Blighted Properties

The City of New Orleans Code Enforcement declares properties to be blighted through an official City of New Orleans designation process.

After a property is declared blighted by the city, ownership does not immediately transfer to NORA. Before we can take control of a blighted property, we must first work with the courts to obtain the title to the property. This process may take anywhere from six months to two years depending on the ownership structure and legal issues involved in each individual case.

NORA only initiates cases to seize titles of blighted properties in limited instances and on behalf of Lot Next Door purchasers.

As an alternative to pursuing property titles through the courts, NORA also works with code enforcement authorities and neighborhood organizations to develop remediation strategies. Through code enforcement liens on blighted properties and strategic investment initiatives, market forces are often quite successful in blight remediation.

For more information about code enforcement and blighted properties, please visit the City of New Orleans Code Enforcement page.