Union Parish is a rural northeast Louisiana parish of approximately 22,000 people anchored by Farmerville — the parish seat with a population of about 3,700 — situated along the Arkansas border in the longleaf pine uplands of northeast Louisiana. The parish shares the 3rd Judicial District Court with Lincoln Parish (Ruston), with Union Parish matters filed at the Farmerville courthouse. Union Parish’s economy rests on timber and forest products, oil and gas production, agriculture, and public sector employment. Lake D’Arbonne, a large reservoir in the central part of the parish, provides recreation and contributes some tourism-related employment. The parish poverty rate of approximately 23% reflects limited private sector employment diversity in a rural northeast Louisiana timber and agricultural economy.
The rental market in Union Parish is extremely small, concentrated almost entirely in Farmerville and the community of Bernice, with very low rents. Monroe is approximately 40 miles south via US-167, providing the primary commuter employment access. Louisiana Civil Code governs all leases with no local rent control or just-cause eviction requirements.
📊 Quick Stats
Parish Seat
Farmerville
Population
~22,000 (2020 census)
Key Communities
Farmerville, Bernice, Marion, Spearsville
Court
3rd Judicial District Court
Typical Rent Range
~$400–$625/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
2–5 weeks total
Security Deposit Cap
2 months rent
Security Deposit Return
30 days after termination
Statute
La. CC Art. 2686–2729; CCP Art. 4701
Union 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 Town of Farmerville for any local code enforcement requirements within town limits. Unincorporated rural properties are not subject to municipal codes.
Rent Control
None. Louisiana has no statewide rent control and Union 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 — 3rd Judicial District (Union Division)
All Union Parish eviction proceedings are filed in the 3rd Judicial District Court — Union Parish Division, Union Parish Courthouse, 100 E. Bayou Street, Farmerville, LA 71241. Phone: (318) 368-3055. Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Note: The 3rd JDC also serves Lincoln Parish (Ruston); Union Parish matters are filed at the Farmerville 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 & Forest Products
Timber is the dominant private sector industry. W-2 mill employees verify with pay stubs. Independent contract loggers require prior-year Schedule C or 12-month bank statements for reliable annual income assessment.
Oil & Gas Production
Union Parish has active oil and gas production. Permanent operations employees verify with W-2 pay stubs. Contractors and field service workers should provide prior-year tax returns for commodity-cycle income context.
Monroe Commuter Access
Farmerville is approximately 40 miles north of Monroe via US-167. Some Union Parish residents commute to Monroe-West Monroe for employment in healthcare, manufacturing, and professional services. These commuters bring Ouachita Parish-benchmarked wages to Union Parish’s lower housing costs. Verify income from Monroe employers the same as any other.
Lake D’Arbonne Recreation
Lake D’Arbonne, a 15,250-acre reservoir in central Union Parish, supports recreational boating, fishing, and seasonal tourism. Some lakeside properties may be used as seasonal or second homes. Standard residential lease law applies to primary residences; short-term vacation rentals are a different legal arrangement.
Source of Income / HCV
No state or local source of income protections. Landlords are not required to accept Housing Choice Vouchers. Contact the relevant northeast Louisiana housing authority for current Union Parish 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.
Farmerville market: Timber W-2 employees verify with pay stubs; contract loggers need Schedule C. Monroe commuters via US-167 bring Ouachita wages. Lake D’Arbonne recreation — distinguish residential from vacation rentals. School district employees most stable. 3rd JDC shared with Lincoln; file at Farmerville courthouse.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Union Parish Louisiana Landlord-Tenant Law: A Guide for Rental Property Owners in Farmerville and Northeast Louisiana
Union Parish is a rural northeast Louisiana parish of approximately 22,000 people situated in the longleaf pine uplands along the Arkansas state line, anchored by Farmerville — a small parish seat of about 3,700 with the quiet character of a north Louisiana small town that serves as the commercial and administrative hub for a predominantly agricultural and timber-based parish economy. The parish shares the 3rd Judicial District Court with Lincoln Parish, which is home to Louisiana Tech University and Grambling State in Ruston approximately 30 miles to the southwest; Union Parish matters are filed at the Farmerville courthouse. Lake D’Arbonne, a 15,250-acre reservoir in the central part of the parish, provides recreational opportunities that give the parish some seasonal tourism character alongside its timber, oil and gas, and agricultural economy. For landlords, Union Parish offers one of Louisiana’s smallest and most straightforward rental markets, where the primary considerations are timber and oil employment verification, Monroe commuter access, and the standard Louisiana Civil Code framework.
Timber, Oil, and Monroe: The Union Parish Employment Picture
Union Parish’s private sector economy centers on timber and forest products — the longleaf pine uplands that cover much of the parish support active logging and sawmill operations — and on oil and gas production that has been a consistent if modest contributor to the local economy. W-2 employees of established timber and oil operations are the most straightforward tenant profiles to screen: verify with recent pay stubs and employer confirmation. Independent contract loggers, who own their own equipment and harvest under contract with timber companies, have variable income that requires full-year documentation — prior-year Schedule C or 12 months of bank statements — rather than a single pay stub that may reflect peak logging season activity. Monroe-West Monroe, approximately 40 miles south via US-167, provides access to healthcare, manufacturing, and professional services employment that some Union Parish residents commute to for higher wages than the local market supports.
Louisiana Law and the Eviction Process in Union Parish
All Union Parish evictions are filed in the 3rd Judicial District Court, Union Parish Division, 100 E. Bayou Street, Farmerville, LA 71241, phone (318) 368-3055. The 3rd JDC also serves Lincoln Parish (Ruston); Union Parish matters are filed at the Farmerville 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 Union 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 3rd Judicial District Court at (318) 368-3055 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.
