St. Landry Parish is a large south-central Louisiana parish of approximately 82,000 people anchored by Opelousas — the parish seat and the largest city in Acadiana outside of Lafayette, with a population of about 16,000 — situated along I-49 between Lafayette to the south and Alexandria to the north. Opelousas holds a distinguished place in Louisiana cultural history: it served briefly as Louisiana’s state capital during the Civil War and is widely celebrated as the birthplace and spiritual home of zydeco music, the distinctly south Louisiana genre rooted in the Creole African American communities of the Cajun Prairie. The parish is also home to a significant Creole and Cajun cultural heritage that distinguishes it from both the Acadian bayou parishes to the south and the north Louisiana parishes above Alexandria.
The parish economy rests on healthcare (with Opelousas General Health System as the dominant employer), agriculture, public sector employment, and retail and commercial services that serve the broader parish trade area. The parish poverty rate of approximately 29% reflects limited private sector employment diversity. The 27th Judicial District Court in Opelousas handles all parish evictions. 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 Opelousas or City of Eunice for any local code enforcement requirements within their city limits. Unincorporated rural properties are not subject to municipal codes.
Rent Control
None. Louisiana has no statewide rent control and St. Landry 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 — 27th Judicial District
All St. Landry Parish eviction proceedings are filed in the 27th Judicial District Court, St. Landry Parish Courthouse, 118 N. Court Street, Opelousas, LA 70570. Phone: (337) 942-5606. 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.
Healthcare: Dominant Local Employer
Opelousas General Health System is the largest single employer in the parish and one of the dominant healthcare providers for a broad south-central Louisiana trade area. Healthcare workers — nurses, physicians, allied health, and administrative staff — have stable W-2 income and represent the most reliable tenant profiles in the Opelousas market. Standard pay stub and employer verification applies.
Agriculture & Seasonal Workers
Rice, soybeans, cotton, and sweet potatoes are grown in St. Landry Parish’s agricultural areas. Agricultural income is seasonal — request prior-year tax returns or 12-month bank statements for farm worker applicants rather than in-season pay stubs.
Lafayette Commuter Access
Opelousas is approximately 20 miles north of Lafayette via I-49. Some St. Landry Parish residents commute south to Lafayette’s oil services, healthcare, and professional economy. These commuters bring Lafayette-benchmarked wages to Opelousas’s lower housing costs — a favorable income-to-rent ratio. Verify income from Lafayette employers the same as any other.
High Poverty & Screening Adaptation
St. Landry Parish’s ~29% poverty rate means a significant share of rental applicants may rely on fixed government income. Prioritize rental history and income stability alongside income level. Apply all screening criteria consistently per 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 St. Landry 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.
Opelousas market: Opelousas General healthcare workers most stable. Lafayette commuters via I-49 bring strong wages to lower rents. Agricultural workers need full-year documentation. ~29% poverty — adapt screening for fixed-income applicants. 27th JDC at 118 N. Court Street.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
St. Landry Parish Louisiana Landlord-Tenant Law: A Guide for Rental Property Owners in Opelousas, Eunice, and the Cajun Prairie
St. Landry Parish is the heart of Acadiana’s Cajun Prairie — the northern, upland portion of south Louisiana’s French Creole cultural region, distinct from the bayou parishes to the south but sharing the same deep Cajun and Creole heritage that makes southwest Louisiana one of the most culturally distinctive regions in the United States. Opelousas, the parish seat, is a city of about 16,000 with deep roots in both Creole and Cajun culture and a powerful claim to one of Louisiana’s most significant musical legacies: it is widely recognized as the birthplace and heartland of zydeco music, the exuberant syncretic genre rooted in the Creole African American communities of the Cajun Prairie that combined French Creole musical traditions with blues, R&B, and accordion into a sound that has become globally recognized. The city also served briefly as Louisiana’s wartime capital during the Civil War. For landlords, St. Landry Parish offers a mid-sized south-central Louisiana rental market defined by healthcare, agriculture, and the favorable commuter dynamic created by I-49 access to Lafayette.
Healthcare and the Lafayette Commuter Dynamic
Opelousas General Health System is the largest employer in St. Landry Parish and one of the most important healthcare institutions in south-central Louisiana, serving not just the parish but a broad regional population. Healthcare workers at Opelousas General — nurses, physicians, therapists, technicians, and administrative staff — have stable, predictable monthly income and represent the most reliable tenant profiles in the Opelousas market. Verify with standard pay stubs and employer confirmation.
Opelousas’s position approximately 20 miles north of Lafayette via I-49 creates a commuter dynamic that brings Lafayette-benchmarked wages to Opelousas’s more affordable housing market. Lafayette’s oil services economy, University of Louisiana Lafayette academic employment, and broader commercial and professional services base are all accessible from Opelousas in a reasonable commute. A Lafayette oil services technician who chooses Opelousas for its lower rents and quieter character has a highly favorable income-to-rent ratio by Opelousas market standards. Verify income from Lafayette employers exactly as you would any employer.
Louisiana Law and the Eviction Process in St. Landry Parish
All St. Landry Parish evictions are filed in the 27th Judicial District Court, 118 N. Court Street, Opelousas, LA 70570, phone (337) 942-5606. 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. Landry 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 27th Judicial District Court at (337) 942-5606 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.
