Many permits here must be pulled by a licensed contractor; ask any contractor to name the license they will use.
  3. Apply with the New Orleans Department of Safety and Permits through the official department website.
  4. Schedule inspections as the permit requires, and keep the final approval with your house records.

Recent New Orleans Roofing Permits

IssuedAddressWork
2026-10-282400 Palmer AveTear-off and re-roof of the house and shed with Owens Corning Duration shingles - 2706sqft - $18,400 4 GEO-TAGGED PHOTOS
2026-10-286323 General Haig StFortified reroof for the Louisiana Department of Insurance Fortified Roof Grant Program
2026-10-281415 Elizardi BlvdRenovation of existing single family home, roofing, framing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC
2026-10-283630 Rue ReneeRemove existing asphalt shingle roof. Install new Architectural, Class 3, Asphalt shingle Fortified roof.
2026-10-28388 Broadway Stinstalling new fortified roof on residence Once all applicable photos have been uploaded, please email Inspections@nola.
2026-10-284520 Annette StRemove existing & install New Fortified Roof
2026-10-287154 W Laverne StAfter-the-fact permit for a 101-square-foot storage shed and a 377-square-foot storage shed. *FINAL INSPECTION* NO LIVIN
2026-10-273324-3326 Touro StResidential Re-Roof ONLY
2026-10-271223 France StResidential Re-Roof ONLY
2026-10-27611 Esplanade Ave, EXTERIORRepair of deteriorated/ miss- ing porch decking on front facade gallery and right hand side second floor gallery, pressu

Addresses and work descriptions as published by the city. Owner names and phone numbers are removed.

New Orleans Roofing Contractors: Get Weekly Permit Lists

Contractors: get new permits for your trade and city every Monday. Join the waitlist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a roofing permit in New Orleans?

Yes (50%+). For one- and two-family homes, Ordinance 30,235 MCS requires a separate residential re-roofing permit when 50% or more of the roof is replaced. Replacing less than 50% is exempt unless other criteria require a permit. Historic districts (HDLC and VCC) need extra review.

How many roofing permits does New Orleans issue?

New Orleans issued 1,553 permits matching roofing work between October 30, 2025 and October 30, 2026, about 129 a month. The busiest month was May 2026 with 172.

How much does a roofing permit cost in New Orleans?

From the official fee schedule: Residential re-roofing base fee: $60; Historic districts (HDLC and VCC): +$30.

How long does it take to get a roofing permit in New Orleans?

Based on the city's records, the median time from application to issue for these permits was 11 days over the last 12 months.

Who issues roofing permits in New Orleans?

The New Orleans Department of Safety and Permits.

Related Permit Guides

Written and maintained by the Home Permit Guide Editorial TeamPlaceholder profile

Last updated

This is a placeholder editorial profile. A named reviewer with verifiable experience will be added here. Until then, every rule on this page links to the official government source it was checked against. Read our editorial policy.

Sources

Official sources checked on . Rules change; confirm with the department before you start work.

  1. City of New Orleans: Re-Roofing Permit (linked above) (nola.gov)
  2. New Orleans: Work Exempt from Permit (Section 105.2) (nola.gov)