Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup
Key FactsOrdinance TextFull BreakdownViolationsFAQSourcesMore in Shreveport

Shreveport, LA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

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

Key Facts

Governing section
Shreveport Code § 22-26
Commercial permit fee
$5.25 per $1,000 of contract price
Residential permit fee
$0.13 per square foot (1-3 units)
Minimum permit fee
$31.50
No-permit penalty
double fee plus $100.00
Reinspection fee
$68.25 per failed visit

Summary

Shreveport requires anyone doing business in construction, remodeling or repair work regulated by the Louisiana Uniform Construction Code to hold both a city registration and a building permit before starting work. Permit fees run $5.25 per $1,000 of contract price for commercial work and $0.13 per square foot for new one-, two- or three-unit dwellings, with a $31.50 minimum, administered by the permits and inspections division.

(a)This code represents the complete building code for the city and replaces Ordinance Number 187 of 2007 and all of its amendments and revisions and subsequent ordinances re-enacted. The comprehensive building code shall include the most currently adopted Codes by the Louisiana Uniform Construction Code Council (LSUCCC) as defined by Uniform Construction Code (LAC 17:I.Chapter 1) including amendments.(b)All individuals, firms, partnerships or corporations desiring to engage in any business regulated by any of the codes referenced in subsection 22-26(a) must have both a registration and a permit issued by the city to engage in such business. The registration must be renewed annually. The requirements which must be met in order to acquire a registration and a permit from the city to engage in such business have been established by the city permits and inspection division and are on file in the office of the clerk of council, as well as the office of the city permits and inspections division.

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

Sec. 22-26 of the Shreveport Code of Ordinances designates the city's building code as the most currently adopted set of codes from the Louisiana Uniform Construction Code Council (LSUCCC), as defined in the Uniform Construction Code at LAC 17:I, Chapter 1, including amendments; the section replaces the city's prior Ordinance No. 187 of 2007 outright. Anyone in a business regulated by those LSUCCC codes, from a general contractor to a swimming-pool installer, must hold both an annual city registration and a permit before starting work; the specific paperwork requirements are on file with the clerk of council and the permits and inspections division.

Fees are set separately in Sec. 13 per square foot. A quarter is added to new-construction and remodel fees for plan review. Skipping the permit is expensive: Sec. 22-1(3) doubles the permit fee and adds a flat $100 penalty for work started without one, and a structure moved into the city without a permit must be relocated off-site at the owner's expense plus a $500 penalty. No new permit will issue to an applicant with an outstanding, uncorrected violation on another permit. 25 reinspection fee applies every time a scheduled inspection fails.

Violations & Fines

Working without the required registration and permit doubles the permit fee and adds a $100 penalty under Sec. 22-1(3)a. A structure moved into the city without a permit must be removed off-site at the owner's expense, plus a $500 fine. The city will not issue a new permit to any applicant who has an uncorrected violation outstanding on an existing permit until that violation is resolved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Shreveport require a permit for all construction work?
Yes. Sec. 22-26(b) requires anyone in a business regulated by the LSUCCC codes, covering essentially all building construction, alteration and repair, to hold both a city registration and a permit before starting work. Miscellaneous items like fences, paving and retaining walls are covered too, though they can be rolled into an initial permit application under Sec. 22-1 rather than filed separately.
How much does a Shreveport building permit cost?
Commercial new construction is billed at $5.25 per $1,000 of contract price up to $5,000,000, then $2.62 per $1,000 above that, with a $31.50 minimum. New one-, two- or three-unit residential dwellings are billed at $0.13 per square foot, and 25 percent is added to new-construction and remodel fees for plan review under Sec. 22-1.
What happens if I start work without a permit?
Sec. 22-1(3)a doubles the applicable permit fee and adds a flat $100 penalty. A structure moved into the city limits without a permit must be moved back off-site at the owner's expense before a permit can even be applied for, plus a separate $500 penalty for the unauthorized move.
Who administers building permits and registration in Shreveport?
The city's permits and inspections division, under Sec. 22-26(b), issues both the contractor registration, renewed annually, and the construction permit, and keeps the specific application requirements on file at the office of the clerk of council and its own division office.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Shreveport

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsFire Sprinkler RequirementsSome RestrictionsPlumbing PermitsSignificant RestrictionsElectrical PermitsSignificant RestrictionsCarbon Monoxide DetectorsSome RestrictionsBuilding InspectionsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Preferential Parking DistrictsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Curb Color RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome Restrictions

All Shreveport rules

Compare Shreveport to another location·View the Louisiana building safety overview

Get notified when Building Permits in Shreveport, LA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.