La. Stat. Ann. § R.S. 51:2605
Exemptions
Operative Text
§2605. Exemptions A. Nothing in this Chapter shall prohibit a religious organization, association, or society, or any nonprofit institution or organization operated, supervised, or controlled by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association, or society, from limiting the sale, rental, or occupancy of dwellings which it owns or operates for other than a commercial purpose to persons of the same religion, or from giving preference to such persons, unless membership in such religion is restricted on account of race, color, or national origin. B. Nothing in this Chapter shall prohibit a private club not in fact open to the public, which as an incident to its primary purpose or purposes provides lodgings which it owns or operates for other than a commercial purpose, from limiting the rental or occupancy of such lodgings to its members or from giving preference to its members. C. Nothing in this Chapter limits the applicability of any reasonable local, state, or federal restrictions regarding the maximum number of occupants permitted to occupy a dwelling, nor does any provision in this Chapter regarding familial status apply with respect to dwellings provided under any state or federal program specifically designed and operated to assist elderly persons, as defined in the state or federal program, or to housing for older persons. As used in this Subsection, "housing for older persons" means housing communities consisting of dwellings either: (1)(a) Intended for, and at least eighty percent occupied by, at least one person who is fifty-five years of age or older per unit and providing significant facilities and services specifically designed to meet the physical or social needs of such persons; and (b) The publication of, and adherence to, policies and procedures which demonstrate an intent by the owner or manager to provide housing for persons fifty-five years or older; or (2) Intended for and occupied solely by persons sixty-two years of age or older.
La. R.S. § 51:2605 carves out specific exemptions from Louisiana's fair housing requirements. Religious organizations and nonprofit entities they control may restrict housing they own for non-commercial purposes to members of their faith, as long as that religion does not itself exclude members based on race, color, or national origin. Private clubs that are genuinely closed to the public may similarly limit lodging they own for non-commercial purposes to their own members. The provision also preserves occupancy-limit rules set by local, state, or federal authorities, and exempts qualifying senior housing communities—those where at least 80% of units have a resident aged 55 or older, or those reserved exclusively for persons 62 and older—from the chapter's familial-status protections.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of religious or private-club housing should confirm that their properties qualify under La. R.S. § 51:2605 before applying any membership- or faith-based occupancy restrictions, particularly verifying that any religious criteria do not exclude people on the basis of race, color, or national origin. Managers of senior housing communities generally document occupancy data and maintain written policies demonstrating an intent to serve residents 55 or older, or 62 and older, in order to rely on the applicable exemption. Compliant operators also ensure that any occupancy caps they enforce are grounded in a recognized local, state, or federal standard rather than applied arbitrarily.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under La. R.S. § 51:2605, tenants should be aware that certain housing—such as dwellings owned by religious organizations for non-commercial purposes, private-club lodgings, and qualifying senior communities—may lawfully restrict occupancy in ways that would otherwise be prohibited by Louisiana's fair housing chapter. If a tenant believes a landlord is improperly claiming one of these exemptions, for example by applying a religious restriction that excludes people based on race or national origin, they may consider contacting a tenant-rights organization or a fair housing agency for guidance. Tenants in communities marketed as senior housing can ask management for documentation of the community's compliance with the 55-or-older or 62-and-older standards described in this provision.
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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