New Orleans, LA HOA Rules: Assessment & Dues (2026)

Under the Louisiana Condominium Act, assessments for common expenses are allocated among unit owners based on the percentage interests stated in the declaration and are due as set by the board's adopted budget. LA RS 9:1123.115 grants the association a privilege (the Louisiana equivalent of a lien) on each unit for unpaid assessments, late fees, interest, and reasonable attorney fees, and that privilege may be enforced by ordinary judicial process. The privilege is inferior to a first mortgage recorded before the assessment became due, but generally superior to other liens. Special assessments for unbudgeted capital expenses may be levied by the board subject to limits in the declaration; many declarations require owner approval above a certain threshold. For traditional HOAs governed by the Louisiana Homeowners Association Act, assessments and lien rights depend almost entirely on the recorded declaration. Boards must adopt budgets, distribute notice to owners, and maintain reserves consistent with their governing documents. Late fees, interest, and acceleration rights are governed by the declaration but must be reasonable to be enforceable. Owners cannot withhold assessments based on disputes over services or amenities; instead, they must pay under protest and pursue remedies separately. New Orleans condominiums in historic buildings often face elevated assessments due to maintenance of slate roofs, plaster facades, and shared courtyards subject to HDLC or Vieux Carre standards.