Louisiana security deposit rules.
The Louisiana rules for residential security deposits in plain English: how much can be charged, how fast it comes back, whether interest is owed, and what catches operators out.
Last reviewed · Statute: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 9:3251 · Not legal advice
How much can be charged
No statutory limit on the deposit amount.
When it has to come back
Within one month after the lease ends. If any portion is retained, the itemised statement is due within that month, or within 15 days after it (Act 63 of 2026, effective August 1, 2026). The tenant should give an address, but not doing so does not forfeit the deposit or the statement.
Interest
No interest is required.
Where the money has to sit
No segregation requirement.
What catches operators out
- Act 63 of 2026 gave landlords a 15-day grace period for the itemised statement, but not for the refund itself.
- Bad-faith retention exposes the landlord to $300 or twice the amount wrongfully retained, whichever is greater. Not remitting within 30 days of written demand counts as wilful.
What this looks like with Standby in Louisiana.
When a resident takes a Standby certificate there is no cash deposit to hold, so the cap, the return deadline and the interest rules above have nothing to attach to. You are covered up to the full deposit and draw on it when you need to.
When a resident pays cash instead, Standby handles that deposit under your lease and Louisiana law, so your team is not tracking return deadlines by hand.
This page summarises the most common single-family and multifamily residential rule in Louisiana. Furnished units, senior leases, mobile-home tenancies and short-term rentals can differ, and city ordinances may override the state default. Check the statute before relying on a figure for a specific lease.