Burglar bars are one of the oldest and most reliable forms of home security in New Orleans, and for good reason. They are always on, always visible, and they stop entry before it happens. At Big Easy Iron Works, we custom-fabricate and install iron burglar bars for homes and businesses throughout the greater New Orleans area. Every installation is legally compliant, structurally sound, and built to Louisiana’s fire egress requirements.
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Yes. Burglar bars are completely legal in Louisiana, including in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish, for both residential and commercial properties. There are no local ordinances prohibiting the installation of window or door security bars.
The one condition that applies is fire safety. Louisiana has adopted the International Residential Code, which requires that any bar, grille, or screen placed over a bedroom’s emergency escape and rescue opening must be operable from the inside without a key, tool, or special knowledge. This is the quick-release requirement. Fixed bars that permanently seal a bedroom’s only egress window are a code violation, not a legal gray area. Big Easy Iron Works installs quick-release systems on all bedroom egress windows as standard practice.
For properties in historic districts under the Historic District Landmarks Commission (HDLC), such as the French Quarter, Marigny, and Garden District, exterior modifications including new ironwork require a Certificate of Appropriateness before installation begins. We work with HDLC-compliant designs and can walk you through the approval process.
We offer four main bar configurations to match the security level, aesthetic, and fire code requirements of each property.
Fixed bars are welded or bolted permanently to the window frame or adjacent masonry. They provide the highest level of deterrence and require no activation or maintenance beyond occasional repainting. Fixed bars are appropriate for commercial storefronts, basement vents, and residential windows that are not designated as a bedroom’s emergency egress opening. They are not code-compliant on any bedroom window that serves as the room’s only emergency exit.
Quick-release bars are visually identical to fixed bars from the outside. The difference is an interior-mounted latch, lever, or push-pin mechanism that allows the bars to swing open or release in seconds without any key or tool. This is the only type of bar that satisfies Louisiana fire code on bedroom emergency escape windows. Big Easy Iron Works fabricates quick-release systems in standard bar widths and custom ornamental styles. If you currently have fixed bars on bedroom windows, we can retrofit a quick-release mechanism in many cases without replacing the entire bar set.
New Orleans has a centuries-long tradition of decorative wrought iron. Ornamental burglar bars bring security and historic aesthetic together, using scrollwork, fleur-de-lis accents, lance-top pickets, and custom geometric patterns that complement your home’s architecture. These bars are available in both fixed and quick-release configurations and can be fabricated to match existing ironwork on your balcony, fence, or gate. For properties requiring HDLC approval, our ornamental designs are consistently well-received by the commission because they reflect the city’s ironwork heritage.
Removable panels are mounted in a permanent frame but can be detached entirely using a key-operated receiver bolt or an interior-release mechanism. They are a practical choice for commercial properties that need to clear their windows for cleaning or seasonal display changes, and for homeowners who want the option to remove bars when the property is occupied during daytime. Removable panels provide the same deterrent effect as fixed bars when installed and require more hardware than quick-release bars but offer greater flexibility.
Alarm systems and security cameras are useful tools, but they work differently than burglar bars. Understanding the distinction helps you build a complete security strategy rather than relying on one layer alone.
Burglar bars are passive and always-on. They physically prevent entry at the window or door opening. No power source, no monitoring subscription, and no response time required. When a potential intruder sees bars on your windows, they typically move on without attempting entry. Research shows that iron security bars reduce break-in risk by up to 50 percent on secured openings, and that most burglars prefer targets that do not require time and noise to defeat.
Alarm systems are reactive. They detect intrusion after it has begun and trigger a response, whether that is a siren, a call to a monitoring center, or a notification to your phone. They deter some burglars visually if signage is present, but an alarm system does not physically stop entry. An intruder willing to accept a few minutes of alarm noise before police respond can still ransack a home.
Security cameras are primarily evidentiary. They create a record of what occurred and may deter opportunistic criminals who notice the cameras. They do not stop a determined intruder and are most useful for insurance claims and prosecution after a crime has already happened.
The most effective approach combines physical barriers with monitoring and cameras. But if you can only do one thing, iron burglar bars on your vulnerable openings stop entries before they happen. Nothing else does.
This is not a disclaimer. It is the most important safety topic on this page.
Fixed burglar bars on bedroom windows have contributed to fire fatalities in Louisiana and across the South. When a house fire starts, exits fill with smoke fast. Occupants may have seconds to get out, not minutes. A bedroom with fixed bars on its only window is a trap. Firefighters breaking in from outside face the same barrier as a burglar trying to break in.
Louisiana’s adoption of the International Residential Code addresses this directly. Any bar, grille, or screen placed over an emergency escape and rescue opening must be releasable from the inside without a key, tool, or force beyond what is required to operate the window itself. The release mechanism must be operable without special knowledge, meaning a child or a disoriented adult must be able to work it.
Big Easy Iron Works does not install fixed bars on bedroom egress windows. Period. If you contact us about replacing existing fixed bars with quick-release systems, we will schedule that work quickly because we understand the life safety issue involved. The upgrade typically does not require replacing the entire bar, and it does not compromise the security or visual appearance of the installation.
Cost depends on the type of bar, the size and number of openings, material selection, whether custom fabrication is involved, and site access conditions. General pricing ranges per single window opening:
Compared to alarm system installation and monthly monitoring contracts, iron burglar bars are a one-time cost with no recurring fees and no dependency on power or cellular service. They depreciate slowly and, with basic maintenance, can last the life of the building.
All estimates are free and conducted on-site. We measure every opening, confirm egress classification for bedrooms, and review any historic district requirements before quoting. There are no surprises on the final invoice.
Big Easy Iron Works installs burglar bars throughout the greater New Orleans area, including:
The terms are used interchangeably in New Orleans and across Louisiana. “Burglar bars” is the common residential term that most homeowners use, while “security bars” is slightly more common in commercial contexts. Both refer to the same product: metal bars installed over windows and doors to prevent unauthorized entry. At Big Easy Iron Works, we use both terms to describe our window and door bar systems. The type of bar, whether fixed, quick-release, or decorative, is what matters functionally. The name is just regional preference.
No, not every window. The quick-release requirement under Louisiana’s adopted building code applies specifically to emergency escape and rescue openings, which are the windows in a bedroom that serve as the room’s designated emergency exit. Typically, this is one window per bedroom. Windows in other rooms, commercial storefront windows, basement vents, and non-egress bedroom windows can legally have fixed bars. However, we recommend discussing the egress classification of each window with us during the estimate so nothing is misclassified. Getting this wrong is a code violation and a genuine safety risk.
Homeowners can legally install prefabricated window security bars purchased from a hardware store in most Louisiana jurisdictions, provided the installation meets egress requirements. However, professional fabrication and installation offers significant advantages. A professional can assess which windows require quick-release systems, ensure mounting hardware is anchored into structural framing rather than just drywall, fabricate bars to the exact dimensions of non-standard openings, and handle HDLC approval for historic district properties. Improper installation, particularly bars mounted into non-structural material, can fail under the force a determined intruder applies. For a one-time security investment, professional installation is worth the cost difference.
In New Orleans, iron bars on windows and doors are a normal and expected part of the residential landscape, particularly in older neighborhoods. Well-fabricated ornamental bars, properly painted and maintained, are generally viewed as a positive feature rather than a negative one. They signal that the property is secured and that the owner has invested in physical security infrastructure. Bars that are rusted, poorly fitted, or visually mismatched with the home’s architecture can detract from curb appeal. The solution is quality fabrication and maintenance, not avoiding bars altogether. We can also match existing ironwork on the property to create a cohesive look.
Yes. Mild steel bars can be painted with any exterior-grade paint in any color, and powder coating is available for a more durable, factory-applied finish. Black and oil-rubbed bronze are the most common choices in New Orleans because they complement both historic and contemporary architecture. Custom colors are available. We apply a rust-inhibiting primer before any topcoat, and powder coating provides a harder, longer-lasting finish than brush-applied paint. For ornamental bars in historic districts, the HDLC typically prefers black or dark tones that reflect period-appropriate ironwork colors, though the commission focuses primarily on design rather than color.
Quick-release bars use a latch, lever, or push-pin mechanism mounted on the interior side of the bar frame. To release, you push, pull, or lift the mechanism, and the bars swing open on a hinge or drop away from the frame entirely, depending on the system type. The mechanism requires no key, no tool, and no instruction, by design. It must be operable by feel in low light or smoke conditions. From the outside, the bars look and function like fixed bars. A person attempting to force them from outside cannot defeat the release because it is interior-only. Big Easy Iron Works tests every quick-release mechanism before we leave the site to confirm it operates correctly and that the homeowner is comfortable using it.
Quite the opposite. Many homeowners insurance carriers offer protective device credits for physical security improvements including iron burglar bars. The logic is straightforward: bars reduce the probability of a break-in, which reduces the risk of a property loss claim. To access the discount, document your installation with photos and, if the carrier requires it, a receipt or invoice from your installer. Contact your insurance provider and ask specifically about protective device credits under your policy. Results vary by carrier and policy type, but the potential for a premium reduction is a secondary financial benefit on top of the security value the bars already provide.
Yes, assuming comparable material and gauge. Ornamental designs are fabricated from the same mild steel or wrought iron stock as plain bars. The scrollwork and decorative elements are welded additions or forms forged into the bar material itself, not separate weak points. A properly fabricated ornamental bar with quality welds is structurally equivalent to a plain bar of the same steel gauge. The key variable is fabrication quality, not design style. Thin-gauge imported decorative bars purchased online may be decorative in name only, with insufficient material strength to resist forced entry. Our ornamental bars are fabricated to structural specifications, not decorative-grade specifications.
Yes. Second-floor and upper-level window bars are common in New Orleans raised cottages and two-story homes, particularly on windows facing balconies, porches, or neighboring rooflines that provide access. The same fire code egress rules apply: if the window is the bedroom’s designated emergency exit, the bars must be quick-release regardless of floor level. Installation on upper floors requires appropriate ladders and rigging, which we handle as part of the job. We also assess the condition of exterior wood framing and masonry around upper-floor windows before installation to ensure the mounting hardware goes into sound structural material.
The test is simple: go to each bedroom, find the window with bars, and try to open the bars from the inside without a key or tool. If you cannot, the bars do not meet egress requirements and are a fire code violation. Fixed bars bolted permanently to the frame with no interior release mechanism fail this test. Key-locked bars fail this test unless you keep a key in the interior cylinder at all times when someone is home, and even that arrangement is considered a hazard by fire safety professionals. If your bars fail the test, call us at 504-732-0066 to schedule an inspection. In many cases, we can retrofit a quick-release mechanism without replacing the entire installation.
Properly fabricated and maintained iron burglar bars can last 30 to 50 years or more. The primary maintenance requirement is paint or powder coat integrity. Bare steel exposed to New Orleans’s humid, salt-air climate will develop surface rust within one to two seasons. Repainting every five to seven years, or sooner if you notice paint chipping or rust spots, keeps the steel protected and the bars structurally sound. Quick-release hardware should be lubricated annually and tested to confirm smooth operation. Bars that are powder-coated at installation have a harder initial finish and typically require less frequent repainting than brush-painted bars. We stand behind our fabrication and installation and are available for maintenance and touch-up work throughout the life of the bars.
Call Big Easy Iron Works at 504-732-0066 or request a free estimate online to schedule your on-site consultation. We fabricate every bar in-house, install with our own crew, and build every job to Louisiana fire code from day one.
“Great job on the iron gates! I can’t believe they finished installing the iron gate and repairing our fence. A lot of my neighbors recommended Big Easy Iron Works and I can see why they trust them so much. Very professional workers came and the owner checked up from time to time. Great experience.”
– Vanessa Johnson“You have my respect for Big Easy Iron Works! Thank you for staying true to your word about quality service. They helped install our new iron fence and it exceeded my expectations to be honest. They explained everything they would be doing every day of the job. I really recommend them for those living in New Orleans. Hire them for your fencing needs.”
– Billy Anderson“I contacted Big Easy Iron Works because most of my neighbors recommended them to me. I am satisfied with the time that they took to finish the work repairs with my wood fence. The fences they placed turned out nice and they looked like they would last longer. I would also recommend them to my friends in New Orleans.”
– Shirley Oaks
625 Celeste St Suite 504-E,