Landlord laws
Louisiana landlord-tenant law
Louisiana Civil Code arts. 2668–2729 (Lease), La. R.S. 9:3201–3261, Code of Civil Procedure art. 4701, and La. R.S. 51:2606 (official text, legis.la.gov)
Last verified Oct 2026
General information only. Not legal advice. RentToolkit is not a law firm. Laws and local ordinances change, so check the statute and consult a licensed attorney in your state before acting.
| Topic | Rule (plain English) | Statute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security deposit cap | Not specified in state statute. Louisiana statutes set no maximum security deposit. We checked every section of R.S. 9:3201–3261 and Civil Code arts. 2668–2729. | La. R.S. 9:3251 | Not in statute |
| Deposit return deadline | Return the deposit within one month after the lease ends. You may keep what's reasonably needed to remedy the tenant's default or unreasonable wear. If you keep any, send an itemized statement with reasons within one month after the tenancy ends, or within 15 days after that one-month date. The tenant must give a forwarding address. This doesn't apply if the tenant abandons the premises early or without the required notice. Willful noncompliance costs the greater of $300 or twice the amount wrongfully kept (R.S. 9:3252). | La. R.S. 9:3251(A), (C); 9:3252 | Verified |
| Deposit holding and interest | Not specified in state statute. No statute requires paying interest or using a separate account. We checked every section of R.S. 9:3201–3261. | La. R.S. 9:3251 | Not in statute |
| Late fee cap and grace period | Not specified in state statute. Louisiana statutes set no residential late-fee cap and require no grace period. We checked every section of the residential lease statutes. The late-charge limits in R.S. 9:3314 apply only to consumer leases of movables. Note: Late-fee limits, if any, come from the lease and general contract law, not a specific statute. | La. R.S. 9:3259 | Not in statute |
| Landlord entry notice | Not specified in state statute. No statute sets a notice period for landlord entry. We checked every section of Civil Code arts. 2668–2729 and R.S. 9:3201–3261. You must protect the tenant's peaceful possession (C.C. art. 2682(3), 2700). Note: Entry rights come from the lease and the warranty of peaceful possession, not a statutory notice rule. | La. Civ. Code arts. 2682, 2700 | Not in statute |
| Rent increase notice | Not specified in state statute. No statute sets a rent-increase notice period. We checked every section. To end a month-to-month lease, give notice at least 10 calendar days before the end of the month. For periods longer than a month, give 30 days (C.C. art. 2728). So give at least that before new rent applies. | La. Civ. Code art. 2728 | Not in statute |
| Rent control status | No statute mentions rent control. R.S. 9:3258 says a lessor's rights under the Civil Code lease title can't be altered, abridged or diminished except by state law, subject to reasonable police power. Note: Whether R.S. 9:3258 bars local rent control is a matter of interpretation. The statute doesn't name rent control. | La. R.S. 9:3258 | Verified |
| Eviction notice: nonpayment | If rent isn't paid when due, you may dissolve the lease (C.C. art. 2704). To get possession, deliver a written notice to vacate giving at least 5 days from delivery (C.C.P. art. 4701). The tenant may waive this notice in a written lease clause. | La. Civ. Code art. 2704; La. C.C.P. art. 4701 | Verified |
| Eviction notice: lease violation | No separate cure notice is required by statute. Once the lease is terminated for a breach, deliver a written notice to vacate giving at least 5 days from delivery, unless the lease waives it in writing. Note: Whether a breach justifies ending the lease is governed by the lease and Civil Code obligations rules, not a specific statute. | La. C.C.P. art. 4701 | Verified |
| Required disclosures | Not specified in state statute. No Louisiana statute requires specific residential lease disclosures. We checked every section of R.S. 9:3201–3261 and Civil Code arts. 2668–2729. For pre-1978 housing, give the federal lead-paint disclosure (40 CFR 745.113). | 40 CFR 745.113 | Not in statute |
| Fair housing beyond federal law | Louisiana adds military status and natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle. | La. R.S. 51:2606 | Verified |
Last verified Oct 2026 · Sources are official state legislature sites. Federal rules also apply.
Tools for Louisiana landlords
Late fee calculator
Model grace periods and fees.
Open →Prorated rent calculator
Mid-month move-ins.
Open →Rent increase calculator
New rent and annual impact.
Open →General information only. Not legal advice. RentToolkit is not a law firm. Laws and local ordinances change, so check the statute and consult a licensed attorney in your state before acting.