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

Louisiana law gives a landlord 30 days to return the deposit or send an itemized statement of any deductions, under La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251. Count from the day your tenancy ended; if that window has passed and you haven't been paid or itemized, your landlord is late.

What penalty can a Louisiana landlord face for wrongfully keeping a deposit?

Under La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251, the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney's fees, and for a willful failure the greater of $300 or twice the amount wrongfully withheld. That is something a court may award if it finds bad faith — it is not automatic, and you would still need to make that case. A willful failure carries a $300 floor on the penalty. Louisiana also lets a prevailing tenant recover attorney's fees.

Does my Louisiana landlord have to itemize deductions?

Yes. Under La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251, a Louisiana landlord must provide an itemized statement of any deductions within the return window. If the statement is missing or the deadline is missed, you can demand the full deposit back.

Can I take my Louisiana landlord to small claims court over my deposit?

Yes. If your landlord won't return the deposit after a written demand, you can file in Louisiana small claims court (small-claims dollar limits vary by court within the state). There you can ask the court to order the deposit returned, and — under La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251 — to seek the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney's fees, and for a willful failure the greater of $300 or twice the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney's fees, which the court may award if you prove your case. Small claims is designed to be navigated without a lawyer.

Louisiana security deposit law

Louisiana Security Deposit Law: Deadlines, Penalties & How to Get Your Deposit Back

Louisiana gives a landlord 30 days to return your security deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions, under La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251. If that window has passed and you haven’t been paid, you have leverage — here’s exactly what the statute says and how to act on it.

Louisiana security-deposit law at a glance

Deadline to return / itemize: 30 days; after the tenancy ends
Bad-faith penalty exposure: Up to 2×; a court may award if it finds bad faith
Itemization required?: Yes; the landlord must justify any deduction
Attorney’s fees recoverable?: Yes; under La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251

How long does a Louisiana landlord have?

Under La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251, a Louisiana landlord has 30 days after your tenancy ends to return your deposit or provide an itemized statement of any deductions. Louisiana requires that itemized statement when the landlord keeps any part of the deposit. Count from the day the tenancy ended. If the deadline has passed and you haven’t been paid or itemized, your landlord is late — and that’s the leverage your demand letter is built on.

What penalty can a Louisiana landlord face?

A landlord who keeps a deposit in bad faith may owe up to 2× the deposit. Specifically, under La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251, Louisiana law lets a tenant seek the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney's fees, and for a willful failure the greater of $300 or twice the amount wrongfully withheld. A willful failure carries a $300 floor on the penalty.

Important: any penalty is something a court may award if it finds the landlord acted in bad faith — it is never automatic, and you would still need to make that case. Louisiana also lets a prevailing tenant recover attorney's fees.

How to get your deposit back in Louisiana

1. Send a written demand. Put the deadline your landlord missed and the statute (La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251) in writing, by certified mail with return receipt, so you have proof of the date they received it.
2. Keep your records. Move-out photos, the walkthrough checklist, your lease, and proof you gave a forwarding address are your evidence if the landlord disputes the claim.
3. If they don’t pay, file in small claims. You can ask a Louisiana small claims court to order the deposit returned, and — under La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251 — to seek the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney's fees, and for a willful failure the greater of $300 or twice the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney's fees, which the court may award if you prove your case. The small-claims dollar limit varies by court within the state, so check your county’s limit before filing.

Generate your Louisiana demand letter

Run the free leverage check — enter your deposit and how long it’s been, and we’ll show you exactly how many days past Louisiana’s 30-day deadline your landlord is and the penalty exposure under La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251. Then, for a flat $39, get a firm, statute-cited demand letter you send yourself plus a Louisiana small-claims escalation roadmap. You keep 100% of whatever you recover.

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Louisiana security deposit FAQ

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Louisiana?: Louisiana law gives a landlord 30 days to return the deposit or send an itemized statement of any deductions, under La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251. Count from the day your tenancy ended; if that window has passed and you haven't been paid or itemized, your landlord is late.
What penalty can a Louisiana landlord face for wrongfully keeping a deposit?: Under La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251, the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney's fees, and for a willful failure the greater of $300 or twice the amount wrongfully withheld. That is something a court may award if it finds bad faith — it is not automatic, and you would still need to make that case. A willful failure carries a $300 floor on the penalty. Louisiana also lets a prevailing tenant recover attorney's fees.
Does my Louisiana landlord have to itemize deductions?: Yes. Under La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251, a Louisiana landlord must provide an itemized statement of any deductions within the return window. If the statement is missing or the deadline is missed, you can demand the full deposit back.
Can I take my Louisiana landlord to small claims court over my deposit?: Yes. If your landlord won't return the deposit after a written demand, you can file in Louisiana small claims court (small-claims dollar limits vary by court within the state). There you can ask the court to order the deposit returned, and — under La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251 — to seek the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney's fees, and for a willful failure the greater of $300 or twice the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney's fees, which the court may award if you prove your case. Small claims is designed to be navigated without a lawyer.

Sources

The Louisiana facts on this page are drawn from La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251 and the references below. Always confirm the current text of the statute for your situation.

https://www.depositdeadline.com/security-deposit-laws-by-state