Louisiana Residential Lease Agreement

• No statewide deposit limit. The deposit must be returned within one month after the lease ends. If the landlord keeps any of it, the itemized statement of what was kept and why may follow up to 15 days after that one-month date (Acts 2026, No. 63, effective August 1, 2026). These rules do not apply if the tenant abandons the unit without the required notice. A willful failure costs the greater of $300 or twice the amount wrongfully kept (La. R.S. 9:3251, 9:3252).

Reviewed 5 Oct 2026 · La. R.S. 9:3251, 9:3252

Reviewed 5 Oct 2026 · La. R.S. 9:3251, 9:3252

• Month-to-month lease: written notice of termination given at or before ten calendar days before the END OF THAT MONTH (La. C.C. art. 2728(2)); the notice must be in writing for an immovable used as a residence (art. 2729).
• A notice terminating an indeterminate-term lease counts as the art. 4701 notice to vacate ('If the lease has no definite term, the notice required by law for its termination shall be considered as a notice to vacate').

Quoted from the source: “In a month-to-month lease, ten calendar days before the end of that month”

Exceptions:

• Lease term longer than a month (e.g., year-to-year reconducted?): thirty calendar days before the end of that period (art. 2728(1)).

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · La. C.C. art. 2727; art. 2728(2); art. 2729; La. C.C.P. art. 4701

• Lease with a term of a week or longer but shorter than a month: five calendar days before the end of that period (art. 2728(3)); term shorter than a week: any time before the period expires (art. 2728(4)).

Quoted from the source: “a period equal to or longer than a week but shorter than a month, five calendar days before the end of that period”

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · La. C.C. art. 2728(3), (4)

• Expiration of a definite term ends the right of occupancy; the 5-day notice to vacate (art. 4701) applies and may be given not more than thirty days BEFORE the expiration of the term.

Quoted from the source: “If the lease has a definite term, notice to vacate may be given not more than thirty days before the expiration of the term.”

Exceptions:

• Written waiver of notice in the lease dispenses with it.

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · La. C.C.P. art. 4701

• No statewide good-cause requirement; indeterminate-term leases terminate by notice alone (C.C. arts. 2727-2728) and art. 4701 applies 'for any other reason'.

Quoted from the source: “terminates by notice to that effect given to the other party by the party desiring to terminate the lease”

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · La. C.C. art. 2727; La. C.C.P. art. 4701

• When the lessee's right of occupancy has ceased (expiration of term, action by lessor, nonpayment of rent, or any other reason), lessor must deliver a written notice to vacate allowing not less than five days from the date of its DELIVERY (La. C.C.P. art. 4701).
• Under C.C.P. art. 5059 the delivery day is excluded and, because the period is less than seven days, legal holidays are excluded from the count.

Quoted from the source: “The notice shall allow the lessee not less than five days from the date of its delivery to vacate the leased premises.”

Exceptions:

• WAIVER: if the lease contains a written waiver of notice, lessor may immediately institute eviction proceedings upon termination of the right of occupancy for any reason (art. 4701) — most Louisiana leases contain this waiver.
• Premises abandoned/closed or lessee's whereabouts unknown: notice may be attached to a door of the premises with the effect of personal delivery (C.C.P. art. 4703).

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · La. C.C.P. art. 4701; art. 4703; art. 5059

• Any ground ('for any other reason') on which the right of occupancy has ceased, including lease violations, uses the same 5-day notice to vacate (art. 4701); no different period for illegal activity, waste or nuisance.

Quoted from the source: “the lessor or his agent shall cause written notice to vacate the premises to be delivered to the lessee”

Exceptions:

• Written waiver of notice in the lease eliminates the 5-day notice entirely (art. 4701).

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · La. C.C.P. art. 4701

• C.C.P. art. 4701 requires the written notice to be 'delivered to the lessee' (no method list; the 5 days run from the date of delivery). If the premises are abandoned or closed, or the lessee's/occupant's whereabouts are unknown, the notice may be attached to a door of the premises with the same effect as delivery or personal service (art. 4703).

Quoted from the source: “may be attached to a door of the premises, and this shall have the same effect as delivery to, or personal service on”

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · La. C.C.P. art. 4701; art. 4703

• No statutory form; requirements: the art. 4701 notice must be written and allow not less than five days from delivery to vacate; C.C. art. 2729 requires termination notices for residential immovables to be in writing. No required statements about assistance or legal aid.

Quoted from the source: “If the leased thing is an immovable or is a movable used as residence, the notice of termination shall be in writing.”

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · La. C.C.P. art. 4701; La. C.C. art. 2729