Cottage food law & license in Orleans Parish, LA
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Orleans Parish Permits 101 for Orleans Parish, Louisiana (71 pages). After you pay, you get lifetime access to premium dashboard features. Unlock the permit planning workspace on your dashboard.
Louisiana cottage food — common first products
County zoning cannot expand a state ban. Check the product, then the local rules on this page.
What's in the Orleans Parish permit report
How to start in Orleans Parish
Permit, label, and local steps for selling under Louisiana cottage food rules in Orleans Parish. Not legal advice.
Louisiana two-channel sales rule
Under La. R.S. §40:4.9, breads, cakes, cookies, and pies may be sold only direct to the end consumer (not to stores or for resale). Other low-risk foods on the statutory list may have broader sales options. The exemption does not apply once gross annual sales reach $30,000. You must hold a current parish sales tax certificate before selling. Shipping and pure online fulfillment are not spelled out in the statute — confirm handoff rules with LDH and sell in person within Louisiana unless you get clear written guidance otherwise.
Confirm your menu under state law
Louisiana cottage food rules control what you may make at home (Low-risk foods allowed include: baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies, pies), candies, cane syrup, dried mixes, honey and honeycomb products, jams/jellies/preserves, pickles and acidified foods, sauces and syrups, and spices. None may contain animal muscle protein or fish protein. Custard/cream-filled bakery products are allowed only if made with pasteurized dairy products and following specified temperature requirements.). Orleans Parish cannot expand a food the state bans.
Map channels and local sales rules
State sales cap: $30,000. On-site / porch pickup in Orleans Parish: Yes. Prefer markets or off-site pickup if residential customer traffic is restricted.
New Orleans home occupation + sales tax
Orleans Parish / City of New Orleans is a consolidated government. Home-based food businesses must follow state cottage food law (La. R.S. §40:4.9) and local home occupation / occupational license rules. Obtain a parish sales tax certificate before any sales. Review the city’s home-based business guide (nola.gov) and CZO home occupation limits (customer traffic, signage, non-resident employees, floor area). Contact Safety & Permits / Zoning if porch pickup or signage is part of your plan.
Training, registration, inspection
State registration: No. Local inspection in Orleans Parish: No. Finish food handler training early — markets often ask for a copy.
Labels that match the state
Print labels with Louisiana disclaimer and allergen rules before market day. Use the free Louisiana label page for the one-pager checklist and mockup.
Insurance and first sales
Farmers markets often require a certificate of insurance. Soft-launch with pre-orders, keep a sales log, and re-verify rules if you change products or venues.
What usually goes on the package
- Product name (common or usual name of the food)
- Business or producer name
- Producer address (or address alternative your state allows)
- Ingredients in descending order by weight
- Major allergen disclosures (e.g. wheat, milk, eggs, soy, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish, sesame)
- Net weight or quantity
- Home-kitchen disclaimer required by Louisiana (exact wording may be set by statute or agency)
- Labels must clearly indicate that the food was not produced in a licensed or regulated facility. Producers must also obtain and display a local sales tax certificate from the parish where they sell before selling any products.
Planning checklist only. Confirm with state and local agencies before you sell.
Orleans Parish is a parish in Louisiana (pop. 380,408). Under Louisiana's Okay-tier cottage food law (sales cap: 30000), home bakers must still clear local zoning and health rules in this parish. Registration path: No. Start with Louisiana Department of Health (state cottage food page linked below), then confirm Orleans Parish health and planning requirements. Local notes for Orleans Parish: home kitchen restricted; inspection not required; home occupation permit not required. Louisiana cottage food statute confirmed from state baseline. Orleans Parish follows state baseline. New Orleans is a parish-city consolidated government. Sales tax certificate from Orleans Parish required before any sales. No state permit required. $30,000 cap (raised from $20,000 in 2022). Download the free reports below for a portable summary, and always re-check official sources before you sell.
Orleans Parish cottage food reports
Home cottage-food permit stack — zoning, health, license, and what the state does not require.
Zoning, permits, health department rules, and local sources for Orleans Parish.
Download county report
Full Louisiana License & Permit Guide (196 pages). Statute, all counties, and official source links.
Tier: Okay
Louisiana has an Okay-tier cottage food law — meaningful sales caps and/or limited channels. Operable for a side business, but you'll likely outgrow the rules if you want to go full-time.
Louisiana cottage food law →Health department
Many states delegate cottage food registration and inspection to the county health department. Contact theirs for the local process.
Home occupation rules
The county or city zoning code governs whether you can run a home-based food business — customer visits, signage, employees, floor area.
Home kitchen, inspection, and zoning rules for Orleans Parish
State baseline: La. R.S. §40:4.9
- Home kitchen allowed
- Conditional
- Restrictions
- Louisiana allows low-risk foods prepared at home for sale under La. R.S. §40:4.9. No state permit required. Annual gross sales cap $30,000. Allowed foods: baked goods, candies, cane syrup, dried mixes, honey, jams/jellies/preserves, pickles/acidified foods, sauces, syrups, spices. No animal muscle protein or fish protein. For breads/cakes/cookies/pies: no employees may assist; pets excluded from bakery area; refrigeration at 45°F or below; custard/cream-filled items must use pasteurized dairy. Orleans Parish/New Orleans requires local sales tax certificate and home occupation compliance.
- Separate dedicated kitchen
- No
- Pet restrictions
- Pets excluded from bakery area during production of breads, cakes, cookies, and pies.
- Water supply
- No specific state requirement.
- Handwashing
- Standard food safety practices required.
- Food storage
- Perishable ingredients refrigerated at 45°F or below. Non-TCS finished products.
- Inspection required
- No
- Inspection trigger
- No routine inspection required under state cottage food statute.
- Home occupation permit
- Conditional
- Permit details
- City of New Orleans has home occupation provisions and requires compliance with New Orleans City Code/zoning for home-based businesses. Orleans Parish also requires local sales tax certificate from the parish sales tax collector before selling. Contact: nola.gov.
- Local business license
- Yes
- On-site customer pickup
- Yes
- On-site signage
- Conditional
- Delivery / pickup
- Direct-to-consumer sales. Most low-risk foods (except baked goods) may also be sold indirectly. Baked goods (breads/cakes/cookies/pies) are direct-to-consumer only. Local sales tax certificate from Orleans Parish required before selling.
- Max employees in home
- No employees allowed to assist in production of breads, cakes, cookies, or pies.
- Relevant code section
- La. R.S. §40:4.9 (state cottage food law); Orleans Parish/New Orleans City Code re: home occupations.
Louisiana cottage food statute confirmed from state baseline. Orleans Parish follows state baseline. New Orleans is a parish-city consolidated government. Sales tax certificate from Orleans Parish required before any sales. No state permit required. $30,000 cap (raised from $20,000 in 2022).
Louisiana Revised Statutes §40:4.9 — Low-Risk Foods; Preparation in Home for Public Consumption (operative provision; §40:4.13 citation in input may reference a related or renamed section)
Full Louisiana License & Permit Guide →Verbatim excerpt§4.9. Low-risk foods; preparation in home for public consumption A.(1)(a) No provision of the state Sanitary Code or any provision of any other law or regulation that requires any equipment, design, construction, utensils, supplies, preparation, or services shall apply to the preparation of low-risk foods, as defined in Subsection E of this Section, in the home for sale. [...] This Section shall not be construed to allow the sale or distribution of any unwholesome food. B. This Section shall not apply to any preparer of low-risk foods made at a home for sale, whose gross annual sales equal thirty thousand dollars or more. C. No individual who prepares breads, cakes, cookies, or pies in the home for sale to the public pursuant to this Section shall sell such foods to any retail business or individual for resale. D.(1)(a) [...] any individual who prepares low-risk foods in the home for sale, as authorized by this Section, shall affix to any such food offered for sale a label which clearly indicates that the food was not produced in a licensed or regulated facility. (2) No individual who prepares low-risk foods in the home shall sell such foods unless he is registered to collect any local sales and use taxes [...] E. For purposes of this Section, "low-risk foods" shall include all of the following, none of which shall consist of any animal muscle protein or fish protein: (1) Baked goods, including breads, cakes, cookies, and pies. (2) Candies. (3) Cane syrup. (4) Dried mixes. (5) Honey and honeycomb products. (6) Jams, jellies, and preserves. (7) Pickles and acidified foods. (8) Sauces and syrups. (9) Spices. F. No preparer of low-risk foods pursuant to this Section shall sell any food containing cannabidiol unless the United States Food and Drug Administration approves cannabidiol as a food additive.
Source: legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=98431 →
Orleans Parish Permit Guide $26
This page stays free — the Orleans Parish statute, zoning notes, and official links. Permit Guide 101 is the paid packet (71 pages): the home cottage-food permit stack (zoning, health, and business license), the checklist, and the dashboard workspace. That packet is not on this free page.
Orleans Parish cottage food — FAQ
Do I need a permit to sell cottage food in Orleans Parish, Louisiana?
Home occupation permit: Conditional. City of New Orleans has home occupation provisions and requires compliance with New Orleans City Code/zoning for home-based businesses. Orleans Parish also requires local sales tax certificate from the parish sales tax collector before selling. Contact: nola.gov. State cottage food registration may also apply — check the Louisiana guide at https://crosodo.com/states/louisiana.
Is a health inspection required for home bakers in Orleans Parish?
Inspection: No. Trigger: No routine inspection required under state cottage food statute.. Non-TCS baked goods are often exempt from kitchen inspection under state cottage food law, but local rules can differ.
What foods can I sell under Louisiana cottage food law in Orleans Parish?
Low-risk foods allowed include: baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies, pies), candies, cane syrup, dried mixes, honey and honeycomb products, jams/jellies/preserves, pickles and acidified foods, sauces and syrups, and spices. None may contain animal muscle protein or fish protein. Custard/cream-filled bakery products are allowed only if made with pasteurized dairy products and following specified temperature requirements. County zoning does not expand the state product list — if a food is banned by Louisiana, it stays banned. Verify with the state agency before selling.
What is the sales cap for cottage food in Louisiana?
Louisiana state law lists cottage food sales at 30000. There is typically no separate county sales cap, but local permits or zoning can still limit operations.
Do I need a home occupation permit in Orleans Parish?
Home occupation permit: Conditional. City of New Orleans has home occupation provisions and requires compliance with New Orleans City Code/zoning for home-based businesses. Orleans Parish also requires local sales tax certificate from the parish sales tax collector before selling. Contact: nola.gov.
The free county page is the short version. This is the full Louisiana License & Permit Guide (196 pages) — statute, every county we have researched, and official source URLs. Stripe checkout. Cover letter, paid receipt, and the guide (PDF) licensed to your address.
Unlimited Pass. Your journey to getting permitted for cottage food sales. Premium dashboard tools, unlimited state and county reports, and the 50-state label report. Lifetime access. Includes the full Louisiana License & Permit Guide (196 pages).
Where to verify Orleans Parish rules
Orleans Parish vs. bordering counties
| Regulation | Orleans Parish This county | Jefferson Parish | St. Tammany Parish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home kitchen allowed | Conditional | Conditional | Yes |
| Separate dedicated kitchen | No | No | No |
| Pets allowed | Pets excluded from bakery area during production of breads, cakes, cookies, and pies. | Pets excluded from bakery area during production of breads, cakes, cookies, and pies. | Pets must be excluded from preparation areas during production |
| Inspection required | No | No | No |
| On-site customer pickup | Yes | Yes | Conditional |
| On-site signage | Conditional | Conditional | No |
| Delivery / pickup | Direct-to-consumer sales. Most low-risk foods (except baked goods) may also be sold indirectly. Baked goods (breads/cakes/cookies/pies) are… | Direct-to-consumer sales. Most low-risk foods (except baked goods) may also be sold indirectly. Baked goods (breads/cakes/cookies/pies) are… | Some indirect sales allowed for most low-risk foods; the four named baked-goods categories (breads/cakes/cookies/pies) have stricter direct… |
| Home occupation permit | Conditional | Conditional | Yes |
| Local business license | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Restrictions | Louisiana allows low-risk foods prepared at home for sale under La. R.S. §40:4.9. No state permit required. Annual gross sales cap $30,000.… | Louisiana allows low-risk foods prepared at home for sale under La. R.S. §40:4.9. No state permit required. Annual gross sales cap $30,000.… | Low-risk non-TCS foods only; $30,000 annual sales cap (raised from $20,000 by HB 828, Act 357, 2022). Sales tax certificate from parish of … |
| Food storage | Perishable ingredients refrigerated at 45°F or below. Non-TCS finished products. | Perishable ingredients refrigerated at 45°F or below. Non-TCS finished products. | Non-TCS; refrigerated ingredients must be held at 45°F or below; finished products must be shelf-stable |
| Population | 380,408 | 436,171 | 266,168 |
Orleans Parish baker discussion
53 public threads from bakers talking about Orleans Parish — permits, zoning, markets, and what's selling. Read along or sign in to post.
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