Louisiana Landlord-Tenant Laws (2026)

Louisiana landlord-tenant rules at a glance

Security deposits in Louisiana

The deposit rule in Louisiana is: No statutory limit. After the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the deposit within 1 month, typically with an itemized statement for any amounts withheld. Deductions are limited to unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, and other charges the statute or lease allows, routine repainting and carpet aging from ordinary use generally cannot be charged to the tenant. Both parties should document the unit's condition at move-in and move-out; disputes usually turn on that evidence.

Landlord entry and tenant privacy

Louisiana's entry rule is: No statute, reasonable notice expected. Entry is generally limited to legitimate purposes such as repairs, inspections, and showings, and emergencies allow immediate entry everywhere. Where the statute is silent or vague, courts fall back on the tenant's right to quiet enjoyment, so landlords should give written notice and enter at reasonable hours regardless of the statutory minimum.

Rent increases and rent control

Rent control status in Louisiana: Preempted/none. Even without rent control, a landlord cannot raise rent mid-lease unless the lease allows it, and periodic tenancies require proper advance notice of an increase, commonly the same notice period used to terminate (10 days before the end of the rental month in Louisiana). Retaliatory increases after a tenant exercises a legal right are prohibited in most states.

Eviction process overview

For unpaid rent, Louisiana requires: 5-day notice to vacate (the lease can waive this notice). If the tenant does not pay or leave, the landlord files an eviction case (the name varies: unlawful detainer, summary process, forcible entry and detainer), serves the tenant, and attends a hearing. Only a court judgment followed by a sheriff or constable can remove a tenant, lockouts and utility shutoffs are illegal in every state. Timelines vary from a few weeks to several months depending on court backlog and whether the tenant contests the case.

Late fees

Louisiana's late fee rule: No statutory cap, must be reasonable and stated in the lease. Even where no statutory cap exists, courts can strike down fees that operate as penalties rather than reasonable estimates of the landlord's actual cost, and the fee must appear in the written lease to be enforceable.

Ending a lease or month-to-month tenancy

To end a month-to-month tenancy in Louisiana, the required notice is: 10 days before the end of the rental month. Fixed-term leases end on their own schedule unless renewed, though some states and cities require just cause or additional notice even at lease end. Notice should always be written, dated, and delivered by a method the statute recognizes.

Is Louisiana landlord-friendly or tenant-friendly?

Louisiana is generally considered landlord-friendly. Louisiana permits lease clauses that waive the eviction notice entirely, has no deposit cap or rent control, and requires only 10 days' notice to end a month-to-month tenancy.

Official source

The governing law is the Louisiana Lessee's Deposit Act and Civil Code lease articles (La. R.S. 9:3251; C.C.P. art. 4701). Read the current text at the state's official legislative site: https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Laws_Toc.aspx?folder=75&level=Parent.

Louisiana landlord-tenant law FAQs

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Louisiana?

Security deposits in Louisiana are governed by the Louisiana Lessee's Deposit Act and Civil Code lease articles (La. R.S. 9:3251; C.C.P. art. 4701). The deposit rule is: No statutory limit. After the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the deposit (minus properly documented deductions) within 1 month. Landlords who miss the deadline or take undocumented deductions can owe the tenant damages, so both sides should document the unit's condition at move-in and move-out and keep an itemized statement of any charges. Deposit rules are amended fairly often, so verify the current statute before relying on a specific number.

How much notice does a landlord have to give before evicting for unpaid rent in Louisiana?

For nonpayment of rent, Louisiana requires: 5-day notice to vacate (the lease can waive this notice). That notice is only the first step, a landlord cannot legally remove a tenant without then filing an eviction case and winning a court judgment, and self-help evictions (changing locks, shutting off utilities) are prohibited. Local courts and city ordinances can add procedural steps, so check the Louisiana Lessee's Deposit Act and Civil Code lease articles (La. R.S. 9:3251; C.C.P. art. 4701) and local rules before starting an eviction.

Can a landlord enter a rental property without permission in Louisiana?

Louisiana's entry rule is: No statute, reasonable notice expected. Genuine emergencies (fire, flooding, gas leaks) are a standard exception in every state, and lease clauses can add detail but generally cannot strip a tenant's right to quiet enjoyment. For ending a month-to-month tenancy, Louisiana requires 10 days before the end of the rental month of notice. When in doubt, put entry requests and termination notices in writing and confirm the current rule in the Louisiana Lessee's Deposit Act and Civil Code lease articles (La. R.S. 9:3251; C.C.P. art. 4701).

Compare nearby states

• Texas landlord-tenant laws
• Mississippi landlord-tenant laws
• Arkansas landlord-tenant laws

Related Lofty resources

• Rental property calculator - model cash flow with Louisiana vacancy and eviction-cost assumptions.
• All 50 states + DC compared