Real Estate Agent 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 Real Estate Errors & Omissions (E&O) Insurance — required for licensure

   Errors and omissions coverage is mandatory for Louisiana real estate licensees, not merely a brokerage preference. The Louisiana Real Estate Commission's own salesperson pre-licensing checklist places E&O at Step 6: after passing both portions of the exam you submit the Initial Real Estate License Application - Part B together with proof of, or payment for, E&O insurance. You may buy coverage through the LREC group policy at the prorated premium shown in the Part B chart, or buy from an independent insurer and file an Independent Errors and Omissions form plus the declarations page of that policy. The license does not issue until this is satisfied. E&O covers claims arising from mistakes or negligence in a transaction; it is distinct from the general liability policy a brokerage carries.

   Official government source

   Not a fixed published amount. Group-policy premiums are prorated by the month you enter the program under the chart in the Initial Real Estate License Application - Part B; independent policies are priced by the private insurer. The '$300-$1,000/year' band has no LREC source — get the current group rate from LREC (225-925-1923) or a quote from your own carrier.·Coverage must be in place before the license is issued, not after. LREC does not publish a turnaround for Part B; do not pay the E&O fee with the Part A application, which is submitted before the exam.

   Not a fixed published amount. Group-policy premiums are prorated by the month you enter the program under the chart in the Initial Real Estate License Application - Part B; independent policies are priced by the private insurer. The '$300-$1,000/year' band has no LREC source — get the current group rate from LREC (225-925-1923) or a quote from your own carrier.

   Coverage must be in place before the license is issued, not after. LREC does not publish a turnaround for Part B; do not pay the E&O fee with the Part A application, which is submitted before the exam.

1. Louisiana Real Estate Commission — Salesperson or Broker License

   Real estate salespersons and brokers in Louisiana are licensed by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission (9071 Interline Ave., Baton Rouge). A salesperson must be at least 18, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, complete 90 hours of LREC-approved pre-licensing education, pass the state and national portions of the Pearson VUE licensing exam, complete an IdentoGO fingerprint/background check, and be sponsored by a licensed broker with proof of errors and omissions insurance before the license issues. A license may be issued inactive if you have no sponsoring broker yet. Brokers require additional education and experience.

   Official government source

   Not published on LREC's public pages. Application fees are paid with the Part A application, the Pearson VUE exam fee is billed separately by the test vendor, IdentoGO charges for fingerprinting, and E&O insurance is paid later in the process — so the '$90–$150 salesperson / $150–$250 broker' figures are unverified. Confirm current amounts with LREC (225-925-1923).·Not published. The 90-hour course, exam scheduling through Pearson VUE and the background check each add time; the '4–8 weeks' figure has no official source.

   Not published on LREC's public pages. Application fees are paid with the Part A application, the Pearson VUE exam fee is billed separately by the test vendor, IdentoGO charges for fingerprinting, and E&O insurance is paid later in the process — so the '$90–$150 salesperson / $150–$250 broker' figures are unverified. Confirm current amounts with LREC (225-925-1923).

   Not published. The 90-hour course, exam scheduling through Pearson VUE and the background check each add time; the '4–8 weeks' figure has no official source.

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 Real Estate Commission — Salesperson or Broker License
• City of New Orleans Bureau of Revenue / Department of Safety and Permits

Related Guides