Louisiana Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
Louisiana rules on section 8, records & right to counsel for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-23.
Short answer: No statute — source of income is not a protected class under Louisiana's fair-housing law. The Louisiana Equal Housing Opportunity Act bars rental discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, military status, natural/protective/cultural hairstyle… La. R.S. 51:2606(A)
The rules in Louisiana
| Statewide ban on refusing Section 8 / source of income | No statute — source of income is not a protected class under Louisiana's fair-housing law. The Louisiana Equal Housing Opportunity Act bars rental discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, military status, natural/protective/cultural hairstyle, and disability, but not source of income or housing vouchers. Check local ordinances. Federal fair-housing law also does not protect source of income. Source: La. R.S. 51:2606(A) |
|---|---|
| Eviction record sealing | No statute. Louisiana has no law sealing, suppressing, or limiting public access to eviction court records. The eviction articles of the Code of Civil Procedure (arts. 4701-4735) contain no sealing or expungement provision. Art. 4731 and following (eviction procedure): https://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=112078. |
| Right to a lawyer in eviction | No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases was found in the Code of Civil Procedure eviction title. Only arts. 4701-4703 and 4731 were read. |
Related questions
- Can a landlord refuse Section 8?
- Can an eviction be removed from your record?
- Do tenants get a free lawyer for an eviction?
Louisiana vs. neighboring states
| State | Statewide ban on refusing Section 8 / source of income | Eviction record sealing | Right to a lawyer in eviction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | No statute — source of income is not a protected class under Louisiana's fair-housing law. The Louisiana Equal Housing Opportunity Act bars rental discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, military status, natural/protective/cultural hairstyle, and disability, but not source of income or housing vouchers. Check local ordinances. La. R.S. 51:2606(A) | No statute. Louisiana has no law sealing, suppressing, or limiting public access to eviction court records. The eviction articles of the Code of Civil Procedure (arts. 4701-4735) contain no sealing or expungement provision. La. C.C.P. arts. 4701-4705, 4731-4735 (checked) | No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases was found in the Code of Civil Procedure eviction title. La. C.C.P. arts. 4701-4735 (checked in part) |
| Arkansas | No. Arkansas has no statewide ban on refusing tenants who pay with housing vouchers (Section 8) or other lawful income. Source of income is not a protected class under the Arkansas Fair Housing Act. Ark. Code § 16-123-310 | Not verified yet | No. Arkansas has no statewide right to a lawyer in eviction cases. Ark. Code §§ 18-17-901 to 18-17-913; 18-60-301 et seq. |
| Mississippi | Not verified yet | Not verified yet | Not verified yet |
| Texas | No. There is no statewide source-of-income protection, and cities and counties are barred from adopting ordinances that prohibit refusing a tenant because the tenant's income includes federal housing assistance (e.g., Section 8 vouchers). Local protections for veterans' income and voluntary voucher-incentive programs are still allowed. Tex. Local Gov't Code Sec. 250.007 | Not verified yet | No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases. In justice court, parties may represent themselves or be represented by authorized agents who need not be attorneys. Tex. Prop. Code ch. 24; Sec. 24.011 |
City rules that may add to state law
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Compare section 8, records & right to counsel in all 50 states and DC →
Louisiana Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel FAQ
Is it illegal for a landlord to refuse Section 8 vouchers in Louisiana?
No statute — source of income is not a protected class under Louisiana's fair-housing law. The Louisiana Equal Housing Opportunity Act bars rental discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, military status, natural/protective/cultural hairstyle, and disability, but not source of income or housing vouchers. Check local ordinances. (La. R.S. 51:2606(A))
Can an eviction record be sealed or removed in Louisiana?
No statute. Louisiana has no law sealing, suppressing, or limiting public access to eviction court records. The eviction articles of the Code of Civil Procedure (arts. 4701-4735) contain no sealing or expungement provision. (La. C.C.P. arts. 4701-4705, 4731-4735 (checked))
Do tenants have a right to a free lawyer in eviction cases in Louisiana?
No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases was found in the Code of Civil Procedure eviction title. (La. C.C.P. arts. 4701-4735 (checked in part))
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.