Home Bakery 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 cottage food producers operating inside the exemption in La. R.S. 40:4.9 are not permitted as retail food establishments and are not required to hold the state Food Safety Manager Certificate. Once you exceed the exemption you need an LDH retail food permit, and the Food Safety Certification program run by LDH's Retail Food Program (Bureau of Sanitarian Services) applies. Completing an LDH-approved eight-hour Food Safety Manager course and ANSI-accredited exam is good practice for any cottage food operation.

   Official government source

   Course and exam fees are set by the private LDH-approved provider and vary; LDH charges a separate fee for the state certificate. The $80–$150 figure is unverified — confirm with the provider and LDH.·The LDH-approved course is eight hours; LDH does not publish an issuance time for the state certificate.

   Course and exam fees are set by the private LDH-approved provider and vary; LDH charges a separate fee for the state certificate. The $80–$150 figure is unverified — confirm with the provider and LDH.

   The LDH-approved course is eight hours; LDH does not publish an issuance time for the state certificate.

1. Louisiana Cottage Food Law

   Louisiana allows home production of certain non-potentially-hazardous foods (baked goods, candy, jams, and similar) for direct sale to consumers under the cottage food exemption in La. R.S. 40:4.9, without an LDH food establishment permit. The exemption is capped by an annual gross-sales limit and carries labeling requirements, including a statement that the food was not produced in a licensed facility. The cap could not be verified against the current statute text in this review — the $20,000 figure may be out of date — so confirm the current limit with LDH's Retail Food Program before relying on a number.

   Official government source

   No LDH permit fee applies while you stay inside the cottage food exemption. If you exceed it you need a retail food establishment permit — $150 for a first permit under LDH's Retail Food Permit Fee Schedule, plus a $100 standard (or $1,000 expedited) plans-review fee for new or substantially renovated facilities as of July 1, 2025.·No LDH application or waiting period applies within the exemption; if a permit becomes required, plans review is 10 business days standard or 5 business days expedited.

   No LDH permit fee applies while you stay inside the cottage food exemption. If you exceed it you need a retail food establishment permit — $150 for a first permit under LDH's Retail Food Permit Fee Schedule, plus a $100 standard (or $1,000 expedited) plans-review fee for new or substantially renovated facilities as of July 1, 2025.

   No LDH application or waiting period applies within the exemption; if a permit becomes required, plans review is 10 business days standard or 5 business days expedited.

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

• Louisiana Cottage Food Law
• City of New Orleans Bureau of Revenue / Department of Safety and Permits

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