Licenses & Permits for Home Food Sellers in Louisiana

The Direct Answer

Do You Need a Permit?

Under Louisiana R.S. 40:4.9, home food sellers operating within the low-risk food framework are explicitly exempt from the State Sanitary Code and from most food establishment regulations. Here's what that means in practice.

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Not Required at State Level

No Cottage Food Permit Needed

Louisiana does not issue or require a cottage food permit, license, or registration for home sellers operating under R.S. 40:4.9. The law explicitly exempts you from the State Sanitary Code's equipment, design, and facility requirements. You don't need to apply for anything from the Louisiana Department of Health before selling — no waiting period, no pre-opening inspection, no annual renewal for a food-specific permit.

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Mandatory Before First Sale

Two Sales Tax Certificates Required

What the law does require — and what you cannot skip — is sales tax registration. R.S. 40:4.9(D)(2) states explicitly that no individual may sell cottage food unless they are registered to collect applicable sales and use taxes, as evidenced by a current sales tax certificate. You need one from the Louisiana Department of Revenue (state) and one from your local parish tax collector. Both are free. Both are required before your first transaction.

Complete Compliance Reference

Permit & Registration Overview

Every registration, certificate, and permit that applies to Louisiana cottage food sellers — what's required, what's optional, who issues it, and where to apply.

Permit / Registration	Required?	Issuing Agency	Fee	Renewal	Apply
Louisiana General Sales Tax Certificate	Required	Louisiana Dept. of Revenue (LDR)	Free	No formal renewal; file returns regularly	latap.revenue.louisiana.gov ↗
Parish / Local Sales Tax Certificate	Required	Local parish tax collector	Free (typically)	Varies by parish	Contact your parish Sheriff's Office or tax collector directly
Cottage Food Permit / License	Not Required	N/A — no such permit exists in Louisiana	—	—	No application needed
Home Kitchen Inspection	Not Required	N/A — explicitly exempt under R.S. 40:4.9	—	—	No inspection needed
Food Handler Certification	Not Required	N/A at state level for cottage food	~$10–25 if obtained voluntarily	Varies by provider (typically 3–5 yrs)	Optional — choose ANAB-accredited course
State Business License	Not Required	N/A — Louisiana has no state business license fee	—	—	No state-level general business license exists
Local / City Business Permit	Check Locally	City or parish government	Varies by location	Usually annual	geauxbiz.com ↗ for permit list
EIN (Employer ID Number)	Recommended	Internal Revenue Service (IRS)	Free	No renewal — permanent	IRS Online ↗
LLC Formation (optional business structure)	Optional	Louisiana Secretary of State	$100 one-time + $35/yr	$35/yr annual report (anniversary date)	geauxbiz.com ↗
DBA / Trade Name (if using a business name)	If Applicable	Parish Clerk of Court (parish level) or LA SOS (state level)	$25–75 parish; $75 state	Varies by parish	Contact your parish Clerk of Court

Your Compliance Checklist

How to Get Licensed in Louisiana

From zero to legally selling your cottage food products in Louisiana — here are the exact steps, in order, with every link and contact you need. Most sellers can complete this entire process in a single afternoon.

Foundation

Confirm Your Products Are Allowed

Before anything else, verify that every product you intend to sell falls within Louisiana's nine "low-risk food" categories defined in R.S. 40:4.9(E). Review the full product list in our What You Can Sell guide. If any product is unclear, contact the Louisiana Department of Health Retail Food Program at 225-342-9500 for guidance before investing in production.

This step costs nothing and takes 15 minutes — skip it and you risk producing and labeling a product you can't legally sell.

Required — Free

Apply online through the Louisiana Taxpayer Access Portal (LaTAP) at the Louisiana Department of Revenue. This is the state sales tax registration — it gives you a Louisiana Sales Tax Account Number and authorizes you to collect the 4.45% state sales tax on all taxable cottage food sales. The registration is free and processed within 1–2 business days online. You can also register through GeauxBIZ, which lets you complete both your business registration and tax registration in one place.

Apply at LaTAP ↗ Or use GeauxBIZ ↗

Keep your account number safe — you'll need it for monthly or quarterly sales tax returns, and it's required on some wholesale agreements.

Required — Free

Louisiana requires a separate local sales tax certificate for every parish where you sell. Local sales tax rates vary significantly by parish — adding anywhere from 0% to 7% on top of the 4.45% state rate, for a combined range of 4.45% to 11.45% total. Contact the sales and use tax collector for your home parish (often the parish Sheriff's Office or a dedicated tax authority) to obtain your local certificate. If you plan to sell at markets in multiple parishes, you need a certificate for each one. Use GeauxBIZ to identify the right local contacts for your specific parish.

Find Your Parish Contacts ↗

Some parishes issue certificates immediately online; others require a short application. Plan for 3–5 business days for local registration just in case.

Check Locally

Verify Any Local Business Permit Requirements

Louisiana has no state-level general business license, but individual cities and parishes may require a local business permit to operate a home-based food business. Requirements vary — some jurisdictions have no requirement at all, while others require a simple registration and annual fee. Use GeauxBIZ to generate a list of permits specific to your business type and location. You can also call your city hall or parish government directly. Major cities like New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport may each have their own registration process.

Check GeauxBIZ for Your Permits ↗

Don't assume your area has no requirements — a quick call to city hall takes five minutes and protects you from operating without a needed local permit.

Recommended

Get an EIN from the IRS

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a free federal tax ID from the IRS. You don't legally need one as a sole proprietor without employees — but it's strongly recommended. An EIN lets you open a dedicated business bank account (which makes tracking sales tax and income much easier), keeps your personal Social Security Number off of vendor agreements and wholesale contracts, and is required if you form an LLC or hire any helpers for non-baked-goods products. The online application takes about 10 minutes and your EIN is issued immediately.

Apply for EIN — IRS.gov ↗

Available Monday–Friday, 7 AM–10 PM ET. Free, instant, no renewal required.

Required Before Selling

Create Compliant Labels for Every Product

Every product you sell must carry a label that meets Louisiana's requirements — most importantly, the statutory disclaimer that the food was not produced in a licensed or regulated facility. Labels must also include the product name, your name and address, a complete ingredient list, and the net weight. Raw, unfiltered honey that retains its natural pollen is the only product exempt from the disclaimer. See our full Label Requirements guide for exact wording and format.

Label Requirements Guide →

Labels must be on the product before the first sale — not after. Selling unlabeled cottage food in Louisiana is a violation of R.S. 40:4.9(D).

You're Ready

Start Selling — and Track Your Annual Sales

Once your sales tax certificates are in hand and your products are properly labeled, you're legally authorized to sell. Start selling at farmers markets, directly from home, at fairs and festivals, or online (with in-person delivery). Collect and remit sales tax on all sales — file your state returns through LaTAP and local returns with your parish. Track your gross annual sales carefully: if your sales approach $30,000, you'll need to plan your transition to a commercial kitchen or business restructure before reaching the limit.

List Your Products on SellFood →

Keep records of every sale — date, amount, location, and products sold. Good records protect you if questions arise about your sales volume or tax obligations.

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No Inspection Required — But Kitchen Hygiene Matters

Louisiana's cottage food law explicitly exempts home kitchens from the State Sanitary Code's equipment, design, construction, and facility requirements. No inspector will come to your home before you start selling, and there's no annual kitchen review process for cottage food sellers.

However, the law does impose hygiene requirements for baked goods specifically: pets must be excluded during food preparation, the kitchen must be protected against flies and vermin, all food contact surfaces must be cleaned and sanitized after each day's production, and equipment must be maintained in a clean and sanitary manner. These aren't inspected — but they're legally required, and they protect your customers and your reputation.

Parish-by-Parish Considerations

Local & Parish Requirements

Louisiana is a parish-based state, and local requirements for home food sellers can vary significantly from one jurisdiction to another. State law is the floor — parishes and municipalities can layer additional requirements on top of it. Here's what to check in key areas.

Orleans Parish (New Orleans)

Contact the City of New Orleans Department of Safety and Permits and the Revenue Division for local business registration. Orleans Parish has its own sales tax collection system. Strong farmers market culture with multiple established markets.

East Baton Rouge Parish

Home of the Red Stick Farmers Market. Check with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sales Tax Authority (EBRP STA) for local sales tax registration. City of Baton Rouge may require a home occupation permit for home-based businesses.

Jefferson Parish

Jefferson Parish has its own sales and use tax division. Local business permit requirements vary by municipality within the parish. Check with Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office for local tax registration.

St. Tammany Parish

Home of the Covington and Mandeville farmers markets — popular venues for cottage food sellers. Check with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office for local sales tax registration. Generally business-friendly environment.

Lafayette Parish

Hub of Cajun food culture with strong market demand for authentic Cajun seasonings, sauces, and baked goods. Check with the Lafayette Parish Tax Collector for local sales tax requirements.

Caddo Parish (Shreveport)

Caddo-Shreveport Sales and Use Tax Commission handles local tax collection. Shreveport has an established farmers market. Contact the Commission for registration procedures specific to this area.

Pro tip: When you contact your local parish for sales tax registration, ask directly: "Does your parish have any additional requirements for home-based cottage food sellers?" Most won't, but a five-minute call gives you certainty and documentation that you made a good-faith compliance effort. GeauxBIZ (geauxbiz.com) is the best starting point for identifying parish-specific requirements.

Who to Contact