Louisiana · 8 jurisdictions covered
Business licenses and permits in Louisiana
Louisiana's entire Secretary of State fee schedule rises on 1 October 2026, and its plumbing licensing is mid-transition from a dedicated board into the general contractors board, fully consolidating on 1 January 2027.
What applies everywhere in Louisiana
19 requirements are set by Louisiana itself and apply whichever city you open in. Local permits sit on top of them.
| Requirement | Issued by | Fee | Applies | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Report | Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division | $30 a year for an LLC or a corporation, rising to $35 from 1 October 2026; a nonprofit's is $10 | Only in some cases | 2026-09-04 |
| Articles of Incorporation | Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division | $75 one-time filing — rising to $95 from 1 October 2026 | Only in some cases | 2026-09-04 |
| Articles of Organization (LLC) | Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division | $100 one-time filing — rising to $125 from 1 October 2026 | Only in some cases | 2026-09-04 |
| Automotive Repair Shop Licensing — Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission Scope | Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission | No fee | Only in some cases | 2026-09-04 |
| Barber Shop Registration | Louisiana Board of Barber Examiners | $30 a year | To every business | 2026-09-04 |
| Child Care License | Louisiana Department of Education, Early Childhood Division | $25–$250 a year, banded by licensed capacity | To every business | 2026-09-04 |
| Commercial Contractor License | Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors | $100 capped by statute; renewal is capped the same way | Only in some cases | 2026-09-04 |
| Electrical Contractor License | Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors | $100 capped by statute; renewal is capped the same way | Only in some cases | 2026-09-04 |
| Food Safety Certificate | Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, Retail Food Program | $25 for the state certificate; a duplicate is $12.50 | To every business | 2026-09-04 |
| General Business License — Louisiana Position (geauxBIZ checklist) | Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division | No fee | Only in some cases | 2026-09-04 |
| Home Improvement Registration | Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors | $50 capped by statute | Only in some cases | 2026-09-04 |
| Mechanical (HVAC) Contractor License | Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors | $100 capped by statute; renewal is capped the same way | Only in some cases | 2026-09-04 |
| Plumbing Licensing (transitioning to a single board) | Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors | $50 to $190 for the individual journeyman or master plumber's license, plus a separate $100 contractor license for the plumbing business itself | Only in some cases | 2026-09-04 |
| Residential Contractor License | Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors | $100 capped by statute; renewal is capped the same way | Only in some cases | 2026-09-04 |
| Retail Food Establishment Permit | Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, Retail Food Program | $150 for a first permit; a second through fifth costs $112.50 each, and a sixth or later $75 each | To every business | 2026-09-04 |
| Sales Tax Certificate | Louisiana Department of Revenue, Central Registration Section | No fee | To every business | 2026-09-04 |
| Salon License | Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology | $55 a year, effective 1 August 2025 | To every business | 2026-09-04 |
| Vehicle Inspection Station Permit | Louisiana State Police, Transportation and Environmental Safety Section | $25 a year, plus $5 a year for each named mechanic inspector | Only in some cases | 2026-09-04 |
| Veterinary Facility Permit — Louisiana Board Credentials (practitioners only) | Louisiana Board of Veterinary Medicine | No fee | Only in some cases | 2026-09-04 |
Sources
Every statewide figure above was read from one of these government pages on the date shown.
- Louisiana Secretary of State — live business filing fee schedule, current as of 4 September 2026Louisiana Secretary of State · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
- Louisiana Secretary of State — the Act 921 fee schedule effective 1 October 2026Louisiana Secretary of State · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
- Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission — licensee categories, none of which is a repair-only shopLouisiana Motor Vehicle Commission · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
- Louisiana Revised Statutes section 37:375 — barber examiners fee schedule, including the $30 shop registration feeState of Louisiana · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
- Louisiana Revised Statutes section 17:407.39 — the four-tier annual child care license fee by capacityState of Louisiana · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
- Louisiana Administrative Code 28:CLXI.103 — defining a licensable child day care centre as seven or more childrenBoard of Elementary and Secondary Education · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
- Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors — consolidated contractors licensing law and rules, effective 1 August 2026Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
- Louisiana Revised Statutes section 40:5.5 — the food safety certificate, its $25 cap and five-year non-renewable termState of Louisiana · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
- Louisiana Department of Health — food safety certificate frequently asked questions, confirming the $25 fee and five-year termLouisiana Department of Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
- State Plumbing Board of Louisiana — individual plumber license fee scheduleState Plumbing Board of Louisiana · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
- State Plumbing Board of Louisiana — notice of relocation into LSLBC's building and the Act 908 consolidation timelineState Plumbing Board of Louisiana · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
- Louisiana Revised Statutes section 40:31.37 — retail food establishment permit feesState of Louisiana · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
- Louisiana Department of Health — retail food permit fee schedule handout, whose figures sit at two-thirds of the statutory amountsLouisiana Department of Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
- Louisiana Department of Revenue form R-16019i — application instructions for a revenue account number, with no registration fee stated anywhereLouisiana Department of Revenue · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
- Louisiana Revised Statutes section 32:1305 — official vehicle inspection station permits, open to any qualifying repair or maintenance shopState of Louisiana · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
- Louisiana Board of Veterinary Medicine — the complete list of individual credentials it issuesLouisiana Board of Veterinary Medicine · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-04
Which Louisiana city are you opening in?
- East Baton Rouge Parish, LAEast Baton Rouge Parish is a Louisiana parish, the state's county-equivalent, and its seat is Baton Rouge. The City of Baton Rouge and the Parish of East Baton Rouge form a consolidated City-Parish government, so one Code of Ordinances, one Finance Department Revenue Division, one Permit & Inspection Division and one Planning Commission serve both the City of Baton Rouge and the unincorporated parish. The parish's local business tax is the occupational license tax under Ord. 18733, which applies, in the ordinance's words, to business "within the corporate limits of the City of Baton Rouge or within the Parish of East Baton Rouge, exclusive of the municipal areas". The Revenue Division is also the central collector of sales and use tax "for all taxing jurisdictions in East Baton Rouge Parish". The City-Parish Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control licenses alcohol sellers and servers under Code Title 9, Chapter 18. The City-Parish's Code of Ordinances page links to four other cities in the parish: Baker, Central, St. George and Zachary. Each is a separate city with its own government; because the parish occupational license tax excludes the municipal areas, a business in one of those four cities contacts that city about its own license, zoning and permit requirements, which stack on the parishwide sales and use tax registration. Food permits are issued by the Louisiana Department of Health and are carried in the Louisiana state layer. The population figure of 453,022 is the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 estimate.16 published records
- Lake Charles, LAIn Calcasieu Parish. The parish's own occupational license tax applies only outside incorporated municipalities, so a Lake Charles business owes the city's license, not the parish's.15 published records
- St. Tammany Parish, LASt. Tammany Parish is a Louisiana parish, the state's county-equivalent,; the State of Louisiana's portal lists Covington as the parish seat. The parish's local business license is the occupational license tax set in the parish Code of Ordinances, Ch. 22, and collected by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, which states that it collects these taxes "for all businesses located outside the incorporated limits of any municipality within St Tammany Parish". Before the Sheriff issues that license, the parish Department of Planning & Development issues an approval letter for the business address. The Department of Permits and Inspections issues building and trade permits and registers contractors. The Sheriff's Office also collects the parishwide sales and use tax for both the parish and its municipalities. The louisiana.gov page for the parish lists eight incorporated municipalities: the cities of Covington, Mandeville and Slidell; the towns of Abita Springs, Madisonville and Pearl River; and the villages of Folsom and Sun. The parish occupational license, zoning approval and building permit steps described here are for businesses in unincorporated St. Tammany Parish; a business inside one of the eight municipalities checks with that municipality for its own license, zoning and permit requirements, which stack on the parishwide sales tax registration. Food service permits are issued by the Louisiana Department of Health and are carried in the Louisiana state layer. The population figure of 277,615 is the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 estimate.13 published records
- Jefferson Parish, LAJefferson Parish is a Louisiana parish, the state's county equivalent, and its business taxes are collected by the Sheriff as ex-officio tax collector: the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office (JPSO) Bureau of Revenue and Taxation handles the parish occupational license tax, sales/use tax registration, the parish alcoholic beverage and tobacco permits, the temporary stand or vehicle registration used by food trucks, and bartender certificates of qualification. JPSO's Introduction to Local Taxes says the Bureau "collects the occupational license tax from those businesses located in the unincorporated areas of Jefferson Parish", and the parish alcohol and tobacco chapters apply everywhere in the parish except the corporate limits of municipalities. JPSO's Cities and Towns page lists six incorporated municipalities: the cities of Gretna, Harahan, Kenner and Westwego and the towns of Grand Isle and Jean Lafitte, and says they "may also administer and collect various city-imposed license taxes, fines, fees and permits on the citizens and businesses within its city limits." A business inside one of them stacks that city's or town's own license, permit and zoning rules on top of any parish requirement listed here. The same page lists the unincorporated communities, including Metairie, Marrero, Harvey, Terrytown, River Ridge, Avondale and Waggaman, and notes that the Ochsner Hospital and Elmwood Industrial Park areas use New Orleans mailing addresses while lying in unincorporated Jefferson Parish. The parish Department of Building Permits issues building permits and trade filings, issues the zoning clearance every new business needs, and licenses trade and residential home improvement contractors. Retail food establishment permits are issued by the Louisiana Department of Health, a state requirement recorded at the state level; parish Code § 22-77 requires a mobile food vendor's depot to pass an LDH inspection.12 published records
- Caddo Parish, LACaddo Parish, Louisiana, with its seat in Shreveport, is a parish, Louisiana's equivalent of a county, governed by the Caddo Parish Commission and a Parish Administrator. The parish Department of Finance collects the parish occupational license tax at the amounts set by La. R.S. 47:341–363 (Code §§12-21 and 12-22) and issues the parish alcoholic beverage permits under Chapter 4 of the Parish Code. The parish's Accounting page presents these steps for businesses "outside of incorporated municipalities", and Code §12-22(c) exempts a business that pays a municipal occupational license tax from the parish tax in the amount of the municipal tax. Parish zoning is the Caddo Parish Unified Development Code, administered by the Caddo Parish Planning and Zoning Commission through the Office of the Shreveport-Caddo Metropolitan Planning Commission; inside the MPC boundaries a certificate of occupancy comes before the occupational license. Under Code §38-3 the Director of Public Works permits new commercial construction outside incorporated municipalities, and the parish's Public Works FAQ says the City of Shreveport issues additional permits and performs inspections for Caddo Parish. Each incorporated municipality, including the City of Shreveport, runs its own license, permit and zoning requirements, which apply on top of the parish records below; check with the city, town or village for its own rules.10 published records
- New Orleans, LAA consolidated city-parish government — Orleans Parish and the City of New Orleans are the same government, so there is no separate parish licensing or permitting layer.9 published records
- Lafayette Parish, LALafayette Parish, Louisiana (seat Lafayette) is governed by the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government (LCG), which keeps a single Code of Ordinances for the City of Lafayette and the parish. The parish-level records here are the Code sections whose own text applies in both the City of Lafayette and the unincorporated areas of the parish: local alcoholic beverage permits and server certificates (ch. 6), peddler and mobile food establishment permits (ch. 70), contractor registration and building permits (ch. 26), and certificates of occupancy under the Lafayette Development Code (ch. 89). LCG's Municipalities page lists six municipalities in the parish: Broussard, Carencro, Duson (the village of Duson, which also extends into Acadia Parish), Lafayette, Scott and Youngsville. Broussard, Carencro, Scott, Youngsville and Duson are outside the territorial scope of these Code sections; each runs its own license, permit and zoning process, which stacks on the state requirements, so a business there should check with that municipality. Code § 82-680(b) states that the parish occupational license tax is not imposed for any calendar year after 2000. Louisiana Department of Health food permits and state alcohol permits are recorded at the state level.8 published records
- Shreveport, LAIn Caddo Parish. The parish's own occupational license tax applies only to businesses outside incorporated municipalities, so a Shreveport business owes the city's license, not the parish's, on the evidence available.8 published records
Is there a single Louisiana business license?
No. Louisiana has no single license that covers every business. What you need depends on your industry, your city and your county, and most of the obligations that matter are issued locally rather than at state level.
The state-level registrations that do apply to nearly everyone are tax accounts rather than licenses — which is why they are easy to miss.
Who issues permits in Louisiana?
- Louisiana State Licensing Board for ContractorsCommercial and residential contractor licensing · Electrical, mechanical and plumbing contractor licensing6 permits
- Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial DivisionEntity formation · Annual reports4 permits
- Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, Retail Food ProgramRetail food establishment permits · Food safety certificates2 permits
- Louisiana Board of Barber ExaminersBarber shop registration1 permit
- Louisiana Board of Veterinary MedicineVeterinarian licensing1 permit
- Louisiana Department of Education, Early Childhood DivisionChild care facility licensing1 permit
- Louisiana Department of Revenue, Central Registration SectionSales tax certificate registration1 permit
- Louisiana Motor Vehicle CommissionNew motor vehicle dealer licensing1 permit
- Louisiana State Board of CosmetologySalon licensing1 permit
- Louisiana State Police, Transportation and Environmental Safety SectionVehicle inspection station permits1 permit
By industry
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.