Fence Regulations in Shreveport, LA

Shreveport maintains 152 local ordinances across all categories, and 4 of those deal specifically with fence regulations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Shreveport falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Fence Permit Requirements

Every fence in Shreveport, new construction or a repair to an existing one, needs a building permit under the UDC's general fence requirements. No principal building has to exist first, but the fence must stay in good repair and any damaged section has to be fixed, removed, or replaced.

Key details: Permit required: For new fences and repairs. Principal building: Not required first. Maintenance duty: Good repair at all times. Height measured: From adjacent ground. Decorative post allowance: 6 inches over max height.

Fence work performed without the required building permit is enforced through the city's standard zoning and building permit code-enforcement channel, the same track used for any unpermitted accessory structure under the UDC. A property owner who builds or repairs a fence without a permit can be required to obtain one after the fact, remove noncompliant work, or face civil citations for continuing to maintain an unpermitted structure; a fence left in disrepair likewise exposes the owner to a code-enforcement notice to repair or remove the damaged sections.

Material Restrictions

Shreveport permits wood, plastic, metal, wire mesh and masonry fences, but every fence, including repairs to an existing one, needs a building permit. Barbed and razor wire are confined to utility lots and a short list of industrial and commercial districts.

Key details: Permit: Required for all fences and repairs. Barbed/razor wire: Utility lots, R-A, C-3, C-4, I-MU, I-1, I-2. Barbed wire height: Minimum eight feet above grade. Electrified fence: Banned except battery-charged alarm fence. Finished side: Must face away from owner's lot.

Zoning Administrator issues written compliance orders; each day is a separate offense, with fines set by the Code of Ordinances.

Retaining Walls

Shreveport treats retaining walls as miscellaneous construction requiring a building permit, and the engineering department requires a separate land-altering permit with a grading plan showing each wall's location and size.

Key details: Building permit: Required as miscellaneous construction. Residential fee: $4.20 per $1,000, $31.50 minimum. Second permit: Land-altering permit, city engineer. Grading plan: Must show wall location and size. No-permit penalty: Double fee plus $100.

Working without a permit costs double the permit fee plus a $100 penalty. Land-altering work without an engineering permit is enforced under Chapter 34.

Height Limits

Residential fence height in Shreveport depends on the yard and the fence type. Solid fences are capped at 3 feet in the front yard and 6 feet on corner and reverse-corner sides, open fences can reach 6 feet up front, and side and rear fences top out at 8 feet, with a sight-triangle ban on any solid fence.

Key details: Front yard, solid fence: 3 feet maximum. Front yard, open fence: 6 feet maximum. Corner/reverse corner side: 6 feet, up to 8 on slope. Interior side and rear yard: 8 feet, any type. Sight triangle: No solid fence allowed.

A fence built taller than these limits is cited through the city's zoning code-enforcement process as a UDC dimensional violation; the property owner is required to lower or remove the noncompliant section, and a fence built into the sight triangle can be ordered removed outright as a traffic-visibility hazard regardless of its height. Continued noncompliance after a correction notice exposes the owner to civil citations under the same enforcement track used for other unpermitted or oversized accessory structures.

The Bottom Line

Shreveport's fence regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Shreveport is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Shreveport's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.