Vieux Carre Commission
Have You Received a Notice of Violation?
We Can Help
When the Vieux Carre Commission issues you a notice of violation on your business or building, it can be overwhelming and costly. Our expertise has guided numerous clients through the complex process of VCC citations. We are here to help you understand the cited issue and give you strong legal representation to help you fix it as quickly as possible. Whether your issue is big or small, we can help you respond to and solve your VCC violation.
What Can a Violation Mean for My Business?
Fines
and Fees
Violations can be costly, even after you fix a them. We can help you avoid extra penalties.
Loss of Licenses
VCC violations can affect the renewal of Alcoholic Beverage Licenses, digging deeper into your profits.
Bad
Press
Unaddressed complaints are documented in the public record, which can result in negative press about your business.
Tax
Sale
Unpaid penalties and fines can add up, putting your business under water and resulting in a tax sale of your business.
What is the Vieux Carre Commission?
The Vieux Carré Commission (“VCC”) is the governmental regulatory body which protects and preserves the historic character, overall architectural design, and zoning of the Vieux Carré, or French Quarter. The VCC was created to safeguard the architectural heritage of the Vieux Carré and its buildings deemed of distinctive historical value for the benefit of the people of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana. The VCC derives its authority from the state constitution, city charter, codes, and zoning ordinances. These laws were created to assist the commission in maintaining the preservation of the Vieux Carré.VCC Violations
By law, the VCC must issue permits for all work on buildings within the VCC jurisdiction. No exterior work is allowed in the French Quarter unless a VCC permit has been approved and issued. Some proposals will require Safety & Permits approval as well. Inspectors will conduct site visits to ensure work conforms to specifications listed on the permit. If the inspector finds a violation on your property, he or she will issue you a written notice of the violation, usually with pictures attached. Since there are time constraints on when you must respond and renovate, it is important that you CONTACT US us as soon as possible so we can guide you through the process and save you money, time, and stress. You can read more about the VCC in this blog post.Our Services
Although our firm’s founder, Jason Williams, is the District Attorney of the Orleans Parish, we know that the government is not always right. Sometimes the judgements handed down by the VCC are improper or unfair. The VCC was created to protect historical buildings, and we are here to protect you. It is best to involve us as soon as you receive notice of violation, but we can help you at anytime during the process. As your advocates, we can offer the following services: The VCC was created to safeguard the architectural heritage of the Vieux Carré and its buildings deemed of distinctive historical value for the benefit of the people of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana. The VCC derives its authority from the state constitution, city charter, codes, and zoning ordinances. These laws were created to assist the commission in maintaining the preservation of the Vieux Carré.- Help you understand your rights and obligations
- Represent you at your vcc administrative hearing
- File an appeal on your behalf for improper judgements
- Protect you from unfair and improper enforcement by the vcc
- File a lawsuit on your behalf in the case of wrongful fines
I have owned buildings and been operated business in the historic French Quarter since the 1950’s. Owning historic property and conducting business in a historic district is extremely complex and has only become more complicated in recent years. A number of agencies and entities such as the VCC and others are engaged daily in the work of the historic preservation of our beautiful French Quarter, which means there are many more building, zoning, legal issues, and requirements for doing business here. This type of work is over most lawyers’ heads because it’s more than just knowing the law. This firm knows the law exceptionally well, but they also know the city’s history and its people, which makes them so much more effective. They know how to get things done. They know time is money. In fact, they very recently stepped in and resolved a case within 90 days that had been in litigation for over 2 years. I wish I had pulled them in sooner. They treat me like I am their only client in the world and after 70 years of doing business in the city, that level of service is priceless.
– Billy Karno, Renowned New Orleans Business Owner