Laws by state / Louisiana

Louisiana landlord and tenant rules

The figures that decide most disputes between Louisiana landlords and tenants, each with a calculator and the statute behind it.

Checked 2026-10-22; part confirmed via secondary sourcesBy RentByState Research

Rule	Louisiana	Statute	Tool
Maximum security deposit	No statutory limit	La. R.S. 9:3251	Deposit rules
Deposit return deadline	Within one month after the lease terminates, with an itemized statement for any amount retained. Effective 2026-08-01 (Act 63 of 2026, HB 292), the itemized statement may be sent within one month or within 15 days after the date that is one month after termination.	La. R.S. 9:3251	Deposit rules
Interest on the deposit	Not required	La. R.S. 9:3251
Maximum late fee	No statutory cap	None (no Louisiana statute caps residential late fees)	Late fee calculator
Landlord notice, month-to-month	10 days	La. Civ. Code art. 2728; La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 4701	Notice calculator
Tenant notice, month-to-month	10 days	La. Civ. Code art. 2728; La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 4701	Notice calculator
Rent increase notice	No statute	La. Civ. Code art. 2728; La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 4701	Notice calculator
Pay-or-quit notice	5 days	La. Civ. Code art. 2728; La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 4701	Notice calculator
Rent increase cap	None statewide

Security deposits in Louisiana

Louisiana sets no statutory limit on the size of a security deposit. The deposit must be returned within one month after the lease terminates, with an itemized statement for any amount retained. Effective 2026-08-01 (Act 63 of 2026, HB 292), the itemized statement may be sent within one month or within 15 days after the date that is one month after termination.. No interest is owed on the deposit under state law. Willful failure to comply exposes landlord to actual damages or $300, whichever is greater, plus fees (R.S. 9:3252 - not read in this pass). No cap and no interest requirement. Statute text read on FindLaw mirror (current as of 2023-01-01) and via legis.la.gov search snippet; the official page https://legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=107468 could not be fetched. 2026 Act 63 (HB 292) amendment to 9:3251(A) effective 2026-08-01 confirmed only via secondary source (leaselenses.com) and the legis.la.gov bill listing. Full deposit rules and move-out checklist.

Late fees in Louisiana

Louisiana sets no statutory cap on late fees. The amount is whatever the lease says, subject to the general rule that it must not be an unconscionable penalty. There is no statutory grace period, so the lease controls when the fee starts. Calculate the maximum fee.

Notice periods in Louisiana

A Louisiana landlord must give 10 days’ written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, and the tenant must give the same. There is no separate statutory notice period for rent increases; the month-to-month termination notice is the practical minimum. For nonpayment, the landlord must serve a 5-day notice to pay or quit before filing for eviction. Calculate the effective date of a notice.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

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

There is no statutory cap in Louisiana; the market and the lease decide. Willful failure to comply exposes landlord to actual damages or $300, whichever is greater, plus fees (R.S. 9:3252 - not read in this pass). No cap and no interest requirement. Statute text read on FindLaw mirror (current as of 2023-01-01) and via legis.la.gov search snippet; the official page https://legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=107468 could not be fetched. 2026 Act 63 (HB 292) amendment to 9:3251(A) effective 2026-08-01 confirmed only via secondary source (leaselenses.com) and the legis.la.gov bill listing.

What is the maximum late fee for rent in Louisiana?

There is no statutory maximum in Louisiana. No statutory cap or grace period; late fees are governed by the lease. Confirmed only via secondary sources (absence of statute). The most common lease figure nationally is 5% of monthly rent, and courts in no-cap states generally accept fees in that range while rejecting ones that look like penalties.

How much notice does a landlord have to give a tenant to move out in Louisiana?

10 days’ written notice for a month-to-month tenancy. 10 calendar days before the end of the month for month-to-month (indeterminate-term) leases; 5 days before end of week for week-to-week; the lease may require longer. Civil Code art. 2728.

How long is a pay-or-quit notice in Louisiana?

5 days. The tenant can stop the eviction by paying the full amount within that time.