Landlord tools · Louisiana

Louisiana residential lease agreement.

Everything a Louisiana lease must get right in 2026 — deposit limits, late fees, notice periods, and required disclosures — plus a free builder that applies each rule for you and outputs a signable PDF.

No capSecurity deposit cap
30 daysDeposit return deadline
ReasonableEntry notice required
10 daysTo end month-to-month

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Security deposits in Louisiana

Louisiana doesn't cap security deposits by statute — most landlords charge one to two months' rent. No statutory limit After the tenancy ends, the deposit must be returned within 30 days. Within one month of termination; itemized statement if any portion retained Returning one now? Use the free Louisiana deposit return letter generator — it computes the deadline and itemizes deductions for you.

Late fees and grace periods

Louisiana sets no statutory dollar cap on late fees, but courts require them to be reasonable and they must appear in the written lease. No grace period is required by statute, though many leases include one. No statutory cap or grace period; must be stated in lease.

Landlord entry and notices

Louisiana has no fixed entry-notice statute — reasonable notice is the standard, and the lease should spell it out. No entry-notice statute; lease should specify notice and permitted reasons. Ending a month-to-month tenancy takes 10 days' written notice (Written notice at least 10 days before end of monthly period (La. Civ. Code art. 2728)). No statute; increases effectively require 10-day month-to-month notice cycle. Planning an increase? The free Louisiana rent increase notice generator applies the notice period automatically.

Required disclosures in a Louisiana lease

Clauses you can’t put in a Louisiana lease

Utilities and pets

Utilities: No shared-meter or shutoff statute; lease should allocate utility responsibility explicitly. Pets: No statutory pet deposit/rent rules; pet deposits treated as security deposits under the Deposit Act.

Frequently asked questions

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

Louisiana has no statutory limit on security deposits — one to two months' rent is customary. No statutory limit

How long does a Louisiana landlord have to return the deposit?

30 days after the tenancy ends. Within one month of termination; itemized statement if any portion retained

Are late fees limited in Louisiana?

There's no statutory dollar cap, but fees must be reasonable and stated in the lease. No statutory cap or grace period; must be stated in lease

How much notice before a landlord can enter the unit in Louisiana?

Louisiana has no fixed statutory period — reasonable notice applies. No entry-notice statute; lease should specify notice and permitted reasons

Does Louisiana have rent control?

No statewide rent control. State law bars local governments from controlling private residential rents

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Key statutes: La. R.S. 9:3251-3254 · La. Civ. Code art. 2728. Last reviewed 2026-07. This guide summarizes state law for convenience and is not legal advice; cities and counties may add their own rules.

Lease laws in other states