Animal Ordinances in Shreveport, LA (2026)
12 verified animal ordinances for Shreveport, Louisiana, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Shreveport allows up to eight hens per lot in the R-A, R-E, R-1-12, R-1-10, and R-1-7 zoning districts. Roosters are prohibited, hogs are banned citywide, and hoofed livestock face spacing and headcount limits.
Eight Hens Allowed; Roosters and Hogs Banned
Some RestrictionsShreveport Unified Development Code § 7.3.H.1
The keeping of chickens and chicken coops are permitted in the R-A, R-E, R-1-12, R-1-10, and R-1-7 Districts only.
Dog Leash Laws
Shreveport Code § 14-36 bans letting a dog run at large on unenclosed land or trespass onto anyone else's property, enclosed or not. An at-large dog is subject to impoundment, and no one may hide or withhold a loose dog from an animal control officer.
Dogs Must Not Run at Large in Shreveport
Some RestrictionsShreveport Code of Ordinances § 14-36
(1)No person shall suffer or permit any dog in his possession, or kept by him about his premises, to run at large on any unenclosed land, or trespass upon any enclosed or unenclosed lands of another.(2)At-large dogs not in compliance with the foregoing shall be subject to impoundment.(3)No dog at large in violation of this section shall be harbored or withheld from animal control officers by an...
Breed Restrictions
Shreveport's code has no breed-specific ban. Section 14-2 defines a 'vicious dog' by what it has done: an attack, a repeat at-large violation after a dangerous classification, or behavior showing it may not safely coexist with people, and closes with an explicit line that no dog shall be deemed vicious simply by its breed.
Shreveport Has No Breed Ban, Dogs Judged by Behavior
Few RestrictionsShreveport Code of Ordinances § 14-2 (definition of "Vicious dog")
Vicious dog means a dog which has:(1)Attacked and caused severe and gross injuries or death to a human being.(2)Previously been classified as "dangerous" and subsequent thereto a violation of section 14-34(1) occurs.(3)Has previously been classified as "dangerous" and is found to be at large two or more times.(4)A dog which has exhibited behavior which enables the director or the animal advisor...
Beekeeping
Shreveport's UDC lets residents keep bees as an accessory use, but only in the rear yard, 10 feet off the lot line and the house. Hives must be removable-frame, colonies need water on site, and aggressive bees must be re-queened right away. No building permit is required for the apiary itself.
Beehives Must Sit 10 Feet Into the Rear Yard
Some RestrictionsShreveport Unified Development Code § 7.3.C (Apiary)
Apiaries are permitted only in the rear yard and must be located 10 feet from any lot line and the principal building.2.All bee colonies must be kept in a removable frame hive, which must be kept in sound and usable condition.3.Where any colony is located within 25 feet of a lot line, as measured from the nearest point on the hive to the lot line, the beekeeper must establish and maintain a fly...
Exotic Pets
Shreveport Code § 14-6 lists tigers, wolves, primates, venomous snakes, alligators and dozens of other wild or exotic species and bans keeping any of them as a pet, for display, or for sale. A grandfather clause protects only animals acquired before May 23, 1989; anything newer triggers a dual state and city citation.
Shreveport Bans Wild and Exotic Animals as Pets
Heavy RestrictionsShreveport Code of Ordinances § 14-6(a)-(c)
(a)For the purpose of this section, the following shall be designated wild or exotic animals: tigers, lions, cougars, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, lynx, bobcats, bears, wolves, chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, poisonous snakes, komodo dragons, African buffalo, hyenas, coyotes, deer, any crocodilian including, but not limited to, alligators, crocodiles and gavials, any other species of nonhuma...
Wildlife Feeding
Shreveport has no ordinance that bans feeding wild animals. Keeping wildlife as a pet is prohibited under section 14-6, and feeding that draws rats or creates odors is reached through the city's rodent-control and nuisance provisions.
No Feeding Ban; Keeping Wildlife Prohibited
Few RestrictionsShreveport Code of Ordinances § 14-6(c)
No person shall keep or permit to be kept on his premises any wild or exotic animal as a pet as defined in this section except such animals that were acquired prior to May 23, 1989.
Pet Limits
Shreveport Code § 14-16(4)(h) caps outdoor dogs at four per dwelling, with an exception for a litter of pups under five months old. Exceed the limit and an owner can apply for a noncommercial kennel permit, but the director can deny it if the extra dogs create a health, environmental, or nuisance problem.
Four Outdoor Dogs Max Per Shreveport Dwelling
Some RestrictionsShreveport Code of Ordinances § 14-16(4)(h)
(h)It shall be unlawful for any occupant or owner of a dwelling to keep or allow to be kept outdoors on the premises of any dwelling more than four dogs, except that a litter of pups may be kept for a period of time not exceeding five months from birth. This provision shall not apply to any establishment where dogs are lawfully kept for breeding, sale, sporting purposes or boarding. In a case w...
Cat Rules
Shreveport Code § 14-10 makes trap-neuter-return the city's preferred way to manage free-roaming cats. Once a community cat is sterilized, ear-tipped and vaccinated, a registered caregiver may feed and shelter it, and the cat is exempt from licensing, at-large and stray rules, though nuisance rules still apply.
Shreveport's Community Cat Program Exempts Ear-Tipped Ferals
Light RestrictionsShreveport Code of Ordinances § 14-10(1)-(4)
(1)Trap-neuter-return is the preferred method for controlling the community cat population through the community cat diversion program. The animal control center and any contracted shelter organizations shall prioritize the trap-neuter-return method as the preferred outcome for community cats by directing any impounded, non ear tipped, free-roaming cats to the trap-neuter-return process.(2)All ...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Shreveport does not require every pet spayed or neutered, but a second at-large impoundment does: Code of Ordinances Sec. 14-40(5)(c) forces sterilization and microchipping before the animal can be reclaimed, with reduced-fee surgery offered through Caddo Parish Animal Services.
Second At-Large Offense Triggers Mandatory Sterilization
Significant RestrictionsShreveport Code of Ordinances § 14-40(5)(c) (Ord. No. 37, 2016, 5-24-16; Ord. No. 139, 2017, 11-28-17)
(c)Second infraction. At-large stray animals impounded for the second time will be required to be sterilized and microchipped prior to being reclaimed by their owners. Spay and neuter surgery services will be offered at a reduced fee.
Microchipping
Shreveport Code § 14-49(5) requires every horse kept inside city limits to carry a permanent ID marker: a microchip, freeze band, or tattoo. Skipping it draws escalating fines, from $25 for a first offense up to $100 for a third, and forfeiture of the horse on a fourth.
Shreveport Horses Must Carry a Microchip or Tattoo
Some RestrictionsShreveport Code of Ordinances § 14-49(5)
(5)All horses inside the city limits of Shreveport are required to have a permanent identifying marker in the form of a microchip, freeze band or tattoo.a.Failure of the owner to comply with the provisions of this subpart shall result in the following fines and penalties:1.First offense—$25.00 fine;2.Second offense—$50.00 fine;3.Third offense—$100.00 fine;4.Fourth offense—Forfeiture of the animal.
Pet Groomer Rules
Shreveport's UDC classifies pet grooming facilities as part of the broader 'Animal Care Facility' zoning use, alongside veterinary offices, boarding, and training. Under Section 6.1.B, any groomer with outdoor exercise areas must locate them in a side or rear yard, cover 30% of that space, and limit outdoor animal activity to 9:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m.
Pet Groomers Zoned as Animal Care Facilities in Shreveport
Some RestrictionsShreveport Unified Development Code §§ 5.3, 6.1.B
Animal Care Facility. An establishment which provides care for domestic animals, including veterinary offices for the treatment of animals, where animals may be boarded during their convalescence, pet grooming facilities, animal training centers and clubs, and pet boarding facilities, where animals are boarded during the day and/or for short-term stays. Animal care facilities do not include com...
Bird Protection
Shreveport bans molesting, trapping, shooting or killing any native song or insectivorous bird, or destroying its nest or eggs, under Code of Ordinances Sec. 14-51, with narrow carve-outs for state or federally permitted activity and licensed falconry.
Native Song and Insectivorous Birds Are Protected
Significant RestrictionsShreveport Code of Ordinances § 14-51 (Ord. No. 28, 2005, 9-27-05)
It shall be unlawful for any person to molest, interfere with, trap, destroy, wound, shoot or shoot at any native song or insectivorous bird, or destroy or interfere with the nest or eggs of such bird; provided, however, that persons holding state or federal permits allowing such activity and persons legally practicing the art of falconry shall be exempt from the provision of this section.