HVAC Contractor 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. EPA Section 608 Technician Certification (refrigerant handling)

   Section 608 of the federal Clean Air Act (40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F) requires anyone who maintains, services, repairs or disposes of appliances containing regulated refrigerants — and anyone who buys those refrigerants — to hold EPA Section 608 technician certification. There are four types: Type I (small appliances), Type II (high-pressure and very-high-pressure equipment), Type III (low-pressure equipment) and Universal (all three). HVAC contractors in Louisiana normally need Type II or Universal. Testing is given by EPA-approved certifying organizations, not by EPA itself; EPA does not review or approve any preparatory training materials.

   Official government source

   EPA neither charges nor publishes a fee. Each EPA-approved certifying organization sets its own test price, so the '$20-$100' figure has no official source — check the price with the program you choose from EPA's approved-programs list.·Not published by EPA. Timing depends on the certifying organization you use: Type I can be done by open-book mail-in test through some programs, while Type II, III and Universal require a proctored exam that must be scheduled. Certification issued by an approved program does not expire.

   EPA neither charges nor publishes a fee. Each EPA-approved certifying organization sets its own test price, so the '$20-$100' figure has no official source — check the price with the program you choose from EPA's approved-programs list.

   Not published by EPA. Timing depends on the certifying organization you use: Type I can be done by open-book mail-in test through some programs, while Type II, III and Universal require a proctored exam that must be scheduled. Certification issued by an approved program does not expire.

1. Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors — Mechanical/HVAC Contractor License

   HVAC contractors in Louisiana must be licensed by the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC, 600 North Street, Baton Rouge; 225-765-2301) under the mechanical specialty. Mechanical work valued over $10,000 requires licensure (commercial projects generally at $50,000 or more), and proof of general liability and workers' compensation insurance is required. The license is held by the company and supervised by a Qualifying Party who passes the trade exam. EPA Section 608 certification is separately required under federal law for refrigerant handling. Note the board's site moved from lslbc.louisiana.gov to lslbc.gov.

   Official government source

   Not published: LSLBC does not post a fee schedule on its public pages, so the '$200-$400 initial' figure is unverified. Confirm current application, exam and license fees with LSLBC at 225-765-2301 or through the online application portal.·Not published by the board; the '4-8 weeks' figure has no official source. Applications are approved at board meetings, so timing depends on the meeting calendar — confirm with LSLBC.

   Not published: LSLBC does not post a fee schedule on its public pages, so the '$200-$400 initial' figure is unverified. Confirm current application, exam and license fees with LSLBC at 225-765-2301 or through the online application portal.

   Not published by the board; the '4-8 weeks' figure has no official source. Applications are approved at board meetings, so timing depends on the meeting calendar — confirm with LSLBC.

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.

3. Orleans Parish / New Orleans Mechanical Permit (per project)

   A mechanical permit must be obtained from the Department of Safety and Permits, through the One Stop App, for each HVAC installation, replacement or major repair, and a final inspection is required upon completion. The applicant must hold a Class A Mechanical License from the City of New Orleans, and blower-door, duct-leakage or visual air-envelope results may be required. Some mechanical work also requires a building permit.

   Official government source

   Varies based on the components of work; exact amounts are set in the HVAC, Gasfitting, or Elevator/Lift permit application supplements. The city's Building Permit Fee Estimator gives project-specific figures.·Not published by the city. Mechanical Inspections Division: (504) 658-7153.

   Varies based on the components of work; exact amounts are set in the HVAC, Gasfitting, or Elevator/Lift permit application supplements. The city's Building Permit Fee Estimator gives project-specific figures.

   Not published by the city. Mechanical Inspections Division: (504) 658-7153.

Official Sources

• Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors — Mechanical/HVAC Contractor License
• City of New Orleans Bureau of Revenue / Department of Safety and Permits
• EPA Section 608 Certification

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