Morehouse Parish is a northeast Louisiana parish of approximately 24,000 people anchored by Bastrop — the parish seat with a population of about 10,000 — situated along the Boeuf River near the Arkansas border. Bastrop is one of the more industrially significant small cities in northeast Louisiana, historically anchored by a large paper mill that was a major employer for generations. The parish’s economy blends timber and forest products, agriculture, natural gas production, corrections employment, and public sector jobs. The 4th Judicial District Court, which also serves Ouachita Parish (Monroe-West Monroe), handles Morehouse Parish evictions at the Bastrop courthouse.
The rental market in Morehouse Parish is concentrated in Bastrop, with limited inventory elsewhere. The parish poverty rate of approximately 30% reflects significant economic contraction following the closure and reduction of major industrial employers. The tenant pool includes timber and forest industry workers, natural gas field employees, corrections staff, public sector workers, and Monroe commuters. 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 Bastrop 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 Morehouse 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 — 4th Judicial District (Morehouse Division)
All Morehouse Parish eviction proceedings are filed in the 4th Judicial District Court — Morehouse Parish Division, Morehouse Parish Courthouse, 100 E. Madison Avenue, Bastrop, LA 71220. Phone: (318) 281-3343. Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Note: The 4th JDC also serves Ouachita Parish (Monroe-West Monroe); Morehouse Parish matters are filed at the Bastrop 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, Paper & Forest Products
Timber and forest products — historically including a major paper mill in Bastrop — are the foundational private sector industry. W-2 mill and manufacturing employees verify with recent pay stubs. Independent contract loggers require prior-year Schedule C or 12-month bank statements for reliable income assessment. Note that major industrial employer closures or reductions can significantly affect local rental markets; verify current employment status for all industrial applicants.
Natural Gas Production
Morehouse Parish has natural gas production activity. Permanent operations employees verify with W-2 pay stubs. Contract field workers need prior-year tax returns alongside recent stubs for commodity-cycle income context.
Monroe Metro Access
Bastrop is approximately 30 miles north of Monroe via US-425. Some Morehouse Parish residents commute to Monroe-West Monroe for employment in healthcare, manufacturing, and professional services. Verify income from Monroe employers 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 ~30% poverty rate, HCV and government transfer income are significant in the affordable rental tier. Contact the Morehouse Parish Housing Authority for current HCV 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.
Underground Landlord
🏘️ Communities & Screening Tips
Key communities: Bastrop, Mer Rouge, Collinston, Bonita.
Bastrop market: Timber and forest products W-2 employees verify with pay stubs; note industrial employer instability. Contract loggers need Schedule C. Monroe commuters via US-425 bring Ouachita wages. School district and corrections employees most stable. ~30% poverty — adapt screening for fixed-income applicants.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Morehouse Parish Louisiana Landlord-Tenant Law: A Guide for Rental Property Owners in Bastrop and Northeast Louisiana
Morehouse Parish is a northeast Louisiana parish of approximately 24,000 people whose economic story is in many ways the story of industrial Louisiana’s rise and gradual restructuring over the 20th century. Bastrop, the parish seat, grew into one of the more industrially significant small cities in northeast Louisiana on the strength of timber and paper manufacturing, anchored for generations by a major paper mill that employed hundreds of residents at wages well above the rural northeast Louisiana average. The timber and forest products sector remains important, and natural gas production adds another private sector employment component. The parish’s position along the Arkansas border and approximately 30 miles north of Monroe via US-425 gives residents reasonable commuter access to the Monroe-West Monroe metro’s healthcare, manufacturing, and professional services economy. The 4th Judicial District Court, which also serves Ouachita Parish, handles Morehouse Parish evictions at the Bastrop courthouse.
Industrial Employment and the Importance of Current Verification
Rural northeast Louisiana’s industrial employers — paper mills, wood products facilities, manufacturing plants — have faced significant restructuring pressures over the past two decades, including closures, capacity reductions, and ownership changes that have reduced employment levels from their historical highs. This history carries a practical implication for landlord screening in Morehouse Parish: verifying current employment status directly with the employer is more important here than in markets where major employers have long, stable histories. A pay stub from six months ago at a paper mill does not confirm current employment if that facility has since reduced its workforce. For all industrial employer applicants, confirm current active employment status directly with the company’s HR department in addition to reviewing pay stubs.
Louisiana Law and the Eviction Process in Morehouse Parish
All Morehouse Parish evictions are filed in the 4th Judicial District Court, Morehouse Parish Division, 100 E. Madison Avenue, Bastrop, LA 71220, phone (318) 281-3343. The 4th JDC also serves Ouachita Parish; Morehouse Parish matters are filed at the Bastrop 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 Morehouse 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 4th Judicial District Court at (318) 281-3343 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.
