Tattoo Parlor 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. Bloodborne Pathogen Training (per artist)

   Tattoo artists working in Louisiana must complete bloodborne pathogen training as part of the sanitation requirements for commercial body art facilities, which the Louisiana Department of Health's Food and Drug Unit regulates statewide. LDH does not publish an approved-provider list or a renewal interval for this training online — confirm the accepted courses and renewal frequency with the Food and Drug Unit before relying on the annual-renewal assumption.

   Official government source

   Set by the private training provider and not published by LDH; the $20–$80 figure is unverified. Get a quote from an accepted provider.·Course length varies by provider and is not specified by LDH; the 'half-day course' figure is unverified.

   Set by the private training provider and not published by LDH; the $20–$80 figure is unverified. Get a quote from an accepted provider.

   Course length varies by provider and is not specified by LDH; the 'half-day course' figure is unverified.

1. Louisiana Department of Health — Tattoo/Body Piercing Permit

   Tattoo and body-piercing establishments in Louisiana are permitted by the Louisiana Department of Health's Food and Drug Unit (Bureau of Sanitarian Services), which regulates commercial body art facilities — tattooing, permanent makeup and body piercing — statewide. Permitting is centralized at the state unit, not handled through a local parish health unit. Artists must complete bloodborne pathogen training and the facility is inspected before the permit issues.

   Official government source

   Not published. The $100–$250 figure is unverified — LDH does not publish a body art permit fee schedule online. Since July 1, 2025 a plans-review fee of $100 standard (10 business days) or $1,000 expedited (5 business days) applies to new facilities and substantial renovations. Confirm the permit fee with the Food and Drug Unit.·Not published. Plans review is 10 business days standard or 5 business days expedited, followed by inspection; the '2–6 weeks' figure has no official source.

   Not published. The $100–$250 figure is unverified — LDH does not publish a body art permit fee schedule online. Since July 1, 2025 a plans-review fee of $100 standard (10 business days) or $1,000 expedited (5 business days) applies to new facilities and substantial renovations. Confirm the permit fee with the Food and Drug Unit.

   Not published. Plans review is 10 business days standard or 5 business days expedited, followed by inspection; the '2–6 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 Department of Health — Tattoo/Body Piercing Permit
• City of New Orleans Bureau of Revenue / Department of Safety and Permits

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