.png)
Replacing Windows in a New Orleans Historic District: HDLC Rules Explained
If your home is in one of New Orleans' local historic districts, replacing windows takes more than picking a product and booking an install. The city's Historic District Landmarks Commission (HDLC), or the Vieux Carré Commission (VCC) in the French Quarter, may have to sign off before any work starts, even on work that wouldn't otherwise need a building permit.
This guide walks through what those rules say about windows, in plain English, and how to plan a project around them. HDLC staff and the published guidelines always have the final word, so use this to get ready, not as a ruling on your house.
Step one: find out who reviews your house
New Orleans has a few different kinds of historic areas, and they don't all work the same way.
Full-control HDLC districts and landmarks
In HDLC's local historic districts, the city requires a Certificate of Appropriateness (CofA) before exterior work begins. HDLC's guidelines say its review covers the parts of a property that are visible from a public right-of-way, such as a street, sidewalk or alley. For a designated landmark, HDLC reviews all exterior changes.
HDLC's guidelines also say its approval is needed for some work that doesn't otherwise need a building permit, including replacing windows and doors.
Partial-control districts
HDLC lists Uptown, Parkview, Mid-City and Carrollton as partial-control districts with demolition review only. Properties fronting Carrollton Avenue are the exception and fall under full control. In these four districts, HDLC says it doesn't review anything except applications that meet its definition of demolition.
That definition includes removing or obscuring more than 25% of the historic materials on the primary façade. If you're planning big changes to the front of a house in a partial-control district, it's worth asking HDLC staff whether your project crosses that line.
The French Quarter (Vieux Carré)
The VCC is stricter on one point: all exterior work in the Vieux Carré needs a VCC permit, whether or not it's visible from the street. That covers side and back walls, courtyards and balconies too.
Not sure where you are?
HDLC publishes maps of its landmarks and districts. You can also call HDLC staff at 504-658-7040 or email hdlcstaff@nola.gov. Ask for your building's rating too (Significant, Contributing or Non-contributing), because the rating affects who reviews the work.
What HDLC requires for replacement windows
HDLC's Guidelines for Windows and Doors favor repair first. When replacement is necessary, they say HDLC requires:
Matching the original size, shape, configuration, type, operation, materials, muntin pattern, dimensions, profiles and detailing "to the greatest extent possible"
Clear or uniformly frosted glass, without a pattern, unless you're replacing historic colored or beveled glass in kind
They also say HDLC recommends quality wood replacement windows, reusing serviceable trim and hardware, and putting replacement windows in less visible areas.
The vinyl question
This is the rule most homeowners ask about. HDLC's guidelines say: "The HDLC does not permit the replacement of historic wood windows with vinyl or aluminum windows at street elevations."
On elevations that don't face the street, the guidelines describe another option for staff review on Contributing and Non-contributing buildings: recessed-mounted, simulated divided light windows with profiled exterior muntins and sash sizes and profiles that match traditional wood windows. For Significant-rated buildings, the guidelines send that option to the Commission instead. HDLC staff must approve dimensioned drawings of proposed windows, with all details and finishes, before installation.
So the answer depends on which wall the window is on and how your building is rated. That's why the first step matters.
Storm windows and screens
HDLC's guidelines don't permit exterior storm windows or doors at locations visible from the street. They recommend interior storm windows as a way to improve an older wood window's thermal performance. Screens are allowed when they're simple wood-framed screens that hide as little of the window as possible.
What about hurricane protection?
HDLC's guidelines say hurricane-resistant windows and doors "tend to have very wide frames and muntins and shallow profiles that do not match historic proportions and are not appropriate for historic buildings." The guidelines point instead to:
Operable shutters, the traditional New Orleans storm protection
Pre-fitted plywood or fabric storm panels, put up only when a storm threatens
Fasteners pre-installed where they're barely visible, painted to match
The guidelines also list roll-down hurricane shutters among the things HDLC doesn't permit.
If storm protection is your main goal on a street-facing elevation, plan on shutters or removable panels rather than impact windows there. Our impact windows vs. storm shutters guide can help you think through the options for each side of the house.
The Vieux Carré: extra rules
The VCC's windows guidelines go further:
An owner who wants to replace a historic window has to show that it's beyond repair and that replacement is warranted.
Vinyl windows aren't permitted.
Aluminum or aluminum-clad wood windows are considered only for Orange- and Brown-rated buildings or new construction.
Dimensioned millwork or shop drawings must be approved before installation.
The VCC also strongly recommends not buying materials or millwork until you have a signed VCC permit in hand. For straightforward work that meets its policies, the VCC says staff usually issue permits within 2 to 7 working days. Other projects go to its Architectural Committee.
How to apply
Both commissions take applications online through the city's One Stop App (onestopapp.nola.gov):
Apply for the building permit in One Stop. HDLC says you have to file for a building permit to get a CofA. In the Vieux Carré, the VCC permit is created inside that application.
Be specific. HDLC asks for each item's location, existing materials and proposed materials. Include photos of every window you want to replace.
Upload the product details. That means specifications and dimensioned drawings for the proposed windows.
Wait for both approvals before work starts. A CofA is required, but HDLC says it isn't enough on its own. The building permit is reviewed separately for zoning and code.
HDLC's Express Lane says it can issue CofAs within 1 to 3 business days for eligible work that meets the guidelines, including repair and replacement work that matches existing conditions. Express Lane applications must be complete, and the property can't have certain existing violations.
Fees: the city lists the non-structural renovation permit at $60 plus $5 per $1,000 of work, with a 50% surcharge for properties in a local historic district.
Older homes and lead-safe work
Many homes in New Orleans' historic districts were built before 1978. In a pre-1978 home, window replacement falls under the EPA's Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule, which requires EPA-certified firms and lead-safe work practices. Singleton Windows & Doors is EPA lead-safe certified, and we follow lead-safe work practices on pre-1978 homes.
A practical checklist
Confirm your district, control level and building rating.
Photograph each window inside and out, and note which elevation it's on. Our project photo guide shows the useful angles.
Decide which windows can be repaired and which really need replacing. Our repair-or-replace guide can help.
Gather drawings and specifications for the windows you're proposing.
Don't order anything until the CofA or VCC permit and the building permit are issued.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put vinyl windows in a New Orleans historic district?
HDLC doesn't permit replacing historic wood windows with vinyl or aluminum on street elevations. Other elevations may have options. In the Vieux Carré, vinyl isn't permitted at all.
Do I need HDLC approval if I'm only replacing windows, not remodeling?
In full-control districts and on landmarks, generally yes, for work visible from the street. HDLC says its approval is needed for window replacement even when no building permit is otherwise required.
Does HDLC review window changes in Uptown or Mid-City?
HDLC lists Uptown, Mid-City, Parkview and Carrollton (except Carrollton Avenue) as demolition-review-only districts. Large façade changes can still meet HDLC's demolition definition, so ask staff if you're unsure.
Can I install impact windows on my historic house?
HDLC's guidelines say impact windows usually don't match historic proportions. They favor shutters and removable storm panels. Talk with HDLC staff before planning impact windows for visible elevations.
Planning a historic-district project?
We'll help you inventory your windows, flag which ones face the street, and pull together product details and drawings for your application. We also pull the building permit for the job, and we're EPA lead-safe certified for pre-1978 homes. HDLC and the VCC make the approval decisions, so we can't promise one. Call 504-332-9770, email support@singletonwindows.com or request a free estimate.
Comments