La. Civ. Code § Art. 2678
Term
Operative Text
Art. 2678. Term The lease shall be for a term. Its duration may be agreed to by the parties or supplied by law. The term may be fixed or indeterminate. It is fixed when the parties agree that the lease will terminate at a designated date or upon the occurrence of a designated event. It is indeterminate in all other cases.
Under La. Civ. Code art. § Art. 2678, every lease must have a term — a defined period or framework governing how long the rental relationship lasts. That term can be either fixed, meaning it ends on a specific date or when a specified event occurs, or indeterminate, meaning no clear end point was agreed upon. When parties do not set a term themselves, Louisiana law steps in to supply one.
Plain English — not legal advice.
La. Civ. Code art. § Art. 2678 establishes that every lease must include a term, and property owners generally ensure their lease agreements either specify a clear end date or triggering event (creating a fixed term) or acknowledge that the arrangement is indeterminate. Operators who use written leases with explicit termination dates benefit from the clarity that a fixed term provides, particularly when planning unit turnover or renewals. When no term is written into the agreement, Louisiana law determines the duration, which can affect how and when a tenancy may be ended.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
La. Civ. Code art. § Art. 2678 means that your rental arrangement must have some form of term, whether fixed or indeterminate, and that term shapes important rights around how and when a tenancy can end. If your lease names a specific end date or event, it is considered fixed; if it does not, it is indeterminate and state law governs its duration. Tenants who are uncertain about the nature of their lease term may find it helpful to review their written agreement carefully or consult a tenant-rights organization familiar with Louisiana law.
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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