Typical residential security deposit amount a landlord holds and later accounts for on a return statement in Louisiana (2026)
A typical Louisiana range, the local factors behind it, and the tools to price your own project.
Reviewed for 2026, updated September 8, 2026.
What drives the cost in Louisiana
Louisiana deposits generally sit below the national typical range, with New Orleans and Baton Rouge highest and the rural parishes well below. State law sets no cap, is commonly cited as giving landlords 30 days to return the deposit with an itemized statement, and lets a tenant recover actual damages or a modest statutory amount, whichever is greater, when a landlord willfully fails to return it properly, so confirm current terms. Hurricanes, flooding, subtropical humidity, and termites make water and pest damage routine, and anything storm related belongs on an insurance claim rather than the tenant's statement.
Tips for Louisiana buyers
- Separate flood or storm damage from tenant damage in your notes before you write a single deduction.
- Mildew on grout and window frames is the norm in this climate; charge only for cleaning, and only if the move-in condition was clearly documented.
- New Orleans festival and university calendars drive short-term turnover; keep a standing inspection routine.
Ranges are hedged planning estimates derived from a national typical range and a local index, not quotes. A typical single deposit on a market-rate residential rental is commonly around one month's rent, which puts most deposits somewhere in this range; actual amounts vary widely with local rents, unit size, pets, and state caps, and this is a working reference rather than a survey figure.
Price your project
- Deposit Deduction Depreciation Calculator: Estimates how much of a carpet, paint, blind, or appliance replacement a landlord can fairly deduct from a security deposit once the item's age and normal wear are taken into account.
- Security Deposit Refund Statement Calculator: Adds up the deposit held, any interest owed, and each itemized deduction to show the exact refund due to the tenant or the balance the tenant still owes.
- Late Deposit Return Penalty Exposure Calculator: Shows landlords how many days remain before a state return deadline and what missing it could cost when a statute allows forfeited deductions or multiplied damages.