West Feliciana Parish Louisiana Landlord-Tenant Law: A Guide for Rental Property Owners in St. Francisville and the Angola Corridor
West Feliciana Parish is one of Louisiana’s most historically layered small parishes — a Florida Parish of approximately 15,600 people on the Mississippi River bluffs north of Baton Rouge where antebellum plantation culture, the oldest town in Louisiana west of the Mississippi, and one of the largest maximum security prisons in the United States exist in an unusual geographic proximity. St. Francisville, the parish seat, is a town of about 1,700 that punches well above its size in cultural and historical significance — its intact antebellum streetscapes, the plantation homes along Feliciana Road, and its role in the Spanish colonial, British, and American periods of Louisiana history make it one of the more visited heritage tourism destinations in the state. Angola, the Louisiana State Penitentiary, sits on the former Angola plantation at the end of LA-66 at the confluence of the Mississippi River and the Tunica Hills, and its workforce of corrections officers, administrative staff, and support employees constitutes the dominant employment base in a parish too small and too rural to have much other private sector employment. The 20th Judicial District Court serves both West and East Feliciana parishes, with West Feliciana matters filed at the St. Francisville courthouse.
Angola and the Parish’s Economic Anchor
The Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola is, by a wide margin, the most significant employment institution in West Feliciana Parish. Its workforce of corrections officers, administrative and clerical employees, healthcare staff, teachers, chaplains, and support personnel represents Louisiana state government employment at its most stable and most geographically specific — these are jobs that exist only because Angola is in West Feliciana Parish, and they will remain here as long as Angola operates. Angola employees are Louisiana state employees with W-2 income, regular payroll deposits, comprehensive state benefits, and institutional employment that has persisted through every economic cycle, every gubernatorial administration, and every period of state budget pressure that Louisiana has experienced. For West Feliciana Parish landlords, an Angola employee applicant is the gold standard of the local tenant pool. Verify with standard pay stubs and employer confirmation from the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
St. Francisville: Heritage Tourism and the Baton Rouge Commuter
St. Francisville’s heritage tourism economy — the Myrtles Plantation (one of Louisiana’s most celebrated historic inns and reportedly one of the most haunted houses in America), Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site, the Grace Episcopal Church with its uninterrupted service since 1827, and the broader antebellum landscape — draws visitors and supports a hospitality workforce of innkeepers, tour guides, and restaurant workers whose employment is part-time and seasonal. For this segment, use 3-month averaging and prior-year tax return review for full annual income context. The US-61 corridor (the old River Road connecting Baton Rouge to Natchez) makes St. Francisville approximately 35 minutes from Baton Rouge — a commutable distance for state government employees, LSU faculty and staff, and healthcare workers who choose West Feliciana’s historic character and quieter pace over EBR’s suburban density.
Louisiana Law and the Eviction Process in West Feliciana Parish
All West Feliciana Parish evictions are filed in the 20th Judicial District Court, West Feliciana Parish Division, 4789 Prosperity Street, St. Francisville, LA 70775, phone (225) 635-3794. The 20th JDC serves both East and West Feliciana parishes; West Feliciana matters are filed at the St. Francisville courthouse. 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 West Feliciana 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 20th Judicial District Court at (225) 635-3794 for guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
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