Fitness Studio 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 Health Club / Prepaid Entertainment Contract Registration

   Louisiana may require fitness studios that sell prepaid memberships (contracts exceeding a certain dollar threshold or duration) to register with the state consumer protection office or post a surety bond.

   $100–$500 (bond or registration)·1–4 weeks

   $100–$500 (bond or registration)

   1–4 weeks

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 Certificate of Occupancy — Assembly / Fitness Use

   A fitness studio operating in a commercial space must obtain a Certificate of Occupancy (No Work) from the Department of Safety and Permits — the general commercial process, not the home-based-business C of O. The space must be approved for assembly or fitness use, meeting requirements for emergency exits, ventilation and occupancy load. If the proposed use differs from the prior use or the building does not meet current codes, 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.

3. Orleans Parish / New Orleans Building Permit (for tenant improvements)

   If renovating or building out the studio space (e.g., installing showers, locker rooms or floor systems), a building permit is required from the Department of Safety and Permits, applied for through the One Stop App. Permits are required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building; plans may need to be stamped by a licensed architect or engineer. Once the application is made, fees are non-refundable.

   Official government source

   $60 base permit fee plus $5 per $1,000 of work, plus a plan review fee of $1 per $1,000 of work ($60 minimum); a 50% surcharge applies in historic districts. Use the city's Building Permit Fee Estimator for a project-specific figure.·Not published by the city; the '2-6 weeks' figure has no official source. Permit Intake: (504) 658-7299.

   $60 base permit fee plus $5 per $1,000 of work, plus a plan review fee of $1 per $1,000 of work ($60 minimum); a 50% surcharge applies in historic districts. Use the city's Building Permit Fee Estimator for a project-specific figure.

   Not published by the city; the '2-6 weeks' figure has no official source. Permit Intake: (504) 658-7299.

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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