Event Planning Permit Requirements in New Orleans, LA

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if operating as a business entity (LLC or corporation) or if you have employees. Free from the IRS. You will need an EIN to open a business bank account and sign vendor contracts professionally.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. Louisiana Secretary of State Business Registration

   An event planning business organized as an LLC, corporation or partnership files its formation documents with the Louisiana Secretary of State's Commercial Division through the geauxBIZ portal. A sole proprietor operating under any name other than the owner's own legal name registers a trade name with the Secretary of State — Louisiana has no parish-clerk DBA filing. geauxBIZ also routes registration to the Department of Revenue and Louisiana Workforce Commission in the same session.

   Official government source

   $100 for LLC Articles of Organization, $75 for corporation Articles of Incorporation, $100 for a partnership registration, and $75 for a Trade Name/Trademark/Service Mark registration (rising to $95 on October 1, 2026 under Act 921 of 2026). A name reservation is $25. Credit card filings add a $5 statutory convenience fee; optional expedite is $30, or $50 for priority while-you-wait service.·The Secretary of State publishes no processing time for standard filings. Expedited processing (documents handled within 24 hours) is $30, or $50 for priority service. Check name availability before filing (225-925-4704).

   $100 for LLC Articles of Organization, $75 for corporation Articles of Incorporation, $100 for a partnership registration, and $75 for a Trade Name/Trademark/Service Mark registration (rising to $95 on October 1, 2026 under Act 921 of 2026). A name reservation is $25. Credit card filings add a $5 statutory convenience fee; optional expedite is $30, or $50 for priority while-you-wait service.

   The Secretary of State publishes no processing time for standard filings. Expedited processing (documents handled within 24 hours) is $30, or $50 for priority service. Check name availability before filing (225-925-4704).

2. Louisiana Sales Tax Permit (if applicable)

   Event planning coordination is not among Louisiana's enumerated taxable services, so the service itself is generally not taxed. You must register as a dealer with the Louisiana Department of Revenue and collect state sales tax if you sell, lease or rent tangible personal property or digital products — event supplies, decorations, floral arrangements or similar goods (R.S. 47:301(4)).

   Official government source

   The Louisiana Department of Revenue publishes no fee for opening a sales tax account; register through LaTAP or geauxBIZ and confirm at registration.·Not published by LDR; register before your first taxable sale and confirm account activation through LaTAP.

   The Louisiana Department of Revenue publishes no fee for opening a sales tax account; register through LaTAP or geauxBIZ and confirm at registration.

   Not published by LDR; register before your first taxable sale and confirm account activation through LaTAP.

1. New Orleans Occupational License

   Event planning businesses operating in New Orleans must obtain a general Occupational License from the city's Bureau of Revenue (Department of Finance) — not a 'City Clerk's Office.' A Certificate of Occupancy for the proposed use is a prerequisite; if you work primarily from home coordinating events elsewhere, a Certificate of Occupancy (Home Business) at $190 applies. Renewed annually.

   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).·Not published by the city. Apply through the One Stop App; a temporary Occupational License is generated automatically on approval, and the Amended Return Form must be completed within the first 40 days of operation.

   $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).

   Not published by the city. Apply through the One Stop App; a temporary Occupational License is generated automatically on approval, and the Amended Return Form must be completed within the first 40 days of operation.

2. New Orleans Special Event Permit (for events in public spaces)

   Events using New Orleans public parks, streets, plazas or other public venues require a Special Event permit from the Department of Safety and Permits, applied for through the One Stop App ([email protected]). Promoters file the Master Event Application plus Supplement A (promoter/vendor) and Supplement G (safety and security), a lease or land authorization, a vendor list and a waste disposal plan; street closures, parades, tents, stages and entertainment each require their own supplement. Vendors may not apply until the promoter has applied.

   Official government source

   Per the city's Special Event Fee Summary Sheet: promoters pay a $250.25 Special Event Occupational License ($125.25 non-profit) plus one activity fee — e.g. exhibitions/expositions $250.25, music with admission $250.25–$750.25 by gross sales, temporary storefront or merchandise promoter $500.25, professional sporting event $1,000.25. Individual trade show vendors pay $50.25. Alcohol adds a $200 processing fee ($100 non-profit) plus $50–$100 by beverage type. Street closures are $40 application plus $90–$615 per block; tents $145–$345 non-profit / $290–$690 others. A $10,000 performance bond is required of for-profit promoters with three or more vendors.·The city does not publish a processing time. Apply through the One Stop App as early as possible — promoters are advised to brief the district Council member before applying for large events, and bond or alcohol approvals add time.

   Per the city's Special Event Fee Summary Sheet: promoters pay a $250.25 Special Event Occupational License ($125.25 non-profit) plus one activity fee — e.g. exhibitions/expositions $250.25, music with admission $250.25–$750.25 by gross sales, temporary storefront or merchandise promoter $500.25, professional sporting event $1,000.25. Individual trade show vendors pay $50.25. Alcohol adds a $200 processing fee ($100 non-profit) plus $50–$100 by beverage type. Street closures are $40 application plus $90–$615 per block; tents $145–$345 non-profit / $290–$690 others. A $10,000 performance bond is required of for-profit promoters with three or more vendors.

   The city does not publish a processing time. Apply through the One Stop App as early as possible — promoters are advised to brief the district Council member before applying for large events, and bond or alcohol approvals add time.

3. Special Event Permit (City of New Orleans — no separate parish permit)

   Orleans Parish and the City of New Orleans are a consolidated government with identical boundaries, so there is no unincorporated parish land and no parish-level Temporary Use permit. Any event on public or private property in Orleans Parish goes through the same city Special Event permit process administered by the Department of Safety and Permits via the One Stop App ([email protected]), using the Master Event Application plus the supplements that match the event (street closure, parade, parks, tents, entertainment, safety and security).

   Official government source

   Per the city's Special Event Fee Summary Sheet: promoters pay a $250.25 Special Event Occupational License ($125.25 non-profit) plus an activity fee — exhibitions/expositions $250.25, music with admission $250.25–$750.25 by gross sales, temporary storefront or merchandise promoter $500.25, professional sporting event $1,000.25. Individual trade show vendors pay $50.25. Tents run $145–$345 non-profit / $290–$690 others; street closures $40 application plus $90–$615 per block. A $10,000 performance bond applies to for-profit promoters with three or more vendors.·The city does not publish a processing time; apply through the One Stop App as early as possible, and note that vendors cannot apply until the promoter has.

   Per the city's Special Event Fee Summary Sheet: promoters pay a $250.25 Special Event Occupational License ($125.25 non-profit) plus an activity fee — exhibitions/expositions $250.25, music with admission $250.25–$750.25 by gross sales, temporary storefront or merchandise promoter $500.25, professional sporting event $1,000.25. Individual trade show vendors pay $50.25. Tents run $145–$345 non-profit / $290–$690 others; street closures $40 application plus $90–$615 per block. A $10,000 performance bond applies to for-profit promoters with three or more vendors.

   The city does not publish a processing time; apply through the One Stop App as early as possible, and note that vendors cannot apply until the promoter has.

Official Sources

• New Orleans Business Licensing
• Louisiana Secretary of State — Business Registration
• IRS EIN Application

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