La. Stat. Ann. § R.S. 40:1285.9
Violations; enforcement
Operative Text
§1285.9. Violations; enforcement A. Any violation of R.S. 40:1285.6, 1285.7, or 1285.8 may be treated by any party as a violation of the state, municipal, or parochial health codes and all procedures and remedies applicable to such violations of the codes shall be available to correct, deter, or punish violations of the provisions. The district and appellate courts shall have jurisdiction to enforce the provisions to the same extent that the courts have jurisdiction to enforce the codes. B. All local health officers, health unit supervisors, or other code enforcement agencies shall enforce R.S. 40:1285.6, 1285.7, and 1285.8 in the same manner and with the same authority as they may enforce the health code. C. The state health officer shall have concurrent responsibility and authority to enforce R.S. 40:1285.6, 1285.7, and 1285.8 and in so doing shall have available to him all powers and authority which shall be available to local health officers and health unit supervisors. The state health officer's responsibility with respect to objects sold or placed into commerce in violation of R.S. 40:1285.8 is limited to those instances where the state officer or his personnel are notified of such violation. D. Violations of R.S. 40:1285.6, 1285.7, and 1285.8 shall be treated as emergency matters, and shall be given preference by enforcing agencies and speedy hearings by district and appellate courts.
La. R.S. § 40:1285.9 establishes how violations of Louisiana's residential rental housing standards (found in R.S. 40:1285.6–1285.8) are enforced. Breaches of those standards can be treated as violations of state, municipal, or parochial health codes, making all health-code remedies and procedures available to correct or punish noncompliance. Both local health officers and the state health officer share enforcement authority, and courts are directed to treat these matters as emergencies, giving them priority on their dockets.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to R.S. 40:1285.6–1285.8 should be aware that La. R.S. § 40:1285.9 gives multiple agencies—local health officers, health unit supervisors, and the state health officer—concurrent authority to act against violations using the same tools available under the health code. Because violations are classified as emergency matters, enforcement actions and court proceedings can move quickly, leaving little time to remedy deficiencies after a complaint is filed. Operators who maintain properties in continuous compliance with the underlying housing standards are generally best positioned to avoid the accelerated enforcement process this provision enables.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under La. R.S. § 40:1285.9, tenants who believe a landlord has violated the housing standards in R.S. 40:1285.6–1285.8 may report the issue to local health officers, health unit supervisors, or other code enforcement agencies, all of which have authority to act. Violations are classified as emergency matters, meaning enforcement agencies and courts are directed to prioritize them, which can result in faster hearings than typical civil matters. Tenants may also wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand the full range of remedies—including health-code procedures—that § 40:1285.9 makes available.
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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