New Orleans Subdivision Regulations

Regulations to guide the future growth and development of the City in accordance with the Master Plan

Printed: 2/12/2025 4:01:00 PM

4.2.5 Street Design

  1. Street Widths. The widths of Major Streets shall conform to the widths designated on the Major Street Plan, as adopted by the Commission on June 22, 1993, and to all subsequent amendments and additions thereto. The minimum right-of-way width for all other streets shall be fifty (50) feet. In cases where special conditions make a right-of-way of less width more suitable, the Commission, with concurrence of the Department of Public Works, may modify the above requirements.

The minimum street width, measured from face-of-curb to face-of-curb shall be 26 feet.In cases where special conditions make a right-of-way of less width more suitable, the Commission, with concurrence of the Department of Public Works, may modify the above requirements.

  1. Cul-de-sacs, Dead End Street. The creation of cul-de-sacs should be avoided where possible in order to maintain connectivity within and around developments. Cul-de-sacs are only allowed where existing topographic or physical barriers do not permit a street alignment that is directly connected with the existing street network of the surrounding area. The need for the creation of a cul-de-sac should not be a result of the actions of the applicant or property owner. Cul-de-sac streets shall not exceed 300 feet in length and shall terminate in a circular turn-around with a minimum diameter of 96 feet. Unless restricted by topographic or physical barriers, cul-de-sac streets shall provide a pedestrian way to connect the terminus of the cul-de-sac with the abutting public right-of-way or adjacent destinations.

Cul-de-sacs may be allowed by the Executive Director for subdivisions that are located contiguous with properties that include obstructions such as:

  1. Street Construction Requirements. All streets (private or public) shall be prepared in accordance with the City of New Orleans, Department of Public Works’ “Roadway Design Guide” latest revision), with construction work supervised by a registered Civil Engineer.  The type of surfacing shall be determined by the Department of Public Works and the Department’s approval shall be indicated by the stamp and signature on all such plans. All grading, surfacing and sidewalk intersection construction must be completed prior to final acceptance by the Department of Public Works. For all streets, offered or not offered for dedication, the applicant shall to furnish to the Department of Public Works a certificate from a registered engineer certifying that such streets have been constructed under his/her supervision and in accordance with the specifications furnished by the Director of the Department of Public Works.
  1. Development Containing Private Streets. Subdivisions with streets not offered for dedication (private streets) must meet all applicable requirements for development of public streets.  Street paving and sidewalk construction must be in accordance with standard specifications of the City of New Orleans for dedicated streets.

A Homeowners Association or a similar responsible entity must be established to provide for the permanent maintenance of all private streets in accordance with Section 3.2.11.g. 

Approval shall not be given for proposed streets within a subdivision, which would be subject to flooding in the base flood. All street surfaces must be located at or above the base flood elevation.

  1. Pedestrian Ways. Pedestrian ways are a type of street designed specifically for use pedestrians, cyclists, and other non-vehicular transportation modes. They are provided in order to improve pedestrian and bicycle access to transit and other destinations and to shorten pedestrian and bicycle travel times within or near a subdivision. Pedestrian ways are specifically encouraged at the terminus of cul-de-sacs, within large block patterns and adjacent to destinations such as parks, schools and trails.

Pedestrian ways extending from cul-de-sacs and in between large blocks shall provide a paved pathway with a minimum width of ten (10) feet and two (2) landscaped buffers with a minimum width of five (5) feet between the path and adjacent properties. The minimum total right-of-way width for the pedestrian way shall not be less than thirty (30) feet. The maximum total right-of-way width shall not exceed fifty (50) feet.

Figure 3. Pedestrian Way extending from cul-de-sacs

Pedestrian ways extending from rights-of-way abutting parks, schools, trails and other destinations shall maintain a width equal to the right-of way from which it extends and shall include a paved pathway with a minimum width of ten (10) feet and landscaped buffers with a minimum width of five (5) feet between the path and adjacent properties. 

Figure 4. Pedestrian Way extending from right-of-ways

Pedestrian ways shall be designed to restrict vehicular access. All design proposals for pedestrian ways are subject to the review and approval of the Executive Director.

  1. Temporary Turn-Around shall be provided on all streets that are intended to be continued, either within the subdivided area or beyond. The type of surfacing of the temporary turn-around shall be subject to approval by the Department of Public Works.  The temporary turn-around shall be used for a maximum of two (2) years from the date of Final Subdivision Plan Approval of the subdivision plan, unless it is built according to all standards regulating development of dead-end streets.
  1. Alley.  The minimum width of an alley in a residential block shall be fifteen (15) feet, but such minimum width may be modified when an alley would continue an existing pattern of alleys. 
  1. Common Driveways and Secondary Access Servitudes serving single and two-family residential properties shall have a minimum width of 12 feet. Two-way driveways for multi-family, commercial, office or shall have a minimum width of 24 feet. All driveways and secondary access servitudes shall comply with CZO regulations and be determined in consultation with the Department of Public Works and the Fire Department.
  1. Paved Sidewalks are required in all developments including those containing private streets unless waived by the City Planning Commission.  Sidewalks shall have a minimum width of five (5) feet, in consultation with the Department of Public Works. Permeable and pervious paving is encouraged under the guidelines found in Section 121.7 (the Code of the City of New Orleans).