Auctioneer License Requirements in Louisiana
State license required. Louisiana requires a state license for auctioneers and auction businesses through the Louisiana Auctioneers Licensing Board.
What Online Auctioneers Need to Know
Partially online-aware: internet trading platforms are not treated as "auction businesses," and an internet-only auction house does not need to employ a licensed bid-caller — but the core licensing rules otherwise apply, so an online operation should still expect to deal with the Board.
The Rules in Louisiana
Louisiana licenses auctioneers and auction businesses through the Louisiana Auctioneers Licensing Board under La. R.S. 37:3101 through 3130. The law distinguishes pure internet trading platforms, which fall outside the "auction business" definition, and it relieves internet-only houses of the requirement to employ a licensed bid-caller — but the rest of the licensing scheme still applies.
Licensees post a $10,000 bond and keep auction proceeds in identifiable escrow accounts. The settlement rule is specific: consignors must be paid within 30 days of the auctioneer receiving funds or 60 days of the sale, whichever is less (La. R.S. 37:3125). Board guidance requires contracts over $500 to be in writing, retained for three years — verify the exact contract requirement with the Board, since the codified cite is unconfirmed.
Requirements at a Glance
- State license for auctioneers and auction businesses (Louisiana Auctioneers Licensing Board)
- $10,000 surety bond
- Pay consignors within 30 days of receiving funds or 60 days of the sale, whichever is less (La. R.S. 37:3125)
- Identifiable escrow accounts for auction proceeds
- Written contract for consignments over $500 per Board guidance, retained 3 years — verify with the Board
Authority: Louisiana Auctioneers Licensing Board. Statute: La. R.S. 37:3101–3130.
Not legal advice. Auction law changes — several states have amended their online-auction rules since 2019. Verify current requirements with the licensing authority above (or your city/county clerk) before your first sale, and have a local attorney review your consignment contract.
Licensed (or Exempt)? Here's the Rest of the Path
The license is usually the easy part. The business itself — platform affiliation, sourcing consignments, cataloging, settlement — is laid out in how to start an online auction business, and the earning math is in how much auctioneers make.