La. Stat. Ann. § R.S. 40:500
Tenant-housing authority relationship
Operative Text
§500. Tenant-housing authority relationship Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter with respect to mixed-income developments or otherwise permitted by law, dwelling units in a local housing authority's developments shall be rented only to households consisting of persons of eligible income at the time of their initial occupancy of such units. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a local housing authority may allow police officers and maintenance and management employees, not otherwise eligible for residence, to reside in dwelling units in a local housing authority's developments.
Under La. R.S. § 40:500, dwelling units managed by a local housing authority must generally be rented to households that meet income-eligibility requirements at the time they first move in. Two notable exceptions exist: mixed-income developments may operate under different rules as specified elsewhere in the chapter, and housing authorities are expressly permitted to house police officers as well as maintenance and management employees even if those individuals would not otherwise qualify based on income. This provision balances the core mission of serving low-income households with practical operational needs of the housing authority.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Local housing authorities operating under La. R.S. § 40:500 generally verify that prospective tenants meet income-eligibility thresholds before initial occupancy, maintaining documentation of that eligibility determination at move-in. Authorities administering mixed-income developments should confirm which rules apply under the relevant chapter provisions, as those developments may follow different standards. Authorities that wish to house on-site police officers or maintenance and management staff in their units have explicit statutory permission to do so, even when those employees fall outside normal income limits.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
La. R.S. § 40:500 establishes that households must meet income-eligibility criteria at the time they first occupy a public housing unit, which is a foundational protection ensuring that units are directed toward those the program is designed to serve. Tenants who believe a housing authority has improperly denied or conditioned their application based on eligibility determinations may wish to review the authority's written policies and, if concerns remain, contact the local housing authority's grievance process or a tenant-rights organization familiar with public housing law. Residents of mixed-income developments should be aware that somewhat different rules may govern their community under other provisions of the same chapter.
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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