La. Stat. Ann. § R.S. 51:2602
Policy
Operative Text
§2602. Policy A. The legislature finds and declares that persons in this state who seek a place to live should be able to find such housing whenever it is available. Further, in many localities there may be housing shortages. All persons should therefore be able to compete for available housing on an open, fair, and equitable basis, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, military status, or natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle. B. It is therefore declared to be the policy of Louisiana that there is a legitimate governmental interest in protecting the welfare of the people of Louisiana by enacting equal housing opportunity legislation to discourage discriminatory housing practices. C. It is the policy of the state of Louisiana to provide, within state and federal constitutional limitations, for fair and equal housing opportunity throughout the state.
La. R.S. § 51:2602 establishes Louisiana's foundational policy that all people seeking housing should be able to compete for available units on an open, fair, and equitable basis. The provision identifies race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, military status, and natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle as characteristics that cannot be used to exclude or disadvantage housing seekers. The legislature recognized a legitimate governmental interest in discouraging discriminatory housing practices and committed the state to providing fair and equal housing opportunity within constitutional limits.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under La. R.S. § 51:2602, Louisiana's equal housing opportunity policy applies to property owners and managers throughout the state. Operators who comply with this policy generally apply consistent, objective criteria when evaluating applicants and avoid practices that treat prospective tenants differently based on any of the protected characteristics named in the statute, including natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle. Maintaining documented, uniform screening standards is a common way landlords demonstrate alignment with the state's declared fair housing policy.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
La. R.S. § 51:2602 reflects Louisiana's commitment to ensuring that all residents can seek housing free from discrimination based on characteristics such as race, disability, familial status, military status, or natural hairstyle. Tenants or applicants who believe they have encountered a discriminatory housing practice may have options including filing a complaint with a state or federal fair housing agency, raising the violation as a defense in a housing proceeding, or contacting a local tenant-rights or fair housing organization for general information. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development also accepts fair housing complaints that may relate to conduct covered by 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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