Grant Parish is a central Louisiana parish of approximately 22,300 people anchored by Colfax — the parish seat with a population of about 1,600 — situated along the Red River between Alexandria to the south and Natchitoches to the northwest. The parish holds a specific and somber place in American history as the site of the Colfax Massacre of April 13, 1873 — one of the deadliest episodes of racial violence in post-Civil War Reconstruction, when a white paramilitary force attacked Black Republican freedmen defending the Grant Parish courthouse, killing at least 60 and possibly more than 150 people. The event contributed to the Supreme Court’s 1876 decision in United States v. Cruikshank, which significantly weakened federal enforcement of the Fourteenth Amendment. Today Colfax is a quiet small town, and the parish’s economy is built on timber, the Kisatchie National Forest, agriculture, and public sector employment.
The rental market in Grant Parish is concentrated in Colfax and the communities of Pollock and Dry Prong. The parish poverty rate of approximately 24% is slightly above the national average. The tenant pool includes timber workers, Kisatchie-related employment, agricultural workers, Alexandria commuters, and public sector employees. 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 Colfax 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 Grant 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 — 35th Judicial District
All Grant Parish eviction proceedings are filed in the 35th Judicial District Court, Grant Parish Courthouse, 200 Main Street, Colfax, LA 71417. Phone: (318) 627-3246. Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Justice of the Peace courts may have jurisdiction for 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 expires, the lessor may file a Rule to Show Cause immediately.
Timber & Kisatchie National Forest
Timber is the dominant private sector industry. The Kisatchie National Forest, which covers substantial portions of Grant and adjacent parishes, supports USFS employees, contract forestry workers, and recreation-related employment. USFS employees are federal government workers with stable, verifiable income. Contract timber workers require Schedule C or 12-month bank statements for reliable income assessment.
Alexandria Commuter Access
Colfax is approximately 20 miles north of Alexandria (Rapides Parish) via US-167 and LA-8. Many Grant Parish residents commute south to Alexandria for employment in healthcare, government, retail, and manufacturing. Alexandria commuters bring Rapides Parish-benchmarked wages to Grant Parish’s lower housing costs — a favorable income-to-rent dynamic. Verify income regardless of employer location.
Agriculture
Row crop agriculture in the Red River bottomlands provides seasonal employment. Request prior-year tax returns or 12-month bank statements for agricultural worker applicants rather than relying on in-season pay stubs.
Source of Income / HCV
No state or local source of income protections. Landlords are not required to accept Housing Choice Vouchers. Contact the relevant central Louisiana housing authority for current Grant 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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Colfax market: Timber and Kisatchie forest workers (USFS stable federal income; contract loggers need Schedule C). Alexandria commuters via US-167 bring Rapides Parish wages. Agricultural workers need full-year documentation. School district employees most stable local segment.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Grant Parish Louisiana Landlord-Tenant Law: A Guide for Rental Property Owners in Colfax, Pollock, and Central Louisiana’s Forest Country
Grant Parish is a central Louisiana timber and forest parish situated where the Red River valley meets the longleaf pine uplands of the Kisatchie Hills. Colfax, the parish seat, is a small town with a history that carries weight well beyond its size — the Colfax Massacre of April 1873, in which white paramilitary forces killed scores of Black freedmen who had gathered at the courthouse following a disputed election, stands as one of the most deadly acts of racial violence in post-Civil War American history and as a defining event in the collapse of Reconstruction-era civil rights enforcement. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Cruikshank (1876), which arose from the Colfax killings, severely limited federal power to protect Black citizens’ constitutional rights and shaped American civil rights law for generations. That history is part of Colfax’s identity, acknowledged through historical markers and ongoing scholarship. Today the town and parish go about the practical business of timber, agriculture, and small-town central Louisiana life.
Kisatchie, Timber, and the Alexandria Connection
The Kisatchie National Forest — Louisiana’s only national forest, covering nearly 600,000 acres across seven central Louisiana parishes — runs through Grant Parish and is a significant source of employment, recreation, and timber management activity. U.S. Forest Service employees based in or serving the Grant Parish district are federal government workers with stable, regular income and verifiable employment. Contract forestry workers, timber harvesters, and related private sector workers in the Kisatchie corridor require the same income documentation as contract loggers anywhere in Louisiana: prior-year Schedule C or 12 months of bank statements to establish annual income reliably rather than a single pay stub that may reflect a strong or weak harvest period.
Colfax’s position approximately 20 miles north of Alexandria via US-167 means that a meaningful share of Grant Parish residents commute south to the Rapides Parish employment center for healthcare at Christus St. Frances Cabrini and Rapides Regional Medical Center, state government, manufacturing, and retail employment. These Alexandria commuters bring wages benchmarked to a larger employment market back to Grant Parish’s rural housing costs, creating a favorable income-to-rent ratio. Verify income from Alexandria employers exactly as you would any other employer.
Louisiana Law and the Eviction Process in Grant Parish
All Grant Parish evictions are filed in the 35th Judicial District Court, 200 Main Street, Colfax, LA 71417, phone (318) 627-3246. 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 Grant 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 35th Judicial District Court at (318) 627-3246 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.
