Massage Therapy 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 Board of Massage Therapy — Massage Therapist License

   Massage therapists in Louisiana must be licensed by the Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy (9619 Interline Ave., Suite B, Baton Rouge; 225-756-3488; labmt.org). Applicants submit an original notarized application with an official transcript meeting the Louisiana Massage Therapy Act's education standard and a criminal background check enrolled through IdentoGO. Once the application is approved, the license must be registered within 45 days or the whole application process must be repeated. Reciprocity, Welcome Home Act (for licensees moving from another state), military/spouse, provisional and lapsed pathways each have their own application.

   Official government source

   $75 non-refundable application fee (cashier's check or money order), then a first-year pro-rated registration fee determined by the month you register: $125 April–August, $80 September–December, $75 January–March. A lapsed-license registration is $575 with 24 CEUs. Establishment (business) licenses register at $100 April–August, $80 September–December, $60 January–March.·Not published as a processing time. Registration must be completed within 45 days of application approval, or the application process starts over.

   $75 non-refundable application fee (cashier's check or money order), then a first-year pro-rated registration fee determined by the month you register: $125 April–August, $80 September–December, $75 January–March. A lapsed-license registration is $575 with 24 CEUs. Establishment (business) licenses register at $100 April–August, $80 September–December, $60 January–March.

   Not published as a processing time. Registration must be completed within 45 days of application approval, or the application process starts over.

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. 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).

2. Zoning / Certificate of Occupancy

   A Certificate of Occupancy is required for any commercial space used as a massage therapy practice; zoning and occupancy are handled by the City-Parish Permits & Inspections Division, not the Department of Finance (which collects the separate occupational license tax). Baton Rouge also charges a separate Massage Establishment Registration, and the establishment must additionally be licensed by the Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy.

   Official government source

   $125 Commercial Occupancy permit, plus a $150 Fire Prevention Fee for Occupancy where applicable, plus a $200 Massage Establishment Registration and the $25 technology fee.·Not published by Permits & Inspections; depends on inspection scheduling — confirm with the division.

   $125 Commercial Occupancy permit, plus a $150 Fire Prevention Fee for Occupancy where applicable, plus a $200 Massage Establishment Registration and the $25 technology fee.

   Not published by Permits & Inspections; depends on inspection scheduling — confirm with the division.

Official Sources

• City of Baton Rouge / Parish of East Baton Rouge Department of Finance

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