Retail Food Establishment Permit & Plan Review — Louisiana (LDH/OPH)

What it is. The retail food establishment permit that authorizes a restaurant to serve food, issued by the Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health (OPH), after plan review and a pre-operational (opening) inspection. New builds or substantial renovations must submit plans for OPH review and approval before opening.

Who issues it. Louisiana Department of Health — Office of Public Health, Retail Food Program (State layer; the local parish health unit sanitarian is the point of contact). Permit unit: (225) 342-7522.

When you need it. Submit plans before construction/renovation; pass the pre-opening inspection before serving food.

How to apply. Submit the application and building plans; OPH reviews and, if approved, conducts a pre-operational inspection; a permit is issued if no violations are found.

Fees. As of July 1, 2025, plan review is $100 (standard, ≤10 business days) or $1,000 (expedited, ≤5 business days); permit fees also apply — see source (⟢ VERIFY).

Renewal. Annual.

What SpoonSeal tracks. The document(s) you upload for this requirement, with automatic renewal/expiration tracking (Current, Due Soon, Expired). Where the city publishes health-inspection results (e.g., NYC and Chicago), SpoonSeal syncs them automatically; elsewhere they can be added manually.

References

• Louisiana Department of Health — Retail Food: For New Businesses — https://ldh.la.gov/page/for-new-businesses — Official source last checked: 2026-07-02
• Louisiana Department of Health — Retail Food Program — https://ldh.la.gov/page/retail-food — Official source last checked: 2026-07-02