How Shreveport Handles Short-Term Rentals: A Practical Guide

Shreveport maintains 38 local ordinances across all categories, and 6 of those deal specifically with short-term rentals. 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.

Occupancy Limits

Shreveport's Unified Development Code Article 23 caps Type A short-term rentals (renting a portion of a dwelling or accessory dwelling unit) at two adults per bedroom. Type B-1 permits (renting an entire dwelling) are capped at ten adults. A Type B-2 designation applies whenever a Type B exceeds ten adults or sits within 500 feet of another permitted STR.

Key details: Code: UDC Article 23. Type A Cap: 2 adults per bedroom. Type B-1 Cap: 10 adults total. Type B-2 Trigger: >10 adults or within 500 ft of STR. Permit Fee: $150 (A) / $300 (B) + $50 tech.

Exceeding the declared adult cap (two per bedroom for Type A or ten total for Type B-1) is a violation of UDC Article 23 enforced by the Shreveport-Caddo MPC and Property Standards. Penalties include citations, fines, and possible permit revocation through the MPC's Short-Term Rental Revocation process. Operating an over-occupancy whole-dwelling rental without securing a B-2 Special Exception is treated as operating without a valid permit.

Insurance Requirements

Shreveport's Unified Development Code Article 23 requires every short-term rental applicant to provide proof of liability insurance with a minimum of $1,000,000 in coverage as part of the Type A or Type B permit application filed with the Shreveport-Caddo Metropolitan Planning Commission.

Key details: Code: UDC Article 23. Minimum Liability: $1,000,000. Filed With: Shreveport-Caddo MPC. Applies To: Type A and Type B permits. Coverage Term: Full 2-year permit cycle.

Operating a Shreveport STR without a valid $1,000,000 liability policy on file is a violation of UDC Article 23. Failure to maintain continuous coverage during the permit term can trigger permit revocation through the MPC's Short-Term Rental Revocation process and exposes the operator to citations for operating without a valid permit if an inspection or complaint reveals the lapse.

Parking Rules

STR guests must use designated parking. Guest vehicles must comply with local parking restrictions and not block driveways or fire hydrants.

Key details: Parking Info: Must be provided to guests. On-Street: Must comply with posted rules. Blocking: Driveways and hydrants prohibited. Responsibility: Operator addresses complaints.

Parking violations result in citations. Chronic parking issues may affect STR permit status.

Permit Requirements

Shreveport regulates short-term rentals under Article 23 of the Unified Development Code. Operators must obtain an STR permit, meet safety requirements, and designate a local responsible party.

Key details: Code Section: UDC Article 23. Permit: Required from MPC. Local Contact: Available within 1 hour. Safety: Smoke/CO detectors required. Inspection: Required before permit.

Operating without a permit results in fines and cease-and-desist orders. Permits may be revoked for repeated violations.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Shreveport actively enforces its permit requirements requirements.

Noise Rules

Short-term rental guests must comply with Shreveport's noise ordinance. Quiet hours apply from 10 PM to 6 AM, and the responsible party must respond to complaints promptly.

Key details: Quiet Hours: 10 PM–6 AM. Response: Local contact must respond promptly. Outdoor Events: Must not disturb neighbors. Enforcement: Complaints tracked against permit.

Noise violations at STR properties can result in fines to the operator and potential permit revocation.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Shreveport actively enforces its noise rules requirements.

Taxes & Fees

Shreveport requires STR operators to collect and remit hotel-motel occupancy tax. The tax applies to all stays of less than 30 consecutive days.

Key details: Tax: Hotel-motel occupancy tax. Applies To: Stays under 30 days. Registration: City + Caddo Parish. Components: City, parish, and state taxes.

Failure to collect or remit occupancy tax results in penalties, interest, and potential business license revocation.

Compared to other cities, Shreveport takes a harder line on taxes & fees. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Shreveport is tougher than many cities when it comes to short-term rentals. Out of the 6 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Shreveport, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

All of the above reflects Shreveport's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.