The Historic District Landmarks Commission (HDLC) in New Orleans launched the HDLC ExpressLane on November 1, 2025, to speed up the approval process for Certificates of Appropriateness. Since its debut, the program has issued 115 certificates, accounting for 60% of all approvals during this period. Nearly 98% of applications were processed and approved the same day, as per the City Of NOLA's Facebook post.
The ExpressLane operates Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and provides assistance to property owners with questions, online applications, and guidance through the permitting process. The program is designed to help property owners navigate the requirements for projects in historic areas more efficiently.
By focusing on projects that meet HDLC Design Guidelines, the ExpressLane allows qualifying applications to move through the system quickly. The initiative demonstrates an effort to make the permitting process more accessible and timely for property owners in New Orleans’ historic districts.
