Auto Repair Shop Permit Requirements in New Orleans, 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 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.

2. Louisiana Used Motor Vehicle Commission — Auto Repair Shop Registration

   Auto repair shops in Louisiana that only perform repairs and do not sell vehicles do NOT register with the Louisiana Used Motor Vehicle Commission — that agency licenses used motor vehicle dealers, dismantlers and parts recyclers. Repair shops must still meet Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality requirements for used oil, solvents and hazardous waste handling, storage and disposal, and must not discharge shop wastewater to storm drains.

   Official government source

   No LUMVC registration fee applies to a repair-only shop. LDEQ requirements are compliance obligations rather than a flat permit fee; a permit fee applies only if your operation needs a waste or discharge permit.·Not applicable — there is no LUMVC registration to wait for. Set up used-oil and hazardous-waste handling before you open.

   No LUMVC registration fee applies to a repair-only shop. LDEQ requirements are compliance obligations rather than a flat permit fee; a permit fee applies only if your operation needs a waste or discharge permit.

   Not applicable — there is no LUMVC registration to wait for. Set up used-oil and hazardous-waste handling before you open.

1. City of New Orleans Bureau of Revenue / Department of Safety and Permits — Business License

   New Orleans requires an Occupational License (annual business tax) and a Certificate of Occupancy for all businesses. The Bureau of Revenue (Department of Finance) handles the Occupational License tax; the Department of Safety and Permits handles occupancy and zoning, issuing a Certificate of Occupancy (No Work) for $190. The license must be renewed annually and displayed at your place of business.

   Official government source

   $50/year minimum where gross sales are under $50,000, rising through the city's Occupational License Tax Tables — Table 1 runs to $6,200/year at $5.5M+ in gross sales, well above the claimed $500 ceiling. The Certificate of Occupancy is a separate $190.·Occupational License: not published — a temporary license is generated on approval through the One Stop App and the Amended Return Form is due within the first 40 days of operation. Certificate of Occupancy: same day in some situations, 2-3 days if an inspection is required.

   $50/year minimum where gross sales are under $50,000, rising through the city's Occupational License Tax Tables — Table 1 runs to $6,200/year at $5.5M+ in gross sales, well above the claimed $500 ceiling. The Certificate of Occupancy is a separate $190.

   Occupational License: not published — a temporary license is generated on approval through the One Stop App and the Amended Return Form is due within the first 40 days of operation. Certificate of Occupancy: same day in some situations, 2-3 days if an inspection is required.

2. Orleans Parish / New Orleans Zoning and Certificate of Occupancy

   Auto repair shops must operate in properly zoned commercial or industrial areas. Obtain zoning approval and a Certificate of Occupancy (No Work) from the Department of Safety and Permits — not the home-based-business C of O process — before opening. A Certificate of Occupancy is required whenever the property's use changes, the building does not meet current codes for the proposed use, or it has been vacant more than six months; if the proposed use differs from the prior use, a building permit may also be required.

   Official government source

   $190 for the Certificate of Occupancy (No Work).·Same day in some situations, 2-3 days if an inspection is required.

   $190 for the Certificate of Occupancy (No Work).

   Same day in some situations, 2-3 days if an inspection is required.

Official Sources

• City of New Orleans Bureau of Revenue / Department of Safety and Permits
• Louisiana Used Motor Vehicle Commission — Auto Repair Shop Registration

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