Louisiana · Renters' rights · Updated Oct 2026
Louisiana tenant rights
Security deposits, repairs, landlord entry, notices and evictions in Louisiana, in plain English from official sources, with free tools to get your deposit back and ask for repairs.
Guides for Louisiana renters
Security deposit
Limit, deadline, deductions, penalty and the calculator.
Repairs
The landlord's duty, repair and deduct, withholding rent and a repair letter.
Eviction
Notice periods, court deadlines, illegal lockouts and a timeline tool.
Security deposit in Louisiana
- Limit
- no statewide limit
- Deadline to return it
- The landlord must return the deposit within one month after the lease ends. If the landlord keeps any part, the landlord must send an itemized statement; since August 1, 2026 the landlord may send that statement up to 15 days after the one-month mark. Give the landlord your forwarding address when you move out. This rule does not apply if you abandon the home without giving the required notice or leave before the lease ends.
- Itemized list
- Yes, if any part is kept: an itemized statement of what was kept and why. Receipts are not required by the statute.
- What may be deducted
- Amounts reasonably needed to cover your default (such as unpaid rent) or to fix unreasonable wear to the home. Normal wear and tear may not be charged.
- Interest
- no
- If the landlord keeps it wrongly
- If the landlord willfully fails to follow the law, you can recover the amount wrongly kept plus $300 or twice the amount wrongly kept, whichever is greater. Not returning the deposit within 30 days after your written demand counts as willful. The court may, in its discretion, also award costs and attorney's fees to the winner (R.S. 9:3253). Any lease clause waiving these rights is void.
How to get your deposit back
- Before you move out, clean, take dated photos and video of every room, and return all keys.
- Give your landlord your new address in writing. In Louisiana: Give the landlord your forwarding address when you move out.
- Wait for the deadline: The landlord must return the deposit within one month after the lease ends.
- If the money or an itemized list doesn't come, or the deductions are wrong, send a demand letter (below). Keep proof of mailing.
- If that doesn't work, sue in small claims court. Limit: $5,000 in city court small claims divisions and Justice of the Peace courts. Small claims court in Louisiana on Small Claims Map
Repairs in Louisiana
- The landlord's duty
- The landlord must keep the home in a condition suitable for the purpose it was rented for and make all necessary repairs during the lease, except those that are the tenant's responsibility (Civil Code arts. 2682, 2691).
- How to ask for repairs
- Ask the landlord to make the repair (a written, dated request is best; keep a copy). The law gives the landlord a 'reasonable time'; no fixed number of days.
- Repair and deduct
- Allowed. If the landlord does not make necessary repairs within a reasonable time after you ask, you may have them made and either demand immediate repayment or subtract the cost from rent, but only if the repair was necessary and the cost reasonable (Civil Code art. 2694). Your lease may limit this right; check it.
- Withholding rent
- not allowed; there is no rent escrow law. Only the repair-and-deduct remedy above.
- Law
- Louisiana Civil Code arts. 2682, 2691, 2694
Landlord entry in Louisiana
no statute; check your lease. The landlord must protect your peaceful possession during the lease (Civil Code art. 2682).
Eviction in Louisiana
- Notice for unpaid rent
- Written notice to vacate giving you at least 5 days from delivery (Code Civ. Proc. art. 4701). Louisiana has no 'pay or quit' notice. Many leases contain a waiver of this notice; if yours does, the landlord can file right away.
- Notice for a lease violation
- Same written 5-day notice to vacate (unless waived in the lease). No right to cure is required by statute.
- Ending a month-to-month tenancy
- Written notice at least 10 calendar days before the end of the month, from either side (Civil Code arts. 2728-2729). For leases with periods longer than a month, 30 days before the end of the period; week-to-week, 5 days.
- Time to respond to an eviction lawsuit
- No written answer is required. The court sets a hearing ('rule to show cause') no earlier than the third day after you are served; go to court and present your defense (Code Civ. Proc. art. 4732). If the landlord wins, you have only 24 hours before the court can issue a warrant to remove you (art. 4733).
- Lockouts and utility shutoffs
- The landlord must go to court; the eviction articles give the landlord possession only through a court judgment and warrant. Exception: after the required notice, the landlord may retake a home it reasonably believes you abandoned. In parishes under a federal disaster declaration, leaving the home is not treated as abandonment for 30 days, and a landlord who breaks this rule owes you $500 or twice the monthly rent, whichever is greater (Code Civ. Proc. art. 4731).
- Law
- La. Code Civ. Proc. arts. 4701, 4731-4733; Civil Code arts. 2728-2729
Rent increases and rent control in Louisiana
- Notice of a rent increase
- no statute; for a month-to-month lease, the landlord generally has to end the current lease with 10 days' notice before the end of the month to change the terms.
- Rent control
- No rent control. State law says landlords' rights may not be altered except by state law (R.S. 9:3258), which limits local rent rules.
Late fees in Louisiana
no statute
Retaliation in Louisiana
No general statute protecting tenants from retaliation.
Small claims court in Louisiana
Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer.
Limit: $5,000 in city court small claims divisions and Justice of the Peace courts.
Where to get free help in Louisiana
Good to know in Louisiana
- Most Louisiana leases include a waiver of the 5-day notice to vacate. Read your lease: if you signed a waiver, the landlord can file for eviction as soon as your right to stay ends.
- After an eviction judgment you may have only 24 hours to leave before a warrant issues, so go to the hearing and bring proof (receipts, photos, letters).
- Since August 1, 2026 a landlord who keeps part of your deposit has up to 15 extra days after the one-month deadline to send the itemized statement.
Recent law changes
Act 63 of 2026 (HB 292), effective August 1, 2026, amended R.S. 9:3251(A) to let landlords send the itemized statement of deductions within one month after the tenancy ends or within 15 days after that one-month date.
Free tools for Louisiana renters
Pre-set for Louisiana. They run in your browser and send nothing.
Deposit return calculator for Louisiana
Find your state's deadline for returning a security deposit, whether your landlord is late and what you may be owed. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.
Security deposit demand letter for Louisiana
A short, firm and polite letter asking your landlord to return your deposit by a date. It cites your state's deposit law. Many landlords pay at this step, and the letter is proof that you asked. Fill this in, download the letter as PDF or Word (or copy it), sign it, keep a copy and send it in a way you can prove, such as certified mail with a return receipt.
Repair request letter for Louisiana
Ask your landlord in writing to fix the problem by a date. A written, dated request is the first step in almost every state, and it is proof that the landlord knew. Check the problems, add dates, then download the letter as PDF or Word (or copy it). Sign it, keep a copy and photos, and send it in a way you can prove.
Eviction notice timeline for Louisiana
Got a notice from your landlord? Enter the kind of notice and the day you got it to see the dates that follow from your state's rule, what your landlord may not do, and where to get free help fast.
This is not legal advice. Eviction deadlines are short and missing one can cost you your home. Read your notice carefully and contact legal aid or your court's self-help center right away.
Questions about renters' rights in Louisiana
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Louisiana?
no statewide limit
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Louisiana?
The landlord must return the deposit within one month after the lease ends. If the landlord keeps any part, the landlord must send an itemized statement; since August 1, 2026 the landlord may send that statement up to 15 days after the one-month mark. Give the landlord your forwarding address when you move out. This rule does not apply if you abandon the home without giving the required notice or leave before the lease ends.
What can I do if my landlord won't return my deposit in Louisiana?
If the landlord willfully fails to follow the law, you can recover the amount wrongly kept plus $300 or twice the amount wrongly kept, whichever is greater. Not returning the deposit within 30 days after your written demand counts as willful. The court may, in its discretion, also award costs and attorney's fees to the winner (R.S. 9:3253). Any lease clause waiving these rights is void.
What can a landlord deduct from a security deposit in Louisiana?
Amounts reasonably needed to cover your default (such as unpaid rent) or to fix unreasonable wear to the home. Normal wear and tear may not be charged.
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Louisiana?
no
How do I ask my landlord for repairs in Louisiana?
Ask the landlord to make the repair (a written, dated request is best; keep a copy). The law gives the landlord a 'reasonable time'; no fixed number of days.
Can I repair and deduct the cost from rent in Louisiana?
Allowed. If the landlord does not make necessary repairs within a reasonable time after you ask, you may have them made and either demand immediate repayment or subtract the cost from rent, but only if the repair was necessary and the cost reasonable (Civil Code art. 2694). Your lease may limit this right; check it.
Can I withhold rent for repairs in Louisiana?
not allowed; there is no rent escrow law. Only the repair-and-deduct remedy above.
How much notice does a landlord need to enter in Louisiana?
no statute; check your lease. The landlord must protect your peaceful possession during the lease (Civil Code art. 2682).
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Louisiana?
Written notice to vacate giving you at least 5 days from delivery (Code Civ. Proc. art. 4701). Louisiana has no 'pay or quit' notice. Many leases contain a waiver of this notice; if yours does, the landlord can file right away.
How much notice for a lease violation in Louisiana?
Same written 5-day notice to vacate (unless waived in the lease). No right to cure is required by statute.
How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month lease in Louisiana?
Written notice at least 10 calendar days before the end of the month, from either side (Civil Code arts. 2728-2729). For leases with periods longer than a month, 30 days before the end of the period; week-to-week, 5 days.
How long do I have to respond to an eviction lawsuit in Louisiana?
No written answer is required. The court sets a hearing ('rule to show cause') no earlier than the third day after you are served; go to court and present your defense (Code Civ. Proc. art. 4732). If the landlord wins, you have only 24 hours before the court can issue a warrant to remove you (art. 4733).
Can my landlord lock me out or shut off utilities in Louisiana?
The landlord must go to court; the eviction articles give the landlord possession only through a court judgment and warrant. Exception: after the required notice, the landlord may retake a home it reasonably believes you abandoned. In parishes under a federal disaster declaration, leaving the home is not treated as abandonment for 30 days, and a landlord who breaks this rule owes you $500 or twice the monthly rent, whichever is greater (Code Civ. Proc. art. 4731).
How much notice is needed for a rent increase in Louisiana?
no statute; for a month-to-month lease, the landlord generally has to end the current lease with 10 days' notice before the end of the month to change the terms.
Is there rent control in Louisiana?
No rent control. State law says landlords' rights may not be altered except by state law (R.S. 9:3258), which limits local rent rules.
Is there a limit on late fees in Louisiana?
no statute
Can my landlord retaliate if I complain in Louisiana?
No general statute protecting tenants from retaliation.
What is the small claims limit in Louisiana?
$5,000 in city court small claims divisions and Justice of the Peace courts.
- La. R.S. 9:3251-3254 (as amended by Act 63 of 2026)
- La. R.S. 9:3252 Failure of lessor to comply
- Act 63 of 2026 (HB 292) resume digest
- Civil Code art. 2694 Lessee's right to make repairs
- Civil Code art. 2728 Notice of termination; timing
- Code Civ. Proc. art. 4701 Notice to vacate
- Code Civ. Proc. art. 4731 Rule to show cause; abandonment
- Code Civ. Proc. art. 4732 Trial of rule
Last checked: Oct 2026.