Hair Salon Permit Requirements in Baton Rouge, LA

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology — Individual Cosmetologist License

   Each cosmetologist in Louisiana must hold a valid Cosmetologist License from the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology (11622 Sunbelt Ct., Baton Rouge; 225-756-3404). Licensure requires 1,500 hours in an approved cosmetology school's cosmetologist curriculum and passage of the required State Board written and practical examinations. Some schools require more than the minimum hours. Continuing education is required to renew.

   Official government source

   $35 per the board's fee schedule effective August 1, 2025 (increased from $30), for both initial licensure and annual renewal. Failure to renew on time adds a $175 late fee; out-of-state renewals are $50 annually.·Not published by the board. Licensure follows completion of the 1,500-hour curriculum and passing the State Board examinations, which are held on scheduled board testing dates.

   $35 per the board's fee schedule effective August 1, 2025 (increased from $30), for both initial licensure and annual renewal. Failure to renew on time adds a $175 late fee; out-of-state renewals are $50 annually.

   Not published by the board. Licensure follows completion of the 1,500-hour curriculum and passing the State Board examinations, which are held on scheduled board testing dates.

2. Louisiana Department of Revenue — Sales Tax Registration

   Required for all businesses selling taxable goods or services in Louisiana. The Louisiana state sales tax rate is 5%. Sellers must apply for a sales tax certificate with the Louisiana Department of Revenue. Louisiana also has parish- and municipal-level sales taxes collected separately by local collectors, so the combined rate varies by parish and you must register with each applicable local collector in addition to the state.

   Official government source

   No registration fee is published by the Louisiana Department of Revenue.·Not published by the Louisiana Department of Revenue; the '1-5 business days' figure has no official source.

   No registration fee is published by the Louisiana Department of Revenue.

   Not published by the Louisiana Department of Revenue; the '1-5 business days' figure has no official source.

1. Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology — Cosmetology Shop License

   All cosmetology salons in Louisiana — hair salons and nail salons — must hold a salon (shop) license from the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, renewed annually. The board's district inspector must inspect the premises before the license is issued, and a new inspection is required when a salon changes location or ownership. Barbershops are NOT licensed by this board: barbers hold their own licenses and, while a cosmetology salon may employ a barber, a barbershop is licensed by the separate state barber licensing authority.

   Official government source

   Not verified: the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology website was unreachable and no official fee schedule could be retrieved, so the $60 initial/$60 renewal figure is unconfirmed. Confirm current salon license and renewal fees with LSBC (11622 Sunbelt Ct., Baton Rouge; 225-756-3404 / 866-257-7901).·Not published by the board. The license is issued after the district inspector inspects the premises, so timing depends on inspector scheduling — the '3–6 weeks' figure has no official source.

   Not verified: the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology website was unreachable and no official fee schedule could be retrieved, so the $60 initial/$60 renewal figure is unconfirmed. Confirm current salon license and renewal fees with LSBC (11622 Sunbelt Ct., Baton Rouge; 225-756-3404 / 866-257-7901).

   Not published by the board. The license is issued after the district inspector inspects the premises, so timing depends on inspector scheduling — the '3–6 weeks' figure has no official source.

2. City of Baton Rouge / Parish of East Baton Rouge Department of Finance — Business License

   All businesses in East Baton Rouge Parish must obtain an Occupational License from the Finance Department's Revenue Collection Division (225-389-3084), renewed annually and posted at the place of business. Some businesses additionally need approval from Permits & Inspections and/or the health authority, and a zoning clearance or Certificate of Occupancy carries a separate fee. Certain categories are exempt by ordinance (for example manufacturers except on retail sales, and several enumerated professions).

   Official government source

   A one-time registration fee of $50 if the business opens January 1–June 30 or $25 if it opens July 1–December 31. The annual tax is computed from gross receipts using the classification tables in the Occupational License Tax Ordinance and can exceed $500 for larger businesses — it is not a $50–$500 band.·Apply at least one month before opening. A temporary certificate is mailed after processing; after 30 days of operation you report gross receipts and the permanent license issues. Renewals are due January 1 and delinquent after March 1 (5% penalty per 30 days to a 25% maximum, plus 15% annual interest).

   A one-time registration fee of $50 if the business opens January 1–June 30 or $25 if it opens July 1–December 31. The annual tax is computed from gross receipts using the classification tables in the Occupational License Tax Ordinance and can exceed $500 for larger businesses — it is not a $50–$500 band.

   Apply at least one month before opening. A temporary certificate is mailed after processing; after 30 days of operation you report gross receipts and the permanent license issues. Renewals are due January 1 and delinquent after March 1 (5% penalty per 30 days to a 25% maximum, plus 15% annual interest).

Official Sources

• City of Baton Rouge / Parish of East Baton Rouge Department of Finance
• Louisiana Department of Revenue — Sales Tax Registration

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