Key Facts Ordinance Text Full Breakdown Violations FAQ Sources More in Shreveport

Shreveport, LA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Some Restrictions

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

FEMA flood zone rules in Shreveport, LA, also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules, determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.

Key Facts

Permit required: Before any construction in a special flood hazard area
Issuing office: Director of public works
Flood map basis: 2014 FEMA Flood Insurance Study for Caddo Parish
Governing map: Red River Special Flood Hazard Area map supersedes others
Violation: Misdemeanor, penalty under Sec. 1-14
Appeal path: City council hears appeals and variances

FEMA Flood Zone Lookup

FEMA assigns every parcel in the U.S. a flood-hazard designation on its Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). Zones starting with A or V are high-risk Special Flood Hazard Areas where federally backed mortgages require NFIP flood insurance. Zone X indicates moderate-to-minimal risk, where insurance is optional but often recommended. Your specific zone determines insurance cost, build elevation, and permit requirements in Shreveport, LA.

Zone	What it means	NFIP required?
A	High-risk flood area; 1% annual chance flood, no detailed analysis.	Yes
AE	High-risk; same as A but with established Base Flood Elevations.	Yes
AH	High-risk shallow flooding (1-3 ft), usually ponding.	Yes
AO	High-risk shallow flooding (1-3 ft) with sheet flow on sloping terrain.	Yes
V	High-risk coastal zone subject to wave action (no BFE).	Yes
VE	High-risk coastal zone with wave action and established BFEs.	Yes
X (shaded)	Moderate risk; between the 1% and 0.2% annual chance flood.	Recommended
X	Minimal risk; outside the 0.2% annual chance floodplain.	No

Look up Shreveport, LA on the FEMA flood map

FEMA maps update periodically; verify zone before buying flood insurance or building.

Summary

Before any construction or development begins in a Shreveport area of special flood hazard, the owner must get a development permit from the director of public works under Sec. 34-46. The application must show elevations, structure floodproofing certification, and any watercourse alteration, tracking the flood maps in the 2014 FEMA study for Caddo Parish.

A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in section 34-30. Application for a development permit shall be made on forms furnished by the director of public works, who may require submission of plans drawn to scale showing the nature, location, dimensions and elevations of the area in question; existing or proposed structures, fill, storage of materials, drainage facilities; and the location of the foregoing.

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

Shreveport's floodplain rules sit in Chapter 34, Article II of the Code of Ordinances, adopted to 'minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions' under Sec. 34-26. The operative permit requirement is Sec. 34-46: 'A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in section 34-30.' Applications go to the director of public works, who 'may require submission of plans drawn to scale showing the nature, location, dimensions and elevations of the area in question,' and the code specifically requires the applicant to submit the elevation of the lowest floor in relation to mean sea level, any floodproofing elevation and certification, engineer or architect certification for nonresidential floodproofing under Sec. 34-67, and a description of any watercourse alteration.

The special flood hazard areas themselves are set by Sec. 34-30, which adopts by reference FEMA's 'Flood Insurance Study for Caddo Parish, Louisiana and Incorporated Areas' dated May 19, 2014, along with its flood insurance rate maps; the department of engineering and environmental services' 'Red River Special Flood Hazard Area' map and its recorded high water marks supersede all other maps and data where they conflict.

Sec. 34-31 makes any construction or alteration without full compliance a misdemeanor punished under the general penalty in Sec. 1-14, without foreclosing other city enforcement action. Property owners who believe the permit requirement was misapplied, or who need relief from it, can appeal to the city council or request a variance under Secs. 34-53 and 34-54.

Violations & Fines

Building, altering or developing land in a mapped special flood hazard area without first getting a Sec. 34-46 development permit is a misdemeanor under Sec. 34-31, punished per the general penalty in Sec. 1-14. The city can pursue that fine and still take 'such other lawful action as is necessary to prevent or remedy any violation,' including ordering the work stopped or corrected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to build in a Shreveport flood zone?

Yes. Sec. 34-46 requires a development permit from the director of public works before any construction or development begins in an area of special flood hazard established under Sec. 34-30, and the application must show elevations, floodproofing certification and any planned watercourse alteration.

Which flood maps does Shreveport use?

The city adopted FEMA's Flood Insurance Study for Caddo Parish, Louisiana, dated May 19, 2014, along with its flood insurance rate maps under Sec. 34-30. Where it conflicts with other data, the department of engineering and environmental services' Red River Special Flood Hazard Area map and its recorded high water marks control instead.

What happens if I build in a flood zone without a permit?

It is a misdemeanor under Sec. 34-31, punished under the city's general penalty section, Sec. 1-14. The city can also take other lawful action to stop or fix the violation, on top of any criminal fine, and the permit itself can be denied or conditioned through the variance process in Sec. 34-54.

Sources & Official References

[1]Shreveport Code of Ordinances Ch. 34, Art. II (Floods)

Other rules in Shreveport

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome Restrictions Erosion ControlHeavy Restrictions Flood Elevation RequirementsSome Restrictions Boat Dock PermitsSome Restrictions Coastal DevelopmentFew Restrictions Stormwater ManagementHeavy 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

Compare Shreveport to another location·View the Louisiana environmental rules overview

See something wrong?

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