In June 1984, the Vieux Carré Commission named a special committee to formulate specific guidelines. The purpose of the committee was clearly stated in the public announcement by the Chairman of the Commission:

It "will propose specific guidelines for preservation, restoration and development. These proposals will not only relate to standards for insuring the historic and architectural integrity of buildings, but also for protecting the aesthetic quality of the district as a whole. We believe that they would also greatly benefit applicants who would know in advance the types of projects that would merit approval."

The New Orleans French Quarter or Vieux Carré is protected by the Louisiana Constitution and a Municipal Ordinance of March 3, 1937 (No. 14,538 C.C.S.) against impairment of "those buildings having architectural and historical worth" in order to preserve its "quaint and distinctive character."

The members of the committee included current and former Commission members and staff members, former and current Vieux Carré property owners, and members of the architectural, planning, legal and academic communities. Over a five month period, the Committee reviewed Commission policies and past decisions and studied similar documents from regulatory commission of historic districts in other cities, as well as the federal standards for rehabilitation of historic properties.

The following guidelines were approved by the Vieux Carré Commission as its official standards/guidelines.