Cleaning Service 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 Workers' Compensation Insurance

   Under the Louisiana Workers' Compensation Act, administered by the Office of Workers' Compensation Administration within the Louisiana Workforce Commission, every employer that is not statutorily exempt must either carry workers' compensation insurance or be approved to self-insure. Coverage attaches from the day an employee starts work and applies to full-time, part-time, seasonal and minor employees alike. This matters for a cleaning service: OWCA states that subcontractors and certain independent contractors are treated as employees if they are engaged in the pursuit of the employer's trade or business or are performing substantial manual labor, so calling your cleaners contractors does not by itself remove the obligation. The specific statutory exemptions are domestic employees, most real estate salespersons, uncompensated officers and directors of certain non-profits, and public officials. An employer must report an on-the-job injury causing death or more than one week of lost time to its insurer on Form LW-WC-IA-1 within 10 days of learning of it.

   Official government source

   Not a government fee — the premium is set by your insurer from your payroll and classification code, so the '$500-$2,000/year' band has no official source. Get quotes from licensed carriers, or apply to OWCA for self-insured status.·No application process or waiting period with the state; coverage must be in force before the first employee starts work, because liability attaches from day one of employment. Self-insurance requires prior OWCA approval. You can confirm any employer's coverage through the Louisiana coverage verification system.

   Not a government fee — the premium is set by your insurer from your payroll and classification code, so the '$500-$2,000/year' band has no official source. Get quotes from licensed carriers, or apply to OWCA for self-insured status.

   No application process or waiting period with the state; coverage must be in force before the first employee starts work, because liability attaches from day one of employment. Self-insurance requires prior OWCA approval. You can confirm any employer's coverage through the Louisiana coverage verification system.

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. Certificate of Occupancy (Home Business) and Trade Name Registration

   A cleaning service run from your home in New Orleans requires a Certificate of Occupancy (Home Business) from the Department of Safety and Permits — each business location must be inspected and approved. Apply through the One Stop App with an Acknowledgment of Limitations on Home Occupations and, for renters, a letter of permission from the property owner. If you use a trade name, register it with the Louisiana Secretary of State (form #309, via geauxBIZ) — no Orleans Parish clerk registers fictitious business names.

   Official government source

   $190 flat for the Certificate of Occupancy (Home Business), plus $75 for a state trade name registration ($95 from October 1, 2026 under Act 921 of 2026).·Neither the city nor the Secretary of State publishes a processing time; the home C of O requires an inspection of the residence, so allow for scheduling.

   $190 flat for the Certificate of Occupancy (Home Business), plus $75 for a state trade name registration ($95 from October 1, 2026 under Act 921 of 2026).

   Neither the city nor the Secretary of State publishes a processing time; the home C of O requires an inspection of the residence, so allow for scheduling.

Official Sources

• City of New Orleans Bureau of Revenue / Department of Safety and Permits
• Louisiana Department of Revenue — Sales Tax Registration

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