Webster Parish is a northwest Louisiana parish of approximately 38,000 people anchored by Minden — the parish seat with a population of about 12,000 — situated along I-20 between Shreveport-Bossier City to the west and Monroe to the east. The parish shares the 26th Judicial District Court with Bossier Parish, with Webster Parish matters filed at the Minden courthouse. Webster Parish’s economy blends timber and forest products, natural gas production from the Haynesville Shale formation, manufacturing, and a growing Shreveport-Bossier commuter base connected via I-20 approximately 35 miles to the west. Minden has a modest downtown and serves as a regional service center for the surrounding rural communities of Springhill, Doyline, Cotton Valley, and Dixie Inn.
The rental market in Webster Parish is concentrated in Minden and Springhill, with limited inventory elsewhere. The parish poverty rate of approximately 22% is near the Louisiana average. The Haynesville Shale natural gas formation underlies much of Webster Parish and neighboring parishes, creating energy sector employment that has experienced the boom-bust cycles characteristic of commodity-driven industries. Louisiana Civil Code governs all leases with no local rent control or just-cause eviction requirements.
Minden, Springhill, Doyline, Cotton Valley, Dixie Inn
Court
26th Judicial District Court
Typical Rent Range
~$550–$850/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
Webster 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 Minden or Town of Springhill for any local code enforcement requirements within their city limits.
Rent Control
None. Louisiana has no statewide rent control and Webster 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 — 26th Judicial District (Webster Division)
All Webster Parish eviction proceedings are filed in the 26th Judicial District Court — Webster Parish Division, Webster Parish Courthouse, 410 Main Street, Minden, LA 71055. Phone: (318) 371-0366. Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Note: The 26th JDC also serves Bossier Parish; Webster Parish matters are filed at the Minden 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.
Haynesville Shale Natural Gas
The Haynesville Shale natural gas formation underlies Webster Parish and neighboring Bossier, Claiborne, and Bienville parishes. Natural gas production and related employment follow commodity price cycles. Screen energy sector applicants carefully: permanent W-2 operations employees (pumpers, field technicians, pipeline workers) are more reliable than contract field workers. Verify current employment status for all energy sector applicants — the Haynesville has experienced boom-bust cycles that can move staffing levels quickly.
Timber & Manufacturing
Timber and light manufacturing provide W-2 employment in Webster Parish. Mill and manufacturing employees verify with pay stubs. Contract loggers require Schedule C or 12-month bank statements.
Shreveport-Bossier Commuter Access
Minden is approximately 35 miles east of Shreveport via I-20. Some Webster Parish residents commute to Shreveport-Bossier City for employment in healthcare, casino and gaming, Barksdale AFB civilian employment, and professional services. These commuters bring Caddo/Bossier-benchmarked wages to Webster Parish’s lower housing costs. Verify income from Shreveport-Bossier employers the same as any other.
Source of Income / HCV
No state or local source of income protections. Landlords are not required to accept Housing Choice Vouchers. Contact the Webster 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: Minden, Springhill, Doyline, Cotton Valley, Dixie Inn.
Minden market: Haynesville Shale energy sector — verify current employment status; W-2 permanent ops employees more stable than field contractors. Timber/manufacturing W-2 verify with pay stubs. Shreveport-Bossier commuters via I-20 (35 miles). School district most stable local employer. 26th JDC at Minden courthouse.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Webster Parish Louisiana Landlord-Tenant Law: A Guide for Rental Property Owners in Minden, Springhill, and Northwest Louisiana
Webster Parish is a northwest Louisiana parish of approximately 38,000 people whose economic story is shaped by the natural resources beneath its feet as much as the timber on its surface. Minden, the parish seat, sits along I-20 approximately 35 miles east of Shreveport-Bossier City — close enough to the metro for practical daily commuting, far enough to maintain an independent small-city character with its own downtown, its own institutions, and its own economy. The Haynesville Shale natural gas formation that underlies Webster Parish and its neighbors has been one of the most economically significant discoveries in northwest Louisiana in recent decades, and the natural gas industry’s employment cycles have shaped the Webster Parish rental market in the same boom-bust patterns that characterize all commodity-driven energy economies. The 26th Judicial District Court serves both Webster and Bossier parishes, with Webster matters filed at the Minden courthouse.
Haynesville Shale and Energy Sector Screening
The Haynesville Shale is one of the largest natural gas formations in the United States, and its development has brought significant drilling, pipeline, and production employment to Webster Parish and the surrounding region. Natural gas production employment in the Haynesville tracks the Henry Hub natural gas price with a lag — price increases bring new well development and hiring; price declines reduce activity and headcounts. For energy sector applicants in Webster Parish, the key screening distinction is between permanent operations employees — the pumpers, field technicians, compression operators, and pipeline workers who maintain producing wells and infrastructure on a year-round basis — and the drilling and completion workers who are employed during periods of active well development and whose positions may be eliminated when drilling activity slows. Permanent operations employees have stable W-2 income; verify with pay stubs and employer confirmation. Contract field workers and drilling-phase employees should be screened with prior-year tax returns to assess income stability across price cycles, alongside verification of current employment status.
Louisiana Law and the Eviction Process in Webster Parish
All Webster Parish evictions are filed in the 26th Judicial District Court, Webster Parish Division, 410 Main Street, Minden, LA 71055, phone (318) 371-0366. The 26th JDC also serves Bossier Parish; Webster Parish matters are filed at the Minden 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 Webster 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 26th Judicial District Court at (318) 371-0366 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.
