deposit-interest

Security Deposit Interest in Louisiana: No State Requirement (2026)

Louisiana's Lessee's Deposit Act (La. R.S. 9:3251) requires return within one month with itemization for withheld amounts, but contains no intere… Calculator, statute citation, Last Verified date o

Rule verified: 2026-10-28

Quick answer

No — Louisiana law does not require landlords to pay interest on security deposits. Louisiana's Lessee's Deposit Act (La. R.S. 9:3251) requires return within one month with itemization for withheld amounts, but contains no interest requirement; Civil Code art. 2731 makes deposit interest payable only if the lease expressly agrees to it. The rule comes from La. R.S. 9:3251 (Lessee's Deposit); La. Civ. Code art. 2731. State statute (official text) · 2026-10-28

Calculator pre-loaded with this state:

State pre-filled: Louisiana — rule applied per La. R.S. 9:3251 (Lessee's Deposit); La. Civ. Code art. 2731. Switch the state if your property is elsewhere.

StateSecurity deposit ($)Tenancy startTenancy end

What Louisiana law does — and does not — require

Louisiana has no statewide statute requiring interest on security deposits. Louisiana's Lessee's Deposit Act (La. R.S. 9:3251) requires return within one month with itemization for withheld amounts, but contains no interest requirement; Civil Code art. 2731 makes deposit interest payable only if the lease expressly agrees to it.

The statute that governs deposits in Louisiana, La. R.S. 9:3251 (Lessee's Deposit); La. Civ. Code art. 2731, covers how and when the deposit itself must be returned — it simply does not mandate interest on top.

How interest must be paid

Not applicable by statute; parties may contract otherwise. Not applicable; deposit due within one month after lease termination; itemized written statement of retained amounts due within one month of termination (or within 15 days after that month).

Who the law applies to

Residential leases statewide (R.S. 9:3251); no deposit cap; tenant must furnish a forwarding address at lease termination.

Cities in Louisiana that require interest

New Orleans: no deposit-interest ordinance found (historical record shows deposit rules have always been governed by state law; GNO Fair Housing Action Center and Loyola Pro Bono Desk Manual describe only the R.S. 9:3251 regime).

States that do require deposit interest

Louisiana has no statewide requirement. If you are moving or own rentals across state lines, these states do — each rate is the statutory value verified on the state page:

State	Statutory rate
Massachusetts	5% per annum, or the lesser amount of interest actually received from
Ohio	5% per annum
Maryland	greater of 1.5%/year or U.S. Treasury 1-year yield curve rate (leases
Minnesota	1% per annum
New York	Interest actually accrued/paid on the deposit in the interest-bearing

The statute behind it

| Field | Value | | --- | --- | --- | | Citation | La. R.S. 9:3251 (Lessee's Deposit); La. Civ. Code art. 2731 | | Official text | www.legis.la.gov | | Last verified | 2026-10-28 |

Cross-checked against: Loyola New Orleans Pro Bono Desk Manual - 12.1 Lessee's Deposit Act (no interest requirement; deposit-transfer procedure), GNO Fair Housing Action Center - Know Your Rights with Security Deposits.

Statutes get amended. If you are relying on this page — for a move-out, a dispute, or a lease draft — click through to the official text and confirm the current wording.

FAQ

Does Louisiana require landlords to pay interest on security deposits?

No. Louisiana law does not mandate interest; whatever the lease says governs. New Orleans: no deposit-interest ordinance found (historical record shows deposit rules have always been governed by state law; GNO Fair Housing Action Center and Loyola Pro Bono Desk Manual describe only the R.S. 9:3251 regime).

How is deposit interest calculated in Louisiana?

La. Civ. Code art. 2731: lessor owes interest on the deposit only when the parties expressly agreed to it. The calculator at the top of this page reflects Louisiana's rules where a numeric value exists.

When do I get the interest?

Not applicable; deposit due within one month after lease termination; itemized written statement of retained amounts due within one month of termination (or within 15 days after that month).

Can my lease require the landlord to pay interest anyway?

Yes — a lease can always give you more than state law requires, never less. If your Louisiana lease promises interest, that promise is enforceable as a contract even though no statute mandates it.

Independent second source · 2026-10-28