Caldwell Parish is one of Louisiana’s smallest and most rural parishes, a north-central Louisiana parish of approximately 9,600 people anchored by Columbia — the parish seat with a population of about 350, making it one of the smallest parish seats in the state. The parish sits along the Ouachita River, bordered by Franklin Parish to the east and Winn Parish to the west, and its economy is built on timber, agriculture, and public sector employment. The Monroe-West Monroe metro area lies approximately 40 miles to the northeast along US-165, providing some commuter employment access for northern parish residents. Caldwell Parish’s isolation and very small population result in one of Louisiana’s most limited rental markets — inventory is minimal, concentrated almost entirely in Columbia and the community of Grayson, and rents are among the lowest in the state.
The parish poverty rate of approximately 27% reflects limited private sector employment. The tenant pool is drawn primarily from timber industry employment, public sector and school district jobs, agricultural workers, and government transfer income recipients. Louisiana Civil Code governs all leases with no local rent control or just-cause eviction requirements. The 37th Judicial District Court in Columbia handles all eviction proceedings for the parish.
No parish-level rental license required. Louisiana has no statewide landlord licensing statute. Verify with the Town of Columbia for any local code enforcement requirements within town limits. Unincorporated rural properties are not subject to municipal codes.
Rent Control
None. Louisiana has no statewide rent control and Caldwell 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 — 37th Judicial District
All Caldwell Parish eviction proceedings are filed in the 37th Judicial District Court, Caldwell Parish Courthouse, 201 Main Street, Columbia, LA 71418. Phone: (318) 649-2272. Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Justice of the Peace courts may have jurisdiction for residential leases not exceeding $1,000/month in unincorporated areas (CCP Art. 4843).
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 to vacate expires, the lessor may file a Rule to Show Cause immediately.
Timber & Forest Products Workforce
Timber harvesting and forest products are the dominant private sector industry in Caldwell Parish. W-2 mill employees verify with recent pay stubs. Independent contract loggers require prior-year Schedule C or 12 months of bank statements — contract logging income is highly variable and a single pay stub is not a reliable annual income indicator.
Monroe-West Monroe Commuter Access
Columbia sits approximately 40 miles southwest of Monroe via US-165. Some northern Caldwell Parish residents commute to Monroe-West Monroe for employment in healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and professional services. These commuters bring Ouachita Parish-benchmarked wages to Caldwell Parish’s lower housing costs. Verify income regardless of employer location.
High Poverty Context & Screening Adaptation
Caldwell Parish’s ~27% poverty rate means a significant share of rental applicants may rely on SSI, SSDI, Social Security, or Housing Choice Vouchers as primary income. Prioritize rental history, income stability, and reliability of the income source alongside the income level. Apply all screening criteria consistently per federal Fair Housing requirements.
Source of Income / HCV
No state or local source of income protections. Landlords are not required to accept Housing Choice Vouchers. Contact the relevant north Louisiana housing authority for current Caldwell Parish payment standards if considering HCV participation.
Lessor’s Privilege
Louisiana law gives lessors a legal privilege (lien) on the lessee’s movable property on the leased premises to secure up to two years of unpaid rent (CC Art. 2752). This is a unique Louisiana remedy. Consult a Louisiana attorney before attempting to exercise this right.
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 for damages and attorney fees.
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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⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
Columbia market: One of Louisiana’s smallest rental markets. Timber workers need Schedule C or full-year bank statements for contractors. Adapt screening for fixed-income applicants (~27% poverty). Monroe commuters verify on actual income. School district employees are the most stable local segment.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Caldwell Parish Louisiana Landlord-Tenant Law: A Guide for Rental Property Owners in Columbia and North-Central Louisiana
Caldwell Parish is one of Louisiana’s smallest parishes by population — approximately 9,600 residents in a north-central Louisiana setting along the Ouachita River, with a parish seat at Columbia that is one of the smallest in the state. The parish sits in the transition zone between the pine timber hills to the north and west and the river bottom agricultural lands of the Ouachita valley, and its economic character reflects this geography: timber and forest products, row crop agriculture, and a public employment base centered on the Caldwell Parish School District and parish government. For landlords, Caldwell Parish is a very small, very quiet market with limited inventory, modest rents, and a straightforward application of Louisiana’s Civil Code landlord-tenant framework in a low-volume 37th Judicial District Court.
A Small Market with a Simple Approach
The practical reality of the Caldwell Parish rental market is that landlords here typically know their community well and may be tempted to rely on personal familiarity in lieu of formal screening. That approach carries the same risks in Caldwell Parish as anywhere else — personal relationships do not predict payment behavior, community reputation does not appear in an eviction database, and when a tenancy goes wrong in a rural market with limited legal services, the consequences are just as expensive relative to the rent collected as they are in larger markets. Screen every applicant with a consistent written process: credit history, eviction database search, income verification, and rental history from prior lessors.
The Caldwell Parish School District and parish government are the most stable local employers, offering regular monthly income and institutional accountability. Timber mill and processing workers are verifiable through W-2 pay stubs. Independent contract loggers — the self-employed harvesters who contract directly with timber companies — require prior-year Schedule C tax returns or 12 months of bank statements for reliable income assessment. Residents who commute to Monroe-West Monroe (approximately 40 miles to the northeast via US-165) for healthcare, retail, manufacturing, or professional services employment may earn wages above the local Caldwell Parish rate; verify their income from their employer regardless of where that employer is located.
Louisiana Law and the Eviction Process in Caldwell Parish
All Caldwell Parish evictions are filed in the 37th Judicial District Court, Caldwell Parish Courthouse, 201 Main Street, Columbia, LA 71418, phone (318) 649-2272. Begin with a written 5-day notice to vacate for nonpayment or lease violation, properly served per CCP Art. 4704. After the notice period expires, 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 Caldwell 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. Louisiana’s tacit reconduction doctrine means accepting rent after a fixed-term lease expires automatically creates a new month-to-month tenancy.
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 37th Judicial District Court at (318) 649-2272 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.
