Calcasieu Parish Permits – Businesses

Mary Kaye Eason
10 hours ago
5 min read

Considering starting a new business? It can be a lot to think about – establishing your brand, hiring staff, attracting customers…and securing the necessary permits.

Why do I need a permit to operate a business in Calcasieu Parish? There are a number of things at play here. The parish needs to ensure, of course, that necessary taxes are being remitted.

Beyond that, though, the business permitting process is multi-layered. Some occupations require state licensing, businesses that own buildings must operate in the appropriate zone, those serving alcohol need specific approval, and certain types of businesses (like restaurants) may also need the health department to sign off.

Read on for more on the permitting processes that may apply to a business in unincorporated Calcasieu Parish.

Occupational Licenses in Calcasieu Parish

The parish website describes occupational licenses quite simply: these licenses are a receipt for taxes paid, not an authorization to do business. They don’t usually stand alone.

Securing a new business occupational license requires a variety of supporting documentation, including:

A completed Zoning Compliance Form
- To obtain zoning compliance from the Office of Planning and Development, owners must provide the physical address of the business and description of or type of business activity.
A copy of the Articles of Incorporation (if applicable), organization or partnership, with proof of registration from the Louisiana Secretary of State;
A copy of a driver’s license from the highest-ranking officer and/or owner;
Proof of registration with the Calcasieu Parish School Board Sales and Use Tax Department for a local sales tax number;
Proof of registration with the State of Louisiana - Department of Revenue – Sales Tax Division;
If food and/or beverage is involved, a completed, approved LA Department of Health Approval Letter/Certification;
Contractors are required to obtain a Certification of Resident Contractor from the State of Louisiana or Certification of Non-Resident Contractor prior to obtaining the local license;

After obtaining the license, owners should also register with the Calcasieu Parish Tax Assessor’s Office, which is responsible for discovery, listing, and valuing all property in the Parish for ad valorem tax purposes.

After obtaining an initial occupational license, renewal can be done online.

Applicable Louisiana State Licenses

For certain types of businesses, Calcasieu Parish may require proof of licenses from the state. In these cases, the parish isn’t issuing these licenses, but it is verifying that the business has obtained them in order to legally do business.

You may have noticed some of these in the list of documentation required to apply for an occupational license. It includes things like health department approval (where applicable), proof of state sales tax registration, contractor credentials (as applicable), and more.

Zoning Compliance for Businesses in Calcasieu Parish

You may be familiar with the various zoning regulations in Calcasieu Parish. If not, click here to read through a synopsis of each zone.

In a nutshell, the parish uses zoning requirements to help ensure that businesses and residential areas can co-exist without one negatively impacting the other. The type of business plays into this. A two-person accounting office is quite a different business than a busy restaurant with late-night hours and significant parking needs!

Additional Licensing Required in Calcasieu Parish

Additional requirements may apply for certain types of professional licenses, such as those required for contractors; healthcare providers; or anyone doing regulated labor, such as plumbers and electricians; among others.

On top of that, alcohol permits are generally considered separate from occupational licenses. There are a number of safety considerations here, as alcohol sales are more regulated.

In addition to licenses required to operate, businesses may also need to meet certain safety codes, such as those set forth by the state fire marshal.

What’s not covered by an occupational license in Calcasieu Parish?

Good question – because certain types of business activities are permitted separately. These include:

Peddling (door-to-door solicitation)

As outlined in my blog post on code enforcement issues that may involve law enforcement, selling things door-to-door in Calcasieu Parish is, for the most part, illegal. There are some specific exceptions in this ordinance for government surveys (like the U.S. Census); churches and religious organizations; candidates for office and their supporters; recognized nonprofits; and others.

Generally, if someone is pushing a commercial transaction or sale – not fundraising for a legitimate organization or sharing information – it’s considered peddling.

In some circumstances, legitimate businesses can acquire a special permit for door-to-door sales. You may have encountered these with internet service providers or similar businesses. In these cases, businesses must submit to background checks for employees and provide some detailed specifics on what they’re selling and who is involved. When they’re granted, these permits are valid for a maximum of 90 days, and activities are limited to certain hours. Read more in my blog post about these codes.

Roadside solicitation

Much like door-to-door sales, it’s illegal to solicit on the side of any roadway in unincorporated Calcasieu Parish. There are a few exceptions to this, including recognized charitable organizations and professional firefighter associations. But even those organizations must obtain a special permit from the parish to legally do so. Otherwise, they’re running afoul of parish ordinances.

Itinerant Vendors

This is most easily described as “temporary.” It covers things like seasonal vendors – think Christmas trees, roadside produce stands, or fireworks. Mobile food trucks may also fall into this category.

Again, some of these may also require state or other licensing approval. Fireworks vendors, specifically, must also obtain a license from the Louisiana State Fire Marshal. Mobile food trucks must also have approval for the health and safety practices that apply to foodservice.

What about home-based businesses in Calcasieu Parish?

Generally, home-based businesses must also meet the occupational license requirements. But to be considered a home business, they must also meet the requirements outlined in Chapter 26 (Zoning) of the Calcasieu Parish Code of Ordinances. These requirements include:

The business must operate inside the main dwelling, and it must not take up more than 10% of the whole floor area.
- If, for example, you’re running a hair salon out of an accessory building, the business is no longer considered home-based.
Home-based businesses may not use equipment considered a nuisance outside the residence. This may include causing excess noise, glare, magnetic interference and more.
The business may have no more than one outside employee.
- If two people run the business from the home they share, and they have a single outside employee who comes to work there, it still qualifies. If two or more employees come from elsewhere, that disqualifies it as a home-based business.
A single dwelling may only have one business operating there.
Retail sales may not occur on the premises.
A sign is allowed, but it may not exceed 2 square feet.

These requirements lend themselves well to certain businesses. A photographer (without a full studio), real estate agent, marketing consultant, lawyer, accountant, seamstress, private tutor or similar business may thrive from a home. An auto repair shop or retail store may not qualify.