Louisiana security deposit laws: no cap, one month to return it

Is there a limit on the deposit in Louisiana?

No. DoorKeeping's Louisiana rules file read La. Rev. Stat. 9:3251 in full on 2026-10-28 and found no largest deposit. That does not mean any amount is wise. A very large deposit can deter good applicants, and what you keep must still be backed by real damage or unpaid rent.

How does the one-month return deadline work?

Section 9:3251(A) says the deposit, with an itemized statement of anything kept, is due within one month after the lease ends. Because months vary in length, DoorKeeping uses 28 days, which is never later than one month in any month. If you send it by day 28, you are safe whatever the calendar.

The tenant gives a forwarding address when the lease ends, and the statement goes there. The rule does not apply when the tenant abandons the home or leaves without the required notice (9:3251(C)), so keep a record of when and how the tenant left.

Example a made-up tenant's lease ends on June 30, and the landlord holds $1,000. By July 28 the landlord sends a statement showing $200 for a broken sliding door track and a $800 refund to the forwarding address. If the landlord sends nothing and the failure is willful, the penalty is the greater of $300 or twice the amount kept: twice $200 is $400, which exceeds $300, so $400.

What must the statement include?

• The deposit amount you held.
• Each deduction, with a short reason and an amount.
• The refund, and how it was sent.

Support each line with a move-in record, photos and invoices. See what an itemized statement includes.

Do I keep it in a separate account or pay interest?

The file found no article of the Civil Code's lease title (arts. 2668 to 2729) or of La. Rev. Stat. 9:3251 to 9:3261.2 that requires either. Compare interest rules by state. Keeping deposits apart in your books remains a good habit.

What should I do at move-out?

1. Ask the tenant for a forwarding address in writing before they leave, because the statement goes there.
2. Walk the unit and compare it with the move-in record. Take dated photos of anything you may deduct for.
3. Separate normal wear, which you cannot charge, from damage and unpaid rent, which you can.
4. Get an invoice or a written estimate for each repair you charge.
5. Send the itemized statement and any refund by day 28, and keep proof of how it was sent.

Because a willful miss can cost the greater of $300 or double what you kept, a small deduction is rarely worth a late statement. When in doubt, send the statement early and fix any dispute afterward. Keep a copy of what you sent and the date, since the date is your proof that you met the one-month rule.

How DoorKeeping handles it

Each property in DoorKeeping has its own books with deposits shown per tenant and a return date from the state rules. Leases are e-signed and kept with the unit. Money stays in your own bank and any step with money waits for your one tap. DoorKeeping gives general information, not legal advice. Laws change and cities can add rules, so check the current law for your state and your property before you act, and talk to a local attorney if a case is contested.

Sources

1. Louisiana Revised Statutes 9:3251, return of lessee's deposit, read Oct 30, 2026

Questions

What is the maximum security deposit in Louisiana?

None. La. Rev. Stat. 9:3251 sets no largest deposit.

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

Within one month after the lease ends, with an itemized statement (9:3251(A)).

What is the penalty for willful failure?

The greater of $300 or twice the amount kept (9:3252).

Does the rule apply if the tenant abandons the home?

No. It does not apply when the tenant abandons the home or leaves without required notice (9:3251(C)).