Nola Reporter

NEW ORLEANS — The City of New Orleans today announced it will begin accepting applications for the new Parklet Permit on Aug. 1, 2023.

The new Parklet Permit builds upon the economic development opportunity created by the City of New Orleans’ three-year Pilot Parklet Program that introduced parklets as an innovative means to safely attract customers to bars and restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new Parklet Permit will allow bars and restaurants to utilize on-street parking spaces in front of their business to expand outdoor seating options.

The new Parklet Permit has been established through a change to the City of New Orleans Code of Ordinances and Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance. In accordance with the ordinances and department procedures:

• Parklet Permit right-of-way usage fees are waived for the first year of the program
  • Application and issuance fees still apply
• Parklet designs shall be approved for permits upon conforming to the Parklet Design Guide
  • Any parklet designs which do not conform to the Parklet Design Guide would be approved on a case-by-case basis by the Design Advisory Committee
• Eligible businesses that participated in the Parklet Pilot Program must reapply for the new Parklet Permit and have a 30-day grace period to begin the permitting process
• Parklet Pilot Program participants that qualify for the new Parklet Permit and are actively pursuing a new Parklet Permit may continue to use their existing parklets until issuance of a new Parklet Permit or until the business stops actively pursuing the new Parklet Permit
• Businesses that do not qualify for or choose not to pursue the new Parklet Permit have a 30-day grace period to coordinate removal of their pilot parklets

Residents can learn more about the Parklet Permit, including restrictions, fees and application requirements, at nola.gov/parklet-permit/.

The Parklet Permit application will be available Aug. 1, 2023 on the One Stop App at onestopapp.nola.gov/.

Parklets support vibrant business corridors, complete streets and walkable neighborhoods. The Pilot Parklet Program was created in the fall of 2020 under the City of New Orleans' COVID-19 Emergency Order to allow restaurants and bars citywide to provide safe outdoor spaces for people to congregate and support local businesses, with 40 businesses participating.

Original source can be found here.