Louisiana to Require Bigger FORTIFIED Roof Discounts — What Homeowners Should Do Now
Louisiana is moving to standardize and enlarge FORTIFIED roof discounts through a proposed rule known as Regulation 136. In plain terms, insurers would be required to offer benchmark credits for homes with a verified IBHS FORTIFIED® Roof, rather than setting uneven, hard-to-compare amounts. For homeowners in New Orleans/Jefferson, Baton Rouge, and the Northshore (Slidell, Mandeville, Covington), this can mean more predictable savings on the wind/wind-hail portion of the policy and a faster payback when you pair discounts with a properly documented reroof. Below we explain what changes, where the discount applies, and how to prepare so you don’t miss out when the rule takes effect.
What’s changing under Regulation 136?
The Louisiana Department of Insurance has proposed Regulation 136 to establish mandatory, benchmark fortified roof discounts Louisiana. Instead of a patchwork of percentages, carriers would align to a clear range with consistent rules on how the credit is applied and documented. A formal notice is out, public comments are underway, and once in force, homeowners with a verified IBHS FORTIFIED® Roof should see bigger FORTIFIED roof discounts Louisiana applied more uniformly across insurers. We’ll update this page as the effective date is confirmed.
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Intent | Require mandatory, standardized credits for FORTIFIED Roof designations across Louisiana insurers. |
| Benchmark range | Industry guidance points to a ~20%–30% range (insurer filings still vary by territory and policy line). |
| Discount line | Typically applied to the wind / wind-hail portion of the premium (not always the full premium). |
| Verification | IBHS FORTIFIED® Roof certificate plus a clean photo/document package from your contractor/evaluator. |
Good news: if you’re reroofing in Baton Rouge, Slidell or Kenner, building to FORTIFIED now can position you for bigger FORTIFIED roof discounts Louisiana once the rule is effective.
How much are the discounts — and where do they apply?
Today’s filings already show meaningful fortified roof discounts Louisiana by company and zone (see the annual Act 533 report). Regulation 136 aims to make the process clearer and the credit more predictable. In practice, most carriers reduce the wind/wind-hail portion of the premium after your home earns the IBHS FORTIFIED Roof designation. The exact percentage still depends on your carrier, form, and territory — but under the new rule, homeowners should see bigger FORTIFIED roof discounts in Louisiana presented more consistently on renewal quotes.
Documents you’ll need for the discount
- IBHS FORTIFIED® Roof certificate (Roof level) from an independent evaluator.
- Photo set proving the sealed roof deck (secondary water barrier), enhanced fastening, and edge securement.
- Material data sheets (membranes, underlayments, shingles/metal, flashings) and final affidavits.
- A short cover note for your agent clarifying that the credit applies to the wind/wind-hail portion.
Not sure where to start? Scan our Gulf Coast anti-checklist to avoid common mistakes that can undermine insurance discounts in Louisiana.
Example Calculations — How the Discount Hits Your Premium
FORTIFIED® credits in Louisiana are typically applied to the wind / wind-hail portion of your policy, not to the full premium. Use this formula to estimate savings:
Formula: Savings = (Total Annual Premium × Wind Portion %) × FORTIFIED Discount %
New Annual Premium: Total Annual Premium − Savings
| Scenario (Louisiana) | Total Premium | Wind Portion | Discount | Savings | New Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benchmark high-credit case (Reg. 136 range) | $3,200 | 60% → $1,920 | 30% | $576 | $2,624 |
| Mid-range territory, common filing | $4,800 | 45% → $2,160 | 25% | $540 | $4,260 |
| Lower wind share, conservative credit | $2,600 | 35% → $910 | 20% | $182 | $2,418 |
Notes: (1) Your carrier decides which line is discounted (usually wind / wind-hail). (2) Credits and wind shares vary by company, form, and territory. (3) To unlock savings, you’ll need an IBHS FORTIFIED® Roof certificate plus a clean photo/document set.
LFHP Grant — ROI Table (Combining Grant + Insurance Discounts)
The Louisiana Fortify Homes Program (LFHP) offers grants up to $10,000 for upgrading to a FORTIFIED Roof. Pairing a grant with fortified roof discounts Louisiana can dramatically improve payback. The table below shows sample cases where a standard reroof is compared to a FORTIFIED-level scope, with the incremental upgrade cost offset by the grant and annual insurance savings applied to the wind line.
| Scenario | Standard Reroof Cost | FORTIFIED Upgrade (Incremental) | LFHP Grant Applied | Net Out-of-Pocket for Upgrade | Annual Premium Savings | Simple Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High credit, larger wind share | $12,500 | $9,500 | $10,000 | $0 (grant fully covers incremental) | $576 / year | Immediate (savings start year 1) |
| Mid-range territory, typical home | $14,000 | $7,000 | $10,000 | $0 (grant fully covers incremental) | $540 / year | Immediate (savings start year 1) |
| Lower wind share, conservative credit | $11,000 | $5,000 | $3,500 | $1,500 | $182 / year | ≈ 8.2 years ($1,500 ÷ $182) |
How to read this: The grant targets the incremental cost to reach the FORTIFIED standard (sealed deck, enhanced fastening, edge securement, verification), not the entire reroof. If the grant fully covers the incremental cost, your out-of-pocket for the upgrade may be zero — and the insurance savings begin immediately. We present both scopes side-by-side in your estimate so you can see the real payback window for your parish and carrier.
Grants and add-ons: pair discounts with funding
For Louisiana homeowners, LFHP windows can fill quickly. Matching a grant with bigger FORTIFIED roof discounts Louisiana significantly improves payback. If you also own in coastal Mississippi, you can pursue a similar documentation path for carriers recognizing mitigation on the wind portion.
Pro tip: even if a grant window is closed, reroof to FORTIFIED standards now and submit the full packet to your insurer for credits — then be first in line when the next round opens. See our 2025 changes explainer for Louisiana and a St. Rose case study: 2025 Louisiana changes, St. Rose project.
Next steps with SHIC — be ready when Regulation 136 goes live
- Free estimate & scope options. We price a code-compliant reroof and a FORTIFIED upgrade side-by-side.
- Verification plan. We coordinate an evaluator for your IBHS FORTIFIED Roof certificate.
- Photo & document package. Clean, insurer-ready files focused on the wind/wind-hail credit line.
- Grant readiness. We prep your LFHP file and keep you posted when windows are announced.
- Renewal support. We make sure your agent has everything to apply the fortified roof discounts Louisiana.
Southern Home Improvement Center (SHIC) — get your free estimate and FORTIFIED documentation packet ready before Regulation 136 takes effect; we serve New Orleans/Jefferson, Baton Rouge, the Northshore (Slidell, Mandeville, Covington) and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Call (504) 833-1835 (New Orleans/Jefferson), (225) 766-4244 (Baton Rouge), (985) 643-6611 (Northshore), (228) 467-7484) (MS Coast), or request online:
