St. James Parish is a small River Road parish of approximately 20,000 people situated along both banks of the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, with its parish seat at Convent on the east bank. The parish occupies a central stretch of Louisiana’s chemical and industrial corridor — that dense concentration of petrochemical plants, refineries, and industrial facilities that lines the River Road between the two largest Louisiana cities. St. James Parish shares the 23rd Judicial District Court with Assumption and Ascension parishes, with St. James Parish matters filed at the Convent courthouse. The parish economy is dominated by petrochemical and industrial employment, making it one of the higher-wage small parishes in Louisiana despite its modest size, with a poverty rate of approximately 18%.
The rental market in St. James Parish is small and concentrated in the communities of Lutcher, Gramercy, and Vacherie along the River Road corridor. Rents are moderate by Louisiana standards, reflecting the parish’s location between two major metros and its industrial employment base. Louisiana Civil Code governs all leases with no local rent control or just-cause eviction requirements. Flood risk from the Mississippi River and coastal wetland proximity requires standard lease provisions.
No parish-level rental license required. Louisiana has no statewide landlord licensing statute. Verify with St. James Parish Government for any local code enforcement requirements applicable to rental properties.
Rent Control
None. Louisiana has no statewide rent control and St. James Parish has no local rent control ordinance. Lessors may raise rents freely at 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 — 23rd Judicial District (St. James Division)
All St. James Parish eviction proceedings are filed in the 23rd Judicial District Court — St. James Parish Division, St. James Parish Courthouse, 5800 LA-44, Convent, LA 70723. Phone: (225) 562-2250. Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Note: The 23rd JDC serves Assumption, Ascension, and St. James parishes; St. James matters are filed at the Convent 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.
Petrochemical & Industrial Employment
St. James Parish’s River Road hosts significant petrochemical and industrial capacity. Direct plant employees have stable W-2 income — verify with pay stubs. Turnaround contractors have variable project-based income — request prior-year tax returns alongside recent stubs and verify permanent local ties. The same direct-employee vs. turnaround-contractor screening distinction applied throughout the River Road corridor applies here.
New Orleans & Baton Rouge Corridor
St. James Parish’s location on the River Road between the two major metros gives residents commuter access to both New Orleans (approximately 45 miles southeast via LA-18 and I-10) and Baton Rouge (approximately 30 miles northwest via LA-44 and I-10). Verify income from employers in either direction using standard pay stubs and employer confirmation.
Flood Risk & Hurricane Provisions
St. James Parish’s position along the Mississippi River and its low elevation create meaningful flood and hurricane risk. Verify FEMA flood zone status for each property at msc.fema.gov. Include flood zone disclosure, mandatory renter’s insurance, evacuation compliance obligations, and storm damage reporting in all leases. Carry separate flood insurance on the structure.
Source of Income / HCV
No state or local source of income protections. Landlords are not required to accept Housing Choice Vouchers. Contact the St. James 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: Lutcher, Gramercy, Vacherie, Convent, St. James.
River Road market: Direct plant employees most stable — W-2 pay stubs. Turnaround contractors need prior-year tax returns and local-ties verification. Dual metro commuter access (NOLA ~45 mi; Baton Rouge ~30 mi). Flood provisions in every lease. 23rd JDC shared with Assumption and Ascension; file at Convent courthouse.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
St. James Parish Louisiana Landlord-Tenant Law: A Guide for Rental Property Owners in Lutcher, Gramercy, Convent, and the River Road Corridor
St. James Parish occupies a historically and economically significant stretch of the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge — the midpoint of Louisiana’s great River Road, where the plantation culture of the antebellum era gave way to the petrochemical industry of the 20th century without ever entirely losing the deep sense of place and community that centuries of continuous settlement along the river have produced. The communities of Lutcher and Gramercy on the east bank and the broader parish on both sides of the river are home to an industrial workforce employed in the chemical plants, refineries, and manufacturing facilities that make this corridor one of the most economically productive strips of land in Louisiana. St. James Parish shares the 23rd Judicial District Court with Assumption and Ascension parishes, with St. James matters filed at the Convent courthouse on LA-44.
The River Road Industrial Workforce and Screening Essentials
The dominant tenant profile in St. James Parish is the River Road industrial worker — either a direct W-2 employee of a chemical or manufacturing facility, or a turnaround contractor who works during scheduled maintenance shutdowns. This distinction is the most important screening judgment a St. James Parish landlord makes. Direct plant employees of facilities along the River Road have stable, predictable monthly income, strong benefits, and employment that persists through commodity cycles. Turnaround contractors earn very high wages during active shutdowns — sometimes thousands of dollars per week — but that income is project-specific and ends when the turnaround concludes. For direct employees, standard W-2 pay stub verification applies. For contractor applicants, request prior-year tax returns showing full annual income history and verify that the person has permanent local ties to the St. James or greater New Orleans-Baton Rouge corridor rather than following turnaround work from parish to parish.
Louisiana Law and the Eviction Process in St. James Parish
All St. James Parish evictions are filed in the 23rd Judicial District Court, St. James Parish Division, 5800 LA-44, Convent, LA 70723, phone (225) 562-2250. The 23rd JDC serves Assumption, Ascension, and St. James parishes; St. James matters are filed at the Convent 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 St. James 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. Flood zone status should be independently verified. Consult a licensed Louisiana attorney or contact the 23rd Judicial District Court at (225) 562-2250 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. Flood zone status should be independently verified. Consult a licensed Louisiana attorney for guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
