Louisiana Late Fee Law
No Louisiana statute caps residential late fees or requires a grace period; the lease sets both.
Last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed
Louisiana late fee law at a glance
| Late-fee cap | No state capLa. R.S. Title 9, Ch. 2 (lease of residential premises; silent on late fees), Louisiana AG Guide to Landlord-Tenant Law ("The law sets no specific amount for late fees") |
|---|---|
| Grace period | No state grace periodLa. R.S. Title 9 lease provisions (silent on grace periods) |
| Notice before filing for unpaid rent | 5 business days (5-day notice to vacate)La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 4701 |
What Louisiana law says
Is there a limit on late fees in Louisiana?
Louisiana has no statute capping residential late fees, but a fee is owed only if the lease provides for it and an unreasonably high fee can be challenged (La. R.S. 9:3251 et seq.) (La. R.S. Title 9, Ch. 2 (lease of residential premises; silent on late fees)).
Does Louisiana require a grace period before a late fee?
Louisiana law does not require a grace period before a late fee may be charged; the lease controls (La. R.S. 9:3251 et seq.) (La. R.S. Title 9 lease provisions (silent on grace periods)).
How much notice must a Louisiana landlord give for unpaid rent?
After nonpayment ends the lessee's right to occupy, deliver a written notice to vacate giving at least five days (the AG counts them excluding weekends and holidays), unless the lease contains a written waiver of this notice (La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 4701).
How Louisiana compares
31 of 51 verified jurisdictions set no statutory cap. 14 require a grace period.
Arkansas and Mississippi follow the same rule as Louisiana; 1 of its 3 neighbors differs.
| Late-fee cap · grace period | States |
|---|---|
| No state cap · none | Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi |
| Statutory formula · 2 days | Texas |
Other Louisiana rules
| Security deposit limit | No state capLa. R.S. 9:3251 (no amount limit) |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 30 days after the lease endsLa. R.S. 9:3251(A), Acts 2026, No. 63 (HB 292), amending R.S. 9:3251(A) |
| Entry notice | No state ruleLa. Civ. Code art. 2682, La. Civ. Code art. 2693 |
| Rent-increase notice | No state ruleLa. Civ. Code art. 2728 |
| Month-to-month termination | 10 days (either side)La. Civ. Code art. 2728, La. Civ. Code art. 2729, La. Civ. Code art. 2727 |