Occupational License — City of New Orleans
Nearly all New Orleans businesses need an occupational license from the City Bureau of Revenue; the fee is based on gross receipts.
What it is. The occupational license (business license) required of almost all businesses operating in New Orleans, administered by the City of New Orleans Bureau of Revenue. The occupational license tax is based on gross receipts. Food and beverage establishments may be subject to special taxes.
Who issues it. City of New Orleans — Bureau of Revenue (City-parish layer).
When you need it. Before operating.
How to apply. Register with the City Bureau of Revenue (One Stop App / online), which also covers local tax registration.
Fees. Occupational license fee is based on gross receipts (ranges from a low minimum up to several thousand dollars annually) — 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
- City of New Orleans — Revenue — https://nola.gov/next/revenue/home/ — Official source last checked: 2026-07-02
- New Orleans Code of Ordinances, Art. VII (Occupational License Tax) — https://library.municode.com/la/new_orleans/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_CH150TA_ARTVIIOCLITA — Official source last checked: 2026-07-02
Stay ahead of this requirement
SpoonSeal stores your documents, tracks expirations, and reminds you before anything lapses — so you are always inspection-ready.
Get started free →This guide is informational and not legal advice. Always confirm current requirements with the official agency linked above.