Shreveport building department

Shreveport’s Division of Permits and Inspections, in the Department of Public Works, issues construction permits for the City of Shreveport and all of Caddo Parish. The two exceptions are the Town of Greenwood and Oil City, which handle their own permits. Since May 17, 2021, Caddo Parish has required all construction in the parish to be permitted under the same criteria as projects inside Shreveport city limits.

What is exempt

The city’s permit guide follows IRC Section R105.2. You don’t need a permit for these:

Building work

• painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets and countertops
• one-story detached accessory structures up to 200 sq ft, other than storm shelters
• prefabricated pools less than 24 inches deep
• fences up to 7 feet high
• retaining walls up to 4 feet, unless they support a surcharge
• decks up to 200 sq ft and no more than 30 inches above grade, if they aren’t attached to the house and don’t serve a required exit door
• swings and playground equipment

Even exempt sheds, and fences under 6 feet, should be checked with Zoning.

Trade work

• replacing breakers of the same size in the same location
• low-voltage wiring under 25 volts and 50 watts
• portable heating and cooling units
• self-contained refrigeration with 10 lb of refrigerant or less
• fixing leaks and clearing stoppages, when no pipes, valves or fixtures are replaced

Roofing, siding, fences over the exempt limits, generators, pools, driveways, moves and demolitions all need permits.

Applying on MGO

The city prefers online applications on mgoconnect.org. When you create an account, you’ll get a verification call from area code (985). For account help, call MGO at (866) 957-3764.

At minimum, an application includes:

• a site plan
• construction plans
• a statement of work
• a copy of the contract, if a contractor is applying

A complete plan set has:

• a scaled site plan showing utilities, paving, parking, drainage and grades
• foundation and floor plans
• elevations and wall sections
• door, window and finish schedules
• HVAC layout with CFMs or a Manual J
• details of any alterations

Simple projects with complete plans are often reviewed in one or two days. Large commercial jobs go to the State Fire Marshal, which takes about three weeks. Depending on the project, other reviewers may include:

• drainage
• flood hazard prevention
• fire prevention
• Cross Lake pollution control
• Caddo Parish
• water and sewer
• engineering
• zoning

You’ll get an emailed invoice once the plans are approved. You can pay through MGO, in person at 505 Travis St., or by mail.

Who can pull permits

Owners can apply for their own building permit. Electrical, plumbing and HVAC work, though, must be done by registered, licensed contractors, who attach their permits to yours. If a homeowner pulls the permit for residential work over $7,500, they need the state Homeowner’s Exemption from Licensure. Commercial projects over $50,000 need a licensed contractor.

Anyone doing construction, electrical, mechanical or plumbing work in the jurisdiction must register with the division. Registration renews every year and requires current liability insurance.

Inspection sequence

Building inspections are the owner’s or general contractor’s job. Each subcontractor calls in their own trade inspections. The trade inspections in each stage must pass before you request the building inspection for that stage. For a residential addition, the sequence runs:

1. First stage:

   • plumbing first rough, for pipes in the slab
   • building footing or foundation-form inspection

2. Second stage:

   • plumbing, electrical and HVAC rough-ins
   • building framing inspection, with the roof, windows and doors in

   Don’t insulate or hang drywall until framing passes.

3. Finals:

   • plumbing, electrical and HVAC finals
   • building final

A permit becomes void if work doesn’t start within six months of issuance. The office is open 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Fees (Sec. 22-1)

Item	Fee
New one- to three-unit dwelling	$0.13 per sq ft (gross)
Townhouses and patio homes	$0.21 per sq ft
Residential accessory uses	$0.05 per sq ft
Residential repairs and alterations	$4.20 per $1,000 of contract value
Residential fences, paving, pools and similar work	$4.25 per $1,000
Commercial new construction	$5.25 per $1,000 up to $5 million, then $2.63 per $1,000
Commercial plan review	25% added to the permit fee
Minimum permit	$31.50
Inspection on most new and remodel permits, and re-inspection	$68.25 each

Starting work without a permit costs double the permit fee plus $100. A residential certificate of occupancy issued by the city costs $50. A commercial one costs $100.

Zoning and certificates of occupancy

Inside city limits, the Shreveport Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) has to confirm a proposed use meets the Unified Development Code before a building permit is issued. Where it’s required, site plan approval also comes first. Apply for site plans and commercial or home-occupation certificates of occupancy in MGO under Apply Online for Planning & Zoning.

Every commercial business needs a CO, even when no construction is involved. Outside city limits, the Permits division issues COs through the Caddo Parish Certificate of Occupancy application in MGO.

Contact	Phone
Main office	(318) 673-6100
Commercial plan review	(318) 673-6104
Residential plan review	(318) 673-6105
Building inspections	(318) 673-6106
Electrical	(318) 673-6115
Plumbing	(318) 673-6116
Zoning Office / city CO	(318) 673-6442
MPC planners (Suite 440)	(318) 673-6480