Louisiana is the only state with a civil-law legal system, so its landlord-tenant rules come from the Louisiana Civil Code and Code of Civil Procedure rather than common law. There is no rent control and no statewide source-of-income protection, and eviction moves quickly — the five-day notice to vacate is unconditional. Knowing the timeline and your repair rights matters here. This page explains the eviction process, your deposit rights, and where to find help statewide. For housing programs, contact the Louisiana Housing Corporation or dial 211.
- 211 Louisiana (VIA LINK / 232-HELP) — free, 24/7 — dial 2-1-1 for rental help and shelters
- Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center: 1-877-445-2100 · lafairhousing.org
- Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (legal aid intake): 1-844-244-7871
- Louisiana Housing Corporation: lhc.la.gov
- HUD fair housing: 1-800-669-9777
Public Housing & Vouchers in Louisiana
Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and public housing in Louisiana are run by local housing authorities (such as those in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and Lafayette), and the Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) administers statewide programs. To find the authority that serves you, use HUD’s PHA directory or read how to find your PHA. Each authority keeps its own waitlist, so apply to several. For income-restricted apartments, search HUD’s LIHTC database or read how to find LIHTC housing.
Source of Income & Rent Control in Louisiana
Louisiana has no statewide source-of-income protection, which means that outside of a local ordinance a landlord may legally decline to accept a Housing Choice Voucher. (Federal fair-housing law still bars discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and familial status — see our source-of-income protections guide for how this differs by state.) Louisiana also has no rent control, and state law prevents local governments from enacting it, so there is no legal cap on how much rent can rise. For a month-to-month tenancy, a landlord generally must give at least 10 days’ notice before raising the rent or ending the tenancy.
Emergency Rental Assistance in Louisiana
- Dial 211 (VIA LINK or 232-HELP, depending on your region) for the current list of rental, deposit, and eviction-prevention funds near you
- Louisiana Housing Corporation funds rental and homeless-prevention programs through local partners — check lhc.la.gov
- LIHEAP helps with utility and cooling bills — see utility assistance programs
- Local Community Action Agencies and parish offices administer prevention funds
See our emergency rental assistance guide for how these programs work and what to have ready.
Louisiana Tenant Law: Key Protections at a Glance
Quick Reference: Louisiana
- Source-of-income protection: none statewide — a landlord may decline a voucher unless a local ordinance says otherwise
- Rent control: none — and local rent control is preempted by state law
- Rent-increase notice (month-to-month): at least 10 days
- Security deposit: no statutory cap; returned within one month (30 days) with an itemized statement of any deductions
- Habitability: the landlord must keep the property in good repair (Civil Code arts. 2682 and 2691); if they don’t, you may make a needed repair and deduct the cost (art. 2694)
- Notice to vacate: a 5-day notice (excluding weekends and holidays), and it is unconditional — no chance to pay or cure
- Self-help eviction: illegal — the landlord must use the courts and a sheriff or constable to remove a tenant
Security deposits
Louisiana does not cap the security deposit, but after you move out and give your forwarding address, the landlord must return it within one month, or send an itemized statement explaining any deductions for unpaid rent or damages beyond normal wear. If a landlord keeps the deposit in bad faith, you may be able to recover additional damages. Document the unit’s condition at move-in and move-out, and read how to recover your security deposit.
Eviction process & how long it takes
Louisiana eviction is faster than in most states, so act immediately if you get a notice. Self-help eviction is illegal — only a sheriff or constable can remove you. The sequence (under the Code of Civil Procedure, art. 4701 and following):
- Notice to vacate — a 5-day notice (not counting weekends and legal holidays). It is unconditional, and a lease can even waive the notice entirely, allowing an immediate filing
- Rule for possession filed in court; you are served and given a hearing date, often only a few days out
- Hearing — appear and raise any defenses (improper notice, the rent was paid, retaliation, conditions); if you do not appear, the landlord usually wins by default
- Judgment of eviction and warrant: if the landlord wins, the court issues a warrant for possession, and after a short period (often about 24 hours) a sheriff or constable can carry out the eviction
From notice to removal, a Louisiana eviction can take as little as two to four weeks. Because it is so fast, get help right away from Southeast Louisiana Legal Services or your regional legal-aid office, and read how to avoid eviction.
Other Housing Programs in Louisiana
- HUD-VASH (veterans) — a voucher paired with VA case management; see how to apply for HUD-VASH
- Permanent Supportive Housing & rapid re-housing — access through Coordinated Entry by calling 211
- Disaster recovery — after a hurricane or flood, LHC and FEMA programs may offer housing help; 211 has the current list
- Eviction prevention — our eviction prevention hub explains what to do before your court date
Where to Get Help in Louisiana
Tenant help & legal aid: Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (1-844-244-7871), Acadiana Legal Service, and Legal Services of North Louisiana cover most of the state.
Discrimination complaints: the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center (1-877-445-2100) investigates fair-housing violations.
Find your local PHA: HUD’s PHA directory or our how to find your PHA guide.
211 helpline: dial 2-1-1 or visit 211.org for rental help, shelters, and utility assistance.
HUD fair housing: file at hud.gov/reporthousingdiscrimination or call 1-800-669-9777.
Next Steps
Not sure where to start? Our Where to Start tool routes you to the right mix of programs in about two minutes.
If you have received a notice to vacate, do not wait — Louisiana’s timeline is short. Contact Southeast Louisiana Legal Services or call 211 today, and read eviction prevention for your next moves.