To open a coffee shop in Louisiana, secure your LDH Retail Food Permit and local occupational license first, then line up zoning and inspections so you can pass pre-opening health review on schedule. Form your entity at geauxBIZ (Louisiana Secretary of State), get an EIN, register for Louisiana sales tax with LDR (and your parish collector via Parish E-File), and confirm zoning/Certificate of Occupancy with your city’s permitting office; commercial build-outs require State Fire Marshal plan review (hood/suppression if cooking) and final fire and building inspections. Apply with the Louisiana Department of Health, Retail Food (Title 51, Part XXIII): submit floor plan/equipment list if remodeling, install a properly sized grease trap per local FOG rules, provide approved 3-comp sink/hand sinks, NSF equipment, hot/cold holding, pest control, and water/sewer approvals; schedule the sanitarian’s pre-opening inspection—permits are issued after compliance. Maintain at least one Certified Food Protection Manager (e.g., ServSafe); some parishes require food handler cards for staff. If serving beer/wine, obtain local alcohol approval and a Louisiana ATC permit (state review ~35 days). Typical timeline: entity/tax 1–3 days, zoning/building 2–8 weeks, LDH 1–2 weeks post build-out. Budget hundreds of dollars for LDH and local licenses; verify parish-specific fees and signage rules.
