Louisiana Landlord-Tenant Law Guide
Louisiana lease law is Civil Code-driven and highly dependent on the lease text, with key review points around one-month deposit returns, Act 63's August 1, 2026 deposit-itemization change, repair demands, and five-day notice-to-vacate waivers.
Security Deposit
Limit: No statutory limit on security deposit amounts.
Return Period: Current R.S. §9:3251 requires return or retained-deposit itemization within one month after lease termination. Act 63, effective August 1, 2026, changes retained-deposit itemization timing; willful noncompliance can trigger $300 or 2x the wrongfully retained amount.
Rent Increases
No statewide rent-control notice rule for ordinary private leases; review renewal and reconduction clauses. Month-to-month termination requires 10 calendar days before the end of the month unless the lease requires more.
Entry Notice
No broad statewide 24-hour entry statute for ordinary private rentals; lease should define notice method, timing, purpose, reasonable hours, and emergencies.
Key Statutes
- Louisiana R.S. §§9:3251 and 9:3252 - Security Deposits
- 2026 Louisiana Act 63 / HB292 - Security Deposit Itemization Timing
- Louisiana Civil Code Arts. 2682, 2684, 2691 and 2694 - Delivery, Repairs and Repair-and-Deduct
- Louisiana Civil Code Arts. 2728 and 2729 - Termination Notice Timing and Form
- Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Art. 4701 - Notice to Vacate and Waiver
Common Issues
- Using a flat 30-day deposit clause instead of the statutory one-month language
- Missing the Act 63 effective-date change for retained-deposit itemization
- Treating ordinary turnover or vague cleaning as automatic deposit deductions
- Using repair-and-deduct without written demand and documentation
- Waiving the five-day article 4701 notice without understanding the effect