Who needs a retail food establishment permit and plan review in Louisiana?
Issued by Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, Bureau of Sanitarian Services, at step 4 of 6 in the opening sequence: get the permits for your kind of business.
Louisiana permits food at the state level: submit the plans, menu and equipment list to the regional sanitarian before building out, pay the plan review fee at submittal, then pass the pre-opening inspection and post the permit. Restaurants, bars, coffee shops, bakeries and ice cream shops are all retail food establishments under the Sanitary Code, and a failed second re-inspection costs $150 (Act 66). Ask the Bureau (225-342-7550) for the current permit fee when you file the plan review.
Checked Oct 21, 2026 against the agency’s page.
Step 4 of 6: Get the permits for your kind of business
1Set up the business
2Register for tax
3Approve the space
4Get the permits for your kind of business
5Alcohol permits
6Before the first hire
Issued by Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, Bureau of Sanitarian Services.
Sources and dates
LDH retail food for new businesses page; LDH retail food permit fee schedule; R.S. 40:31.37; Sanitary Code, LAC 51:XXIII. Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.
Questions about opening here.
Yes. Louisiana permits food at the state level: submit the plans, menu and equipment list to the regional sanitarian before building out, pay the plan review fee at submittal, then pass the pre-opening inspection and post the permit.
Yes. Louisiana permits food at the state level: submit the plans, menu and equipment list to the regional sanitarian before building out, pay the plan review fee at submittal, then pass the pre-opening inspection and post the permit.
Yes. Louisiana permits food at the state level: submit the plans, menu and equipment list to the regional sanitarian before building out, pay the plan review fee at submittal, then pass the pre-opening inspection and post the permit.
Yes. Louisiana permits food at the state level: submit the plans, menu and equipment list to the regional sanitarian before building out, pay the plan review fee at submittal, then pass the pre-opening inspection and post the permit.
Yes. Louisiana permits food at the state level: submit the plans, menu and equipment list to the regional sanitarian before building out, pay the plan review fee at submittal, then pass the pre-opening inspection and post the permit.
Yes. Louisiana permits food at the state level: submit the plans, menu and equipment list to the regional sanitarian before building out, pay the plan review fee at submittal, then pass the pre-opening inspection and post the permit.
Yes. Louisiana permits food at the state level: submit the plans, menu and equipment list to the regional sanitarian before building out, pay the plan review fee at submittal, then pass the pre-opening inspection and post the permit.
Yes. Louisiana permits food at the state level: submit the plans, menu and equipment list to the regional sanitarian before building out, pay the plan review fee at submittal, then pass the pre-opening inspection and post the permit.
Yes. Louisiana permits food at the state level: submit the plans, menu and equipment list to the regional sanitarian before building out, pay the plan review fee at submittal, then pass the pre-opening inspection and post the permit.
No. In Louisiana it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Louisiana it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Louisiana it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Louisiana it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Louisiana it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Louisiana it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Louisiana it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Louisiana it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Louisiana it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Louisiana it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
No. In Louisiana it is listed for coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars and 3 more.
Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, Bureau of Sanitarian Services.
Step 4 of 6, get the permits for your kind of business. The steps before it: set up the business, register for tax and approve the space.
Who needs a retail food establishment permit in Louisiana?
