Moving to New Orleans: your new-resident checklist
The official places to update your license, car, voter registration and mail after a move to New Orleans, Louisiana, plus what the local weather and hazards mean for your first year. Tick things off as you go; your progress stays in this browser.
Set up mail forwarding and tell the Postal Service your new address at the official USPS change of address site. It costs a small identity-check fee online; beware look-alike sites that charge more.
New residents usually have a limited time to switch. The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles lists the deadline, the documents to bring and whether you need an appointment. Bring proof of your New Orleans address.
Vehicle titles and registration are also handled at the state level in Louisiana. Start at the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles website, and update your car insurance to your new address first.
Use vote.gov's Louisiana page to reach the official state registration and deadlines.
Water, trash and recycling pickup days, parking permits and 311 requests are on the official City of New Orleans website. Property tax and some records are handled by Orleans Parish.
Louisiana's top income tax rate is 3% (flat). The average combined sales tax is 10.13%. If you moved from another state mid-year, you may file part-year returns in both.
New Orleans is on Central Time.
About 86 days a year reach 90°F. Have your air conditioning serviced before summer, and expect higher power bills from June to September.
FEMA rates Orleans County's natural hazard risk relatively high, led by hurricane, lightning and inland flooding. Check the flood map for your address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, sign up for local emergency alerts, and see Ready.gov for a basic emergency kit.
Learn what locals love and wish they had known on the New Orleans page, and see things to do in New Orleans.
Lived in New Orleans for a while? Rate the city and share what newcomers should know.
Frequently asked questions
How do I change my driver's license after moving to New Orleans?
Licenses are handled by the state, not the city. In Louisiana that is the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. Its website lists the deadline for new residents, the documents to bring and whether you need an appointment.
Where do I register to vote in New Orleans?
Start at vote.gov, the federal government's site, which sends you to the official Louisiana registration page and lists the deadlines.
Links checked October 18, 2026. Rules and fees are set by each agency and change, so follow the official site. Weather figures: NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Hazard rating: FEMA National Risk Index. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026.