Landscaping Business Permit Requirements in Shreveport, 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 Pesticide Applicator License

   If you apply pesticides or herbicides as part of landscaping services in Louisiana, you must hold a Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF), issued through the Advisory Commission on Pesticides. Certification requires passing the General Standards exam plus an exam in each category you work in, and recertification is required every three years with annual card renewals. A business applying pesticides for hire also needs a commercial applicator business license. In-person testing is offered only at the LDAF Main Office in Baton Rouge.

   Official government source

   $50 exam fee per category (the General Standards exam is free) and a $20 annual renewal for the Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification card. A pesticide application business also pays a Ground Owner Operator License of $200 for Louisiana residents or $500 for non-residents, plus a $50 equipment registration fee.·Not published by LDAF; the '2-4 weeks' figure has no official source. Certification follows passing the required exams at a scheduled LDAF testing session.

   $50 exam fee per category (the General Standards exam is free) and a $20 annual renewal for the Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification card. A pesticide application business also pays a Ground Owner Operator License of $200 for Louisiana residents or $500 for non-residents, plus a $50 equipment registration fee.

   Not published by LDAF; the '2-4 weeks' figure has no official source. Certification follows passing the required exams at a scheduled LDAF testing session.

1. City of Shreveport Revenue Division — Occupational License

   Shreveport requires an Occupational License for all businesses operating within city limits, administered by the Department of Finance (318-673-5500). A Certificate of Occupancy must be obtained first. The license must be renewed annually and displayed at your place of business.

   Official government source

   Varies by business type: professionals pay 1/10 of 1% of gross receipts; retailers $50-$6,200/year; wholesalers $50-$7,500/year. A new business pays $50 if it opens in the first half of the calendar year, or $25 from July 1, pro-rated on projected gross sales.·Not published. Shreveport issues a temporary license covering the first 30 days of business, after which you complete an update for the permanent license. Annual tax notices are mailed in December or January and are due before March 1.

   Varies by business type: professionals pay 1/10 of 1% of gross receipts; retailers $50-$6,200/year; wholesalers $50-$7,500/year. A new business pays $50 if it opens in the first half of the calendar year, or $25 from July 1, pro-rated on projected gross sales.

   Not published. Shreveport issues a temporary license covering the first 30 days of business, after which you complete an update for the permanent license. Annual tax notices are mailed in December or January and are due before March 1.

2. Caddo Parish / Shreveport Contractor Registration

   Shreveport's city contractor registration requirement covers only air conditioning/heating, electrical and plumbing contractors — landscaping is not included. Electrical and HVAC contractors doing work over $10,000 must also hold a State of Louisiana master license, and plumbers must be licensed by the State Plumbing Board of Louisiana. Landscaping and irrigation contractors instead need a state license from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors once a project reaches $50,000 (commercial or residential) or $7,500 for home improvement work; there is no city registration for landscaping.

   Official government source

   Not applicable — Shreveport does not register landscaping contractors, so no city fee exists.·Not applicable — there is no city registration step for landscaping.

   Not applicable — Shreveport does not register landscaping contractors, so no city fee exists.

   Not applicable — there is no city registration step for landscaping.

Official Sources

• City of Shreveport Revenue Division
• Louisiana Department of Revenue — Sales Tax Registration

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