St. Tammany Parish is Louisiana’s fastest-growing parish and the most affluent suburban parish in the state, a north shore community of approximately 275,000 people that has experienced explosive residential growth over the past four decades as New Orleans professionals, families, and businesses have relocated across Lake Pontchartrain in search of lower crime rates, better schools, newer housing, and the pine-shaded Northshore character that distinguishes Covington, Mandeville, Slidell, and Madisonville from the older, denser neighborhoods of the Orleans and Jefferson Parish south shore. The parish seat of Covington is a graceful small city with a walkable downtown, and Mandeville, Madisonville, and the communities along the Causeway and I-12 corridors have grown into affluent suburban communities with housing prices well above the Louisiana average. Slidell, in the eastern portion of the parish, is a larger city of about 27,000 with access to both New Orleans via I-10 and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, giving it a somewhat different character from the western Northshore communities.
The rental market in St. Tammany Parish is Louisiana’s most upscale suburban rental market — rents are the highest outside of New Orleans, vacancy is low, and the tenant pool is primarily composed of professional-class New Orleans commuters and healthcare workers employed at the parish’s growing medical infrastructure. The 22nd Judicial District Court shares jurisdiction with Washington Parish, with St. Tammany matters filed at the Covington courthouse. Louisiana Civil Code governs all leases with no local rent control or just-cause eviction requirements. Hurricane Katrina’s flooding from Lake Pontchartrain’s storm surge significantly impacted portions of the parish in 2005, and flood risk awareness remains important.
Covington, Mandeville, Slidell, Madisonville, Abita Springs, Pearl River
Court
22nd Judicial District Court
Typical Rent Range
~$1,200–$2,000/mo
Rent Control
None
Just-Cause Eviction
Not required
⚡ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
5-Day Notice to Vacate
Lease Violation
5-Day Notice to Vacate
Month-to-Month Term.
10-Day Written Notice
Cure Period
None required by law
Eviction Filing
Rule to Show Cause
Eviction Timeline
2–6 weeks total
Security Deposit Cap
2 months rent
Security Deposit Return
30 days after termination
Statute
La. CC Art. 2686–2729; CCP Art. 4701
St. Tammany Parish Ordinances & Local Rules
Topic
Rule / Notes
Rental Licensing
No parish-level rental license required. Louisiana has no statewide landlord licensing statute. Verify with the City of Covington, City of Slidell, or Town of Mandeville for any local code enforcement, STR (short-term rental), or property maintenance requirements. Some Northshore communities have adopted local STR regulations; verify before operating any vacation or short-term rental.
Rent Control
None. Louisiana has no statewide rent control and St. Tammany Parish has no local rent control ordinance. Rents in the parish are among the highest in Louisiana; lessors may raise them freely at renewal with proper notice.
Security Deposit
Capped at 2 months’ rent (R.S. 9:3251). With Northshore rents among the highest in Louisiana, the 2-month cap represents a significant dollar amount. Must be returned with itemized deductions within 30 days of lease termination or surrender (R.S. 9:3252). Conduct signed move-in and move-out inspections with dated photographs.
Eviction Court — 22nd Judicial District
All St. Tammany Parish eviction proceedings are filed in the 22nd Judicial District Court, St. Tammany Parish Courthouse, 701 N. Columbia Street, Covington, LA 70433. Phone: (985) 809-8700. Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Note: The 22nd JDC also serves Washington Parish; St. Tammany matters are filed at the Covington courthouse. Given the parish’s high-income, well-represented tenant population, ensure all procedural steps are strictly followed before filing.
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. In St. Tammany Parish’s higher-income market, tenants are more likely to have access to legal counsel and to challenge procedural defects. Meticulous service documentation is essential.
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). In a rising-rent market like the Northshore, accepting any rent after a lease expiration without a new signed agreement at the new rate is a costly error. 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.
New Orleans Professional Commuter Workforce
The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway and I-10 Twin Span Bridge connect the Northshore to New Orleans in 45–75 minutes depending on origin and destination. The Northshore tenant pool is dominated by professional-class New Orleans commuters — attorneys, physicians, engineers, business executives, and government professionals who choose the Northshore for its schools, safety, and quality of life while working in the city. This is among the most financially reliable tenant pool in Louisiana. Verify with standard pay stubs and employer confirmation. Physicians and attorneys may have variable monthly income (production bonuses, partnership distributions) alongside a base salary — request the most recent three months of pay documentation alongside a letter of employment confirming compensation structure.
Northshore Healthcare Growth
Lakeview Regional Medical Center, Ochsner Medical Center St. Tammany, and the broader growth of Northshore healthcare infrastructure have created significant stable healthcare employment within the parish itself. Healthcare workers employed locally represent the most reliable non-commuter tenant profile. Verify with standard pay stubs and employer confirmation.
Hurricane Katrina & Flood Risk
Hurricane Katrina’s storm surge from Lake Pontchartrain caused significant flooding in low-lying areas of St. Tammany Parish, particularly in Slidell, Lacombe, and Madisonville. Post-Katrina levee improvements and the parish’s higher elevation in many areas have reduced but not eliminated flood risk. Verify FEMA flood zone status for each property. Include flood zone disclosure, mandatory renter’s insurance, evacuation compliance, and storm damage reporting in all leases. Carry separate flood insurance on the structure where applicable.
Slidell Sub-Market
Slidell (population ~27,000) is St. Tammany’s eastern anchor, with I-10 access to both New Orleans to the west and the Mississippi Gulf Coast casino and resort economy to the east. Slidell’s rental market is somewhat more affordable than the western Northshore communities and draws from both the New Orleans and Gulf Coast labor pools. Verify income from employers in either direction.
Source of Income / HCV
No state or local source of income protections. Landlords are not required to accept Housing Choice Vouchers. Contact the St. Tammany Parish Housing Authority for current HCV payment standards, though the parish’s high rents limit the practical reach of vouchers.
Self-Help Eviction
Prohibited. Lessors may not take possession by any means other than lawful judicial process (CCP Art. 4736). In a higher-income market where tenants have greater access to legal counsel, self-help eviction attempts carry heightened liability exposure.
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: Covington, Mandeville, Slidell, Madisonville, Abita Springs, Pearl River.
Northshore market: Louisiana’s most affluent suburban rental market. Professional commuters (attorneys, physicians, engineers) via Causeway/I-10 are the strongest profiles. Local Northshore healthcare workers (Ochsner, Lakeview Regional) excellent. Tacit reconduction risk in rising-rent market. Meticulous service documentation before filing — tenants have legal counsel access. Katrina flood history in low-lying areas — verify each property.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
St. Tammany Parish Louisiana Landlord-Tenant Law: A Complete Guide for Rental Property Owners in Covington, Mandeville, and the New Orleans Northshore
St. Tammany Parish is the crown jewel of Louisiana’s suburban rental markets — a Northshore community of approximately 275,000 people that has emerged over the past four decades as the preferred residential destination for professional-class New Orleans-area households seeking better public schools, lower crime, newer housing, and the pine-shaded, moss-draped quality of life that the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain offers. The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway — at 23.9 miles the longest bridge over water in the world — connects Mandeville on the north shore to Metairie and New Orleans on the south shore in approximately 35 minutes, making the Northshore a practical daily commute for the attorneys, physicians, engineers, executives, and government professionals who choose to raise their families in Covington, Mandeville, Madisonville, and the surrounding communities. The result is a rental market with the highest average rents in Louisiana outside of New Orleans, the state’s lowest vacancy rates, and a tenant pool composed primarily of well-employed professionals — the most desirable demographic for any landlord.
Screening Northshore’s Professional Commuter Tenant
The standard income verification approach applies to the Northshore’s professional commuter population, but a few nuances are worth noting. Attorneys in private practice, physicians with production-based compensation, and executives with bonus or equity components may have base salaries that are supplemented by variable income that does not appear consistently on a pay stub. For these applicants, request the most recent three months of pay documentation alongside a letter from the employer or partnership confirming total annual compensation and compensation structure. A partner-track attorney at a New Orleans firm with a $150,000 guaranteed draw and a $60,000–$100,000 variable annual bonus is a far stronger tenant than a simple pay stub review might suggest. The key is to capture total compensation rather than just base pay.
The tacit reconduction risk is especially significant in St. Tammany Parish’s rising-rent market. Northshore rents have increased substantially over the post-Katrina and post-COVID periods, and landlords who inadvertently create month-to-month tenancies by accepting rent after a lease expires forfeit the ability to re-lease at current market rates until proper 10-day notice has been given and the tenancy properly terminated. Always give written notice before lease expiration if you intend to re-lease at a higher rate or to a new tenant.
The 22nd Judicial District and Procedural Precision
All St. Tammany Parish evictions are filed in the 22nd Judicial District Court, 701 N. Columbia Street, Covington, LA 70433, phone (985) 809-8700. The 22nd JDC also serves Washington Parish; St. Tammany matters are filed at the Covington courthouse. In St. Tammany Parish’s higher-income market, tenants are more likely than in most Louisiana parishes to have access to legal counsel and to raise procedural challenges to eviction proceedings. This does not change the substantive law — a properly executed 5-day notice, properly served and documented, leads to a properly filed Rule to Show Cause and a hearing — but it does mean that meticulous documentation of every step is more important here than in markets where tenants rarely contest proceedings. Begin with a written 5-day notice to vacate for nonpayment or lease violation, served per CCP Art. 4704. 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 22nd Judicial District Court at (985) 809-8700 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.
