Catering Business 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 Department of Health — Certified Food Protection Manager Requirement

   Louisiana requires a certified food safety manager for retail food establishments, including caterers and mobile food units. LDH-approved providers teach an eight-hour Food Safety Manager course and proctor an ANSI-accredited exam (e.g. ServSafe); the resulting certification is then submitted to LDH's Retail Food Program for the state 'gold seal' Food Safety Manager Certificate. Food handler certificates, out-of-state manager certificates and course completion certificates are not accepted.

   Official government source

   Course/exam fees are set by the private LDH-approved provider and vary; LDH charges a separate fee for the state certificate, payable by company check, money order or credit card. Confirm both with your provider and LDH — the $80–$150 figure is unverified.·The approved course is eight hours; LDH does not publish a processing time for issuing the state certificate.

   Course/exam fees are set by the private LDH-approved provider and vary; LDH charges a separate fee for the state certificate, payable by company check, money order or credit card. Confirm both with your provider and LDH — the $80–$150 figure is unverified.

   The approved course is eight hours; LDH does not publish a processing time for issuing the state certificate.

1. Louisiana Department of Health — Food Service Establishment Permit (catering)

   Catering businesses operating in New Orleans must obtain a Food Service Establishment permit from the Louisiana Department of Health's Retail Food Program (Bureau of Sanitarian Services), a centralized state program — New Orleans has no separate local health department for food licensing. A licensed commercial kitchen (commissary), a plans review and an on-site pre-opening inspection are required. Permit unit: (225) 342-7522.

   Official government source

   Louisiana Department of Health retail food permit schedule: $150 for a first permit, $112.50 for the second through fourth, and $75 for each permit after the fourth. New plans or substantial renovations also require a plans-review fee of $100 (standard) or $1,000 (expedited), payable at submittal.·LDH plans review is 10 or fewer business days for the $100 standard fee, or 5 or fewer business days for the $1,000 expedited fee. No overall permit-issuance timeline is published; the permit follows a successful pre-opening inspection.

   Louisiana Department of Health retail food permit schedule: $150 for a first permit, $112.50 for the second through fourth, and $75 for each permit after the fourth. New plans or substantial renovations also require a plans-review fee of $100 (standard) or $1,000 (expedited), payable at submittal.

   LDH plans review is 10 or fewer business days for the $100 standard fee, or 5 or fewer business days for the $1,000 expedited fee. No overall permit-issuance timeline is published; the permit follows a successful pre-opening inspection.

2. 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.

Official Sources

• Orleans Parish Health Department
• Louisiana Department of Revenue — Sales Tax Registration

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