How long does an eviction take in Louisiana?
For unpaid rent, expect about 2 weeks from the first notice to the lockout, and anywhere from 1.5 to 6.5 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Not legal advice. Estimates from public sources, checked Oct 17, 2026. Laws vary by county and city; talk to a local attorney before you act.
What would a rental in Louisiana actually earn?
We'll prefill Louisiana's numbers and include the eviction cost from this page.
- Median rent $1,064/mo
- Property tax 0.53%–0.54%
- Insurance $1,906–$2,561/yr
- Vacancy 8%–8.1%
The Louisiana eviction timeline
Each step comes from Louisiana's rules, with the source linked. The typical case adds up to about 2 weeks; a contested hearing adds about 3 more. Timeline model.
- 1
Notice to pay or leave
5 daysUnconditional 5-day notice to vacate (can be waived in the lease) (La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 4701)
- 2
File and get a judgment
4–14 days · typical 7Rule to show cause is heard no earlier than 3 days after service
- 3
Judgment to lockout
2–5 daysWarrant of possession issues 24 hours after judgment if the tenant remains
- 4
If the tenant appeals
1-day windowSuspensive appeal must be filed within 24 hours with a bond and a sworn defense
Can the tenant pay and stay? No right to pay and stay once notice is given. secondary source Source ↗
What an eviction costs in Louisiana
Court fees come from the fee schedules we found, and each one says where it applies. Fees we couldn't verify are labeled Unverified and use the national default range. The calculator above adds them to your lost rent.
Court filing fee
varies by court (Baton Rouge City Court example)$116–$151Varies by court; Baton Rouge City Court $120
Serving the tenant
Unverified · national default$30–$77No official amount verified for Louisiana yet, so the calculator uses the national default range.
Sheriff or marshal lockout
Unverified · national default$75–$180No official amount verified for Louisiana yet, so the calculator uses the national default range.
Lawyer, uncontested case
National estimate$500–$1,500Flat fees commonly charged when the tenant doesn't fight it. Not specific to this state; big-city rates run higher.
Lawyer, contested case
National estimate$2,000–$5,000+When the tenant contests the case. Not specific to this state.
Median gross rent
Census ACS 2024, 1-year$1,064/moLouisiana median gross rent, ±$15. The calculator starts here; change it to your rent.
Statewide rules that can slow things down
Statewide rent control: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Statewide just-cause rules: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Right to counsel for tenants: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Seasonal or weather limits: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Required mediation or pre-filing program: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Local rules: New Orleans has a right-to-counsel ordinance.
Louisiana scores 100 out of 100
Faster timelines, fewer chances to pay-and-stay and fewer statewide tenant protections score higher.
Louisiana eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Louisiana?
A nonpayment eviction in Louisiana typically takes about 2 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 1.5 to 6.5 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an LandlordCost estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked Oct 17, 2026.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Louisiana?
Unconditional 5-day notice to vacate (can be waived in the lease) (La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 4701).
Can a tenant stop an eviction in Louisiana by paying the rent?
No right to pay and stay once notice is given.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Louisiana?
The filing fee we found is $116-$151 (varies by court (Baton Rouge City Court example)). That is a local example, not a statewide fee, and other courts charge different amounts. Service and lockout fees are extra. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
How much does it cost to evict a tenant in Louisiana?
A typical uncontested nonpayment eviction in Louisiana costs a landlord roughly $1,200 to $2,400: about 2 weeks of lost rent at the median rent of $1,064/month (about $500), court and service fees of about $221-$408 (some are national defaults because we could not verify them), and lawyer fees of about $500-$1,500 (a national estimate). A contested case running about 6.5 weeks can pass $4,000. These are LandlordCost estimates (Census ACS 2024 rent); they leave out rent owed before the notice, turnover and re-rent time.
Is Louisiana landlord-friendly for evictions?
Louisiana scores 100 out of 100 on the LandlordCost landlord-friendliness score (timeline 50/50, right to cure 20/20, statewide tenant protections 30/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
Not yet verified for Louisiana: service fee, lockout fee. Fields we couldn't source are labeled unverified, never guessed. Download the data: states.json · states.csv.
- Notice periodsecondary sourcenolo.com ↗
- Court deadlinesofficial sourcelegis.la.gov ↗
- Judgment to lockoutofficial sourcebrla.gov ↗
- Appealofficial sourcebrla.gov ↗
- Filing feeofficial sourcebrla.gov ↗
- Service feeunverifiednone found
- Lockout feeunverifiednone found
- Right to curesecondary sourcenolo.com ↗
- Median rentofficial sourcewww2.census.gov ↗
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