La. Code Civ. Proc. § Art. 4703
Delivery or service when premises abandoned or closed, or whereabouts of tenant or occupant unknown
Operative Text
Art. 4703. Delivery or service when premises abandoned or closed, or whereabouts of tenant or occupant unknown If the premises are abandoned or closed, or if the whereabouts of the lessee or occupant is unknown, all notices, process, pleadings, and orders required to be delivered or served on the lessee or occupant under this Title may be attached to a door of the premises, and this shall have the same effect as delivery to, or personal service on, the lessee or occupant.
Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Art. 4703 establishes an alternative method for delivering legal notices and court documents in eviction-related proceedings when a tenant or occupant cannot be reached through ordinary means. Specifically, when a rental property appears abandoned or closed, or when the tenant's location is unknown, notices, pleadings, and court orders may be posted on a door of the premises. This door-posting method carries the same legal weight as if the documents had been handed directly to the tenant or occupant in person.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Art. 4703, Louisiana landlords and property managers who cannot locate a tenant or find the premises abandoned or closed have a recognized pathway for continuing required legal notice procedures in eviction proceedings. A compliant operator documents the condition of the property—such as signs of abandonment or closure—before resorting to door-posting, and retains evidence that the notice was affixed to the premises. Keeping thorough records of the circumstances and the date of posting helps demonstrate that the alternative service method under Art. 4703 was properly invoked.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Art. 4703 means that legal notices and court documents in a Louisiana eviction proceeding can be posted on the door of a rental unit and treated as legally served, even if the tenant never personally receives them. Tenants who believe they were not properly served, or who discover posted notices after the fact, may have grounds to raise improper service as an issue in the relevant court proceeding. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with Louisiana eviction procedure can help a tenant understand whether the conditions required by Art. 4703 were actually met in their situation.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 17, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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