Louisiana is taking new grant applications from homeowners who want to upgrade to a hurricane-resistant fortified roof. The state will have substantially more money for the program this year than it has had in any year since it began. State lawmakers and Gov. Jeff Landry have just added $50 million more to the fund. The state’s pitch to homeowners is that a stronger roof means a smaller insurance bill.
According to WWL-TV in New Orleans, the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program opened registration for a new round of applications at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 1, and will keep applications open through June 19. Eligible homeowners can receive grants of up to $10,000. The grants help cover the cost of upgrading their roofs to meet the FORTIFIED construction standard, which is designed to better withstand hurricanes and severe weather.
Since the program launched in 2023, over 4,500 Louisiana homeowners have used it to strengthen their roofs. State Rep. Paul Sawyer, who’s supported expanding the program, told WWL-TV that the insurance savings homeowners see are one reason lawmakers continue to invest in it. A stronger house comes with a lower premium, according to Sawyer.
Beyond the grant program, the state is also moving on the insurance side of the equation. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple proposed a rule that would require Louisiana insurers to offer specific discounts to homeowners with fortified roofs.
What the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program Offers
The Louisiana Department of Insurance offers the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program, which provides grants of up to $10,000 to homeowners to help cover the cost of upgrading their roofs to meet the FORTIFIED standard. It’s set by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety and covers the materials and construction techniques designed to prevent leaks and withstand hurricane-force winds.
According to the department, homeowners who receive a fortified roof through the program may qualify for insurance discounts because the roofs are designed to help cut down on storm damage. The median cost of a fortified roof in Louisiana is about $16,229, so the grant generally covers a decent amount of the total cost rather than the full job.
The Insurance Discount Rule
Louisiana passed legislation in 2025 requiring insurers to adjust their rates for homeowners with fortified roofs, but the law stopped short of specifying how large the discount must be. Insurance Commissioner Temple has pushed for a rule that would set benchmark discounts, with the current draft requiring discounts of 16% to 49% depending on the area of the state and the level of roof upgrade.
The rule is under review and is scheduled to take effect in 2027 on January 1. A separate review by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor discovered that roofs built through the grant program had reduced homeowners’ insurance costs at a median rate of 22%, so it appears to be doing some real good.