Louisiana Officially Moves to Phase One of Roadmap to a Resilient Louisiana
LOUISIANA REALTORS • May 15, 2020
Governor Edwards has officially issued the order that will lift the stay at home directive for Louisianans and to allow additional businesses to open under strict occupancy, protection, and social distancing guidelines.
View The Order Here
Pursuant to this order, Louisiana will be in Phase One of the effective Friday, May 15, 2020 through Friday, June 5, 2020.
In preparation for this order, Louisiana REALTORS® hosted an informative session with the attorneys at Baker Donelson to assist you in your business as we all move towards a full reopening of the economy. We encourage you to view the webinar and related materials to learn more about operating in the new normal.
1. How does the new order impact my business?
Short Answer:
(1) Consider revising your policies and procedures; (2) Implement enhanced cleaning procedures, and (3) Close areas of the office open to the public.
Brokers and offices should consider revising their policies and procedures pertaining to office operations and sanitation measures. We encourage all our members to implement enhanced cleaning procedures in their offices and have hand sanitizer, face masks and other personal protection equipment available to agents, employees, third party contractors, and guests. More information about this can be obtained in the webinar materials or by viewing the recorded webinar.
In addition to measures recommended during the webinar and in previous guidance, your office should close the following to the public (including vendors): waiting rooms, lobbies, or other areas where the public may congregate (except for bathrooms). Clients and members of the public should be advised to wait outside while maintaining social distancing, or in vehicles, until such time as they are needed in the office.
2. Can we hold open houses?
Short Answer:
Yes, open houses can be held subject to limitations, but virtual showings are still highly encouraged over open houses and live showings.
Louisiana REALTORS® urges you to continue to show property through virtual means and limit in person showings as advised in previously issued guidance. However, should you choose to have an open house or show a home in person Louisiana REALTORS® recommends that you adhere to all government orders regarding social distancing, gathering limitations and protective measures as well as follow best practices issued by the National Association of REALTORS®.
3. Will Governor Edwards issue any new guidance from Friday, May 15, 2020 and Friday, June 5, 2020?
Short Answer:
Possibly.
The new order authorizes the Resilience Task Force and its industry task forces to develop further guidance and states that the guidance may be incorporated into the latest order upon written approval of the Governor. This means that is possible that new guidelines may be issued in the next two weeks.
Louisiana’s 2026 Regular Session opened this week with several developments that matter directly to REALTORS ®, property managers and housing providers, alongside some broader political shifts worth watching. HB 292: Security Deposit Return Timelines Rep. Delisha Boyd’s HB 292, which addresses procedures for returning residential security deposits, was deferred to next week. This provides additional time for stakeholders to engage with members on practical impacts for lease administration, move out inspections and documentation standards. We’ll continue working to ensure any changes to deposit law are clear, workable and do not expose housing providers to unreasonable liability. Land Use and Development: St. James Parish Decision The Louisiana Supreme Court’s recent St. James Parish decision significantly tightens the standards for overturning local land use decisions, reinforcing that zoning and permitting authority rests with parish and municipal governments as long as their decisions are not arbitrary or capricious. For real estate and development, that means more predictability if projects are aligned with adopted plans and ordinances, but also higher stakes in local elections, planning processes and parish-level negotiations. Governor’s State of the State In his State of the State address, Governor Jeff Landry reiterated his push to phase out the state income tax, expand the LA GATOR and MJ Foster scholarship and workforce programs, and replace vehicle inspection stickers with a QR code system. These programs frame a debate around long-term competitiveness, workforce readiness and household cost of living which are all key drivers of housing demand and migration patterns. Business & Market Trends The business community is focusing the session on insurance, workforce and energy. Commercial and property insurance costs remain a top concern for employers and property owners, and we are monitoring civil justice and insurance reform proposals that could affect market stability and availability. At the same time, Louisiana is seeing more than $100 billion in announced industrial and data center projects, which could reshape local markets, labor conditions and housing needs in multiple regions of the state. Please view the weekly bill tracking report at the link below provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.
Learn how Louisiana real estate regulations, disclosure laws, and licensing standards help protect homebuyers and create safer, more transparent transactions.
Nominations are open now through April 24, 2026, for the Louisiana REALTORS® 2025 REALTOR® of the Year & the 2025 Lawrence R. DeMarcay, Jr. Distinguished Service Award. Both awards are aimed to showcase an individual who has volunteered their time in service to the real estate industry. Recipients of the awards will be recognized during the Spring Legislative Conference. (Registration coming soon!) Please see the below links with the selection criteria and consider submitting a nomination today. Contact Donna Teekel at (225) 224-0704 or dteekel@larealtors.org with any questions.
