NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans is seeing a major surge in business activity, with more than 770 occupational licenses issued from January through September 2026, the highest number recorded in the City’s available data. Occupational licenses are required for businesses to legally operate.
With three months still remaining in the year, the 2026 total has already far surpassed recent annual totals. Licenses issued so far this year are up 56% over 2025 and 176% over 2024. In fact, the number of licenses issued in 9 months of 2026 is already equal to the combined total of 2024 and 2025 licenses.
To build on that momentum and make it easier to invest and open a business in New Orleans, the Moreno Administration will launch a new Business Permitting Concierge Program in October. The program will begin as a pilot in New Orleans East before expanding across the city.
The concierge program is designed to help businesses better navigate the City’s permitting process by providing more direct assistance and coordination through City Hall. The goal is simple: make the process easier to understand, more responsive and more efficient so businesses can get their doors open and begin serving customers sooner.
The initiative is part of the Administration’s broader focus on improving the business climate, supporting local entrepreneurs, returning properties to commerce and attracting new investment across New Orleans.
“This is exciting news for New Orleans and another sign that people are betting on our city,” said Mayor Helena Moreno. “Every new business represents someone investing their money, their time and their future here. And now we want to make it even easier for them to succeed. Starting in October, our new concierge program will help businesses navigate City Hall and the permitting process, beginning with a pilot in New Orleans East and then growing across the city. We’re going to keep working every day to make New Orleans a better place to live, work and do business, because when businesses invest, jobs and opportunity follow. New Orleans is open for business, and we’re just getting started.”
“At the New Orleans Chamber we are thrilled to see the latest figures on occupational license applications,” said President & CEO of New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, Sandra Lombana Lindquist. “We appreciate the City’s efforts this year to listen to the New Orleans business community and lean into changes that facilitate doing business in New Orleans. The rest of the country is looking at New Orleans now in a new light. They see we are open for business and a place to invest!”
“As the City of New Orleans continues to support growth across New Orleans, the Concierge Permitting Program delivered through the Department of Safety and Permits represents a major step forward in delivering efficient, coordinated service for new businesses,” said Director of Safety and Permits, Susannah Kirby. “This initiative strengthens our commitment to transparency, predictability, and partnership with developers investing in our city’s future.”