Tiny homes in Shreveport, Louisiana — zoning rules, THOW parking, builder costs, and what you need to know before buying.
Last researched May 2026
Shreveport sits in northwest Louisiana along the Red River, with a humid subtropical climate featuring hot summers, mild winters, and occasional winter storms that can bring ice or light snow. Annual rainfall averages around 50 inches. Portions of Caddo Parish sit in FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas along the Red River and its tributaries; elevation above Base Flood Elevation applies where relevant. Shreveport's housing costs are among the most affordable of major Louisiana cities, making foundation-built tiny homes and ADU conversions particularly cost-effective. The city offers riverfront entertainment, gaming, a growing arts scene, and proximity to Texas and Arkansas for outdoor recreation. The modernized ADU ordinance gives Shreveport one of the strongest legal pathways for backyard tiny home construction in the state.
In Shreveport (Caddo Parish), Louisiana, foundation-built tiny homes are regulated under the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code, which adopts the 2021 International Residential Code including Appendix Q for dwellings 400 square feet or smaller. Shreveport has taken a notably more permissive stance on accessory dwelling units than most Louisiana cities: the City Council updated the Unified Development Code to modernize ADU definitions and expand options. Under the updated Shreveport ordinance, detached ADUs may be constructed from conventional framing, prefabricated structures, or freight containers, provided they comply with the International Residential Code and all other applicable building codes. The city sets a 150 square foot minimum for ADUs and notes a 400 square foot minimum for certain detached dwellings. A detached ADU may not exceed the height of the principal dwelling, and its gross floor area cannot exceed 60% of the principal dwelling's gross floor area or 1,800 square feet, whichever is less. ADUs must include permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking (stove, refrigerator, sink), and full bathroom sanitation. As of April 2026, ADUs in Shreveport may be used as primary housing, long-term rentals, or short-term rentals with proper approval and registration. Tiny homes on wheels (THOWs) are classified as RVs under state law and are restricted to licensed RV parks for long-term stays. Verify current requirements with your local planning department before purchasing land or beginning construction.
Verify current requirements with your local planning department.
Shreveport has one of the more modern and permissive ADU frameworks in Louisiana. The updated ordinance explicitly allows detached ADUs constructed from conventional framing, prefabricated modules, or freight containers, provided they comply with the IRC and other applicable codes. ADUs must include permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking (stove, refrigerator, sink), and a full bathroom with sink, toilet, and shower or tub. Minimum ADU size is 150 sq ft, with a 400 sq ft minimum for certain detached dwellings. A detached ADU may not exceed the height of the principal dwelling, and gross floor area is capped at 60% of the principal dwelling or 1,800 square feet, whichever is less. ADUs may be attached to the primary home, built within an existing accessory structure (e.g., detached garage, carriage house), or fully detached. As of April 2026, Shreveport allows ADUs to be used as primary housing, long-term rentals, or short-term rentals with proper approval and registration — a broader permitted use set than many Louisiana cities. Contact the Shreveport-Caddo MPC for current permit fees and submittal requirements.
Communities, RV parks, and parking options in and near Shreveport.
THOWs in Shreveport are classified as recreational vehicles under Louisiana law and cannot be used as permanent residences on standard residential lots; long-term THOW stays are limited to licensed RV parks in Caddo and Bossier parishes. Several parks along the I-20 and I-49 corridors offer monthly pad rentals with 30/50-amp electric, water, and sewer hookups; confirm acceptance of RVIA-certified tiny homes with each operator. Shreveport's relatively affordable land prices and the city's modernized ADU ordinance make foundation-built tiny homes on private lots the more attractive path for full-time residency. Owners who prefer a mobile lifestyle typically seek monthly RV park stays or private rural land in surrounding parishes (DeSoto, Webster, Bossier) where zoning is less restrictive, though the LSUCC still governs any permanent structure. As of April 2026, specific municipal language governing short-term THOW parking on private residential lots is not clearly published for Shreveport beyond the RV classification; contact the Shreveport-Caddo Metropolitan Planning Commission for clarification on temporary parking, guest stays, and construction-period use of a THOW on a private parcel.
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8095 Old Mooringsport Rd, Shreveport, LA 71107
30-site park with full hookups (water, sewer, 30/50-amp) welcoming long-term rentals at $425/mo (30-amp) or $450/mo (50-amp), utilities included. Cash/check only; RVs must be 2015 or newer.
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Bossier City, LA (Shreveport metro)
Mobile home park with seventeen RV lots dedicated to long-term stays; advertises move-in specials for extended residents.
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Shreveport, LA
Good Sam-rated KOA campground in the Shreveport-Bossier area offering nightly, weekly, and monthly RV stays with full hookups.
Childersburg, Alabama
Childersburg, Alabama park model home dealer serving six southeastern states, operating adjacent to Atkinson Homes on US Highway 280. Sells Clayton-built park models starting around $80,000, handles permitting and site prep, and delivers to Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Active as of May 2026.
Service areas: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi
Carencro, Louisiana
Carencro-based dealer and builder offering park model RVs, modular tiny homes, and tiny homes on wheels that comply with Louisiana state building codes. Delivers to all 48 contiguous US states. Focuses on customizable, move-in-ready units at a range of price points.
Service areas: Louisiana, Nationwide
Guin, Alabama
Guin, Alabama manufacturer of energy-efficient manufactured and modular homes, founded in 2004. Operates a 200,000-square-foot facility and has produced 15,000+ homes across 18 states. Offers a "Cozy Cabins" tiny-home line within its Signature series, built to HUD code or state modular standards. Member of the Alabama Manufactured Housing Association. Active as of May 2026.
Service areas: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia
Houma, Louisiana
Houma-based custom builder constructing one-of-a-kind tiny homes on wheels in South Louisiana. Every build is fully custom — no pre-designed plans — with layouts, storage, and finishes tailored to each client. Owner and builder Wade Heyl is also the sole woodworker, often incorporating reclaimed sinker cypress into interior details. Pricing starts at $50,000 as of April 2026.
Service areas: Louisiana
Tyler, Texas
Tyler, Texas-based Pratt Homes serves Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas with modular homes, prefab homes, cottages, manufactured homes, and tiny houses. Its tiny-house catalog includes 399-square-foot park model designs such as Sweet Escape, and the company describes options for Oklahoma buyers in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Norman.
Service areas: Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas
A comparison between tiny-home living and conventional homeownership in Shreveport.
Tiny home path
Traditional home path
Potential monthly savings
$900–$1,600/mo
Source: Redfin, RentCafe, Zumper (March/April 2026)
Verified links for planning, permitting, and community connections in Shreveport.
Yes — Shreveport has one of the most permissive ADU frameworks in Louisiana. The updated ordinance allows detached ADUs built from conventional framing, prefabricated structures, or freight containers. ADUs must meet IRC and include kitchen and full bathroom facilities. Minimum 150 sq ft; maximum 60% of primary dwelling or 1,800 sq ft.
Yes. As of April 2026, Shreveport permits ADUs to be used as primary housing, long-term rentals, or short-term rentals with proper approval and registration — a broader set of permitted uses than most Louisiana cities allow.
As of April 2026, THOWs are classified as RVs and cannot be used as permanent residences on typical residential lots. Long-term THOW stays are limited to licensed RV parks in Caddo and Bossier parishes.
If the lot is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area along the Red River or its tributaries, yes — the lowest habitable floor must be at or above Base Flood Elevation, with freeboard where required by the local floodplain ordinance.
As of April 2026, custom tiny homes in Shreveport typically range from about $35,000 for a basic THOW to $140,000+ for a custom foundation-built home. Shreveport's lower land costs and freight-container ADU option create opportunities for budget-conscious builds.
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