Louisiana
Louisiana Landlord-Tenant Laws (2026): Deposits, Notice, and Tenant Rights
Louisiana landlords have no statutory security deposit cap and must return the deposit within one month after the lease terminates. Landlord entry requires tenant consent with no fixed statutory notice period. Month-to-month tenancies require only 10 days written notice to terminate.
Security Deposits in Louisiana
Louisiana does not place a statutory ceiling on the amount a landlord may charge for a security deposit. The landlord and tenant are free to negotiate any amount in the lease, and there is no state agency that reviews or limits that figure.
The deposit return deadline is set by La. R.S. 9:3251, and its wording matters. The statute requires the deposit to be returned "within one month after the lease shall terminate," not within a flat 30 days. In a 31-day month that is one extra day for the landlord, so a tenant counting to day 30 can conclude the landlord is late before the statutory month is actually up. If the landlord retains any portion of the deposit, the same statute requires an itemized written accounting of every deduction within one month after the date the tenancy terminates. The statement must list each specific item and the corresponding cost.
Allowable deductions generally include unpaid rent, damages beyond normal wear and tear, and cleaning costs if the unit was left in a materially worse condition than it was at move-in. A landlord who fails to return the deposit or provide the itemized statement within that one-month period can be held liable for the deposit amount plus reasonable attorney fees and court costs.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Deposit cap | No statutory limit |
| Return deadline | One month after the lease terminates (La. R.S. 9:3251) |
| Itemized statement | Required within one month after the tenancy terminates if deductions are made |
| Interest on deposit | Not required |
Document the unit's condition thoroughly at move-in and move-out with dated photos or video. This record is critical if you need to dispute a deduction.
When Can a Landlord Enter? Notice Rules
Louisiana has no statute that sets a fixed advance-notice period before a landlord may enter a rental unit. The general principle under Louisiana civil law is that the landlord must obtain the tenant's consent to enter for non-emergency purposes, since the tenant has a right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises (La. Civ. Code art. 2682(3)).
In practice, this means a landlord who needs to make repairs, show the unit to prospective tenants, or conduct an inspection should contact the tenant in advance and schedule a mutually agreed time. What counts as reasonable notice depends on the circumstances; 24 hours is a widely accepted standard in the absence of a statutory rule, and many leases in Louisiana set an explicit notice period contractually.
Emergency entry to address an imminent threat, such as a gas leak, flood, or fire, does not require advance consent. However, the landlord should inform the tenant promptly after any emergency entry.
If a lease includes a specific entry-notice clause, that clause governs the parties' obligations. Tenants who face repeated uninvited entries may have grounds to allege interference with quiet enjoyment.
Ending a Lease: Notice to Vacate
Louisiana uses unusually short notice periods to terminate a month-to-month tenancy. Under La. Civ. Code art. 2728, either party may end the lease by giving only 10 days written notice before the next rent-due date. This is one of the shortest month-to-month termination notice periods in the United States, so both landlords and tenants should be aware of how quickly the tenancy can end.
For a fixed-term lease, no separate termination notice is required if the lease already states a specific end date. The tenancy ends automatically on that date unless the parties agree in writing to extend it or the tenant remains with the landlord's consent, in which case a month-to-month tenancy begins.
For situations involving nonpayment of rent or a lease violation, different procedures and shorter notice periods apply. See the Louisiana eviction notice page at /eviction-notice/louisiana for notice requirements when a landlord wants to terminate a tenancy for cause.
Repairs and the Warranty of Habitability
Louisiana's Civil Code establishes an implied warranty that the leased property must be suitable for the use for which it was rented (La. Civ. Code art. 2682). This warranty requires the landlord to maintain the dwelling in a habitable condition throughout the tenancy, keep essential systems such as plumbing, heating, and the structure itself in working order, and comply with applicable housing codes.
Under La. Civ. Code art. 2715, if the leased property is partially destroyed or lost, or its use is otherwise substantially impaired, without the fault of the tenant, the tenant may obtain a diminution of the rent or a dissolution of the lease, whichever is more appropriate under the circumstances. If the landlord was at fault, the tenant may also demand damages. That remedy works alongside art. 2696, the landlord's warranty that the property is suitable for the purpose it was leased for and free of vices or defects that prevent that use.
A different article, art. 2693, is sometimes cited for this rule but does not contain it. Art. 2693 covers the narrower situation where the landlord exercises his own right to make a repair that cannot be postponed until the end of the lease, and it gives the tenant a rent reduction or abatement, or dissolution, for that disruption.
Louisiana does give tenants a repair-and-deduct remedy, and it comes from the Civil Code rather than from a separate landlord-tenant act. Under La. Civ. Code art. 2694, if the landlord fails to perform his obligation to make necessary repairs within a reasonable time after demand by the tenant, the tenant may cause them to be made. The tenant may then demand immediate reimbursement of the amount spent or apply that amount to the payment of rent. The text of the article requires no court order, only a prior demand and a reasonable time for the landlord to act.
Two limits in that article do the real work. The repair must have been necessary, and the amount spent must have been reasonable. A tenant who deducts for a cosmetic upgrade, or who overpays for the work, carries the risk of that choice in any later dispute over the rent. Make the demand in writing, allow a reasonable time, keep the invoices, and deduct only what art. 2694 allows. Withholding rent outright, which is a different act from deducting a documented repair cost, still risks eviction.
For urgent habitability complaints, tenants may also contact local code enforcement or the city housing authority to request an inspection. A code violation citation strengthens a subsequent legal claim.
Rent, Late Fees, and Rent Control
Louisiana does not cap late fees by statute. The lease may specify any late-fee amount the parties agree to. Courts can occasionally reduce a late fee that is found to be a penalty rather than a reasonable liquidated-damage clause, but there is no statutory ceiling.
There is no statutory requirement for how much advance notice a landlord must give before raising the rent. For month-to-month tenants, a rent increase effectively requires 10 days notice before the next period, the same as the general termination notice period, since any material change to a month-to-month lease requires that notice. For fixed-term leases, mid-lease rent increases are only valid if the lease expressly permits them.
Louisiana has no statewide rent-control law, and no Louisiana city or parish has enacted a local rent-control or rent-stabilization ordinance. State law also constrains what a local government could do here. La. R.S. 9:3258 provides that a lessor's rights, including all rights granted to lessors by Title IX of the Louisiana Civil Code dealing with lease, shall not be altered, abridged, or diminished except by state law, and that those rights are subject to the reasonable exercise of the police power. That provision is the statutory obstacle usually cited against municipal rent regulation in Louisiana. Tenants have no protection against rent increases between lease terms beyond the market and whatever negotiation leverage they have.
If You Have a Landlord-Tenant Dispute in Louisiana
Start by creating a paper trail. Send every repair request, notice, and complaint in writing, preferably by email or certified mail, so there is a dated record. Louisiana courts expect parties to have communicated formally before a dispute reaches the courthouse.
Security deposit disputes may be filed in the small claims division of a Louisiana city court. Under La. R.S. 13:5201, only city courts are authorized to establish small claims divisions; Louisiana district courts do not have one, so filing a small claims suit there is a wrong-courthouse mistake. A small claims division may hear cases where the amount in dispute does not exceed $5,000 (La. R.S. 13:5202), which covers the vast majority of deposit disputes. If no city court covers your address, a justice of the peace court or the parish district court is the venue instead. The filing fee is modest, and you do not need an attorney.
For habitability or code violations, contact your city or parish code enforcement office. New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and other municipalities have housing inspection divisions that can issue violation orders, which are useful evidence in court.
Legal aid organizations such as Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (slls.org) and Acadiana Legal Service Corporation provide free civil legal assistance to income-eligible tenants across the state. The Louisiana Law Help website (louisianalawhelp.org) offers plain-language guides on tenant rights.
If you are uncertain about your rights in a specific situation, consult a licensed Louisiana attorney before withholding rent or making repairs on your own.
This article is general legal information, not legal advice. Landlord-tenant rules vary by state and city and change, and some cities add their own ordinances. For advice about a specific situation, consult a licensed attorney or your state housing agency.
Related Pages
More Louisiana Laws
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a landlord have to return my deposit in Louisiana?
La. R.S. 9:3251 gives a Louisiana landlord one month after the lease terminates to return the security deposit, not a flat 30 days. In a 31-day month that is one extra day. If the landlord keeps any portion, a written itemized statement of deductions must also be sent within one month after the date the tenancy terminates. Missing this deadline can expose the landlord to liability for the full deposit plus attorney fees.
How much notice must a landlord give to enter in Louisiana?
Louisiana has no fixed statutory notice period for landlord entry. The tenant has a right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises, so the landlord must obtain consent before entering for non-emergency purposes. A 24-hour notice is a widely accepted standard, and many leases set a specific notice period. Emergency entry for imminent hazards does not require advance notice.
What is the maximum security deposit in Louisiana?
Louisiana has no statutory maximum on security deposits. Landlords may charge any amount agreed to in the lease. The key protection for tenants is the one-month return deadline under La. R.S. 9:3251 and the requirement for an itemized deductions statement.
Can a landlord raise rent in Louisiana?
Yes. There is no rent control in Louisiana at the state or local level. Landlords can raise the rent between lease terms without restriction. For month-to-month tenants, a rent increase requires at least 10 days notice before the next rental period. For fixed-term leases, increases during the lease term are only allowed if the lease permits them.
Can I withhold rent for repairs in Louisiana?
Withholding rent outright can result in eviction, but Louisiana does have a repair-and-deduct remedy. La. Civ. Code art. 2694 provides that if the landlord fails to make necessary repairs within a reasonable time after your demand, you may cause the repairs to be made and then either demand immediate reimbursement or apply the amount to your rent. The article does not require a court order. It does require that the repair was necessary and the amount spent was reasonable, so make the demand in writing and keep the invoices. Code enforcement can also be used to pressure a non-responsive landlord.
How much notice do I need to end a month-to-month lease in Louisiana?
Only 10 days written notice is required to end a month-to-month tenancy in Louisiana under Civil Code art. 2728. This is one of the shortest termination notice periods in the country. The notice must be given at least 10 days before the next rent-due date.
Does Louisiana have rent control?
No. Louisiana has no statewide rent-control law and no city or parish has enacted local rent stabilization. Landlords may raise rent by any amount at the end of a lease term with proper notice.
Updates
Corrected the deposit return deadline to one month after the lease terminates rather than a flat 30 days, added Louisiana's repair-and-deduct remedy under Civil Code art. 2694 (the page had wrongly said none exists), re-anchored the rent-reduction remedy to art. 2715 instead of art. 2693, corrected the small claims forum to city courts rather than district courts, and replaced an unsupported no-preemption statement with La. R.S. 9:3258.
Fixed the citation for a tenant's right to peaceful possession in Louisiana: it is La. Civ. Code art. 2682(3) (the lessor's duty to protect the lessee's peaceful possession), not art. 2692, which is the lessee's own duty to repair damage they caused.
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Louisiana Civil Code
§ 2682The lessor's principal obligationsIn forcecited in 2 of our articles
The lessor is bound: (1) To deliver the thing to the lessee; (2) To maintain the thing in a condition suitable for the purpose of which it was leased; and (3) To protect the lessee's peaceful possession for the duration of the lease.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-05 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.la.gov
Cited in 11 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2022
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Horacek v. Watson (Louisiana Court of Appeal 2012, 11 La.App. 3 Cir. 1345)“…ails to meet his or her obligations under the provisions of La.Civ. Code art. 2682 by wrongfully dispossessing the lessee…”
- Southpark Community Hospital, LLC v. Southpark Acquisition Co. (Louisiana Court of Appeal 2013, 13 La.App. 3 Cir. 59)“…ssee in peaceable possession for the duration of the lease. La.Civ.Code art. 2682. The lessee, likewise, is obliged: 1) t…”
- Lobell v. Rosenberg (Louisiana Court of Appeal 2015, 2014 La.App. 4 Cir. 0060)“…n peaceable possession for the duration of the lease. See La. Civil Code art. 2682. The lessee, on the other hand, is obli…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 2728Notice of termination; timingIn forcecited in 2 of our articles
The notice of termination required by the preceding Article shall be given at or before the time specified below: (1) In a lease whose term is measured by a period longer than a month, thirty calendar days before the end of that period; (2) In a month-to-month lease, ten calendar days before the end of that month; (3) In a lease whose term is measured by a period equal to or longer than a week but shorter than a month, five calendar days before the end of that period; and (4) In a lease whose term is measured by a period shorter than a week, at any time prior to the expiration of that period. A notice given according to the preceding Paragraph terminates the lease at the end of the period specified in the notice, and, if none is specified, at the end of the first period for which the notice is timely.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.la.gov
Cited in 1 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 1998
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Kite v. Gus Kaplan, Inc. (Louisiana Court of Appeal 1998, 708 So. 2d 473)“…inadequate facilities, thereby dissolving the lease. See La. Civ.Code art. 2728. In reaching this result, we are not…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 2693Lessor's right to make repairsIn forcecited in 2 of our articles
If during the lease the thing requires a repair that cannot be postponed until the end of the lease, the lessor has the right to make that repair even if this causes the lessee to suffer inconvenience or loss of use of the thing. In such a case, the lessee may obtain a reduction or abatement of the rent, or a dissolution of the lease, depending on all of the circumstances, including each party's fault or responsibility for the repair, the length of the repair period, and the extent of the loss of use.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.la.gov
Cited in 3 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2019
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Burmaster v. Plaquemines Parish Government (Supreme Court of Louisiana 2008, 982 So. 2d 795)“…Civ.Code art. 2692 "Lessee's obligation to make repairs"; La Civ.Code art. 2693 "Lessor's right to make repairs"; and…”
- Hinds v. Poo-Yie's, Inc. (Louisiana Court of Appeal 1987, 520 So. 2d 1016)“…submit that they expressly waived the implied obligation of La.Civ.Code art. 2693 (1870) to "deliver the thing in good co…”
- Nola E., LLC v. Sims (Louisiana Court of Appeal 2019, 265 So. 3d 1147)“…ue to the lack of habitability of his apartment pursuant to La. Civ. Code art. 2693. 4 According to Mr. Simms, the apartme…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 2668Contract of lease definedIn forcecited in 2 of our articles
Lease is a synallagmatic contract by which one party, the lessor, binds himself to give to the other party, the lessee, the use and enjoyment of a thing for a term in exchange for a rent that the lessee binds himself to pay. The consent of the parties as to the thing and the rent is essential but not necessari­ly sufficient for a contract of lease.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.la.gov
Cited in 15 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2024
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Arata v. Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District (Supreme Court of Louisiana 1969, 254 La. 579)“…ay be leased for a percentage of the crop produced. Compare La.Civil Code art. 2668; J. P. Hudson & Sons Co. v. Godchaux Co…”
- Blalock v. Lord (Louisiana Court of Appeal 2006, 927 So. 2d 1142)“…exchange for a rent that the lessee binds himself to pay." La.Civ.Code art. 2668. A sale is a contract whereby a person…”
- Southpark Community Hospital, LLC v. Southpark Acquisition Co. (Louisiana Court of Appeal 2013, 13 La.App. 3 Cir. 59)“…ns both the lessor and the lessee with certain obligations. La. Civ. Code art. 2668. The lessor’s obligations are threefold…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Louisiana Ring Doorbell Laws: What You Need to Know in 2026
Louisiana Revised Statutes
§ 9:3251Lessee's deposit to secure lease; retention by lessor; conveyance of leased premises; itemized statement by lessorIn forcecited in 4 of our articles
A. Any advance or deposit of money furnished by a tenant or lessee to a landlord or lessor to secure the performance of any part of a written or oral lease or rental agreement shall be returned to the tenant or lessee of residential or dwelling premises within one month after the lease shall terminate, except that the landlord or lessor may retain all or any portion of the advance or deposit which is reasonably necessary to remedy a default of the tenant or to remedy unreasonable wear to the premises. If any portion of an advance or deposit is retained by a landlord or lessor, he shall forward to the tenant or lessee, within one month after the date the tenancy terminates, an itemized statement accounting for the proceeds which are retained and giving the reasons therefor. The tenant shall furnish the lessor a forwarding address at the termination of the lease, to which such statements may be sent. B.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.la.gov
Cited in 9 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2025
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Hood v. Ashby Partnership (Louisiana Court of Appeal 1984, 446 So. 2d 1347)“…automatic renewal provision of the lease and its effect on La.R.S. 9:3251 C. The Lessee's Deposit Act in Louisi…”
- Borne v. Wilander (Louisiana Court of Appeal 1987, 509 So. 2d 572)“…nying all of the lessee's demands. The lessee relied upon La.R.S. 9:3251, et seq. as authority in seeking the re…”
- Mayeaux v. Christakis (Louisiana Court of Appeal 1993, 619 So. 2d 93)“…ion for continuance; 2. The trial judge erred in applying La. R.S. 9:3251-54 where the lease had been abandoned a…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Louisiana Landlord-Tenant Recording Laws: Rights and Restrictions
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Sources and References
- Louisiana Revised Statutes 9:3251 - Security Deposits(legis.la.gov).gov
- Louisiana Civil Code arts. 2668-2729 - Lease(legis.la.gov).gov
- Southeast Louisiana Legal Services(slls.org)
- La. Civ. Code art. 2694 - Lessee's right to make repairs(legis.la.gov)
- La. Civ. Code art. 2715 - Partial destruction, loss, expropriation, or other substantial impairment of use(legis.la.gov)
- La. Civ. Code art. 2696 - Warranty against vices or defects(legis.la.gov)
- La. R.S. 13:5201 - Small claims divisions(legis.la.gov)
- La. R.S. 13:5202 - Small claims division jurisdiction(legis.la.gov)
- La. R.S. 9:3258 - Lessor's rights; alteration only by state law(legis.la.gov)