Jackson Parish is a small north-central Louisiana parish of approximately 15,000 people anchored by Jonesboro — the parish seat with a population of about 4,400 — situated in the upper Ouachita River valley. The parish shares the 2nd Judicial District Court with Bienville and Claiborne parishes, with Jackson Parish matters filed at the Jonesboro courthouse. Jackson Parish’s economy is built on timber and forest products, which have defined the region since the longleaf pine era, alongside a corrections employment base from state facilities in the area and public sector employment in schools and parish government. Jonesboro-Hodge High School and the parish school district are significant local employers. The parish sits between the Monroe metro to the east and the Shreveport-Bossier corridor to the northwest, providing some commuter employment access in both directions.
The rental market in Jackson Parish is concentrated in Jonesboro, with very limited inventory elsewhere in the parish. Rents are modest, reflecting a parish poverty rate of approximately 26%. The tenant pool includes timber workers, corrections and public sector employees, and households relying on government transfer income. Louisiana Civil Code governs all leases with no local rent control or just-cause eviction requirements.
No parish-level rental license required. Louisiana has no statewide landlord licensing statute. Verify with the City of Jonesboro for any local code enforcement requirements within city limits. Unincorporated rural properties are not subject to municipal codes.
Rent Control
None. Louisiana has no statewide rent control and Jackson Parish has no local rent control ordinance. Lessors may raise rent freely at lease renewal with proper notice.
Security Deposit
Capped at 2 months’ rent (R.S. 9:3251). Must be returned with itemized deductions within 30 days of lease termination or surrender, whichever is later (R.S. 9:3252). Permissible deductions: unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, unpaid utilities owed by lessee.
Eviction Court — 2nd Judicial District (Jackson Division)
All Jackson Parish eviction proceedings are filed in the 2nd Judicial District Court — Jackson Parish Division, Jackson Parish Courthouse, 500 E. Court Street, Jonesboro, LA 71251. Phone: (318) 259-2361. Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Note: The 2nd JDC serves Claiborne, Bienville, and Jackson parishes; Jackson Parish matters are filed at the Jonesboro courthouse. Justice of the Peace courts may have jurisdiction for leases not exceeding $1,000/month in unincorporated areas.
Notice to Vacate
Written 5-day notice to vacate required before filing for eviction (CCP Art. 4701–4703). Serve personally, by domiciliary service, or by door-posting plus first class mail. Retain all service documentation.
Month-to-Month Termination
10-day written notice required to terminate a month-to-month lease (CC Art. 2687, 2728). Notice must be given at least 10 days before the end of the monthly rental period.
Tacit Reconduction
Accepting rent after a fixed-term lease expires automatically creates a new month-to-month tenancy (CC Art. 2686). Give written notice before lease expiration if renewal is not intended.
No Statutory Cure Period
Louisiana provides no statutory cure period for lease violations. After the 5-day notice expires, the lessor may file a Rule to Show Cause immediately.
Timber & Forest Products Workforce
Timber and forest products are the dominant private sector industry. W-2 mill employees verify with recent pay stubs. Independent contract loggers require prior-year Schedule C or 12 months of bank statements for reliable annual income assessment.
Corrections & Public Sector Employment
State corrections facilities serving the region employ Jackson Parish residents as corrections officers and support staff. These state government employees have stable, predictable income and represent one of the most reliable tenant segments in any rural Louisiana parish. Standard pay stub and employment confirmation applies.
Monroe & Shreveport Commuter Access
Jonesboro sits between Monroe (approximately 45 miles east via US-84) and the Shreveport-Bossier corridor (approximately 60 miles northwest). Some residents commute to either metro for employment. Verify income from employers in either metro the same as any other.
Source of Income / HCV
No state or local source of income protections. Landlords are not required to accept Housing Choice Vouchers. With a ~26% poverty rate, HCV and government transfer income are significant in the affordable rental tier. Contact the relevant north Louisiana housing authority for current payment standards.
Self-Help Eviction
Prohibited. Lessors may not take possession by any means other than lawful judicial process (CCP Art. 4736). Lockouts, utility shutoffs, or removal of tenant belongings without a court order expose the lessor to liability.
Tenant Can Cure?No - Louisiana notices are unconditional. No right to cure by paying rent. However, tenant can negotiate with landlord. Notice can be waived entirely in lease.
Days to Hearing2-7 days
Days to Writ1-3 days
Total Estimated Timeline14-30 days
Total Estimated Cost$100-$400
⚠️ Watch Out
VERY landlord-friendly state. 5-day notice is UNCONDITIONAL - no cure right, tenant must vacate. Notice can be WAIVED in lease - if waived, landlord can file immediately without any notice. No grace period. No statewide late fee cap. No security deposit cap. Tenant gets only 24 hours to appeal after judgment. Lease term notice: 10-day for month-to-month, 30-day for year lease. Do not count weekends/holidays in 5-day period.
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the Justice of the Peace Court / City Court / District Court. Pay the filing fee (~$50-150).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Louisiana eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice.
Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections.
For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified Louisiana attorney or local legal aid organization.
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Jonesboro market: Timber W-2 mill employees verify with pay stubs; contract loggers need Schedule C. Corrections and school district employees are most stable. Monroe and Shreveport commuters bring metro wages. ~26% poverty — adapt screening for fixed-income applicants.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Jackson Parish Louisiana Landlord-Tenant Law: A Guide for Rental Property Owners in Jonesboro and North-Central Louisiana
Jackson Parish is a small north-central Louisiana parish where the upper Ouachita River valley transitions from the bottomland agricultural country to the east into the longleaf pine Piney Hills country to the west and north. Jonesboro, the parish seat, is a compact small city that has served as the commercial and administrative center of the upper Ouachita region since the post-Civil War era, and its economy reflects the timber and forest products tradition that has shaped north-central Louisiana for generations alongside a public sector employment base in corrections, schools, and parish government. The 2nd Judicial District Court serves Jackson, Bienville, and Claiborne parishes — one of the busier multi-parish district courts in north Louisiana — with Jackson Parish matters handled at the Jonesboro courthouse. For landlords, Jackson Parish is a small, quiet market with a manageable rental inventory, modest rents, and a tenant pool that rewards consistent screening practices adapted to the parish’s employment realities.
Timber, Corrections, and the Jackson Parish Employment Base
Timber is the foundational private sector industry in Jackson Parish, and its workforce divides cleanly between W-2 mill and processing employees and independent contract loggers. Mill employees are straightforward to verify and tend toward stable, long-term employment at established facilities. Contract loggers — who harvest timber under contract and are paid by volume rather than by the hour — have income that is variable by season, timber prices, and the availability of harvesting contracts. The correct verification approach for contract logger applicants is prior-year Schedule C tax return or 12 months of bank statements showing full annual income; a single pay stub from a good harvest period will overstate annual earning capacity significantly.
Corrections and school district employment provide the most reliable locally-sourced income in the parish. State corrections employees have regular government paychecks and institutional job security; school district employees have similar predictability with the added benefit of the academic calendar providing natural lease-term alignment opportunities. Both segments are straightforward to verify and represent the most stable tenant profiles in the Jonesboro market.
Louisiana Law and the Eviction Process in Jackson Parish
All Jackson Parish evictions are filed in the 2nd Judicial District Court, Jackson Parish Division, 500 E. Court Street, Jonesboro, LA 71251, phone (318) 259-2361. The 2nd JDC serves three parishes; confirm you are filing at the Jonesboro courthouse for Jackson Parish properties. Begin with a written 5-day notice to vacate for nonpayment or lease violation, served per CCP Art. 4704. After expiration, file a Rule to Show Cause. The court schedules a hearing, serves the rule at least 2 days before, and the judge rules. If the lessor prevails, the lessee has 24 hours to vacate before the Jackson Parish Sheriff enforces a writ of possession. Month-to-month leases require 10-day written notice to terminate. Security deposits are capped at 2 months’ rent and must be returned with itemized deductions within 30 days.
This guide is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Louisiana landlord-tenant law is governed by the Civil Code and differs significantly from other states. Consult a licensed Louisiana attorney or contact the 2nd Judicial District Court at (318) 259-2361 for guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Louisiana landlord-tenant law is governed by the Civil Code and differs significantly from other states. Consult a licensed Louisiana attorney for guidance specific to your situation. Last updated: March 2026.
