Pet Addendum in Louisiana

Adds pet terms to a lease. Assistance animals for people with disabilities are not pets: no pet fee or pet rent may be charged for them under federal fair housing rules.

What Louisiana law says

Pet deposits and fees	No statute — Louisiana sets no cap on security deposits and has no statute on pet deposits, pet fees or pet rent; the lease controls. Deposit return rules in La. R.S. 9:3251 apply to deposits given to secure the lease. Source: La. R.S. 9:3251–9:3254 (checked)
Service & support animals (state law)	The Louisiana Support and Service Animal Integrity Act (2024) sets strict rules for support-animal documentation. A health care provider may issue documentation only if licensed in Louisiana (or through a licensure compact) and qualified to diagnose disabilities, and only after a disability assessment. The provider must have a therapeutic relationship of at least 30 days and at least 2 sessions (in person or remote), and must do a clinical evaluation at least 30 days before. The letter must show its effective date, the provider's license number and license type. Online letter mills don't qualify. Individuals may not falsely claim a disability-related need for a support animal or misrepresent an animal as a service dog to a residential landlord. Fines are up to $500 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second and $2,500 for later offenses. Sellers of support animals or certificates must give written notices. The Act doesn't limit fair housing accommodation rights. Text verified from the enrolled act. Its stated purpose includes immunity for residential owners and lessors from liability for injuries caused by support animals and service dogs, but no immunity section appears in the enrolled text read. Federal Fair Housing Act rules (no pet fees or deposits for assistance animals) still apply (R.S. 46:1978). Source: La. R.S. 46:1971-1978 (Acts 2024, No. 558, HB 407)

Pet deposits and fees

No statute — Louisiana sets no cap on security deposits and has no statute on pet deposits, pet fees or pet rent; the lease controls. Deposit return rules in La. R.S. 9:3251 apply to deposits given to secure the lease.

Source: La. R.S. 9:3251–9:3254 (checked)

Service & support animals (state law)

The Louisiana Support and Service Animal Integrity Act (2024) sets strict rules for support-animal documentation. A health care provider may issue documentation only if licensed in Louisiana (or through a licensure compact) and qualified to diagnose disabilities, and only after a disability assessment. The provider must have a therapeutic relationship of at least 30 days and at least 2 sessions (in person or remote), and must do a clinical evaluation at least 30 days before. The letter must show its effective date, the provider's license number and license type. Online letter mills don't qualify. Individuals may not falsely claim a disability-related need for a support animal or misrepresent an animal as a service dog to a residential landlord. Fines are up to $500 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second and $2,500 for later offenses. Sellers of support animals or certificates must give written notices. The Act doesn't limit fair housing accommodation rights.

Text verified from the enrolled act. Its stated purpose includes immunity for residential owners and lessors from liability for injuries caused by support animals and service dogs, but no immunity section appears in the enrolled text read. Federal Fair Housing Act rules (no pet fees or deposits for assistance animals) still apply (R.S. 46:1978).

Source: La. R.S. 46:1971-1978 (Acts 2024, No. 558, HB 407)

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PET ADDENDUM to the lease for [rental address] dated [lease date]

Tenant: [tenant name] Pet(s): [type, breed, name, weight]

Pet deposit: $[pet deposit] (counts toward any state deposit limit where the law says so). Monthly pet rent: $[pet rent]

The tenant keeps the pet under control, cleans up after it, and pays for damage it causes beyond normal wear and tear.

Signatures and dates: [signatures]

Pet Addendum for other states · Louisiana tenant rights

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.