Louisiana (LA) law guide
Louisiana governs residential leases primarily through **Louisiana Civil Code Title VIII** (Articles 2668-2729), supplemented by the **Lessee's Deposit Act** at La. R.S. 9:3251-3254. The state takes a notably hands-off approach to rental regulation: there is no statewide rent control, no statutory limit on security deposit amounts, and no required advance notice before a landlord enters a unit unless the lease specifies one. That combination places Louisiana among the most landlord-permissive states in the South, which matters for property managers operating across multiple Gulf Coast markets.
Security deposit limit
No statutory cap
Deposit return deadline
Within 1 month of lease termination
Statewide rent control
None - prohibited by state law
Nonpayment eviction notice
5-day notice to vacate (CCP Art. 4701)
Louisiana rental market snapshot
Population
~4.6 million (U.S. Census Bureau 2024 estimate)
Renter households
~33% of households rent
Median rent
~$1,235 (2BR statewide)
Largest rental markets
New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette, Lake Charles
New Orleans leads the state with a ~51% renter share and a median 2BR rent near $1,464, reflecting post-Katrina housing stock constraints that make the city's landlord-friendly deposit rules especially consequential for renters who cannot easily absorb unreturned funds.
Louisiana's Lessee's Deposit Act (La. R.S. 9:3251-3254) contains no ceiling on how much a landlord may collect as a security deposit. In practice, most landlords charge one to two months' rent, but the statute places no numerical cap on the amount. Landlords may withhold deposit funds only for two reasons: unpaid rent or other tenant defaults, and physical damage that exceeds normal wear and tear. Routine deterioration from ordinary use cannot justify a deduction.
Deposits must be returned within one month after the lease terminates, along with a written itemized statement for any portion withheld. The clock starts on the actual termination date, not a move-out inspection date. Tenants are required to furnish a forwarding address; if they do not, the one-month deadline still applies from lease end. The abandonment exception matters here: if a tenant walks off the property without giving proper notice, the one-month timeline does not run until the lessor learns of the abandonment.
Landlords who willfully fail to return a deposit face stiff exposure. Under La. R.S. 9:3252, failure to remit within 30 days of a written refund demand constitutes willful noncompliance, entitling the tenant to recover the greater of $300 or twice the amount wrongfully withheld, plus court costs and reasonable attorney fees. That penalty doubled from $200 when the legislature amended the statute effective January 1, 2019, signaling increasing pressure on non-compliant landlords despite the absence of a deposit cap.
Louisiana has no statewide rent control law, and state policy actively blocks local governments from enacting any form of rent stabilization or rent-increase caps. No city or parish in Louisiana - including New Orleans or Baton Rouge - may limit how much a landlord charges for a new rental unit or how quickly rents may rise during a tenancy. Landlords may also set their own late fees without any statutory ceiling on the amount or timing.
For month-to-month tenants, a landlord who wants to raise rent must deliver written notice at least 10 days before the end of the current rental month under Louisiana Civil Code Articles 1983 and 2728, as interpreted by Louisiana courts and legal aid guides. That notice triggers a new rental term at the higher rate if the tenant stays. There is no statewide limit on the size of the increase, no required cooling-off period between consecutive increases, and no restriction on raising rent when a unit turns over to a new occupant.
Fixed-term leases provide the most predictable rent protection: the rate is locked in until the lease expires, and a landlord cannot unilaterally change it mid-term. When a fixed term ends and a month-to-month tenancy begins, the 10-day notice window reactivates. Tenants who need longer predictability should negotiate multi-year lease agreements, since Louisiana's landlord-permissive framework offers no administrative alternative.
Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 4701 requires a landlord to deliver a written notice giving the tenant at least five calendar days to vacate before an eviction lawsuit can be filed. For nonpayment of rent, this is a straight notice to vacate - Louisiana does not use a pay-or-quit structure in the same way many common-law states do, though in practice landlords often accept payment and withdraw the notice. The five-day period does not include the delivery date, and legal holidays are excluded from the count.
Once the notice period expires without the tenant vacating, the landlord files a Rule for Possession in the appropriate court. A sheriff or constable must serve the court summons on the tenant, and the hearing is typically scheduled at least three days after service. If the court rules for the landlord, the tenant has 24 hours to vacate or file an appeal. Only a sheriff or parish constable may physically remove a tenant; Louisiana strictly prohibits self-help evictions.
Self-help tactics - changing locks, removing a tenant's belongings, or shutting off utilities without a court order - expose a landlord to civil liability and potential damages. The statutory framework is designed to move quickly when tenants do not contest: an uncontested eviction can conclude in as little as two to three weeks. Contested evictions that escalate through appeal can extend the timeline significantly, as the 24-hour post-judgment window may pause during appellate proceedings.
Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2691, landlords must make all repairs necessary to keep the rental unit in a condition suitable for the purpose for which it was leased. This is Louisiana's statutory habitability warranty: the unit must have functioning water, heat, and sanitation, and the landlord bears ongoing responsibility for non-tenant-caused deterioration throughout the tenancy. A tenant who gives written notice of a needed repair and receives no timely response may pursue a rent reduction through the courts or, for serious defects, seek judicial dissolution of the lease.
Louisiana does not codify a specific notice period before a landlord may enter a rental unit. The lease agreement typically governs access rights, and landlords are expected to coordinate access for reasonable purposes. Repeated warrantless entry may constitute constructive eviction under case law, giving the tenant grounds to terminate the lease and seek damages. Tenants should ensure any lease they sign includes a clear notice provision - at least 24 hours is standard in well-drafted agreements.
Retaliation protections exist under Louisiana case law: a landlord who seeks to evict a tenant in direct response to a habitability complaint or report to a government agency may face a retaliation defense in eviction proceedings. Fair Housing protections apply statewide under both federal law and Louisiana's own anti-discrimination statutes, prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability in any rental transaction. Louisiana also prohibits landlords from including lease clauses that waive a tenant's right to a habitable premises.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Governing statute: Louisiana Civil Code Title VIII (Lease) and Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 9, Sections 3251-3254 (Lessee's Deposit Act). Laws change; confirm the current statute or consult an attorney before acting. Last reviewed 2026-06-04.
Louisiana FAQ
Louisiana landlords must return the security deposit within one month (30 days) after the lease terminates. If any portion is withheld, the landlord must include a written itemized statement explaining each deduction within that same one-month window. Tenants should provide a forwarding address at move-out to ensure timely delivery.
No. Louisiana law sets no cap on how much a landlord may charge as a security deposit. The Lessee's Deposit Act (La. R.S. 9:3251-3254) governs how deposits are held and returned but does not limit the amount. Tenants should negotiate the deposit amount before signing and document the unit's condition thoroughly at move-in.
No. Louisiana has no statewide rent control, and state law prohibits cities and parishes from enacting their own rent stabilization ordinances. Landlords may charge any rent amount and raise it without a cap. For month-to-month tenants, a landlord must give at least 10 days' written notice before the end of the rental month before a rent increase takes effect.
Louisiana requires a minimum five-day written notice to vacate under CCP Article 4701 before a landlord can file an eviction lawsuit for nonpayment of rent. The five days begin the day after the notice is delivered, and legal holidays are not counted. After the notice period, the landlord must still go through the court process - self-help eviction is illegal.
No. Louisiana strictly prohibits self-help evictions. A landlord cannot change locks, remove a tenant's belongings, or cut off utilities to force a tenant out without a court order. Only a sheriff or parish constable may physically remove a tenant after a court judgment. Violating this rule exposes the landlord to civil liability and damages.
Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2691, a landlord must make all repairs necessary to keep the rental in a condition suitable for its intended use throughout the tenancy. This covers structural integrity, plumbing, heating, and sanitation. If a landlord fails to make required repairs after written notice, a tenant may pursue a court-ordered rent reduction or seek judicial dissolution of the lease for serious defects.
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