Local permits & fees

Calcasieu Parish, LA — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Office of Public Health, Bureau of Sanitarian Services (state-administered) · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Retail Food Establishment Permit (Class 7)
$100 (1st permit); $75 each for 2nd-5th permits; $50 each for 6th or more

State flat-rate schedule. Class 7 covers restaurants, bars, meat markets, seafood markets, etc. LDH permits are administered statewide; there is no separate Calcasieu Parish health-department permit.

Plan review — required

$100 standard review / $1,000 expedited review (effective July 1, 2025 for new plans or substantial renovations)

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Unit permit
$100 (same as Class 7)

A mobile unit permitted in one parish does not need another permit or additional fee to operate in another parish (the vehicle must still be inspected by the local sanitarian). Some cities/parishes may require an additional local occupational permit.

Watch out for

  • State-administered: Louisiana Department of Health issues retail food permits statewide, not a parish health department.
  • One statewide mobile-unit permit is honored across all parishes without an additional LDH fee.
  • Plan-review fees ($100 standard / $1,000 expedited) took effect July 1, 2025.
  • New retail food stores receive a temporary permit at opening; grocery permit fee is later set by gross food revenue (Class 1-5).

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
Caterer$100 (1st permit; $75 for 2nd-5th, $50 for 6th+)Permitted as a Class 7 food establishment (LDH statewide schedule).
Bakery / food processing$100 (Class 7) if food is prepared on sitePermitted as a Class 7 restaurant if it prepares food; if all items are prepackaged it is permitted as a grocery (Class 1-6 by revenue).
Bar / limited food service$100 (1st permit; $75 for 2nd-5th, $50 for 6th+)Bars are expressly included in Class 7.
Grocery / market with deliBy gross food revenue - Class 1 $75 (<$500,000); Class 2 $125 ($500,000-$1,000,000); Class 3 $250 ($1,000,001-$2,500,000); Class 4 $400 ($2,500,001-$5,000,000); Class 5 $500 (>$5,000,000)Applies when 60%+ of gross revenue is retail food sales. Non-grocery stores selling food (<60%) use Class 6 at the same revenue tiers, with additional permits at $75 (2nd-5th) and $50 (6th+).
Temporary / seasonal event$25 flat (special event / temporary permit); Fair or Festival $25 flat to the sponsor (individual stands permitted at no fee); Seasonal $10 per month (minimum $10)Seasonal example: 1 month $10, 2 months $20, 3 months $30, +$10 each additional month.
Pushcart / mobile vending$100 (Mobile Unit, same as Class 7)A mobile unit permitted in one parish operates in other parishes with no additional fee after local inspection.
Sources: ldh.la.gov · ldh.la.gov · legalclarity.org · observed 2026-08-07