Louisiana Eviction Notice for Unpaid Rent

What Louisiana law says

• Code of Civil Procedure Art. 4701: the lessor or agent must cause written notice to vacate to be delivered, allowing the lessee not less than five days from the date of delivery.
• Art. 4701: for a lease with a definite term, the notice may be given no earlier than thirty days before the term ends.
• Art. 4701: a lessee may waive the notice in a written waiver in the lease; the lessor may then begin eviction proceedings once occupancy ends.
• The Attorney General guide says the notice gives five business days, and that if the tenant is not home it may be posted on the door.

Steps for a landlord

• Put the notice to vacate in writing.
• Give the tenant at least five days from delivery; allow business days if unsure.
• Deliver it to the tenant, or post it on the door if the tenant is not home, and keep proof.
• Check the lease for a written waiver of the notice before filing.

What to put in the notice

• The names of the tenants and the address of the rental
• The amount of rent owed and the rental period it covers
• The number of days the tenant has to pay or move out, and the date that period ends
• The date, how the notice was delivered, and who delivered it
• Your name and contact details, with your signature

Things to watch

• The statute text says five days; the AG guide says five business days. The pages we read do not reconcile this. Check Art. 4701 or a local attorney.
• The pages we read do not list required notice content or a rule for how many days count as calendar days.
• Cities and counties can add their own rules, including rent control and extra notice requirements. Check your local rules too.

About this page

We checked this page against the official sources listed below in November 2026. Where an official page did not say something, we say so. Laws change and courts read them differently, so confirm the current rule with the statute, the court or a local attorney before you act. This is general information, not legal advice.