Louisiana Eviction Notice Template (La. C.C.P. art. 4701)
Before a landlord can file an eviction case, most states require a written notice that tells the tenant what is wrong and how long they have to fix it or move out. Answer the questions below to create a clear, professional notice — then check it against your state and local rules before you serve it.
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Free to preview[Landlord or property manager name]
[Your address and phone for the tenant to reach you]
October 15, 2026
To: [Tenant name(s)]
and all other occupants of
[Rental property address]
Re: [Type of notice] — [Rental property address]
Dear [Tenant name(s)],
This letter is formal written notice to you as the tenant of the property at [Rental property address]. Type of notice: [Type of notice].
The reason for this notice is as follows:
[Reason for this notice]
Within [Notice period in days] days after this notice is delivered to you, you must [What the tenant must do within that time]. If this notice is delivered to you on October 15, 2026, that period ends on October 15, 2026.
This notice is given under Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure article 4701, which requires written notice to vacate before a landlord may file a rule for possession.
If you do not do so within that time, I intend to file an eviction case with the court to recover possession of the property. You will have the opportunity to respond in court, and you may not be removed from the property unless a court orders it. I will not remove you or your belongings or change the locks without a court order.
If you have questions about this notice, or wish to discuss payment or resolving the issue, please contact me in writing at the address above.
Sincerely,
[Landlord or property manager name]
Date this notice was delivered: ____________________
Method of delivery: ____________________
Delivered by: ____________________
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How eviction notices work in Louisiana
Louisiana evictions start with a written notice to vacate under Code of Civil Procedure article 4701. When a tenant's right to occupy ends for any reason, including unpaid rent or a lease violation, the landlord must give the tenant at least five days from delivery to leave, unless the tenant waived this notice in a written lease. Many leases include such a waiver. To end a month-to-month lease, Civil Code article 2728 requires notice at least 10 calendar days before the end of the month.
Under Code of Civil Procedure article 5059, legal holidays are left out when counting a period of less than seven days, like the five-day notice, which can push the deadline past five calendar days, so allow extra time. The notice should be in writing, identify the tenant and the property, and give the date to vacate. If the home is closed or the tenant can't be found, notices may be attached to a door. Keep a copy and a record of how it was delivered.
If the tenant stays after the notice period, the landlord files a rule to show cause in court, and the hearing can be set as early as the third day after service. Unless the tenant has abandoned the home, the landlord needs a judgment of eviction to regain possession and should not change the locks, remove belongings or cut off utilities. If the tenant doesn't leave within 24 hours of the judgment, the court issues a warrant for the sheriff, constable or marshal to deliver possession.
What to do, step by step
Check your state and local rules first
Look up the notice period, required wording and delivery method for your state, county and city. Many places set different periods for unpaid rent, lease violations and ending a tenancy, and some cities add their own just-cause rules.
Fill in the notice
Answer the questions above. Name every adult tenant on the lease, state the facts plainly and enter the exact number of days your rules require.
Serve it the way your state requires
States specify how a notice must be delivered — commonly hand delivery, leaving it with an adult at the home, posting and mailing, or certified mail. A notice served the wrong way may have to be redone.
Record how and when you served it
Write down the date, time, method and who delivered it, and keep a copy of the notice. Courts often ask for this proof of service.
Wait out the full notice period
Don't change the locks, remove belongings or shut off utilities. If the tenant fixes the problem, accept it as your rules require; if not, the next step is filing an eviction case in court.
What if the tenant doesn't respond to the notice?
An eviction notice is not an eviction. It is the written warning most states require before you can go to court. If the notice period ends and the tenant hasn't paid, fixed the violation or moved out, the next step is to file an eviction case — often called an unlawful detainer or summary possession case — with your local court.
Until a judge rules in your favor and a court officer such as a sheriff or marshal carries out the order, the tenant has the right to stay. Changing the locks, removing the tenant's belongings, cutting off utilities or otherwise forcing them out is a so-called self-help eviction, which is illegal in nearly every state and can expose you to damages.
Courts look closely at the notice itself. If the period was too short, the wording missed something your state requires or it was delivered the wrong way, the case can be dismissed and you may have to start over. Your local court's self-help center or a landlord association can tell you what your court expects.
Example Louisiana eviction notice
A filled-in sample with made-up details, so you can see the finished result.
Greenway Rentals LLC
PO Box 2210, Lakeview, MN 55401 · (555) 201-4478
October 5, 2026
To: Taylor Brooks and Jamie Brooks
and all other occupants of
56 Willow St, Unit 3, Lakeview, MN 55402
Re: Notice to pay rent or quit — 56 Willow St, Unit 3, Lakeview, MN 55402
Dear Taylor Brooks and Jamie Brooks,
This letter is formal written notice to you as the tenant of the property at 56 Willow St, Unit 3, Lakeview, MN 55402. Type of notice: Notice to pay rent or quit.
The reason for this notice is as follows:
Rent of $1,450 for the month of September 2026, due on September 1, 2026, has not been paid, despite a reminder sent by email on September 10.
The total amount of rent now due is $1,450.00.
Within 14 days after this notice is delivered to you, you must pay the full amount of rent owed or move out of the property. If this notice is delivered to you on October 5, 2026, that period ends on October 19, 2026.
This notice is given under Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure article 4701, which requires written notice to vacate before a landlord may file a rule for possession.
If you do not do so within that time, I intend to file an eviction case with the court to recover possession of the property. You will have the opportunity to respond in court, and you may not be removed from the property unless a court orders it. I will not remove you or your belongings or change the locks without a court order.
If you have questions about this notice, or wish to discuss payment or resolving the issue, please contact me in writing at the address above.
Sincerely,
Greenway Rentals LLC
Date this notice was delivered: ____________________
Method of delivery: ____________________
Delivered by: ____________________
Frequently asked questions
How many days' notice to vacate in Louisiana?
At least five days from delivery of the written notice, under article 4701. Because legal holidays are excluded from periods of less than seven days under article 5059, the deadline can fall later than five calendar days. If the lease waives the notice, the landlord may file without it.
Can a Louisiana lease waive the notice to vacate?
Yes. Article 4701 allows a tenant to waive the notice in a written lease, and many Louisiana leases include this waiver. Even with a waiver, the landlord must still go to court and obtain a judgment of eviction; unless the home has been abandoned, the tenant cannot be removed without one.
Does Louisiana give tenants time to fix a lease violation?
State law doesn't set a general cure period. When a landlord ends a lease for a violation, the five-day notice to vacate applies unless waived. The lease itself may give the tenant a chance to correct the problem, so check its terms before serving notice.
How much notice ends a Louisiana month-to-month lease?
Notice must be given at least 10 calendar days before the end of the monthly period, under Civil Code article 2728. That notice also serves as the notice to vacate for the eviction process. Louisiana has no statewide just-cause requirement.
How much notice do I have to give a tenant?
It depends on your state, sometimes your city, the type of notice and the lease. Periods for unpaid rent can be as short as a few days or as long as a month, and notices ending a month-to-month tenancy are often 30 days or more. Check your state's landlord-tenant law and any local ordinance before serving.
Is an eviction notice the same as being evicted?
No. A notice only starts the process. If the tenant doesn't comply, the landlord must file a case in court and win a judgment. Only a court order, carried out by a sheriff, marshal or similar officer, can legally remove a tenant from the property.
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