Local permits & fees

Ouachita Parish, LA — Commercial Kitchen Permits

Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Office of Public Health, Bureau of Sanitarian Services / Retail Food Program (state-administered through the OPH regional office in Region 8 serving Ouachita Parish/Monroe). Parish government does not issue food permits. · department site →
Fees change often — always confirm the current amount with the department before you budget.

Restaurant / food-facility permit

Retail Food Establishment Permit (food service establishment) - LDH
$150.00 first permit per operator; $112.50 each for the 2nd-5th permits; $75.00 each for the 6th and subsequent permits. Set by La. R.S. 40:31.37.

Statutory fee schedule, uniform statewide. Restaurants/food service fall under the standard 'permit' tier (Section A). Fees are annual.

Plan review — required

$100 standard plan review / $1,000 expedited plan review (effective July 1, 2025) for new construction or substantial renovation

Plan-review details & forms →

Food truck / mobile permit

Mobile Food Establishment Permit - LDH
null - mobile units are permitted under the standard La. R.S. 40:31.37 Section A schedule (first permit $150.00) but LDH does not publish a distinct 'mobile' line-item fee; a mobile-unit plan review questionnaire is required

Mobile food establishments require plan review and a commissary/base of operations. Fee follows the general per-permit schedule; confirm exact classification with the parish sanitarian.

Watch out for

  • State-administered: Louisiana Department of Health / Office of Public Health, not the parish.
  • Fee schedule is statutory (La. R.S. 40:31.37) and uniform across all parishes.
  • Plan-review fee ($100 standard / $1,000 expedited) took effect July 1, 2025.
  • Retail food stores/markets are charged on a separate gross-receipts tier ($75-$750); temporary events $25/event; seasonal $15/month.

Other food-service permits in this jurisdiction

CategoryAnnual feeNotes
Grocery / market with deliRetail food store, food sales >=60% of gross - by annual gross revenue: <$100,000 $75.00; $100,000-$500,000 $112.50; $500,001-$1,000,000 $187.50; $1,000,001-$2,500,000 $375.00; $2,500,001-$5,000,000 $600.00; over $5,000,000 $750.00La. R.S. 40:31.37 Section C. Stores where food is <60% of gross use a separate per-permit tier (Section D). New retail store initial fee $112.50.
Temporary / seasonal eventTemporary/special event $25.00 per event; Seasonal establishment $15.00 per month of operationLa. R.S. 40:31.37 statutory fees, uniform statewide.
Commissary / central preparation kitchennull - permitted under the standard Section A per-permit schedule (first permit $150.00) with no distinct commissary line itemConfirm classification with the parish sanitarian; commissaries support mobile units.
Sources: law.justia.com · ldh.la.gov · legalclarity.org · observed 2026-08-07