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Local government directory
New Orleans, LA: council, meetings and contacts
New Orleans is the 54th largest city in the United States with about 362,154 residents, in Orleans Parish. Here is who governs it, when they meet in public, and where the agendas are posted.
City government at a glance
- Form of government
- Consolidated city-parish (mayor-council)
- Governing body
- City Council — 7 members
- Regular meetings
- Regular meetings roughly twice a month on Thursdays at 10 a.m. in the Council Chamber, City Hall
- City Hall
- 1300 Perdido St., New Orleans, LA 70112
- Main information line
- 504-658-4000 (or 311)
- Population (2025 est.)
- 362,154 (2020 census: 383,997)
- County
- Orleans Parish
- Planning body
- New Orleans City Planning Commission
Five councilmembers are elected by district and two at large (Divisions 1 and 2); the council doubles as the parish governing authority.
Official links
- New Orleans official website
- City Council
- Agendas, minutes and meeting video
- New Orleans City Council (the city is coextensive with Orleans Parish)
- NOLA Public Schools (Orleans Parish School Board)
The bodies that decide things in New Orleans
| Body | What it decides | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| City Council | Ordinances, the city budget, zoning changes, contracts, police and fire funding | Official page |
| New Orleans City Council (the city is coextensive with Orleans Parish) | County budget, sheriff and jail, public health, elections administration, county roads | County website |
| NOLA Public Schools (Orleans Parish School Board) board | School budget, boundaries, calendar, curriculum adoption, superintendent | District website |
| New Orleans City Planning Commission | Rezonings, site plans, variances and long-range land use recommendations | City website |
Questions people ask about New Orleans government
When does the New Orleans City Council meet?
Regular meetings roughly twice a month on Thursdays at 10 a.m. in the Council Chamber, City Hall Always confirm the date and location on the official agenda before you attend, because meetings can be cancelled, moved or continued.
How do I contact New Orleans city government?
The main information line is 504-658-4000 (or 311). City Hall is at 1300 Perdido St., New Orleans, LA 70112, and the official website is https://nola.gov.
How do I speak at a New Orleans public meeting?
Find the agenda for the meeting, check the sign-up deadline (many cities close the list before the meeting starts), prepare remarks for the posted time limit — usually two or three minutes — and state your name, your district and your specific ask.
Open debates in New Orleans
Start here if you are new to this
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