What's Required in New Orleans
- Permit required for structural changes or fixture relocation.
- Detailed floor plan showing the new layout.
- Electrical permit for GFCI protection and new circuits.
- Plumbing permit for moving sinks or gas lines.
- Mechanical permit if installing a new range hood vent.
- Verification of current smoke and CO detector compliance.
Do You Need a Permit to Remodel a Kitchen in New Orleans?
It depends on what you're changing, not on the word “remodel.” New Orleans lists kitchen remodels as permit-required work, and in practice the permit attaches to the plumbing, electrical, and structural scope — not to cosmetic swaps. Permit fees typically run $250–$1,000 (valuation-based), issued by the Department of Safety and Permits. A remodel that moves the sink, adds circuits, relocates the range, or opens a wall is firmly in permit territory — and often means separate trade permits rather than one ticket.
Kitchen Work That Usually Doesn't Need a Permit
The cosmetic layer is generally yours to change freely: swapping cabinets in the same footprint, new countertops, flooring, backsplash, paint, and replacing appliances that use existing hookups. The moment the project touches what's behind the finishes — supply lines, drains, gas, new circuits, walls, or venting — it stops being cosmetic in the city's eyes. If your remodel straddles the line, describe the full scope to the Department of Safety and Permits up front; retrofitting a permit onto half-finished work is the expensive path.
How to Get a Kitchen Remodel Permit in New Orleans
Step 1: Create Plans
Draft a floor plan of the existing and new kitchen layout.
Step 2: Submit Portal
Apply for a 'Residential Alteration' permit online.
Step 3: Trade Sub-permits
Contractors must pull individual permits for plumbing and electric.
Step 4: Rough Inspections
Verify wiring and piping before installing drywall/cabinets.
Step 5: Final Sign-off
Final inspection of all fixtures and safety systems.