La. Stat. Ann. § R.S. 46:1954
Housing accommodations; full and equal access; degree of care; service dogs
Operative Text
§1954. Housing accommodations; full and equal access; degree of care; service dogs A. Every person with a disability shall be entitled to full and equal access, as other members of the general public, to all housing accommodations offered for rent, lease, or compensation in this state, subject to the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike to all persons. B. Nothing in this Section shall require any person renting, leasing, or providing for compensation immovable property to modify his property in any way or to provide a higher degree of care for a person with a disability than for a person who does not have a disability. C. Each person with a disability who has a service dog, especially trained to aid such person or who obtains such a dog, shall be entitled to full and equal access to all housing accommodations as defined in R.S. 46:1952(2), and he shall not be required to pay extra compensation for such dog but shall be liable for any damage done to the premises or any person on the premises by such dog. Acts 1982, No. 518, §1; Acts 1993, No. 482, §1; Acts 1993, No. 763, §2; Acts 2014, No. 492, §1; Acts 2014, No. 811, §24, eff. June 23, 2014; Acts 2018, No. 206, §5. NOTE: Acts 1993, No. 763, §1 amended prior R.S. 46:1952(A), (B), and (C), 1953(D), and 1954 and enacted R.S. 46:1953(E). Acts 1993, No. 482, §1 amended and reenacted the entire Chapter. The Chapter appears as in Act No. 482. The Louisiana State Law Institute printed the provisions of Act No. 763 as a note at the head of this Chapter.
La. R.S. § 46:1954 establishes that people with disabilities have the right to equal access to rental housing in Louisiana under the same general conditions that apply to all members of the public. The provision also clarifies that landlords are not required to modify their property or provide a higher standard of care for tenants with disabilities. Additionally, tenants who use service dogs may not be charged extra fees for those animals, though they remain financially responsible for any damage the dog causes to the property or to other people on the premises.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under La. R.S. § 46:1954, operators of rental housing in Louisiana are generally expected to make housing available to people with disabilities on the same terms offered to the general public. The statute does not obligate landlords to physically modify their property or to provide elevated care for tenants with disabilities beyond what is offered to others. When a tenant has a service dog, compliant operators do not impose additional pet fees or deposits for that animal, though they may seek compensation for documented damage caused by the dog.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
La. R.S. § 46:1954 affirms that people with disabilities are entitled to equal access to rental housing in Louisiana, and those who rely on service dogs cannot be charged extra compensation simply for having such an animal. If a landlord denies equal access or imposes unlawful fees related to a service dog, tenants may have grounds to raise this statute as a basis for a complaint or legal defense. Tenant-rights organizations and the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights are potential resources for understanding how to pursue a claim under 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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