A quiet change in Louisiana law gives small landlords in East Baton Rouge Parish a faster, cheaper way to handle evictions.
Most property owners and managers in East Baton Rouge Parish don't realize they now have a choice about where to file eviction cases—and choosing the right court could save thousands in legal costs and weeks in timeline.
Here's what changed: HB708 authorized concurrent jurisdiction between justice of the peace courts and city courts in East Baton Rouge Parish. Buried in that language is a significant expansion of where landlords can file eviction suits.
Under the new provision codified at R.S. 13:2586(C)(9), justice of the peace courts in East Baton Rouge Parish now have jurisdiction over eviction cases where the monthly rent is $5,000 or less. Previously, evictions were limited to city court, regardless of rent amount.
This matters because justice of the peace courts are designed to be faster and more accessible than district or city courts. Filing fees are lower. Proceedings move quicker. For small business landlords and property managers handling residential or commercial leases under that threshold, this can mean the difference between recovering possession in weeks versus months.
The change primarily benefits small to mid-sized landlords in East Baton Rouge Parish—those managing properties with monthly rents up to $5,000. This includes many residential landlords, small commercial tenants, and property management companies handling portfolios of modest-rent units.
If your monthly rent exceeds $5,000, you'll still file in city court as before. But if you're at or below that threshold, you now have the option to use justice of the peace court, which typically involves lower filing costs, simpler procedures, and faster resolution.
Eviction litigation is expensive and time-consuming. Every week a unit sits vacant or a tenant fails to pay is lost revenue. Justice of the peace courts handle smaller claims more efficiently. The streamlined process can reduce attorney time and associated costs, and you may recover possession faster—critical when cash flow is tight.
The provision doesn't change eviction law itself. Grounds for eviction, notice requirements, and tenant rights remain the same. What changes is the venue—the court where you file—and the procedural efficiency that comes with it.
For property managers handling multiple smaller units, this creates operational flexibility. You can choose the court that makes most sense for each property based on rent amount and your litigation strategy.
HB708 became effective upon the governor's signature or expiration of the signing period under Article III, Section 18 of the Louisiana Constitution. The eviction jurisdiction provision is found in Section 1, Page 3 of the bill.
If you manage properties in East Baton Rouge Parish and handle your own evictions or work closely with your attorney on litigation strategy, it's worth reviewing your current procedures. You may have a faster, more cost-effective option than you realized.
Source: HB708, R.S. 13:2586(C)(9), Section 1, Page 3