Terrebonne Parish is a south-central Louisiana coastal parish of approximately 110,000 people anchored by Houma — the parish seat and the dominant city of the Houma-Thibodaux metropolitan area — with a population of about 32,000. Houma has been one of the most important offshore oil and gas service hubs in the United States for more than half a century, serving as the staging ground, supply depot, and workforce base for deepwater Gulf of Mexico operations that have driven Louisiana’s economy for generations. The parish’s bayou country geography — networks of waterways, marshes, and barrier islands stretching from Houma to the Gulf — supports a working Cajun and Native American community of commercial shrimpers, crawfishers, and oystermen alongside the offshore industry. The 32nd Judicial District Court in Houma handles all parish evictions.
The Terrebonne Parish rental market tracks the offshore oil and gas commodity cycle more directly than perhaps any other Louisiana market — when oil prices are high, Houma’s economy booms, wages rise, and rental demand surges; when prices fall, layoffs spread through the offshore service sector and vacancies climb. This boom-bust dynamic is the central operational reality for landlords in Terrebonne Parish and must inform every screening and leasing decision. Hurricane Ida struck the parish catastrophically in August 2021, and flood risk from multiple directions remains a defining feature of property ownership here. Louisiana Civil Code governs all leases with no local rent control.
No parish-level rental license required. Louisiana has no statewide landlord licensing statute. Verify with the City of Houma or Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government for any local code enforcement requirements. Post-Ida, the parish has been active in building inspection and compliance.
Rent Control
None. Louisiana has no statewide rent control and Terrebonne Parish has no local rent control ordinance. Rents in Houma fluctuate substantially with the oil and gas commodity cycle; lessors may adjust 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 — 32nd Judicial District
All Terrebonne Parish eviction proceedings are filed in the 32nd Judicial District Court, Terrebonne Parish Courthouse, 7856 Main Street, Houma, LA 70360. Phone: (985) 868-5660. Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Confirm courthouse operating status after major hurricane events 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. 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.
Offshore Oil & Gas: The Dominant Industry & Commodity Cycle Risk
The offshore oil and gas service industry is the economic engine of Terrebonne Parish, and its boom-bust commodity cycle is the single most important factor in the Houma rental market. Houma-area companies include marine vessel operators, fabrication yards, diving companies, ROV operators, and a broad ecosystem of supply and service businesses. Screen all offshore industry tenants with explicit awareness of employment cycle risk: (1) verify current employment status directly with the employer — offshore headcounts can change quickly; (2) use 3-month pay stub averaging for rotation workers (14/28-day schedules) for reliable income assessment; (3) distinguish direct W-2 employees of established companies from independent contractors. The most reliable offshore employees are those with long tenure at stable companies with verifiable W-2 records.
Commercial Fishing & Seafood Industry
Terrebonne Parish’s bayou country and coastal waters support significant commercial shrimping, crabbing, and oystering. Commercial fishing income is seasonal and highly variable — weather-dependent, market-dependent, and resource-dependent. For commercial fishermen applicants, request prior-year tax returns and 12-month bank statements. Verify that fishing is the primary income source rather than supplemental income alongside other employment.
⚠️ Hurricane Ida (2021) & Flood Risk
Hurricane Ida made landfall in August 2021 near Port Fourchon at the southern tip of Terrebonne Parish as a Category 4 storm, causing catastrophic damage throughout the parish. Houma sustained severe wind and flood damage. Properties in the lower-lying areas of the parish, particularly south of Houma in communities like Dulac, Montegut, and Chauvin, experienced devastating storm surge. For any property rebuilt or repaired after August 2021, obtain documentation of repairs and current FEMA flood zone status. Every Terrebonne Parish lease must include: flood zone disclosure, mandatory renter’s insurance, evacuation compliance obligations, and storm damage reporting. Carry separate flood insurance on the structure. Confirm courthouse operating status after future storms before filing.
Nicholls State University
Nicholls State University in Thibodaux (immediately adjacent to Terrebonne Parish) has enrollment of approximately 5,000 and contributes some student rental demand to the broader Houma-Thibodaux market. Student applicants without independent qualifying income require a creditworthy co-signer.
Source of Income / HCV
No state or local source of income protections. Landlords are not required to accept Housing Choice Vouchers. Contact the Terrebonne 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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Terrebonne Parish Louisiana Landlord-Tenant Law: A Complete Guide for Rental Property Owners in Houma and the Gulf Coast Bayou Country
Houma is the offshore oil capital of the Louisiana Gulf Coast south of New Orleans — a city and parish whose economic identity has been defined for more than sixty years by the equipment, companies, workers, and supply chains that support deepwater oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico. The fabrication yards along the Intracoastal Waterway where offshore platforms are built, the fleet of marine supply vessels that runs from Houma to platforms a hundred miles offshore, the diving companies and ROV operators and inspection firms — all of this industry has made Terrebonne Parish one of the economically significant small metropolitan areas in the Gulf South when oil prices support it, and one of the more economically stressed when they do not. For landlords, the Houma rental market is simultaneously one of the most lucrative in Louisiana during oil booms and one of the most challenging during downturns — and the ability to screen for employment stability rather than just current income is the skill that separates successful Houma landlords from those perpetually caught on the wrong side of the commodity cycle.
The Offshore Commodity Cycle and Screening for Employment Stability
The offshore oil and gas industry’s employment in the Houma area tracks crude oil price movements with a lag of six to eighteen months — price increases translate to increased rig activity, platform construction, and hiring within that window; price declines trigger the reverse. This means that a pay stub from a period of high activity does not necessarily predict continued employment six months into a lease. The screening framework for offshore applicants in Terrebonne Parish must include direct verification of current employment status with the employer’s HR department, not just pay stub review. Ask whether the position is permanent or contract, what the anticipated project duration is, and whether the company has recently made any workforce changes. Use three months of pay stubs averaged for rotation workers on 14-day or 28-day offshore schedules; a single pay stub drawn during an active offshore hitch can significantly overstate reliable monthly income if the worker’s schedule is intermittent.
Hurricane Ida 2021: Terrebonne Parish at the Center of the Storm
Hurricane Ida made landfall near Port Fourchon at the southern tip of Terrebonne Parish on August 29, 2021 — the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s landfall — as a powerful Category 4 storm that caused catastrophic damage throughout the parish and across southeast Louisiana. Houma sustained some of the most severe wind damage of any Louisiana city in Ida, with widespread roof damage, power outages lasting weeks, and structural destruction throughout residential and commercial areas. The lower-lying communities south of Houma — Dulac, Montegut, Chauvin, and the Isle de Jean Charles communities — experienced devastating storm surge from Terrebonne Bay and the Gulf. For landlords, the post-Ida landscape means ensuring that every rental property has been properly inspected and repaired, that the current FEMA flood zone status is verified and disclosed, and that every lease contains the full suite of flood and hurricane provisions: flood zone disclosure, mandatory renter’s insurance, mandatory evacuation compliance, and storm damage reporting. Confirm courthouse operating status after any future major hurricane before filing eviction proceedings.
Louisiana Law and the Eviction Process in Terrebonne Parish
All Terrebonne Parish evictions are filed in the 32nd Judicial District Court, 7856 Main Street, Houma, LA 70360, phone (985) 868-5660. 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 Terrebonne 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. Offshore employment status should be verified directly with employers. Consult a licensed Louisiana attorney or contact the 32nd Judicial District Court at (985) 868-5660 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. Offshore employment status should be verified directly with employers given commodity cycle volatility. Consult a licensed Louisiana attorney for guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
