Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana Eviction Risk: Low

Jefferson Davis Parish carries an average eviction-risk score of 2.6/10 (Low), placing it 27th of 64 parishes in Louisiana, which puts it squarely in the middle third of the state. Twenty-six parishes score higher and 37 score lower, so landlords here face moderate-to-low friction compared with the state as a whole. Across the parish's 7 cities, scores range from 2.1 to 3.1, a spread that is narrow but still meaningful for operators choosing between markets within the same county. With an average rent of $781 and a rent-burden rate of 28.4%, renters are not stretched as severely as in higher-risk metro parishes, which generally supports on-time payment rates.

The broader operating environment reflects a parish where roughly 32.3% of households rent and the average poverty rate sits at 21.9%. That poverty figure is a real underwriting signal: a meaningful share of the renter pool has limited financial cushion, which can translate to late payments even in a low-risk market. Still, Louisiana eviction laws state law is structured to keep the eviction process relatively swift for landlords who follow procedure, and the parish-level score reflects that structural advantage.

The cities inside Jefferson Davis Parish

Jennings, the parish seat and largest city at 9,553 residents, carries the highest individual score at 3/10. It is the dominant rental market in Jefferson Davis Parish by population, so any landlord with significant holdings here should weigh that score against the larger tenant pool. Welsh (population 3,313, score 2.1/10) and Lake Arthur (population 2,585, score 2.7/10) are the next largest cities and present essentially identical risk profiles at the county's mid-range.

The smaller communities, including Elton (score 2.1/10), Lacassine (score 2.3/10), and Fenton (score 2.7/10), cluster at the same 2.8 mark. Welsh is the lowest-risk city in the parish at 2.1/10. The practical takeaway is that risk is hyper-local even inside a low-scoring county: choosing Roanoke over Jennings cuts the score by half a point, which can matter when building a portfolio across multiple properties.

State-level laws that apply here

Under Louisiana state law, specifically La. R.S. § 9:3251 et seq. (Louisiana Lease Law), landlords must give 5 days written notice for both non-payment of rent and lease violations before filing for eviction. A no-cause termination at the end of a lease term requires 30 days notice. Louisiana does not require just cause for most evictions, and state law preempts local rent-control ordinances, so Jefferson Davis Parish cannot impose rent caps that conflict with state rules. Reviewing the Louisiana eviction process in full is the best way to confirm you are delivering notices in the correct form and within the correct timeframes.

Court filing fees under Louisiana law run from $170 to $300, and sheriff lockout fees add another $50 to $175. If legal counsel is involved, attorney fees typically range from $500 to $3,000, so a fully litigated case can be a real expense even before lost rent is counted. An uncontested eviction typically resolves in 14 to 30 days; a contested case can stretch to 30 to 90 days. Understanding Louisiana eviction costs before a problem tenant arises lets landlords budget accurately rather than absorb a surprise loss.

With a poverty rate of 21.9% and just under one-third of households renting, Jefferson Davis Parish carries real credit risk despite its low aggregate score; review the city-level grid above to pinpoint which specific markets within the parish best match your underwriting criteria.