Registration for Louisiana's Fortify Homes Program (LFHP) lottery is open now and runs through June 19, 2026, with 3,000 grants of up to $10,000 for homeowners who want to upgrade their roof to hurricane-resistant standards. This round is bigger than the last, the eligible parishes have expanded, and the program is now funded at $80 million for the year.
If you live in one of the eligible parishes and your roof is due for replacement, this is one of the better deals available to Louisiana homeowners right now. Here's how the program works, what's new for 2026, and what a FORTIFIED roof actually does for your insurance premium.
What Is the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program?
The LFHP is a state-run grant program that helps homeowners upgrade their roofs to the FORTIFIED standard developed by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). A FORTIFIED roof is engineered to stay attached to your house during hurricane-force winds, which is the single biggest factor in whether your home survives a major storm.
The program is funded two ways:
- $30 million from taxes and fees on insurance entities
- $50 million from Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, transferred from Katrina bond assessment funds under HB 1187 (signed by Governor Landry on May 27, 2026)
That brings total 2026 funding to $80 million. According to Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple, Louisiana is now the fastest-growing state in the country for FORTIFIED roofs.
What's New for the June 2026 Lottery
Two big changes this round.
New parishes added. Acadia, Jefferson Davis, and Lafayette parishes are eligible for the first time.
Expanded coverage in existing parishes. Portions of these parishes that weren't previously included are now eligible:
- Ascension
- Calcasieu
- Iberia
- Livingston
- St. Martin
- St. Tammany
- Tangipahoa
- Vermilion
If you live in one of those parishes and were told you didn't qualify in a previous round, check the eligibility map again. You might be in now.
The full map of eligible areas is at FortifyHomes.La.Gov.
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Key Dates and How the Lottery Works
Registration is open right now. You have until June 19 to get your entry in.
| Date | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Monday, June 1, 2026 at 8 a.m. | Registration opened |
| Friday, June 19, 2026 at 5 p.m. | Registration closes |
| Monday, June 22, 2026 | Selection notices begin going out via email |
3,000 homeowners will be selected at random. The program is clear about this: registering on the first day gives you no advantage over registering on the last day. So if you need a few days to gather your documents, take them. Just don't miss the June 19 deadline.
Important: if you registered in a previous round and weren't selected, you have to register again. Past entries don't roll over.
How to Register
Two steps.
Step 1: Create a profile at FortifyHomes.La.Gov by clicking the Login button. If you created a profile in a previous round, you can use the same one.
Step 2: Submit your registration between June 1 and June 19. You'll need to upload:
- Your homestead exemption (your parish tax assessor can help)
- Your homeowners insurance declarations page showing wind coverage
- Your flood insurance declarations page if your home is in a flood zone
If you can't find your declarations pages, call your insurance agent. They can pull them and send them over.
What FORTIFIED Actually Means for Your Insurance
Most people apply for this grant thinking about storm protection. The insurance discount is the part they don't see coming, and it's one of the biggest you can get in Louisiana.
Louisiana law requires insurance companies to offer premium credits for homes with a FORTIFIED roof designation. The exact discount varies by carrier, but the wind portion of your homeowners premium typically drops by 20 to 40 percent once you submit your FORTIFIED certificate to your insurer. Those credits come from the wind-mitigation discounts Louisiana mandates and from carriers pricing in the lower risk that the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) documents for FORTIFIED roofs.
For a coastal Louisiana home with a $4,000 annual premium, that can mean $600 to $1,200 in annual savings. Over the life of the roof, that often pays for the upgrade cost beyond the grant.
A FORTIFIED roof can also make your home insurable in markets where carriers have pulled back. Some private carriers won't write a home with an older roof in a coastal parish, but will write the same home once it's been upgraded to FORTIFIED.
What You're On the Hook For
The $10,000 grant doesn't cover everything. If you're selected, you're financially responsible for:
- The FORTIFIED-certified Evaluator inspection (required before and after the work)
- Permits and inspections
- Any construction cost above the grant amount
A full FORTIFIED Roof installation on an average Louisiana home runs $15,000 to $25,000 depending on size, pitch, and material, based on what FORTIFIED-certified contractors quote. The grant knocks $10,000 off that, but plan on bringing some of your own money to the table.
The math usually still works once you count the premium savings, but it's not free money.
Is This Program Worth Applying For?
It comes down to your roof and your parish. If you live in an eligible area, your roof is already getting close to needing replacement, and you can cover the gap between the grant and what the job actually costs, go ahead and register.
If your roof is in good shape and won't need replacement for 10 more years, this probably isn't the right time. The work has to be completed within the program's timeline, and you'd be tearing off a roof that didn't need it.
If your roof is already past its useful life, this is a strong deal. You get a better roof, a real cut on your insurance bill, and a much better chance your home survives the next storm intact.
A Couple Things Worth Knowing Before You Register
3,000 grants sounds like a lot, but it's a small slice of the homeowners in eligible parishes. A lot of qualified people won't get picked. If that's you, don't sweat it. The program keeps running rounds, so register again next time.
If you do get selected, things move quick. Line up your evaluator and your roofer before the work starts. Not every roofer has done FORTIFIED work, and the designation has specific requirements they have to hit, so find one who's done it before.
One last thing people forget: when the new roof is done, send the FORTIFIED certificate to your insurance agent. The discount isn't automatic. Somebody has to turn in the paperwork or it never shows up on your bill.
If you're a Chabert client and you're selected, send us the certificate and we'll apply the credit across every carrier we have access to. If you're not a client yet and want help figuring out whether a FORTIFIED roof would actually move the needle on your premium, we can pull a quote and show you the numbers. No pressure, no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Louisiana Fortify Homes lottery open in 2026?
Registration opens at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 1, 2026 and closes at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 19, 2026. The Louisiana Department of Insurance will randomly select 3,000 participants and send selection notices by email starting Monday, June 22.
How much is the Fortify Homes grant?
The Louisiana Fortify Homes Program provides grants of up to $10,000 to upgrade your roof to FORTIFIED standards set by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. You are responsible for any costs above the grant amount, including the evaluation, permits, inspections, and construction.
Which parishes are eligible for Louisiana Fortify Homes in 2026?
Acadia, Jefferson Davis, and Lafayette parishes are newly eligible. Portions of Ascension, Calcasieu, Iberia, Livingston, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Vermilion parishes that weren't previously included are now eligible. A full eligibility map is at FortifyHomes.La.Gov.
Does registering early give me a better chance?
No. The Louisiana Fortify Homes Program uses a random lottery. Registering on June 1 gives you the same odds as registering on June 19. There's no need to rush.
How much does a FORTIFIED roof save on home insurance?
Louisiana law requires insurers to offer premium discounts for FORTIFIED roofs. The exact discount varies by carrier and policy, but the wind portion of your premium is typically reduced by 20 to 40 percent. On a coastal policy, that can mean hundreds or thousands of dollars in annual savings.
What documents do I need to upload to register?
You'll need your homestead exemption, your homeowners insurance declarations page showing wind coverage, and your flood insurance declarations page if your home is in a flood zone. Your parish tax assessor can help with the homestead exemption. Your agent or carrier can send the declarations pages.
