East Feliciana Parish is a small, rural central Louisiana parish of approximately 19,500 people anchored by Clinton — the parish seat with a population of about 1,600 — situated in the rolling loess bluff hill country north of Baton Rouge known as the Feliciana Hills. The parish is part of the Florida Parishes region, the area of Louisiana that was historically administered by Spain and briefly by Britain, and shares the 20th Judicial District Court with neighboring West Feliciana Parish. East Feliciana has a distinctive identity among Louisiana parishes: it is home to several major Louisiana Department of Corrections facilities, including the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women (LCIW) and the Dixon Correctional Institute, which together make state corrections employment the largest single employer in the parish. The parish also has Baton Rouge commuter access via US-61 south, and its wooded, hilly landscape contrasts sharply with the flat Delta and coastal parishes that dominate Louisiana’s geography.
The rental market in East Feliciana Parish is concentrated in Clinton, with very limited inventory elsewhere. The parish poverty rate of approximately 21% is slightly below the Louisiana statewide average, reflecting the income stabilizing effect of state corrections employment. The tenant pool includes corrections officers and staff, Baton Rouge commuters, public sector employees, and agricultural workers. 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 Town of Clinton 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 East Feliciana 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 — 20th Judicial District (East Feliciana Division)
All East Feliciana Parish eviction proceedings are filed in the 20th Judicial District Court — East Feliciana Parish Division, East Feliciana Parish Courthouse, 12305 St. Helena Street, Clinton, LA 70722. Phone: (225) 683-5145. Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Note: The 20th JDC serves both East and West Feliciana parishes; East Feliciana matters are filed at the Clinton courthouse.
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.
Louisiana DOC Corrections Employment
East Feliciana Parish is home to the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women (LCIW) in St. Gabriel and the Dixon Correctional Institute near Jackson. These facilities employ corrections officers, counselors, healthcare staff, and support workers who are Louisiana state government employees with predictable monthly income, good benefits, and strong job security. Corrections employees are among the most reliable tenant profiles in any rural Louisiana parish — stable government income, professional accountability, and community ties. Standard income verification with pay stubs and employment confirmation applies.
Baton Rouge Commuter Access
Clinton is approximately 30 miles north of Baton Rouge via US-61. Some East Feliciana Parish residents commute south to the Baton Rouge metro for employment in state government, healthcare, and professional services. These commuters bring Baton Rouge-benchmarked wages to East Feliciana’s lower housing costs. Verify income from Baton Rouge employers the same as any other.
Feliciana Hills Character & Ag Employment
East Feliciana’s rolling hill terrain supports timber, cattle, and some row crop agriculture. Agricultural and timber workers with seasonal income need prior-year tax returns or 12-month bank statements for reliable income assessment.
Source of Income / HCV
No state or local source of income protections. Landlords are not required to accept Housing Choice Vouchers. Contact the relevant housing authority for current East Feliciana Parish 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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⚠️ 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.
Clinton market: Corrections officers and DOC staff (LCIW, Dixon) are the most stable and reliable tenant segment — state government income, easy to verify. Baton Rouge commuters via US-61 bring metro wages. Timber and agricultural workers need full-year income documentation.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
East Feliciana Parish Louisiana Landlord-Tenant Law: A Guide for Rental Property Owners in Clinton, Jackson, and the Feliciana Hills
East Feliciana Parish is one of Louisiana’s Florida Parishes — the group of parishes in the southeastern corner of the state that were historically part of Spanish West Florida and that have a distinct cultural and geographic character from the Cajun and Creole parishes to the west and south. The Feliciana Hills are the most visually distinctive landscape in Louisiana outside the coastal zone: rolling loess bluffs covered in hardwood forest, a terrain that feels more like Mississippi hill country than the flat bottomlands that most people associate with Louisiana. Clinton, the parish seat, is a small historic town with antebellum courthouse architecture and a quiet character that belies its role as the administrative center for a parish whose largest employment sector is the Louisiana Department of Corrections.
Corrections Employment: The Economic Anchor
The Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women (LCIW) and the Dixon Correctional Institute together make the Louisiana Department of Corrections the dominant private and public sector employer in East Feliciana Parish. Corrections officers, case managers, healthcare staff, counselors, and support workers at these facilities are Louisiana state employees whose income arrives on a regular state payroll schedule, is supported by comprehensive state benefits, and is as institutionally secure as employment in Louisiana gets. For landlords in Clinton and surrounding communities, a verified DOC employee is one of the most straightforward and reliable tenant profiles available — predictable income, professional accountability, and community ties that favor longer tenancies.
The Baton Rouge commuter connection via US-61 adds a secondary segment of residents who earn wages in the state capital while living in East Feliciana for its lower housing costs, rural character, and quality of life. These commuters bring Baton Rouge-benchmarked wages to a market where rents reflect the rural scale of the parish — an income-to-rent ratio that is favorable for both landlord and tenant. The 20th Judicial District Court serves both East and West Feliciana parishes; East Feliciana matters are filed at the Clinton courthouse at 12305 St. Helena Street, phone (225) 683-5145.
Louisiana Law and the Eviction Process in East Feliciana Parish
All East Feliciana Parish evictions are filed in the 20th Judicial District Court, East Feliciana Parish Division, 12305 St. Helena Street, Clinton, LA 70722, phone (225) 683-5145. Begin with a written 5-day notice to vacate for nonpayment or lease violation, served per CCP Art. 4704. After the notice period expires, file a Rule to Show Cause. The court sets 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 East 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. 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 20th Judicial District Court at (225) 683-5145 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.
