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Shreveport, LA Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

ADU rules in Shreveport, LA, also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances, cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.

Key Facts

ADUs per lot: One maximum
Detached ADU location: Rear yard only
Size cap: 60% of main home or 1,800 sf
Setbacks: 5 ft from lot line, 10 ft from house
Height limit: Cannot exceed principal dwelling

ADU Eligibility Quick-Check

An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a smaller, independent living unit on the same lot as a single-family home: converted garages, detached cottages, basement or attic conversions, and attached additions all qualify. Most states have streamlined ADU permitting since 2020, but local rules still control size, height, and setback.

Is your lot zoned single-family or multi-family residential?
Does your lot have at least 1,200 sq ft of buildable space?
Is your existing home owner-occupied (in most states this is not required, but some require it for ADU permits)?
Will the ADU stay under your state's size cap (commonly 850-1,200 sq ft for detached)?
Can you provide one off-street parking space (waived in many states within 0.5 mi of transit)?

If you answered 'yes' to most of these, you likely qualify in Louisiana under recent ADU streamlining laws. The Shreveport, LA rules below cover local size, height, and setback requirements.

Summary

Shreveport's UDC allows one accessory dwelling unit per lot under Section 6.1.O, whether attached to the main house, built into an existing garage, or fully detached, including manufactured or shipping-container units. Detached ADUs are limited to the rear yard, capped at 60% of the main home's floor area or 1,800 square feet, whichever is smaller, and cannot exceed the principal dwelling's height.

O.Dwelling—Accessory Dwelling Unit1.All accessory dwelling units shall have their own legal means of ingress and egress and function as a complete separate dwelling unit.2.Accessory dwelling units shall include permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking (i.e., stove, refrigerator, and sink) and sanitation (i.e., bathroom that includes sink, toilet and shower or bathtub)...9.No more than one accessory dwelling unit is allowed per lot...10.A detached accessory dwelling unit may not exceed the height of the principal dwelling, may not exceed a gross floor area of 60% of the gross floor area of the principal dwelling or 1,800 square feet, whichever is less.11.Detached accessory dwelling units may only be located in the rear yard. Detached accessory dwelling units must be located five feet from any lot line and shall be at least 10 feet from any principal building.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 Update 1 | Unified Development Code: Supplement 20).

Full Breakdown

Section 6.1.O of Shreveport's UDC sets the standards for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) citywide, wherever the zoning district's dimensional table allows them. Every ADU must be a complete, independent dwelling with its own entrance and exit, plus full kitchen facilities (stove, refrigerator, sink) and a full bathroom with sink, toilet, and shower or tub; a room without cooking or sanitation facilities does not qualify.

An ADU can be attached to or built inside the principal dwelling, added within an existing accessory structure such as a detached garage or carriage house, or built as a freestanding structure, including one built from a shipping container or other prefabricated structure, so long as it meets the International Residential Code and other applicable building codes. Only one ADU is allowed per lot, and it does not count toward the maximum number of dwelling units otherwise permitted on the lot.

Detached ADUs carry the tightest limits: they may only be located in the rear yard, must sit at least five feet from any lot line and at least ten feet from the principal building, and cannot exceed the height of the principal dwelling. Floor area is capped at 60% of the principal dwelling's gross floor area or 1,800 square feet, whichever is less. To keep the ADU visually secondary to the main house, a detached unit visible from the street must include windows, doors, or other real architectural features, and an ADU built inside the existing home can only add a second main entrance if the facade already had more than one before the ADU was proposed.

Violations & Fines

Building a second ADU on one lot, placing a detached unit outside the rear yard or inside the five-foot lot-line or ten-foot building setback, or exceeding the 1,800-square-foot or 60% floor-area cap violates UDC Section 6.1.O, enforced by the Zoning Administrator under Article 19 with a Code of Ordinances Section 1-14 fine of up to $1,000.00 or 60 days imprisonment per day the violation continues.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accessory dwelling units can one lot have in Shreveport?

Just one. UDC Section 6.1.O caps every lot at a single accessory dwelling unit, whether it is attached to the main house, built inside an existing garage, or fully detached, and that unit does not count toward the lot's maximum number of dwelling units.

How big can a detached ADU be in Shreveport?

No larger than 60% of the principal dwelling's gross floor area or 1,800 square feet, whichever is smaller, under Section 6.1.O. The detached unit also cannot exceed the height of the main house and must sit at least five feet from any lot line and ten feet from the principal building.

Can a Shreveport ADU be a converted shipping container?

Yes. Section 6.1.O expressly allows detached accessory dwelling units built from freight containers or other prefabricated structures, as long as the unit complies with all applicable building codes, including the International Residential Code, and still meets the rear-yard location, setback, and size limits that apply to every detached ADU.

Sources & Official References

[1]Shreveport Unified Development Code

Other rules in Shreveport

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome Restrictions Shed & Carport RulesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome Restrictions Tiny HomesSome Restrictions Garage ConversionsSignificant Restrictions Parking Rules: Preferential Parking DistrictsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant Restrictions Parking Rules: Curb Color RulesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Driveway RulesSome Restrictions

All Shreveport rules

How Shreveport compares: Easiest Cities to Build an ADU·Compare Shreveport to another location·View the Louisiana accessory structures overview

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