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Do You Need a Permit to Replace Windows in Orleans, Jefferson or St. Tammany Parish?
It's one of the first questions homeowners ask, and the honest answer is: it depends on where the house is and what the job involves. Greater New Orleans is split among parishes and cities that each run their own permit offices, and they don't all treat window replacement the same way.
Here's what each office's published rules say, where the gray areas are and who to call to confirm. Rules and forms change, so always check with the office that covers your address before work starts.
First, figure out who your permit office is
Your parish isn't always your permit office. Incorporated cities usually run their own building departments.
Orleans Parish: the City of New Orleans Department of Safety & Permits, plus HDLC or the Vieux Carré Commission in historic districts.
Jefferson Parish: the parish handles unincorporated areas like Metairie. Incorporated cities such as Kenner run their own permit office.
St. Tammany Parish: the parish Department of Permits & Inspections covers unincorporated areas. Cities like Mandeville, Covington and Slidell have their own departments.
If you're not sure whether your address is inside city limits, your property tax bill or a quick call to the parish will tell you.
Orleans Parish (New Orleans)
New Orleans publishes a list of work that's exempt from a building permit, including some siding, floorboard, porch, painting and fence work. Window replacement isn't on that list. The list also says exemptions don't override Vieux Carré Commission or HDLC requirements.
For window and door work, the city's usual path is the Renovation (Non-Structural) Permit. The city describes it as required for "any construction or changes of use within an existing building (interior or exterior)." According to the city:
You apply online through the One Stop App.
Residential reviews typically take 2 to 5 business days.
Fees are $60 plus $5 per $1,000 of work. Properties in a local historic district pay a 50% surcharge on the permit fee.
The application asks for a signed contract or approved estimate and the contractor's license information.
Historic districts add a second approval
If the home is a landmark or sits in a full-control HDLC district, HDLC says window replacement needs a Certificate of Appropriateness, even where a building permit wouldn't otherwise be required. In the French Quarter, all exterior work needs a VCC permit. See our HDLC window replacement guide for details.
Bottom line for New Orleans: plan on a permit conversation. Call Safety & Permits at (504) 658-7200 to confirm what your specific job needs.
Jefferson Parish (unincorporated, including Metairie)
Jefferson Parish's "When Do I Need / Not Need a Permit" page says that for a one- or two-family dwelling, replacing windows or doors generally doesn't need a building permit when:
The new unit fits the existing rough opening
The job doesn't reduce the opening's dimensions
No protective scaffolding over public property is needed
Enlarging, moving or adding an opening is different. That changes the structure and needs a permit before work starts.
Because the details matter, confirm with Jefferson Parish Inspection & Code Enforcement before work starts, especially if the walls behind the old window show rot or damage that might need framing repairs.
Kenner
Kenner sits in Jefferson Parish, but it runs its own Inspection & Code Enforcement Department. The city's permits page says a building permit is "necessary on all construction." It also lists the codes the city follows, including the 2021 International Residential Code and 2021 International Existing Building Code with Louisiana amendments.
The city's page doesn't spell out a window-replacement exemption, so don't assume Jefferson Parish's rule applies inside Kenner. Call Kenner's permit office at 504-468-4062 (Option 1) to confirm before you schedule.
St. Tammany Parish (unincorporated)
St. Tammany's Unified Development Code says anyone who plans to "construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish" a building must first get the required permit. The code then lists work that's exempt, including:
Small sheds (200 square feet or less)
Fences up to 7 feet
Painting and similar finish work
Certain window awnings
Replacement windows aren't on that exemption list. The parish's inspection checklists also cover windows, flashing and related items.
For residential remodels, the code lists a $100 nonrefundable application fee plus $5 per $1,000 of the executed contract amount. It also says work started before a required permit is issued can carry an extra fee equal to 100% of the usual fee.
Inside Mandeville, Covington, Slidell and other incorporated towns, check with that city's building department instead.
Rules that apply even when no permit is needed
Skipping a permit doesn't mean skipping the code. A few rules come up on window jobs all over the area.
Lead-safe work in pre-1978 homes
If your home was built before 1978, window replacement falls under the EPA's Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule. Louisiana isn't an EPA-authorized RRP state, so the EPA runs the program here. The EPA says firms doing this work for pay must be EPA-certified, use certified renovators and follow lead-safe work practices. Contractors also have to give you the EPA's Renovate Right pamphlet before work begins. Singleton Windows & Doors is EPA lead-safe certified and follows these practices on pre-1978 homes.
Building code basics
Louisiana uses a statewide uniform construction code based on the international codes. Bedroom windows have emergency-escape (egress) rules, and glass in certain locations, such as in or near doors, has safety-glazing rules. A good installer should flag these during the measure, so you're not surprised later.
Contractor registration
Louisiana's State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) registers home improvement contractors and licenses residential contractors, depending on the job size. Its thresholds were updated in 2026. You can look up any contractor on the LSLBC website.
How we handle it
We pull the permit for you. When your job needs a permit, Singleton Windows & Doors takes care of it as part of the job, so you don't have to deal with the permit office yourself. Rules vary by parish and city, so at your free estimate we'll check what your address needs, flag historic-district and pre-1978 issues, and point out anything that changes the opening size. The permit will be spelled out in your proposal.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to replace windows in Metairie?
Metairie is unincorporated Jefferson Parish. The parish says same-size replacement in an existing rough opening on a one- or two-family home generally doesn't need a building permit, as long as the opening isn't reduced and no scaffolding over public property is needed. Confirm with the parish for your job.
Is Kenner the same as Jefferson Parish for permits?
No. Kenner runs its own permit office, and its website says a building permit is necessary on all construction. Call Kenner to confirm.
Do I need a permit to replace windows in New Orleans?
Window replacement isn't on the city's permit-exemption list, and historic districts need HDLC or VCC approval. Plan on checking with Safety & Permits.
My house was built in the 1960s. Does that change anything?
Yes. Homes built before 1978 fall under the EPA's lead-safe RRP rules for window replacement, whether or not a building permit is required. We're EPA lead-safe certified.
Will Singleton pull the permit for my window job?
Yes. When your job needs a permit, we pull it for you as part of the job. Rules vary by parish and city, so we confirm what your address needs before work starts.
Questions about your address?
Tell us where the house is and what you'd like to replace, and we'll walk you through the next steps. Call 504-332-9770, email support@singletonwindows.com or request a free estimate.
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