Louisiana Business License

A businessman opening the office door for his employees

General Business License Requirements for Louisiana.

Business licenses are often required of business entities, regardless of their products and services. This page provides an overview of business license requirements in Louisiana.

Louisiana General Business Licenses

Louisiana Business License

Not required



General Business License licensure is not required on the State level in Louisiana.

Louisiana does not have a general business license at the state level, but local licenses are often required.

Local General Business Licenses

Baton Rouge Occupational License

Agency:City of Baton Rouge Parish Finance Department - Revenue Division (LA)

Initial Registration

Form:

Business Registration Application Form

Agency Fee:

$50 for businesses that open between January 1-June 30 or $25 for businesses that open July 1-December 31.

Registration Renewal

Form:

Occupational license renewal applications will be mailed to you during the month of December.

Agency Fee:

Fee is based upon business activity within the city of Baton Rouge or within the Parish of East Baton Rouge during the previous year.

Due:

Annually by January 1.

Bossier City Occupational License

Agency:Bossier City Finance Department - Tax Division (LA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Tax Registration

Agency Fee:

Varies by gross annual receipts.

Registration Renewal

Form:

Application for Renewal of Occupational License

Agency Fee:

Varies by gross annual receipts.

Due:

Licenses expire annually on December 31 and must be renewed by March 1.

Lake Charles Occupational License

Agency:City of Lake Charles Finance Department (LA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Occupational License Tax Application

Agency Fee:

Varies by business services and gross receipts. See Tax Table for details.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

Varies by business services and gross receipts. See Tax Table for details.

Due:

Annually by January 1.

City of Ponchatoula Occupational License

Agency:City of Ponchatoula - Tax Collections & Occupational Licenses (LA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Occupational License Packet

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

Fees vary based on the nature of the business.

Before you Apply:

Businesses with a physical location in the City of Ponchatoula must:

  • Contact the Zoning department to verify the business is properly zoned
  • Contact the State Fire Marshall's Office for business plan approval (have interior and exterior pictures available)
  • Contact the Tangipahoa Parish Health Unit for a health permit
    • A copy must be returned to Ponchatoula City Hall before any permits will be issued
  • Contact the Ponchatoula Building Official
    • Verify if a Certificate of Occupancy is required
    • An RPZ type backflow preventer must be installed and tested on all water services with proof of test before an occupational license will be granted
    • Obtain sign permit, if necessary
  • Contact City Hall
    • Water/Sewer/Garbage deposit is required
    • Electrical Permit fee of $5 prior to having electricity turned on

All businesses regardless of location must: 

  • Contact the Tangipahoa Parish School System, Sales Tax Division to register and file for local sales tax
  • Contact the Lousiana Department of Revenue and register for state sales tax
Required Attachments:
  • Certificate of Occupancy, if applicable
  • State License, if applicable
  • Police Department Emergency Contact forms

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

Fees vary based on the nature of the business. 

Due:

Annually by January 1

Penalties:
  • If the occupational tax is not paid within 30 days of the due date, a penalty of 5% of the total tax due will be incurred for each month the tax remains unpaid, not to exceed 25% of the tax in the aggregate
  • If the occupational tax remains unpaid after March 1, interest in the amount of 1.25% of the total tax due will accrue for each month the tax remains unpaid
Required Attachments:
  • No Tax Due Certificate from the Tangipahoa Parish School Board
  • State License, if applicable

Shreveport Occupational License

Agency:City of Shreveport Department of Finance (LA)

Initial Registration

Form:

New Business Application

Agency Fee:

Initial fee is $50 for the first 6 months of the year and $25 starting July 1st - except for professional classifications.

Registration Renewal

Form:

A tax notice is mailed annually in December/January.

Agency Fee:

The fee is the tax amount due which varies according to total gross receipts, fees or commissions from business done in Shreveport during the past year.

Due:

Annually by March 1.

City of Slidell Occupational License

Agency:City of Slidell Department of Finance (LA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Occupational License Application

Agency Fee:

Fees vary by gross receipts and type of business. The minimum fee is $50.

Registration Renewal

Agency Fee:

Fees vary by gross receipts and type of business. The minimum fee is $50.

Due:

Annually

City of West Monroe Occupational License

Agency:City of West Monroe Business License Division (LA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Occupational License Application

Agency Fee:

Fees depend on gross receipts and occupation.

Registration Renewal

Form:

Occupational License Application (Renewal)

Agency Fee:

Fees depend on gross receipts and occupation.

Due:

Annually

Calcasieu Parish Occupational License

Agency:Calcasieu Parish Policy Jury - License Office (LA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

New Business Occupational License Application Form

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

Fees vary based on the nature of the business and annual gross receipts

Required Attachments:
  • Articles of Incorporation, Organization, or Partnership (if applicable) with proof of registration from the Louisiana Secretary of State
  • Copy of valid driver's license of highest-ranking officer and/or owner
  • Zoning Compliance form, if applicable
  • Proof of registration with the Calcasieu Parish School Board Sales and Use Tax Department
  • Proof of registration with the State of Louisiana Department of Revenue Sales Tax Division
  • LA Department of Health approval letter/certification, if applicable
  • Certification of Resident or Non-resident Contractor from the State of Louisiana, if applicable

Registration Renewal

Form:

Occupational License Renewal Form

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

Fees vary based on the nature of the business and the annual gross receipts

Due:

Annually by December 31

Penalties:

If not renewed before March 1, for every 30 days the occupational tax is outstanding a 5% tax penalty will apply. This is not to exceed 25% of the tax in the aggregate.

Required Attachments:
  • Copy of valid driver's license of highest-ranking officer and/or owner
  • Certification of Resident or Non-resident Contractor from the State of Louisiana, if applicable

East Feliciana Parish Occupational Tax Certificate

Agency:East Feliciana Parish - Tax Collector (LA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Forms are not currently available online. Please call and request one to be sent via email.

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

Fees vary based on the nature of the business

Registration Renewal

Form:

Forms are not currently available online. Please call and request one be sent via email. 

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

Fees vary based on the nature of the business

Due:

Licenses expire annually December 31 and renewals are due annually by January 1

Jefferson Parish Occupational Tax License

Agency:Jefferson Parish - Sheriff's Office (LA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

General Sales License Tax Application

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:
  • Fees vary based on gross receipts
  • Payments can be made online

Registration Renewal

Form:

General Sales License Tax Application

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:
  • Fees vary based on gross receipts
  • Payments can be made online
Due:

Licenses expire annually on December 31 and renewals are due on January 1

Livingston Parish Occupational Tax Certificate

Agency:Livingston Parish - Sheriff's Office - Tax & Fines (LA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Forms are not currently available online. Please call and request one to be sent via email. 

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

Fees vary based on the gross receipts

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

Fees vary based on gross receipts

Due:

Licenses expire annually on December 31 and renewals are due by January 1

Rapides Parish Occupational License

Agency:Louisiana Association of Tax Administrators - Rapides Parish (LA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Exemption Eligible Organizations:

1. Blind persons and their widows and orphans R.S. 47:360(A)
2. Louisiana artists and craftsmen who display at functions sponsored by nonprofit organizations R.S. 47:360(B)
3. Nonprofit organizations – exempt from occupational license only; not sales & use tax R.S. 47:360(C)
4. Wholesale dealers in certain alcoholic beverages R.S. 47:360(D)
5. Other exempted businesses – Banks, building and loan associations, editors, broadcasters, publishers, ministers, school teachers, nurses,
farmers, sawmill operators and farmer-owned farm loan companies R.S. 47:360 (E)
6. Manufacturers, however retail sales by manufacturers shall be subject to payment of a license tax R.S. 47:360(F)
7. Disabled persons that are home-bound, confined to a bed or wheelchair and require aid of another person R.S. 47:360(G)

Form:

Occupational License – New Business Application

Filing Method:

Mail 

Agency Fee:

Fee determined by business type. See application for fee schedule with minimal license fee. 

Penalties:

5% for each 30 days or fraction thereof computed from open date (25% max)

Registration Renewal

Form:

Occupational License Renewal – All Other Businesses & Professionals

Filing Method:

Mail 

Agency Fee:

Fee determine dby gross reciepts, business type and interest by jurisdiction. 

Due:

Annually by January 1. 

Penalties:

Licenses become deliquent on March 1. 

St. Tammany Parish Occupational License

Agency:St. Tammany Parish Department of Planning and Development (LA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Occupational License Application

Agency Fee:

$50, becomes $25 on July 1st of application year.

Required Attachments:
  • An approval letter from the St. Tammany Parish Planning & Zoning Department (985-898-2529) for the business address.
  • Copy of business owner’s Driver’s License 
  • If incorporated, a copy of the Articles of Incorporation from the LA Secretary of State 

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$50

Due:

Annually by December 31. 

Tangipahoa Parish Occupational Tax Certificate

Agency:Tangipahoa Parish - Sheriff's Office (LA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

Fees vary based on the nature of the business and gross receipts

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

Fees vary based on the nature of the business and gross receipts

Due:

Licenses expire annually on December 31 and renewals are due by March 1

Learn about general business licensing requirements in other states: