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Louisiana Security Deposit Laws (2026)

Louisiana sets a one-month deadline and a minimum penalty. After you send a written demand, a landlord that still has not paid within 30 days can owe the deposit plus the greater of $300 or twice the amount withheld.

By Lamuko Editorial Team✓ Checked against official statute textUpdated

Louisiana deposit rules at a glance

Maximum depositNo statutory cap
Return deadlineWithin one month (we count 30 days) after the lease ends (La. R.S. 9:3251, as amended by Acts 2026, No. 63)
Itemized listRequired with any amount withheld
InterestNot required
PenaltyThe deposit + the greater of $300 or 2× the amount wrongfully withheld (9:3252)
Forwarding addressYou must give one
WaiverNot allowed (9:3254)

Verified 2026-10-17 against La. R.S. 9:3251–3254, source 2. Calculate your Louisiana deadline →

Timeline: move-in to refund

  1. Move-outLeave your forwarding address.
  2. One monthRefund and itemized statement due.
  3. Written demandIf unpaid, send a written demand; 30 days later the failure is treated as willful.

No cap, one month to refund

Louisiana does not cap deposits. Under La. R.S. 9:3251, as amended by Acts 2026, No. 63, the landlord must return the deposit within one month after the lease ends. If it keeps any part, it must send an itemized statement of the reasons with the balance. The landlord may keep the deposit for unpaid rent and for actual damage beyond normal wear and tear.

The forwarding address and abandonment

You must give the landlord a forwarding address. If you abandon the unit without giving the required notice, the landlord's duty to refund is affected. Do not leave without written notice.

Practical record-keeping

Because the enhanced damages depend on a written demand, send it by a method that shows delivery, keep a copy, and note the date. The 30 days after that demand are what make a failure willful under the statute.

Willful failure and the $300 minimum

If the landlord does not pay, send a written demand. Failure to return the deposit within 30 days after your written demand is treated as willful (9:3252). For a willful failure, you may recover the deposit plus the greater of $300 or twice the amount wrongfully withheld.

Fees are discretionary. Under 9:3253, the court may award costs and attorney fees to the prevailing party, but does not have to. Under 9:3254, the lease cannot waive these rights.

Our calculator uses 30 days as an approximation of "one month."

Steps to recover a Louisiana deposit

  1. Give proper notice before you leave and do not abandon the unit.
  2. Leave a forwarding address in writing.
  3. After one month, send a written demand by a trackable method.
  4. Wait 30 days after the demand, then claim the deposit plus the greater of $300 or 2×.
  5. If that fails, file a claim in small claims court.

Neighboring states

Texas has a bad-faith penalty of $100 plus three times the amount. Arkansas gives 60 days and doubles the amount.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a cap on security deposits in Louisiana?

No. La. R.S. 9:3251 sets no maximum amount.

How long does a Louisiana landlord have to return a deposit?

Within one month after the lease ends, with an itemized statement of any amount withheld.

What is the penalty in Louisiana?

For a willful failure, the deposit plus the greater of $300 or twice the amount wrongfully withheld.

When is a failure willful in Louisiana?

When the landlord has not paid within 30 days after your written demand (La. R.S. 9:3252).

Sources

  1. La. R.S. 9:3251 (Louisiana State Legislature)
  2. La. R.S. 9:3252 — willful failure (Louisiana State Legislature)
  3. La. R.S. 9:3253 — costs and attorney fees (Louisiana State Legislature)

Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026. Read how we verify. Found an error? Tell us.

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Not legal advice. Lamuko Rent Laws provides general legal information about state statutes, not legal advice, and using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change and courts interpret them; city and county ordinances (for example Chicago, San Francisco or New York City rules) can be stricter than state law, and your lease or a subsidized-housing program may add terms. Fields marked “Verify with statute” have not yet been confirmed by us against the official text. Check the linked statute or talk to a licensed attorney or local legal-aid office before acting.