Louisiana Security Deposits in 2026: New Itemized-Statement Rule, Lawn Cleanup & Wear and Tear

The short answer

Louisiana Revised Statutes section 9:3251 says a residential security deposit must be returned within one month after the lease terminates, subject to lawful retention for amounts reasonably necessary to remedy a tenant default or unreasonable wear. If money is retained, the landlord must provide an itemized statement accounting for the retained proceeds and the reasons for keeping them.

A 2026 law change affects the timing of that itemized statement, but the effective date matters. Act 63 became effective August 1, 2026. It added an additional 15-day window for the itemized statement after the one-month point. The current statute still separately states that the deposit is to be returned within one month after lease termination.

First check whether the tenancy ended before or after August 1, 2026

Act 63 took effect August 1, 2026. The Legislature's résumé digest explains that the prior law required the itemized statement within one month after the tenancy terminated, while the new law permits the statement within an additional 15 days after the date that is one month after termination.

That distinction matters for a 2026 move-out close to the effective date. Do not automatically apply the new extension to a tenancy that terminated before August 1. Identify the actual lease-termination date, then use the law that was in effect at that time.

The current statute still states a one-month deposit-return rule

The current text of R.S. 9:3251(A) says an advance or deposit furnished to secure a residential lease shall be returned within one month after the lease terminates. It also allows the landlord to retain all or part of the deposit when reasonably necessary to remedy a tenant default or unreasonable wear to the premises.

The 2026 amendment extended the itemized-statement timing; it did not rewrite the first sentence into a general 45-day deposit-return rule. For that reason, this guide treats the deposit return and the itemized-statement timing as separate statutory requirements rather than describing Louisiana as simply having a 45-day deadline.

Act 63 added up to 15 more days for the itemized statement

When a landlord retains part of the deposit, the current statute says the itemized statement may be forwarded within one month after tenancy termination or within 15 days after the date that is one month after termination. The Legislature's Act 63 digest describes this as an extension for the itemized statement and lists August 1, 2026 as the effective date.

An itemized statement should account for the proceeds retained and state the reasons. Keep the statement itself, the envelope or email timestamp, the refund-payment record, and any later revised statement so the timing and amounts can be reconstructed accurately.

A lawn or landscape charge depends on the lease duty and the actual condition

Louisiana law does not make a charge valid merely because it is labeled 'lawn cleanup.' R.S. 9:3251 allows retention when reasonably necessary to remedy a tenant default or unreasonable wear. A lease clause assigning landscaping duties can therefore matter, but the landlord still needs a factual basis connecting the retained amount to an actual default or condition for which the tenant is responsible.

Useful evidence includes the exact landscaping clause, move-in and move-out photographs, dated lawn-service invoices, receipts, work orders, inspection photos, messages about maintenance, and any invoice or estimate supporting the amount charged. A tenant who paid for routine lawn service may still need to address whether the lease required additional landscaping work beyond mowing, while a landlord should be able to explain what specific condition justified the deduction.

Normal wear and tear is not a security-deposit deduction

The Louisiana Attorney General's Moving In/Out guide says a security deposit may be kept for nonpayment of rent or another default, including physical damage, but normal wear and tear is not deductible. The current statute likewise refers to retention for unreasonable wear rather than ordinary deterioration.

That makes condition evidence important. Photographs from both the start and end of the tenancy, maintenance records, prior inspection notes, and dated communications can help distinguish a tenant-caused or lease-based default from ordinary aging or routine outdoor growth that developed after possession was returned.

The tenant should provide a forwarding address

R.S. 9:3251(A) says the tenant must furnish the landlord a forwarding address at lease termination for the itemized statement. A clear written forwarding-address notice creates a stronger record than relying on an old address or informal assumption.

Keep a copy of the notice and proof of delivery. If the address changes, send a corrected written notice promptly and identify it expressly as the forwarding address for the security-deposit refund and itemized accounting.

Louisiana has a written-demand remedy, but do not assume damages are automatic

R.S. 9:3252 provides a remedy for a willful failure to comply with R.S. 9:3251. It states that a tenant may recover the portion of the deposit wrongfully retained plus $300 or twice the wrongfully retained portion, whichever is greater, and says failure to remit within 30 days after a written demand for a refund constitutes willful failure.

That does not mean every deduction dispute automatically triggers the statutory amount. Whether money was wrongfully retained, whether the applicable timing rule was satisfied, the lease terms, the forwarding address, abandonment exceptions, and the evidence of the claimed default can all matter. Preserve the record and consider qualified legal help when the amount is significant or the facts are disputed.

Use Max Rental Tools to organize the move-out record

Max Rental Tools includes a Security Deposit Itemization, Security Deposit Refund Statement, Move-Out Condition Report, Rent Ledger and Resident Communication Record. Those tools can help organize the dates, evidence and calculations, while Louisiana R.S. 9:3251, R.S. 9:3252, Act 63 and current Louisiana Attorney General guidance remain the controlling sources for the legal rules described here.