How long does an eviction take in Louisiana?
For unpaid rent, expect about 2 weeks from the first notice to the lockout in Louisiana, and anywhere from 1.5 to 6.5 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Louisiana eviction timeline, step by step
- Notice to pay or leave 5 dayssecondary source
Unconditional 5-day notice to vacate (can be waived in the lease) (La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 4701) source - File the case and get a judgment about 4-14 days (typical 7)official source
Rule to show cause is heard no earlier than 3 days after service source - Judgment to lockout 2-5 daysofficial source
Warrant of possession issues 24 hours after judgment if the tenant remains source - If the tenant appeals 1-day windowofficial source
Suspensive appeal must be filed within 24 hours with a bond and a sworn defense source
Timeline model: notice + filing-to-judgment window + judgment-to-lockout window; the high case adds 21 days for a contested hearing. Methodology.
Can the tenant pay and stay?
No right to pay and stay once notice is given. secondary source source
Eviction costs in Louisiana
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Court filing fee | $116-$151 | varies by court (Baton Rouge City Court example): Varies by court; Baton Rouge City Court $120 official source source |
| Serving the tenant | $30-$77 | Not verified for Louisiana; the calculator uses the national default range. unverified |
| Sheriff/marshal lockout | $75-$180 | Not verified for Louisiana; the calculator uses the national default range. unverified |
| Lawyer, uncontested | $500-$1,500 | National rough estimate, not state-specific estimate |
| Lawyer, contested | $2,000-$5,000+ | National rough estimate estimate |
| Median gross rent | $1,064/mo | Census ACS 2024 1-year (±$15) data file |
Tenant protections
| 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 / pre-filing program | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Local rules | Check | New Orleans has a right-to-counsel ordinance. |
Eviction cost calculator for Louisiana
| What | Typical | Low to high |
|---|
Full timeline and sources · Total = rent × (months behind + months to evict + months to re-rent) + court fees + lawyer + turnover. How we calculate.
Tenant screening
Reserved for a tenant-screening partner (credit, eviction and background checks). No partner yet; nothing here is a recommendation.
Rent-guarantee insurance
Reserved for a rent-guarantee or landlord insurance partner that covers unpaid rent and eviction costs. No partner yet.
Landlord-friendliness score: 100/100
Timeline 50/50 · right to cure 20/20 · statewide protections 30/30. How the score works.
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 EvictionMath estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked 2026-10-17.
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).
Is Louisiana landlord-friendly for evictions?
Louisiana scores 100 out of 100 on the EvictionMath 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
| Field | Source type | Link | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice period | secondary source | www.nolo.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Court deadlines | official source | www.legis.la.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Judgment to lockout | official source | www.brla.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Appeal | official source | www.brla.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Filing fee | official source | www.brla.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Service fee | unverified | none yet | 2026-10-17 |
| Lockout fee | unverified | none yet | 2026-10-17 |
| Median rent | official source | census.gov (ACS B25064) | 2026-10-17 |
Not yet verified for Louisiana: service fee, lockout fee. Fields we couldn't source are left blank, never guessed. Found an error? Laws change; tell us via the newsletter reply.
Compare similar states
Wyoming (100, 2 wk) · Arkansas (98, 2.5 wk) · North Dakota (98, 2.5 wk) · South Dakota (96, 3 wk) · West Virginia (96, 3 wk)