New Orleans Zoning Decisions: September 2026

In September 2026, New Orleans held 4 public meetings covering zoning matters. 46 zoning decisions had a recorded outcome this month: 35 approved (90% approval rate), 4 denied, 7 deferred. Activity was up 164% compared to August (300 activity items across 3 meetings).

Zoning Decisions This Month

HDLC Appeal of Julia Jones (Neighbors First for Bywater) at 620-622 Louisa Street

Denied.

Motion M26390 denying the appeal by Neighbors First for Bywater and affirming HDLC approval of a rear addition to a contributing building at 620-622 Louisa Street. Numerous neighbors opposed citing scale (over 6,000 sq ft) and fears of future commercial/transient lodging use tied to the Country Club owner. Council held these were zoning/BZA matters, not HDLC. Passed.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Commercial short-term rental at 2407 Gravier Street

Denied.

Conditional use to permit a commercial short-term rental in an MU-2 mixed-use high-intensity district and transient lodging IZD at 2407 Gravier Street, a two-story five-bedroom single-family residence. Applicant requested a 30-day deferral. Staff recommended denial citing oversaturation (36 STRs within one block) and housing loss. Neighbors opposed citing density and prior violations. Commission denied by unanimous roll-call.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Commercial short-term rental at 2404 St. Claude Avenue (ZD 090-26)

Denied.

Conditional use to permit a commercial short-term rental at 2404 St. Claude Avenue in an HMC-2 historic Marigny-Treme-Bywater commercial district in the transient lodging IZD. Existing single-family dwelling. Staff recommended approval subject to two provisos, finding it consistent with the master plan. Commission went against staff and denied on consistency-of-voting grounds pending new ordinances. Unanimous roll-call.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Deferral of after-the-fact variance at 1037 Mazonth Street

Deferred.

After-the-fact variance to permit an addition to an existing two-family dwelling resulting in insufficient open space ratio (0.21, needing 0.09 waiver) and insufficient rear yard setback (12'9", needing 7'3" waiver). Plans prepared by Anna Elizabeth Phelps for owner Damon Lockhart. Board deferred 30 days to allow applicant to remove concrete and resubmit revised plans. Moved by Commissioner Richards, seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, carried.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Deferral of after-the-fact variance at 1614 Poland Avenue

Deferred.

After-the-fact variances to permit a second principal structure with insufficient rear yard setback (3 feet proposed, needing 12-foot waiver) and retention of a front-yard parking pad. Represented by Zach Smith. Applicant requested a 60-day deferral pending sale of an adjoining property that may moot the request. Moved by Commissioner Gonzalez, seconded by Commissioner Alvarez, carried.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Zoning Change for GNC Meat Market at 3315-19 North Galvez Street (ZD 75-26)

Deferred.

Zoning Docket 7526, L. Eldridge-Stevens, zoning change from HUB1 to HUMU with conditional use for retail sale of packaged alcohol at GNC Meat Market. CPC report was effective denial for lack of majority (concern of spot zoning). Motion M2644 to deny; council member instead deferred to meeting to consider a possible beer-only alternative. Deferred.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Minor motor vehicle repair shop at Downman/Dwyer (ZD 095-26)

Deferred.

Conditional use to permit a minor motor vehicle service and repair shop in an SB-1 suburban business district at the northeast corner of Downman Road and Dwyer Road (applicant Al Ahmadi, 4901 Downman Road, SDS LLC). Site is an existing gas station/convenience store with an attached tire shop whose occupational license lapsed. Repair shop ~936 sq ft with two service bays. Staff recommended approval subject to two provisos. Neighborhood Association (Roland Barthe) opposed. Initial motion to approve failed for lack of legal majority (4-3 roll-call, four nays); item then deferred to October 13 by unanimous roll-call.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Variance at 10 Audubon Boulevard (interior side yard setback and University Area height)

Approved.

Variances for interior side yard setback (Article 11.3.A.1) and University Area Design Overlay height (Article 18.32.B.4) to permit an addition to a single family dwelling. Property owners Neil and Renna Jolly. Approved finding nine criteria met, subject to one proviso. Moved by Commissioner Richards, seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, carried.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Showing the 8 most significant of 46 recorded zoning decisions. See all New Orleans meetings →

Zoning Changes

• HUB-1 → HUMU at 3315-19 North Galvez Street, St. Claude/Florida area (L. Eldridge-Stevens)
• HURM-1 → MU-1 at 1900 Carondelet Street, Lower Garden District (First Emmanuel Baptist Church)
• HUB-1A → HURD-2 at Corner of Laurel and Octavia Street (Cafe Malou site) (City Council District A)
• SRS → C-1 at 1723 General de Gaulle Drive (Crescent West)
• NA → MMU at West Rigolets Lighthouse site (Natural Areas) (West Rigolets Lighthouse LLC)

Top Keywords This Month

• zoning: 213 instances
• commercial: 124 instances
• residential: 88 instances
• conditional use: 87 instances
• variance: 75 instances

What to Watch

• Zoning mentions were up 122% from August.
• Commercial came up 629% more often than August.
• Residential saw 300% more mentions month-over-month.
• Conditional use increased 235% compared to August.
• Variance mentions were up 97% from August.

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