Your house is condemned or on the demolition list in Shreveport: what happens next

What does it mean when a house is condemned in Shreveport or Bossier City?

It means the city has decided the building is dilapidated and dangerous and that it may be torn down if the owner does not fix it. Louisiana law lets a city or parish condemn a "dilapidated and dangerous" building and have it demolished or removed (R.S. 33:4761). You still own the house. What you get is a deadline.

Cities use a few kinds of notices, and they are not the same. A care of premises notice is about tall grass, trash or debris. A securing notice is about an open or broken-in building. A demolition notice is the serious one. This is general information, not legal advice, and the notice you hold controls. We are a home buyer, not a law firm.

Who handles it in Shreveport

In Shreveport, the Department of Property Standards handles these cases, and cases that are not fixed go to the city's Environmental Court. See the city's Property Standards page for hours and the phone number. Neighbors and others can report problems through the city's Report A Concern page, which is how many cases start.

Shreveport publishes its abatement lists as legal notices on louisianapublicnotice.com. The notices we read say the city can do the work itself or through a contractor and bill the owner, and they cite the Shreveport Code of Ordinances, Chapter 38. They gave about 10 days from publication for care of premises and securing, and about 30 days for demolition, with a written appeal due within 10 days of publication. Those numbers come from published notices and can change, so read the one that names your address.

Who handles it in Bossier City

In Bossier City, the Property Standards Division enforces basic maintenance on private property. See the city's Property Standards Division page. The city's own description says an owner normally has about 10 days from a violation letter to fix the problem, and that a dilapidated building usually takes a minimum of about six months from a verified violation until the city demolishes, if the owner does nothing. Treat that as a general description, not a promise.

For demolition, the Bossier City Council schedules a public hearing under R.S. 33:4761, and a notice with the address is published in the newspaper ahead of the hearing. The owner, and anyone who believes they have an interest, can come and speak. If the notice has your address, go or send someone. The city's office at 620 Benton Road can tell you the hearing date.

Can the city really bill me for the demolition?

Yes, in general. Under R.S. 33:4766, a parish or city has a privilege and lien on the property for demolition and maintenance costs, the owner can be personally liable, and attorney fees can be added. The lien can be enforced only after the owner has had notice and a reasonable chance to be heard and has not paid. It can be recorded in the parish mortgage office, enforced in court, or added to the tax bill.

Shreveport's published notices also mention an administrative charge added to the cost of work the city has done. So a bill that starts as a grass-cutting charge or a demolition cost can follow the property. A lien generally comes out of the sale price at closing, and it stays until it is paid.

I inherited this house and I live far away. What do I do?

Start by finding out who the city thinks the owner is. If the owner has died and no succession has been opened, the notice may be addressed to the "estate" or "heirs" of the person on the deed. Call the department with the address and ask for the notice, the deadline and the amount owed so far. Ask that they send mail to you as well.

A succession is the court process that decides who owns the house after a death. Our guide on selling a house in a succession explains it, and a lawyer can tell you how fast it can move on your case. Co-owners may each have a say in what happens, and the city may need to notify each of them. Our page on inherited houses covers the sale side.

What are my options?

You have four, and a lawyer can tell you the deadlines for each. Free steps come first.

1. Call the city now. Ask what is wrong, what would clear the notice, and whether more time is possible. Ask in writing, and keep copies.
2. Appeal or ask for time. Notices describe a written appeal window and a hearing. Use it, even if you only ask for more time to fix the building. Do not wait until after the deadline.
3. Fix it. If the house is worth repairing, have a contractor quote the work against the notice. Repairs usually need permits.
4. Sell it as is. The title company pays any city lien out of the sale, along with back taxes and any mortgage, and you receive what is left.

Selling a condemned house as is

Selling is possible. We buy houses as they sit in Shreveport, Bossier City, Keithville, DeSoto Parish and Webster Parish, including fire-damaged, storm-damaged, empty and condemned ones. You do not repair or clean first. We look at the house and the numbers, including what the city may bill, and tell you honestly what we can do. You pick the closing date, and closing is at a local title company. A closing needs time for the title work and the payoff figures, so call before your deadline. Closing is often within a couple of weeks, but it depends on the title.

If the house is also behind on taxes, see our guide on property taxes in Louisiana. For how selling as is works in general, see selling a house as is in Shreveport and Bossier.

Updated October 22, 2026