The Department of Public Works is responsible
for the design and construction of Parish roads, bridges
and
drainage, as
well as solid waste collection and hauling. The department
also manages the Parish’s construction permit office,
engineering and subdivision plan review and approval, property
standards violations, haul road monitoring, and zoning. Within
the budgetary and legal constraints of the Parish,
the department
provides basic assistance to ensure the safety and welfare
of the citizens of Caddo. Parish roads and drainage maintenance
are handled from camps in Vivian and Springridge, Louisiana.
Louisiana law allows the governmental body having jurisdiction
over property that has been seized because property taxes
have not been paid to sell the property. The Parish is authorized
to only sell property which has been adjudicated since January
1, 1975 which is defined as immovable property on which
the property taxes were not paid and which was not purchased
at the subsequent tax sale and considered surplus
or no longer needed by the Parish
for
a public purpose.
Properties
adjudicated
to the Parish are sold with the intention of restoring
them to the property tax roles. The Right-of-Way section,
working with the Office of the Parish Attorney, has taken
the lead role to assure that back taxes are collected in
Caddo Parish. If delinquent taxes are not paid, properties
are subject to be sold.
The Caddo Parish Commission does not maintain a listing
of adjudicated property nor do we provide large maps identifying
such
locations. The Caddo
Parish Assessor’s office located in the Caddo Parish
Courthouse is responsible for discovery, listing, and valuing
all property in Caddo
Parish for ad valorem tax purposes. If you are interested
in locating Parish adjudicated property you may speak with
the Caddo Assessor’s
Office. The Assessor’s office maintains an online
database which can help
aid in locating
adjudicated property. For more information on gaining access
to this site and annual subscription cost, please contact
the Assessors office at 226-6711. The City
of Shreveport also provides a free
website listing property adjudicated for city only taxes.
Once you have located a piece of property that is adjudicated
for Parish or both Parish and City taxes (Not City Only taxes),
you will need to fill out an application and
provide a $200 certified check or money order made payable
to the "Parish of Caddo" or "Caddo Parish Commission" to
our office on the 8th floor suite 820 of the Government Plaza
building. Due to the conditions of Louisiana Act
819, the
Parish is unable to allow the donation of adjudicated property.
The procedures
for application list each step
you must take in order to complete the process. For more
information or questions please contact the Parish Public
Works department at 318-226-6934.
What is Adjudicated Property? It
is immovable property on which the property taxes were not
paid and which was not purchased at
the subsequent tax sale. If no one buys the property at this
tax sale, state law requires that it be “adjudicated” to
the Parish. Once the property is adjudicated to the Parish,
it will not come up for another tax sale. It can only be;
redeemed (which will place the property back in the name
of the tax debtor), sold by the Parish through the abandoned
adjudicated process or declared needed by the Parish for
public purposes.
Is all Adjudicated Property available for sale? The Parish is authorized to only sell property which
has been adjudicated since January 1, 1975 and has been listed
on the tax roll as adjudicated for the past three years.
For example an application for property adjudicated for 2010
taxes will not be accepted until 2014.
What law gives the Parish the right to sell property? House bill 337 by Representative Burrell (signed by
the Governor - Act819) provides relative to property taxes,
tax sales and adjudicated property. Provides general provisions,
definitions, payment and collection. Further provides for tax
sales of movable and immovable propety for adjudicated property
and provides for redemptions and procedures to quiet tax title
and to annul.
If I acquire adjudicated property, will I obtain the mineral
rights? No, Established June 2nd, 2008 The Parish of Caddo
will reserve any and all of the oil, gas, and other mineral
rights
under
the
subject
property.
If I own the property can’t I just purchase
it through the Adjudicated Process?
No, do not
commence this process if you are the tax debtor, his heir
or assign because the sale will be treated as
a redemption and all of the taxes, liens and judgments
will still be owed.
I saw some property that looks abandoned can I call
and check to see if it’s adjudicated? No, the
Parish Public Works department is only responsible for
processing the sale of adjudicated property. To find
out if property is adjudicated you will need to contact or
visit the Caddo Assessor’s office located in the Caddo
Parish Courthouse.
I own some property that is adjudicated what can I do? If you own property that is adjudicated and no application
has been filed in an attempt to purchase the property, you
may be able to setup a payment plan. If an application is on
file for the property you must pay all city and parish taxes,
plus any cost that were incurred to the original applicant
such as title report, appraisal or application, or attorney
fees before removing it from adjudication.
What is the advantage of purchasing Adjudicated Property? It provides a procedure to sell abandoned adjudicated property
where often the owners cannot be located and/or the amount
of taxes, liens, judgments and mortgages exceed the value
of the property.
If I attempt to purchase some property and am not the highest
bidder do I get my money back? Yes, if you are not the highest bidder you will receive
back the cost of completing the application process which
includes any notice or application fees including any attorney
fees which are accompanied with proof of receipt.
Can I find out who filed an application? The public works department does not provide the name
or any personal information concerning applicants that have
filed an application or any
one listed as interested in purchasing the property.
Where can I find a list of properties that are adjudicated? The
Parish does not maintain a list of Adjudicated Property.
In order to discover which properties are adjudicated you
must visit or contact the Caddo Tax Assessor’s office.
There you will find a book that has a listing of all Adjudicated
Property.
In addition, the
Caddo Assessors office has an online database that you
can subscribe to for a fee.
If the owner decides to redeem the property; do
I lose the money I’ve invested in the process? No, if the owner decides to redeem the property you will
be refunded the cost you incurred.
I heard I can purchase adjudicated property for only a dollar,
is this true? This is a program provided by the City
of Shreveport, not the Parish. The Parish currently does
not sell property for
a dollar. For more information or questions about the City’s
dollar program, contact the City of Shreveport at 318-673-6025.
How long does the process take to get adjudicated property? Though the time may vary, the process typically takes
between 8 to 12 months. Along with mandated time requirements,
several
outside factors may also hinder the process depending on
how long the property has been adjucated, approved by the Parish
Commission and the time for advertisement to
be run.
In what publication does the Parish advertise upcoming sales
of adjudicated properties? Every
year in June, the Caddo Commission
votes on which publication to use as the official journal
for the Parish. If you are not sure which paper is the official
journal please contact the Commisison Clerk's Office at 318-226-6596.
I saw a sign that said Adjudicated Property for sale or
donation, what does this mean? After an application has been filed, the Parish Public
Works department may place a sign in front of the adjudicated
property.
This is to notify the public that the property is adjudicated
and someone has placed an application on file to purchase
the property. If you are also interested in the property
you can call the Public Works department and provide them
the Geographical number listed on the sign.
How is adjudicated property and tax sale property
sold at a sheriff’s sale different? Tax sales
are authorized by state statutes to collect taxes that are
long overdue to the state government from negligent
or unwilling individuals. Adjudicated property is property
that went to a Sheriff’s tax sale and was not sold.
After the property has been adjudicated for three years a
person can come to the Parish and apply to purchase the Parish
tax interest in the property.
Will I need to work with an Attorney in order to purchase
adjudicated property? Not necessarily, though an attorney can provide assistance
and answer questions you have about purchasing adjudicated
property. It is not required for you to have an attorney
present.
Can I get my application
fee back if I decide to no longer pursue the process? No, once the process is started you can not stop and
ask for your application fee back. The only time you can recover
your application fee is if you are not the successful bidder.
Will the Parish assist me in locating where a piece of adjudicated
property is located? Yes to a degree, the public works department will
help you locate a one or two pieces of property that you are
interest
in, but the Parish is not responsible for locating several
different properties. You will be required to do this yourself.
Why doesn’t the Parish list the property address
for Adjudicated Property in the newspaper? Due to the fact that a property address may not be valid
or has changed, the Parish chooses to list only the legal
description and geographical (GEO) number of the subject
property.
When notifying interested
parties must I send notices by certified mail? No, according to Act 819 you can send notices to any
interested party by use of regular mail. No signature or green
card is required.
Which form of payment does the parish accept and whom do
I make the check out to? Dealing with adjudicated property the Parish only
accepts certified funds such as a certified check or money
order. We will not accept
cash, personal
check
or
credit
card.
You must make your payment out to either the Parish or Caddo
or Caddo Parish Commission.
Must I pay an application
fee for each property or can I pay a fee for several properties
at once?
Each parcel has its own individual Geographical number (GEO) and you are required
to fill out an application for each parcel that you apply for. Each application
will require a three hundred dollar application fee.
How long does the
owner have to redeem the property?
Any time before a deed has been signed and filed in the courthouse; the owner(s)
has the right of redemption. In order to redeem property the interested owning
party must cure any penalites or fees that may have accrued during the application
process.
If property becomes
adjudicated does it then become the responsibility
of the Parish?
No, just because the Parish has a tax interest in the property does not mean
the Parish is responsible for any damages or issues that may occur on the property.
If you have questions about property standards issues within the City of Shreveport
or five miles beyond please contact Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC)
at 318-673-6440. Outside City limits and beyond five miles of the City of Shreveport,
please contact the Caddo Parish Public Works department at 318-226-6930
The Parish of Caddo
Residential Solid Waste and Recycling Center Division has
implemented several innovative programs to enhance services
to all of its citizens. During the mid 1980s Caddo Parish
operated over 300 acres of landfills for the deposit of solid
waste. At that time these landfills were not subject to
any
federal, state or local regulations as to what could or could
not be placed within them. In the late 1980s,
mandates established from both the State Department of Environmental
Quality and the Federal Department of Environmental Protection
Agency enacted guidelines for these and any other
landfill sites.
Because of the high cost associated with
establishing and operating landfills within these guidelines,
Caddo Parish determined it would be cost effective to close
its landfills and implement a
system of remote sites for the collection and compaction of
waste in the Parish. The City of Shreveport had opened a
landfill in 1988, enabling the Parish to smoothly transition
to the new compactor system. A private contractor collects
the
filled compactor boxes at each compactor site and transports
them to the Shreveport landfill for disposal.
In 1992 the voters of Caddo Parish approved a proposition for
a one-half cent sales tax to upgrade and expand Caddo Parish's
compactor sites with new equipment and new locations. A total
of 17 sites were selected and equipped in all areas of the
Parish. The operation hours are staggered
to
provide maximum convenience to the citizens who utilize the
solid waste disposal and recycling services each site provides.
To establish a compactor site
the cost to the Parish is $150,000 per site, and to operate
17 sites the cost is $1.2 million per year. By comparison,
it had
cost the Parish $2 million per year to operate its 300 acres
of landfills and to collect and transport the refuse to
those landfills. The new program has produced a net savings
of
$800,000 per year.
In this Parish-wide effort,
Caddo has been able to generate revenue in the resale
of recyclable products collected at the compactor sites during
the years of 1996 thru 2011. Because of Caddo's continuous
efforts several tons of waste have been recycled
instead of being placed into the city landfill. Prior to
activation of this program this was lost revenue.
Conveniently located, beautifully landscaped and readily
accessible to Caddo Parish residents, the 17 compactor
locations are capable of receiving residential household
refuse, which
includes garbage, furniture, refrigerators, hot water heaters,
stoves, and other items except chemicals or batteries. All
sites have containers for recycling clean newspaper,
cardboard, aluminum and steel cans. Currently, compactor sites
do not accept any glass or plastic recyclables. For a full
listing of all items that are accepted as well as a listing
of current hours of operation including holiday closures,
please download the Solid
Waste Guide.
In 1992 an inter-governmental
agreement was forged between the Parish of Caddo (Public Works
Department) and the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office. This
agreement established a Roadside Litter Program which allows
the Sheriff to use prison inmates to remove litter from
roadsides throughout the Parish. From 1996 thru 2011 the
Roadside Litter Program collected several tons
of litter along Parish roads. Parish future plans
include adding another compactor site and expanding the
existing recycling program.
The Flood Control Section is responsible for the maintenance
of existing stormwater drainage facilities and the assurance
that private development projects meet flood Control objectives
and compliance with Federal Emergency Management Association
(FEMA) guidelines. It is the primary goal of the Commission
to plan and develop solutions to flooding and drainage problems
along with the needs of Caddo Parish.
Main Objectives:
•
Promote awareness of floodplain management issues
•
Administer and enforce the Floodplain Ordinances for Caddo
Parish
•
Address storm-water and drainage issues in new development
•
Seek solutions to existing flood problems.
•
Provide assistance where possible to inquiries relating to
flood control and drainage issues.
If you require help identifying the placement of your property
in relation to flood zones you may visit our office in
the Government Plaza building 505 Travis Street, Suite
820, Shreveport,
Louisiana or access the online
map search provided by FEMA.
The FEMA site allows a citizen to do a flood zone search
by property address.
If you would like a Flood Plain Development Application,
please
click here.
Q: What is Mitigation? Mitigation generally is defined as actions taken to
reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to life and property
from hazards. Mitigation actions are designed to reduce
the need for emergency response, not to improve the ability
to respond.
Q: What is Mitigation Planning? Basically, it is set out "problems" as they
have been defined and the "solutions" or what
the future can look like. The plan documents, how you arrived
at the solutions, and how you're going to go about putting
them into action. In the end, the plan identifies, prioritizes,
and assigns mitigation actions for implementation.
Q:
How do I find out if my property is in a Flood Zone? Flood Zone checks are performed by a trained technician
that will locate your property and verify it's location.
The technician will also determine if it is outside incorporated
areas, using the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) established by
FEMA under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In addition to the 100
year Floodplain map, other mapping information
is available at http://www.esri.com/hazards.
The goal of this program is to improve the quality of the
storm water runoff from the more populated areas of the parish.
By reducing or eliminating these potential pollutants in
the storm water runoff, the quality of the water in the streams
and rivers should be improved. Improving the quality of these
waters will provide cleaner and safer water for drinking,
fishing, swimming, and other recreational activities.
The Parish of Caddo has implemented this program to comply
with regulations adopted by the Environmental Protection
Agency and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.
Generally, these regulations are applicable to all large
urbanized areas in the United States. As a part of the program,
Caddo Parish has prepared a Storm Water Management Plan.
Click
here to find out more about the Storm Water Management
Program.
As Louisiana realizes that its fresh water supply is not
infinite, it becomes the responsibility of the individual
stakeholder to do what they can to conserve their water supply.
Conservation of one’s water supply in the home simply
means using the water resource more efficiently inside and
outside. The Parish of Caddo has prepared a couple
of brochures to help citizens of Caddo become more aware
of the need for water conservation.
Conserving Caddo's Water Supply Caddo's Water Supply
The Industrial Parks located within Caddo Parish
gives Caddo various opportunities and advantages for domestic
and international trade. The Shreveport/Bossier port is easily
accessed from the Red River and gives a direct shipping gateway
to national and international markets. The Shreveport Regional
Airport provides passenger airlines and handles millions
of pounds of freight each year. Caddo Parish also has several
properties that are for sale, these locations are strategically
placed for industrial
development throughout the parish. To find more detailed
information about these and other Caddo Parish Industrial
sites, see
the industrial
Parks section or if you would like
to speak with someone
about
purchasing
property
please contact the public works department at 318-226-6932.
The Urban Land Institute (ULI) is a nonprofit research
and education organization whose primary
mission is to promote responsible leadership in the use
of land to enhance the total environment.
For more information regarding ULI including the master plan,
please download the ULI
presentation.
The Louisiana Disaster Act of 1993 authorized the Caddo Bossier
Office of Homeland Security and Emergency
Preparedness Excutive Council as the
primary responsible party for meeting
the dangers posed by disasters. For
more infomation on the Caddo-Bossier
Office of Homeland Security, please
visit the Emergency
Preparedness Website or
contact them at (318) 425-5351.
You may click on their website USGS
(Hydro Watch) if you wish to
review the flood monitoring gauges
located throughout the Caddo-Bossier
area.
Due to the catastrophe of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, the
Louisiana legislation passed new laws regarding the code
requirements for residential and commercial building. Starting
January 1st, 2007, Caddo Parish will require all new commercial
and residential building to comply with these new statewide
building codes. To see a copy of Senate
Bill 44 or for more information please contact the Parish
of Caddo's
Public
Works
department
at
318-226-6932.
A guide for costs to perform residential construction inspections
in rural areas of the parish.
Typical Home Construction Cost: 2000 Square Foot Home
Inspections ...13...........$65
/ Per inspection = $845.00
Plan review ...(12¢ per square foot)..............
$240.00
The Caddo Parish Permits office is open from 7:30 - 4:00 pm
Monday- Friday.
Click below to view or print applications
for permits issued by the Department of Public Works:
The Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit enforces the Motor Vehicle Ordinance, Chapter 14, Sections 14-111 through 14-126, on all
roadways maintained by Caddo Parish to ensure safety on those roadways and compliance with Parish and State Commercial Vehicle Regulations.
Companies with Overweight/Oversize loads are required to obtain a permit from the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Office. Violations
of the ordinance will be penalized.
Q: What all do I need for my permit?
If the structure is within 5 miles of the city limits of Shreveport, there
are three steps for permits:
1. Contact the Caddo Parish Health Department concerning septic system
2. Contact City of Shreveport concerning a Zoning Certificate for the property
3.
Bring all papers received from these offices to the City Permit office for
development permit
If you are outside that 5-mile buffer- you may omit the second step.
Q: How much is the permit fee?
Permit fees are the same no matter what the structure is going to
be use for. The current prices are as follows: Please contact the City
of Shreveport at (318) 673-6105 for information on Permit fees.
Q: I want to build a business in the parish- what do I need for the permits?
If your structure is going to be a business- along with the above-mentioned
documents- you will need to bring to City of Shreveport (318) 673-6105 - Fire
Marshall stamped plans. Letters are not acceptable. You must also have an Occupational
License
from
the Parish if the business is outside the city limits- The telephone number
for that office is (318) 226-6903.
Q: How do I get electric power turned back
on at my home?
To have electric power turned on to a mobile home that has been on the property
and has had power before- you need to contact the City of Shreveport for a
new utility permit- if the home is a built home and has been receiving power
before-
no
new permits are required. There is no charge for a new permit for an existing
home- the needed information when you call is as follows:
1. The address of the structure needing power.
2. The name as it will appear
on the electric bill.
3. The name of the power company
Give five minutes for the Power Company to receive the fax and
call them again and confirm the fax.
Q: Why do I have to go to the City of
Shreveport- I don’t live
inside the city of Shreveport?
The city of Shreveport zoning office governs any structure placed inside
their Metropolitan Planning area. This is why you must contact them and get
a zoning certificate before we can issue a permit for that area. The City
of Shreveport, located on the first floor of the Government Plaza Building,
performs inspections for the Parish.
Q: Do I need a driveway permit for my lot?
If you are installing a culvert in a parish maintained right of way, you
need to get a driveway permit from the parish permit office. This insures that
the culverts placed on parish maintained road is the correct size to allow
water to flow at a steady pace reducing the possibility of flooding.
Q: What kind of culvert can I use?
The culverts that can be placed in parish right of ways are ones approved
by the Department of Transportation. The parish recommends concrete culverts
because they are basically indestructible, but you can also use metal
corrugated culverts. We do not recommend plastic culvert because they
are not very durable.
Q: I need to run a water line under a parish road, what do I do?
To install a line, whether it is water, sewer, telephone or any other utility
line, either under or along the parish right of way, you need a Road Crossing
permit.
Q: When do I get my deposit back?
A deposit is required to do a road crossing on a Parish road. The deposit
is returned when the applicant notifies our office that the work is complete,
and our inspector confirms that the area has been restored to its original
condition.
Email addresses on this page are displayed in a manner that will deter automatic address harvesting programs. This step is taken to reduce
unsolicited email sent to Parish of Caddo addresses. We regret any inconvenience caused for our legitimate visitors.
Function
Contact
Telephone
Number
E-Mail
Address
Director
Robert
Glass
(318)
226-6934
rglass at caddo.org
Assistant
Director
Tim
Weaver
(318)
226-6930
tweaver at caddo.org
Project
Manager
Ken
Ward
(318)
226-6930
kward at caddo.org
Public
Works Analyst CFM
James
Demouchet
(318)
226-6931
jdemouchet at caddo.org
Right
of Way Representative
Jimmy
Whittington
(318)
226-6930
jwhittington at caddo.org
Permit
Technician
Betty
Roberson
(318)
226-6949
broberson at caddo.org
Commercial Vehicle Permit
Technician
Toya
Edwards
(318)
226-6949 (318) 698-8004 fax
tedwards at
caddo.org
Commercial
Vehicle Enforcement Officer
Harold
Woodard
(318)
226-6949
hwoodard
at caddo.org
GIS
Analyst
Leon
Gafford
(318)
226-6930
lgafford
at caddo.org
Adjudicated
Property Analyst
Rodessa
Jones
(318)
226-6930
rjones
at caddo.org
Adjudicated
Property Analyst
Carolyn
Spikes
(318)
226-6934
cspikes
at caddo.org
Solid
Waste Manager
Melissa
Cathey
(318)
226-6936
mcathey
at caddo.org
South
Camp Manager
James
C. Hankins
(318)
925-9558
jhankins
at caddo.org
North
Camp Manager
Gary
Stoneman
(318)
375-2464
gstoneman
at caddo.org
Administrative
Assistant
Jennifer
Glover
(318)
226-6931
jglover
at caddo.org
Parish Inspector/ Code Enforcement
Daryl
Bass
(318)
226-6930
dbass
at caddo.org
Permit
Supervisor
James
Demochet
(318)
226-6931
jdemouchet
at caddo.org
Contacts
Department of Public Works
505 Travis Street, Suite 820
Shreveport, LA 71101
