Orleans Parish, from Uptown to New Orleans East
Asphalt Paving in New Orleans, LA
Low ground, old neighborhoods and City permit rules at every curb.
- Free on-site estimates
- Written scope: base, thickness and drainage spelled out
- Permit questions answered before work is scheduled
Paving Inside the City Limits
Asphalt paving in New Orleans proper means working around three things: low ground, old neighborhoods and the City's rules at the curb. The city was founded in 1718 on the natural levees of the Mississippi, and those higher ridges are still where the oldest neighborhoods sit. Most of the rest was drained swamp. Today, roughly 65 percent of the city is at or below sea level, with elevations from about 6.6 feet below to about 19.7 feet above.
What that means for a driveway
On the old high ground near the river, soils are firmer and drainage is better. In the lower, drained backswamp neighborhoods, the ground is soft clay that keeps settling. The same driveway design does not fit both. We probe the subgrade at the estimate and size the base to what we find, from a standard 6 to 8 inches of stone on firm ground to a deeper base with fabric on soft ground.
The curb cut permit
The City of New Orleans requires a Driveway or Curb Cut Permit to install, replace or repair any driveway that connects to a public street. The owner or someone the owner authorizes applies, the application fee is $100, and the site plan must show nearby poles, hydrants, catch basins and trees. Department of Public Works standards set the apron in the right-of-way as concrete, cap widths at 12 feet for one lane and 24 feet for two, and require a final inspection. Work done without a permit can be ordered removed at the owner's expense.
Historic districts
Much of the city sits in historic districts overseen by the Historic District Landmarks Commission or, in the French Quarter, the Vieux Carre Commission. The City's permit page notes those reviews may be needed. We flag it at the estimate if your property is in one.
Front yards
Under the zoning ordinance, paving more than 40 percent of a front yard is not allowed in most neighborhoods, and the same applies to the side yard on corner lots. When a homeowner wants off-street parking, we design a pad that fits within that limit.
Rain and heat
The airport averages about 63 inches of precipitation a year and fewer than 8 freezing nights. July highs average 91.4 degrees. Drainage, not frost, decides how long pavement lasts, so every job gets a slope toward a drain or a planted area.
Typical city jobs
The projects we see most inside the city are side-drive replacements on raised houses, rear parking pads off a side drive, small church and business lots, and driveways where the old surface has dropped below the apron and holds water. In each case we look at where the roof water lands, how the drive meets the concrete apron and whether the work reaches the public right-of-way.
Call (504) 499-5506 or get a free estimate.
New Orleans Facts That Shape the Job
- Mostly below sea level. A 2016 study found about 65% of New Orleans proper at or below mean sea level; elevations run from about -6.6 to 19.7 feet, and parts of the city are subsiding.
- Curb cut permit. The City requires a Driveway or Curb Cut Permit to install, replace or repair a driveway connecting to a public street, with a $100 application fee and a final inspection.
- Apron standards. DPW standards cap aprons at 12 feet (single lane) or 24 feet (two lane) at the property line and call for 4,000 psi concrete at least 6 inches thick.
- Front-yard limit. Paving more than 40% of a front yard is not allowed in most New Orleans neighborhoods under the zoning ordinance.
- Housing values. The Census puts the median owner-occupied home value at $315,700 and the owner-occupancy rate at 51.2% (2020-2024).
Our Services in New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Questions
How long does the curb cut permit take?
It depends on DPW review and any historic district approvals. We build the permit timeline into the schedule.
Can I put asphalt in the right-of-way?
City standards call for a concrete apron in the right-of-way. The asphalt driveway meets it at the property line.
Do you work in the French Quarter?
We can, but Vieux Carre Commission review applies. Most of our city work is driveways and lots in residential neighborhoods.
What does a driveway cost in New Orleans?
National guides put new asphalt at about $5 to $12 or more per square foot (HomeGuide). A deeper base on soft ground, apron work and the $100 curb cut permit application can add to that. We give you a written price after the visit.
Free Estimates in New Orleans, LA
Free estimates throughout Orleans Parish.
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