Louisiana Rent Late Fee & Grace Period Calculator

Verified Primary Statute: La. Civ. Code art. 2668 & art. 2005 · Last Checked: 2026-11-01 Spot a law update? Report it

Monthly Rent Amount (USD)

Rent Due Day of Month

Payment Received Day

Late Fee Charged or In Lease (USD)

Late fee clause is written in the signed lease agreement (Mandatory under La. Civ. Code art. 2668 & art. 2005; landlords cannot charge late fees on oral leases or without written disclosure).

Louisiana Legal AssessmentLawful / Compliant Fee

Maximum Statutory Late Fee:

$90.00

No fixed statutory cap under La. Civ. Code art. 2668 & art. 2005. Late fees must reflect reasonable administrative damages (California courts routinely view ~5% as the customary judicial limit).

Statutory Grace Period:None (fees may assess the day after due date if lease allows)

Days Past Statutory Due Date:5 days

Fee Charged by Landlord:$75.00

Governing Authority:La. Civ. Code art. 2668 & art. 2005

Louisiana Late Fee Laws at a Glance (La. Civ. Code art. 2668 & art. 2005)

Louisiana Civil Code art. 2668 et seq. does not establish a statutory grace period. The due date and late fee provisions of the written lease control.

Mandatory Grace Period	No statutory grace period (governed by written lease terms)
Maximum Statutory Fee Limit	Louisiana civil law upholds late fees agreed to in the lease, subject to judicial review against exorbitant or usurious penalties under La. Civ. Code art. 2005.
Written Lease Clause Required?	Yes — Mandatory under state law
Primary Governing Statute	La. Civ. Code art. 2668 & art. 2005 ↗

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Key Louisiana Statutory Nuances & Legal Precedents

No State-Mandated Grace Period: Rent is delinquent immediately once the contractual due date passes.
Stipulated Damages (La. Civ. Code art. 2005): Late fees are treated as stipulated damages and cannot be manifestly unreasonable.
Eviction Notice Rights: Louisiana landlords can serve a 5-day notice to vacate immediately upon non-payment unless the lease waives or extends notice.

Worked Statutory Calculation

New Orleans Late Fee Assessment

Monthly Rent:

$1,400

Payment Day:

Day 6

Fee Charged:

$70

Max Legal Fee:

$70

For monthly rent, a late fee (5%) set forth in the written lease complies with Louisiana Civil Code provisions for reasonable stipulated damages.

Louisiana Rent Late Fee & Grace Period FAQs

Does Louisiana require landlords to provide a grace period?

No. Louisiana Civil Code does not mandate a grace period. Rent is late the day after it is due under the lease.

What is the legal limit on late fees in Louisiana?

Louisiana sets no statutory dollar or percentage cap, but fees must be agreed to in writing and are subject to judicial moderation if manifestly unreasonable (standard ~5%).

What is Louisiana's notice period for rent nonpayment?

Under La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 4701, landlords must give a 5-day Notice to Vacate before filing an eviction suit, though leases may waive this notice.

Can a landlord charge late fees without a lease in Louisiana?

No. Late fees must be agreed upon in the rental contract to be enforceable in Louisiana city courts.