Louisiana Has a Law That Forces Insurance Companies to Discount Your Premium. Are You Taking Advantage of It?
Most Louisiana homeowners pay too much for homeowner's insurance. Not because of what they've filed, but because of what their roof is made of.
Louisiana's Act 533 is one of the most homeowner-friendly insurance laws in the country. It requires carriers to offer documented premium discounts to homeowners with IBHS FORTIFIED Roof certification. Liberty Mutual and Safeco offer up to 40%. USAA up to 37%. State Farm up to 35%. Allstate up to 30%.
Every year you wait is a year of premium savings that doesn't come back. If your roof is due for replacement anyway, the decision isn't whether to go FORTIFIED, it's whether you can afford not to. The discount compounds. Run the math.
What Is Act 533?
Act 533 of the 2024 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature requires all admitted insurers in Louisiana to provide actuarially justified premium discounts to homeowners with IBHS FORTIFIED Roof designation. The law makes these discounts transparent by requiring the Louisiana Department of Insurance to publish an annual compliance report every July 1 listing all approved discounts by carrier. It applies to all admitted carriers in the state.
Which Carriers Offer Act 533 Discounts?
Under Louisiana's Act 533, all admitted insurance companies are required to offer premium discounts to FORTIFIED Roof homeowners. Current discounts vary by carrier:
| Insurance Company | Discount |
|---|---|
| Liberty Mutual / Safeco | up to 40% |
| USAA | up to 37% |
| State Farm | up to 35% |
| Allstate | up to 30% |
What Is IBHS FORTIFIED Certification?
The FORTIFIED standard is a voluntary, beyond-code construction and retrofitting method developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). The entry-level designation, FORTIFIED Roof, focuses on keeping the roof on and the water out during severe weather. It requires specific enhancements like ring-shank nails, a sealed roof deck, and locked-down edges. Only roofs installed by certified contractors and verified by independent evaluators qualify for the designation.
How Do I Get My FORTIFIED Discount?
Getting your Act 533 discount involves a straightforward process:
- Find a certified contractor: Only IBHS FORTIFIED certified contractors can perform the installation.
- Install the roof: The contractor installs your roof to the FORTIFIED standard, documenting the process.
- Get your IBHS certificate: An independent evaluator reviews the documentation and issues your official FORTIFIED Roof certificate.
- Give it to your agent: Provide the certificate to your insurance agent to apply the Act 533 discount to your policy.
How Much Does a FORTIFIED Roof Cost in Louisiana?
The cost of a FORTIFIED roof varies depending on the size and complexity of your home, but a full replacement typically ranges from $15,000 to $25,000+. Upgrading to the FORTIFIED standard generally adds a modest percentage to the cost of a standard roof replacement. However, the Act 533 discount offsets this incremental cost over time. Many homeowners recover the upgrade cost in just a few years through insurance savings, making it a smart long-term investment.
Get Your Free FORTIFIED Assessment
Call (337) 999-ROOF — Lafayette & Acadiana
Call (225) 385-ROOF — Baton Rouge
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