Louisiana's commercial landlord-tenant market operates almost exclusively on the principle of freedom of contract, structured within the framework of the state's unique Civil Code system—effective since Louisiana's admission to the Union in 1812, with the current primary framework for leases established by the major revision of Title IX effective January 1, 2005. Unlike residential tenancies, which possess a few baseline consumer protections, commercial tenancies are viewed strictly as business-to-business agreements where both parties are presumed sophisticated enough to negotiate their own terms.

Because of this, the written commercial lease agreement is the paramount governing document in Louisiana. The state applies very few restrictive statutes to commercial leasing.

Official Law Citation: The rules and regulations outlined on this page are strictly configured under general commercial contract law under the Louisiana Civil CodePreview unavailable.

The Supremacy of the Commercial Lease

In Louisiana, the commercial lease dictates every material aspect of the landlord-tenant relationship. If a topic is clearly addressed in the lease, Louisiana courts will generally enforce it, as long as it does not violate public policy or basic fraud principles under the Civil Code.

Key Areas Dictated Entirely by the Lease

• Security Deposits: No statutory caps on the deposit amount, no requirement to hold funds in escrow, and no obligation to pay interest.
• Rent Increases: No commercial rent control exists at the state or local level. La. R.S. 9:3258 prohibits any local governmental subdivision from adopting any ordinance or regulation that controls the price of rent for private residential or commercial property.
• Late Fees and Grace Periods: There are no statutory grace periods or caps on late fees for commercial properties.
• Maintenance Allocations: While the Civil Code provides default rules, commercial leases invariably shift the majority of maintenance and repair obligations (such as HVAC replacement or roof repair) to the tenant, particularly in Triple Net (NNN) leases.

See our Commercial Lease RequirementsPreview unavailable guide.

Commercial Eviction Process

Commercial evictions in Louisiana follow the procedural framework found in the Code of Civil Procedure.

• Notice to Vacate: Under La. C.C.P. art. 4701, a lessor must provide a 5-day written notice to vacate to a lessee whose right of occupancy has ceased.
• Waiver of Notice: A commercial lessee may waive this notice requirement via a written waiver contained in the lease. If such a waiver exists, the lessor may immediately institute eviction proceedings without the 5-day notice period (La. C.C.P. art. 4701).

See our Commercial Eviction ProcessPreview unavailable guide.

Security Deposit Returns

While Louisiana does not strictly regulate the collection of commercial security deposits, the return process is governed by the lease rather than residential statutes. Commercial security deposits are not governed by the one-month return deadline or the statutory penalties found in the Louisiana Lessee's Deposit Act (La. R.S. 9:3251 et seq.), as these provisions apply exclusively to residential or dwelling premises.

The return of a commercial security deposit is governed by the terms of the written lease agreement. In the absence of a specific lease provision, the landlord must return the deposit within a reasonable time after the lease terminates and the tenant surrenders the premises (La. C.C. art. 2711; La. C.C. art. 1994; see also New Orleans Hat Attack, Inc. v. New York Life Ins. Co., 665 So. 2d 1186).

See our Commercial Security DepositsPreview unavailable guide.

How Landager Helps

Landager tracks lease terms, required compliance items, and accounting records - making it easy to stay compliant with Louisiana regulations.

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