Window Replacement Permits in New Orleans and What to Expect

If you’re replacing windows inside the City of New Orleans, plan on a building permit. The city’s building code requires a permit for anyone who wants to alter or repair a building, and window replacement isn’t on the city’s short list of work that’s exempt. If your house sits in a local historic district, you’ll also need a Certificate of Appropriateness before that permit is issued.

None of this has to slow your project much. Simple permits are often handled quickly, and historic review for routine work usually takes days, not months. This guide walks through what the city asks for, what it costs, and where the historic commissions come in.

At TurnKey Window we install and replace windows across the New Orleans area, and permits are one of the first questions homeowners ask. If you’d like to talk through your own house, send us a message or call (504) 226-6201.

Key takeaways

• The City of New Orleans requires a building permit for work that alters or repairs a building, and window replacement is not on its exemption list.
• Building permits can be applied for online through the city’s One Stop App.
• The city’s building permit fee formula is job value x .005 + $60, with a 50 percent surcharge for properties in a local historic district.
• Exterior work on any building in a local historic district needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic District Landmarks Commission (HDLC), and the French Quarter falls under the Vieux Carré Commission.
• The HDLC does not permit replacing historic wood windows with vinyl or aluminum at street elevations.
• For home improvement jobs over $7,500, Louisiana requires the contractor to hold a home improvement registration or a higher state license.

Do you need a permit to replace windows in New Orleans?

The short answer is yes, in most cases. The city’s Guide to Building Permits quotes the building code: any owner, agent or contractor who wants to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move or demolish a building must first get a permit.

The same guide lists work that’s generally exempt, such as interior painting, exterior painting without scaffolding, small uncovered decks and fences up to 7 feet. Window replacement isn’t on that list. When you’re unsure, the city points you to the Building Division at (504) 658-7130.

A quick note on geography. This article covers the City of New Orleans, which is Orleans Parish. If you live in Metairie, Kenner, Slidell or another parish, your permit office is different, so check with that parish before you schedule work.

Replacement, repair and the gray areas

Swapping a window unit is an alteration to the building, so it falls under the permit rule. Smaller jobs like replacing a cracked pane, fixing a balance or re-screening a sash are closer to maintenance, but the city doesn’t publish a line between them on its exemption list.

That’s why a two-minute call to the Building Division is worth making before a repair-only job. If you’re in a historic district, call the HDLC too, since exterior changes there are reviewed even when the building permit question is simple.

If you’re still deciding between fixing and replacing, our window repair and window replacement pages explain what each service covers.

How the permit process works in New Orleans

The city’s guide says all building permits can be applied for online through the One Stop App. Homeowners can apply there, and so can contractors on your behalf.

Here’s the usual order of events for a window job, based on the city’s own guidance.

1. Confirm your district. Find out whether your property is in a local historic district or is a designated landmark. The HDLC can tell you your property’s rating by phone.
2. Get historic approval first, if it applies. A Certificate of Appropriateness is part of the building permit file for properties in a local historic district.
3. Gather the application details. Address, the market value of the work, owner and contractor information and a clear description of the windows being replaced.
4. Apply and pay. Submit through the One Stop App and pay the permit fee, which is based on job value.
5. Post the permit. The city’s permit brochure says the permit must be posted where it can be seen from the street.
6. Schedule inspections. The city notes that its permit fees include normal inspections and the Certificate of Use and Occupancy.

What to have ready for the application

The city’s Guidelines for Building Permits brochure lists the information it needs to process a building permit. For a window project, these are the items that usually matter:

• The municipal address of the property
• The market value of the work, even if you’re doing it yourself
• The owner’s name, address and phone number
• The contractor’s name, address and phone number, plus a copy of the contractor’s current certificate of registration and license number
• A detailed description of the work, such as the number of windows, their locations and the type of unit going in
• A Certificate of Appropriateness if the property is in a local historic district or is a landmark

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