An eviction notice informs a tenant that they need to pay, correct a violation, or leave the rental property. Lumr's Louisiana eviction notice template gives you a compliant notice to vacate in minutes, built around the state's own filing rules.
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What Is a Louisiana Eviction Notice?
An eviction notice is formally called a notice to vacate in Louisiana. It’s the written document a landlord must send before starting an eviction case in most situations.
It tells the tenant why the tenancy is ending and how much time they have to respond.
The notice to vacate itself doesn't evict anyone. If the tenant doesn't leave in time, the next step is a Rule for Possession filing, heard in the parish where the property sits.
Louisiana Eviction Notice Requirements
Louisiana's civil code doesn't list an exact checklist for a notice to vacate, but courts still expect certain basics before they'll enforce it.
Requirement
What It Means
1. Written notice
Prepare a written notice to vacate specifying the property and tenants.
2. Reason for the notice
State why the tenancy is ending, such as unpaid rent or a lease violation.
3. Correct notice period
Allow at least 5 days for nonpayment or a violation, or 10 days to end a month-to-month lease.
4. Payment details
List exact rent due if allowing tenant to cure default.
5. Signature and date
Sign the document and mark the active date of delivery.
6. Proper delivery
Hand to tenant or tack to main entrance per La. C.C.P.
7. Proof of service
Complete an affidavit of service or delivery log for court.
Louisiana courts rely on case law, not one set statute, for what makes a notice valid. An unclear reason can leave a notice open to challenge, so state the grounds plainly.
Types of Louisiana Eviction Notices
Louisiana gives landlords one option most states don't: a lease clause that waives the notice altogether. Outside of that, the right notice still depends on why the tenancy is ending:
Notice to Vacate with Lease Waiver Clause, when the lease itself waives the standard notice.
5-Day Notice to Vacate for Non-Payment, for unpaid rent.
5-Day Notice to Vacate for Lease Violation, for breaking another lease term.
10-Day Notice to Vacate Month-to-Month Tenancy, to end a lease with no fixed term.
Only the waiver clause changes the process itself. The other three simply set how many days the tenant gets, based on the reason for the notice.
Eviction Notice with Waiver of Notice Clause in Louisiana
A waiver of notice clause is lease language that lets a landlord skip the notice to vacate altogether. La. C.C.P. art. 4701 allows this if the tenant agreed in writing, letting the landlord file for possession once the lease ends.
This waiver only applies to the notice to vacate itself. A lease can't make a month-to-month tenant give up their separate 10-day termination notice in advance. So the waiver mainly speeds up leases that are ending for cause or reaching the end of their term.
5-Day Notice to Vacate for Non-Payment of Rent in Louisiana
A tenant behind on rent gets this notice first, often called the 5-day eviction notice. State law allows just five days from delivery to pay in full or move out, per Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure article 4701.
State the exact amount owed and how the tenant can pay it. Delivering the notice yourself is enough. Louisiana doesn't require a sheriff for this step, unlike the court filing that follows.
5-Day Notice to Vacate for Lease Violation in Louisiana
Besides late rent, this notice covers most other lease violations, from unapproved roommates to repeated noise complaints. It carries the same five-day minimum as the nonpayment notice, per Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure article 4701.
Louisiana doesn't require a chance to fix the problem first. The notice is a straight demand to leave, not a cure-or-quit warning like some other states use.
10-Day Notice to Vacate Month-to-Month Tenancy in Louisiana
This notice works for month-to-month leases only, and either side can send it without giving a reason. State law requires at least 10 calendar days before the end of the month, under Louisiana Civil Code article 2728.
The same delivery rules apply here as with the five-day notices, including posting on the door if the tenant can't be reached. Keep proof of when it went out, since that delivery date sets the end date.
A compliant notice isn’t enough. A notice only works if Louisiana law recognizes how it was delivered, so it’s important to follow the steps laid out below carefully.
1
Choose the right notice
Match the notice to the reason the tenancy is ending. Getting this right affects how many days you owe the tenant and which statute governs the notice.
2
Fill in the details
The notice needs the tenant's name and the rental address up front. State the reason clearly, and if rent is owed, add the exact amount. Leaving out the reason is the most common mistake.
3
Sign and date it
Sign the notice yourself or have your agent sign it, and date it the day it goes out. This date starts the countdown that Louisiana law measures the notice period from.
4
Deliver the notice
Hand it to the tenant directly whenever possible. If the property is vacant or the tenant can't be found, Louisiana law allows posting the notice on the door, per La. C.C.P. art. 4703.
5
Keep a copy for your records
Log the exact delivery date and method on your copy to build a reliable evidentiary foundation for your Rule for Possession hearing.
6
Wait out the notice period
Track the notice duration strictly, excluding legal holidays from 5-day notices as required by La. C.C.P. art. 5059.
7
File a Rule for Possession if needed
If the tenant still hasn't left, file a Rule for Possession with the court in the parish where the property is located. Louisiana courts won't hold the hearing sooner than three days after service, per La. C.C.P. art. 4732.
FAQ
FAQs About Louisiana Eviction Notices
The questions landlords ask most about Louisiana notices are answered below.
How many days notice is required for an eviction in Louisiana?
The minimum is five days for nonpayment or a lease violation.
A month-to-month tenancy needs 10 days, and longer indefinite-term leases can require up to 30. A lease with a written waiver clause can skip the notice completely.
Can a tenant waive the notice to vacate requirement in Louisiana?
Yes, if the lease contains a written waiver clause under La. C.C.P. art. 4701. Once the lease ends, whatever the reason, the landlord can file for possession without sending a notice first.
Can a landlord evict a tenant without cause in Louisiana?
For a month-to-month lease, yes. Either side can end it with 10 days' notice and no stated reason, under Louisiana Civil Code article 2728. A fixed-term lease generally needs a valid reason to end early, such as nonpayment or a violation.
Are weekends and holidays included in a 5-day eviction notice in Louisiana?
Not entirely. Louisiana excludes legal holidays from the count for any notice period shorter than seven days, which includes the five-day notice.
Can a Louisiana landlord change locks or remove tenant belongings to evict them?
No, Louisiana law doesn't allow this. Removing a tenant requires the Rule for Possession process, except in the narrow case of genuine abandonment.
What happens if the tenant does not vacate after the eviction notice in Louisiana?
The landlord can file a Rule for Possession, and the court sets a hearing at least three days after service. If the tenant still doesn't comply within 24 hours of judgment, the sheriff carries out the removal, not the landlord.
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