Commercial Roof Permits and Codes in Shreveport and Bossier City
Since August 1, 2025, a commercial re-roof in Louisiana is a permitted job. This page sums up who issues commercial roofing permits around Shreveport and Bossier City, which codes apply, and what property managers should ask before work starts. It is general information from public sources, not legal advice; confirm details with the permit office. Shreveport Commercial Roofing Pros is a referral service operated by Recover Profits Now. We do not pull permits or do roofing work; call (318) 287-8236 and we will connect you with an independent licensed commercial roofing contractor who handles both.
The 2025 roof permit law
In August 2025 the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) issued a memo to roofing contractors explaining that Act 239 of the 2025 legislative session "requires permitting and inspection of roof construction and reroofing of residential and commercial structures for any projects beginning on or after August 1, 2025." The expectation is a permit before work starts and inspections before the job is closed out.
For owners, the practical points are simple. The permit should be pulled by the licensed contractor, in the contractor's name. The cost of the permit should be in the proposal or clearly listed as an owner cost. And the contractor should tell you when inspections are scheduled so tenants can be told about access.
Who issues permits where
| Location | Permit office (as published) |
|---|---|
| City of Shreveport | Division of Permits and Inspections, Government Plaza, 505 Travis Street, Suite 130 |
| Most of Caddo Parish outside Shreveport | The City of Shreveport's permit guide says the same division issues permits for all of Caddo Parish except the Town of Greenwood and Oil City |
| Bossier City | Permits & Inspections Division, 620 Benton Road |
| Unincorporated Bossier Parish | Code Inspections Plus, which the parish lists as its building official |
| Haughton, Benton, Minden, Greenwood and other towns | Check with the town or parish; procedures vary |
Shreveport and Bossier Parish both accept applications through the My Government Online (MGO) portal. Shreveport's guide also notes that Caddo Parish has required construction outside the city to be permitted using the same criteria as inside city limits since May 17, 2021.
Zoning, historic districts and plan review in Shreveport
The Shreveport-Caddo Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) is the planning agency for the city and the surrounding parts of Caddo Parish. It handles zoning and works with the permits division on plan review; it does not issue building permits itself. For most re-roofs zoning is not an issue, but two things can add steps:
- Historic districts. The MPC's Historic Preservation Commission reviews certificates of appropriateness in local districts including Downtown, Highland, South Highlands, Fairfield and St. Paul's Bottoms. Its published case list includes a certificate for a roof replacement with material changes in the Fairfield district. If your building is in one of these districts and the roof or parapet is visible, ask whether a certificate is needed.
- State Fire Marshal review. Shreveport's permit guide says large or complex commercial projects go to the State Fire Marshal for review, which it estimates at about three weeks. A straightforward re-roof may not need it, but a project with structural changes, new rooftop equipment or a change in use might.
Which codes apply
Louisiana's State Uniform Construction Code adopted the 2021 editions of the International Building Code and International Existing Building Code effective January 1, 2023, and the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code effective July 1, 2023, with state amendments. Bossier City lists the 2021 building, existing building and energy codes among its adopted codes. Caddo and Bossier parishes fall in IECC climate zone 3A.
Three code topics come up most on commercial re-roofs:
- Insulation on a tear-off. Under the 2021 IECC's roof replacement provisions, when an existing roof has insulation entirely above the deck, the replacement roof generally must meet the code's current insulation requirement, and in no case may the existing R-value be reduced. Added thickness can affect parapet flashing heights, curbs and door thresholds. Ask the contractor what R-value the building official will expect.
- Recover versus tear-off. The building code limits when a new roof can go over an existing one, such as when the existing roof is wet or already has a recover on it. Core cuts settle the question.
- Wind and edge details. Edge metal, coping and attachment need to meet the code's wind provisions for the building. Ask what wind uplift rating the proposed assembly carries.
Licensing goes with the permit
The LSLBC requires a commercial license for commercial projects of $50,000 or more, counting labor and materials, and Shreveport's permit guide repeats that threshold. Roofing falls under the board's Roofing and Sheet Metal, Siding subclassification or the broader Building Construction classification. Look up any license number on the LSLBC website.
Questions to ask your contractor about permits
- Which office issues the permit for this address, and is the fee in your price?
- Will the permit be in your company's name, under your LSLBC license?
- Which inspections are required, and when will they happen?
- Is the building in a historic district, and does the project need a certificate of appropriateness?
- Will this project need State Fire Marshal review?
- How will you meet the energy code insulation requirement, and how does it change flashing and curb heights?
- Will I get copies of the permit and final inspection for my building file?
Want a contractor who handles the permit process from start to finish? Call (318) 287-8236.
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