In most cases, a screened-in porch does not count toward the finished square footage of a Kenner home. Appraisals for loans sold to Fannie Mae must measure houses under the ANSI Z765-2021 standard, and the National Association of Realtors notes that porches and patios are excluded from gross living area, so a screened porch is usually reported as something other than living space.
That doesn’t mean a porch adds nothing, and it doesn’t settle how a Kenner listing or a tax record will describe it. This article explains how square footage is measured for appraisals and where screened porches fit, then covers what to ask before you build or sell. We build screen rooms, not appraisals, so treat this as general background and take your specific questions to a licensed appraiser or your real estate agent, and tax questions to the Jefferson Parish Assessor’s Office.
This article is general information about how residential square footage is commonly measured and reported. It isn’t appraisal, legal, tax, or real estate advice, and rules and lender requirements can change. A licensed appraiser or real estate professional can speak to your property.
Key takeaways
- Fannie Mae’s Selling Guide requires appraisers to follow ANSI Z765-2021 when measuring above-grade square footage on single-family homes.
- Areas that don’t meet the ANSI definition of finished area are reported as unfinished area.
- NAR describes garages, porches, and patios as excluded from gross living area.
- A porch that doesn’t count as square footage can still matter to a buyer, and how much it matters is an appraiser’s call.
Does a screened-in porch count as square footage in Kenner?
Usually not as finished living area. Fannie Mae’s Selling Guide says appraisers “must follow” the ANSI standard “when measuring, calculating and reporting the above- and below-grade square footage(s),” and that the standard must be used for single-family dwellings, including townhomes and detached houses. The same section says “all other areas of the dwelling that do not conform with ANSI definition of finished area” are reported as unfinished area.
NAR’s coverage of square footage disputes puts it plainly: “Areas like garages, porches, patios, and finished areas not accessible from the interior of the primary dwelling, including accessory dwelling units, are also excluded from the gross living area.” A typical screened porch, with screen walls and no heating or cooling, falls on the porch side of that line. HomeGuide’s screened porch guide reaches the same conclusion: “To qualify for added square footage, the addition needs heating, cooling, and insulation like the rest of the home.”
What makes a room count as finished square footage?
The full ANSI standard is a paid document, so we’ll stick to what Fannie Mae publishes about it. Fannie Mae’s guidance on the standard says “all finished areas must have a ceiling height of at least 7′,” with specific rules for sloped ceilings. It also treats finished space that’s reached only through an unfinished area differently from standard finished area. Those details come up with bonus rooms and attics more than porches, but they show how specific the measuring rules are.
For a porch to move into finished area, it generally has to become a real interior room: enclosed walls, conditioned air, finished surfaces, and access from inside the house. That’s a different project from screening, with different permits and costs. If you’re weighing that path, our guide to enclosing a patio in the New Orleans metro compares screens with glass and covers the code questions that come with each.
Can a screened porch still add value to a Kenner home?
It can, but we won’t put a number on it, and neither should anyone selling you a porch. Not counting as square footage means the space isn’t priced as living area. It doesn’t stop an appraiser from considering the porch as a feature when comparing your house with recent sales. Whether a screened porch moves the value, and by how much, depends on comparable sales in your part of Kenner, which is the appraiser’s analysis to make.
What we can say from building them is how Kenner families use the space. Lots here are wide and flat, and evenings near the lake bring mosquitoes in numbers. A screen room on a sound cover turns a slab that sits empty half the year into the room people actually eat in. Our article on the benefits of adding a screen room covers the everyday side.
How should a screened porch be listed when you sell?
Ask your listing agent how they intend to describe it, and keep the porch separate from the living area figure unless a licensed appraiser has measured it as finished space. The Appraisal Institute notes that appraisals measured under the ANSI standard “probably will not readily align with information in the MLS and tax records,” and that only a small number of MLS systems have adopted it. That gap is where square footage arguments start.
A few habits help:
- Keep the permit and final inspection records for the porch.
- Keep the written scope from the builder, with dimensions.
- Describe the porch by its dimensions and features in the listing remarks, separate from the heated square footage.
- If a prior appraisal exists, check how the appraiser sketched and labeled the porch.
Is square footage the same as what the Jefferson Parish Assessor uses?
Not necessarily. An appraisal for a mortgage and a property tax assessment are separate processes run by different people for different purposes. The Jefferson Parish Assessor’s Office appraises and assesses property across the parish, Kenner included. Its records can describe a house differently from an appraisal report. Our article on screen rooms and Jefferson Parish property taxes explains how the assessor’s side works and what to ask that office before you build.
Does building a screened porch in Kenner need a permit?
The City of Kenner states that a building permit is necessary on all construction, and its Inspection and Code Enforcement Department reviews and issues building permits for structures in the city. A permitted, inspected porch is also easier to document when you sell. We pull Kenner permits as part of our Kenner screen rooms work, and if the porch needs a roof first, our Kenner patio covers are framed to accept screens later. For a sense of price before you call, our guide to what a screened-in porch costs walks through national cost data.
Frequently asked questions
Is a screened porch counted as livable space?
Generally no. Under the measuring approach Fannie Mae requires, space that doesn’t meet the ANSI definition of finished area is reported as unfinished, and a typical screened porch doesn’t meet it. A licensed appraiser makes the call on a specific property.
Would adding glass and air conditioning change the answer?
It might, if the result meets the finished area definition, including ceiling height and interior access. That’s a bigger project than screening, so get the appraisal question answered by an appraiser before you design around it.
Can a seller include the porch in the square footage anyway?
Listing practices vary, and a mismatch between a listing and an appraisal can cause problems in a sale. Talk with your agent about how the porch should be described for your property.
Planning a screen room for your Kenner home? We’ll measure the space and put the scope in writing, so you have something concrete to show your agent or appraiser. Call (504) 285-2659 or see how we work locally on our Kenner service area page.
