New Orleans treats concrete on your own lot and concrete on the public side of the property line differently. The rules below come from City of New Orleans pages and forms. Rules change, and we confirm them for your address before work starts.
Do I need a permit for a driveway or patio?
For the part on your own lot, usually not a building permit. The Department of Safety and Permits lists "paving of yard, courtyard, and/or driveway when in compliance with applicable Zoning Ordinance" as work exempt from a building permit. The paving still has to follow the zoning rules. You do need a permit from the Department of Public Works for a new driveway or curb cut where it crosses the public right of way. In the French Quarter all paving needs Vieux Carré Commission approval, and in a local historic district the Historic District Landmarks Commission may need to approve it.
Do I need a permit to widen my driveway?
Yes, if you widen the opening at the street. The Department of Public Works Traffic Division issues the driveway and curb cut permit, and the application fee is $100 and is not refunded. The city's standard allows at most 12 feet at the property line for a single-lane driveway and 24 feet for a two-lane one. The site plan has to show poles, hydrants, catch basins and trees. Widening on your own lot is also held to the front yard paving limit.
Who owns the driveway apron: me or the city?
The apron lies in the public right of way, so the land is the city's, but it serves your property and you pay to build it. The city sets how it is built. Its standard calls for at least 6 inches of 4,000 psi concrete with wire mesh for a normal driveway, and 8 inches for a heavy-duty one. We could not find a city page that states who must maintain an old apron, so ask the Department of Public Works before paying for a repair.
Who is responsible for the sidewalk in front of my house?
In practice, the property owner arranges and pays for repairs to the sidewalk in front of the house. The city's sidewalk repair permit is applied for by the owner, who agrees to follow the city's sidewalk rules and to protect the city from claims arising from the work. We did not find a plain city statement of the ownership rule, so treat this as general information and confirm with the Department of Public Works. The city also repairs some sidewalks itself as part of street projects.
The city sent a notice about my sidewalk. What do I do?
If the city sent you a notice, read what it asks for and the deadline, then call the number printed on it before you hire anyone. Ask which panels are covered and whether tree roots are involved, since street trees belong to the Department of Parks and Parkways. Then get a sidewalk repair permit and a written quote that matches the notice. Keep copies of everything.
Must I use the city's contractor, or can I hire my own?
You can hire your own contractor. The city's sidewalk repair permit form asks for the contractor's name and license number, and the work has to follow the Department of Public Works standard details. The application fee is $40 in most of the city, with different charges on Canal Street and in the Vieux Carré.
How close to the property line can I pour?
We found no city page that gives one setback number for flat paving, so we check zoning for your lot. On the narrow lots common in New Orleans, drives and walks often run right beside the property line. Two things matter more than the number. Your concrete must stay on your side, and it must not send water onto the neighbor. Leave a strip of soil or a small drain at the edge where you can.
Do I need a survey?
You need a survey when the concrete goes near a boundary and the line is not certain. Old New Orleans lots are narrow and fences are often off by a foot or more. Get a current survey before pouring a driveway down a shared side yard, building a wall, or paving next to a neighbor's house. For a patio in the middle of the yard, no.
Do I need HOA approval?
If your home is in a subdivision or a condominium with recorded restrictions, yes, ask the HOA first. Most older city neighborhoods have no HOA. They often have something stricter, which is historic district review. Approval from an association does not replace a city permit, and a city permit does not replace the association's approval.
How much of my lot can I cover with concrete?
New Orleans limits impervious surface in front yards. Under the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, paving more than 40 percent of a front yard, or of the corner side yard on a corner lot, is not allowed in most neighborhoods. Each zoning district also sets its own open space rules. Larger projects fall under the stormwater rules in Article 23, but the city exempts single-family and two-family homes from the stormwater management plan. We measure your front yard before we draw a driveway.
When does a retaining wall need an engineer or a permit?
The city exempts retaining walls that are not over 3 feet high from a building permit. A taller wall needs a permit, and a wall that holds up a driveway, a building or a slope should have an engineer design it. In the French Quarter a wall of any height needs Vieux Carré Commission approval. On soft soil even a low wall needs a real footing and drainage.
How do I find underground utility lines before digging?
Contact Louisiana 811 to have underground utility lines marked. The service is free. Louisiana requires notice two full business days before digging, not counting weekends and holidays. When we do the job, we make the request. Marks cover public utilities only. Sprinkler pipe, yard lighting, a gas line to a grill and the sewer line on your own lot are private, and you need to tell us where they run.
I need a wheelchair ramp and a wider walkway. Are there rules?
Yes. A ramp at a private home is best built to the common accessibility figures: a slope no steeper than 1 inch of rise per 12 inches of run, at least 36 inches clear width, and level landings at top and bottom. Many New Orleans houses are raised several feet, so a ramp can be long and may need to turn. A ramp attached to the house can need a building permit, and a business must meet the ADA. We have no published price for ramps and quote them after a visit.
My house is in a historic district and has old decorative concrete. What can I change?
Ask before you break anything out. In a local historic district the Historic District Landmarks Commission reviews exterior work, and its staff can tell you what needs approval. In the French Quarter the Vieux Carré Commission must approve all paving. Old scored walks, brick, slate and granite curbs are part of the character of these streets. Often the answer is to repair and match, not replace.
Sources: City of New Orleans Department of Safety and Permits, "Work Exempt from Permitting"; Department of Public Works driveway and curb cut permit page and requirements sheet; Department of Public Works sidewalk repair permit form; City of New Orleans stormwater management requirements; Louisiana 811. Checked October 2026.
The real number for your address comes from a free visit and a written quote. Call (504) 732-1542, or text a photo of the area and we will tell you what we see.