Key West vs New Orleans
Florida Restricted | Louisiana Restricted
Disclaimer: General information only — not legal advice. Verify with your local government.
| Requirement | Key West, Florida | New Orleans, Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Legality Status | Restricted | Restricted |
| Permit Fee | $150 Business Tax Receipt + $110 Transient Manager License + fire inspection fee | NSTR ~$50 application (lottery); CSTR $1,000/year |
| Tax Rate | 12.5% combined (5% county tourist dev. + 7.5% state sales) | 5% sales tax + 6.75% occupancy tax + $5–$12/night occupancy fee |
| Annual Day Limit | No limit | No limit |
| Renewal Interval | Annual | Annual |
| Platform Remits Taxes | Yes | Yes |
| Max Fine Example | Up to $5,000/violation and 60 days imprisonment; each day is separate | $1,000/violation; platforms fined $1,000/day per illegal listing |
| Verdict | Both cities have comparable STR regulatory environments. | |
Key West, Florida
Status Restricted
Permit Fee $150 Business Tax Receipt + $110 Transient Manager License + fire inspection fee
Tax Rate 12.5% combined (5% county tourist dev. + 7.5% state sales)
Day Limit No limit
Renewal Annual
Platform Tax Yes
Max Fine Up to $5,000/violation and 60 days imprisonment; each day is separate
New Orleans, Louisiana
Status Restricted
Permit Fee NSTR ~$50 application (lottery); CSTR $1,000/year
Tax Rate 5% sales tax + 6.75% occupancy tax + $5–$12/night occupancy fee
Day Limit No limit
Renewal Annual
Platform Tax Yes
Max Fine $1,000/violation; platforms fined $1,000/day per illegal listing
Both cities have comparable STR regulatory environments.
Key West Overview
Moratorium on new transient rental licenses — only grandfathered properties may operate STRs under 28 days. Existing licenses are property-specific and command $400K+ on the secondary market. Florida DBPR state license also required.
Full Key West guide →New Orleans Overview
Heavily restricted: French Quarter is banned (except parts of Bourbon St), permits limited to owner's primary residence via lottery, CSTR permits frozen since 2023, and one STR per block density cap applies.
Full New Orleans guide →Frequently Asked Questions
Is it easier to Airbnb in Key West or New Orleans?
Key West is classified as "Restricted" while New Orleans is "Restricted." Key West's permit fee is $150 Business Tax Receipt + $110 Transient Manager License + fire inspection fee compared to NSTR ~$50 application (lottery); CSTR $1,000/year in New Orleans.
Which city has higher STR taxes — Key West or New Orleans?
Key West charges 12.5% combined (5% county tourist dev. + 7.5% state sales), while New Orleans charges 5% sales tax + 6.75% occupancy tax + $5–$12/night occupancy fee. Compare the full breakdown in the table above.
Which city has stricter fines for illegal short-term rentals?
Key West: Up to $5,000/violation and 60 days imprisonment; each day is separate. New Orleans: $1,000/violation; platforms fined $1,000/day per illegal listing.