Property Tax in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana

Property Tax in Lafayette Parish

A calculator and field guide for Lafayette-area homeowners — and for anyone considering a move to Lafayette Parish — including Louisiana's 10% residential assessment ratio, the generous $75,000 Homestead Exemption (LA Const. Art. VII §20 — exempt from state, parish, and special ad valorem; not from municipal), the Special Assessment Level (SAL) freeze for 65+ with AGI ≤ $102,700 (2026, indexed), and the FULL Disabled Veterans Exemption (100% service-connected). Louisiana uses parishes, not counties — a Napoleonic Code legacy from French colonial Louisiana.

Lafayette Parish, home to Lafayette and 245k Louisianians, operates under Louisiana\'s parish-based property tax system. Louisiana uses parishes (not counties — the only US state to do so, a Napoleonic Code legacy from French colonial Louisiana). Residential property is assessed at 10% of fair market value. Tax = (AV − homestead) × millage / 1,000. Combined millage includes parish, municipal, school district, and special district levies. The $75,000 Homestead Exemption (LA Const. Art. VII §20) is among the most-generous in the United States — exempt from state, parish, and special ad valorem taxes (NOT from municipal). Effective rates run ~0.55% statewide median — among the lowest in the US.

How the bill is built

Louisiana property tax follows a 4-step calculation. Step 1: Fair Market Value. The Lafayette Parish Louisiana Assessor determines FMV annually. Step 2: Apply 10% AR. AV = FMV × 10%. So a $200K home has AV = $20K. Step 3: Apply $75,000 Homestead Exemption. First $75,000 of FMV (= $7,500 of AV) exempt from parish/state/special ad valorem. Step 4: Apply tax rate. Tax = (AV − $7,500 homestead) × millage / 1,000. Lafayette Parish\'s combined millage is ~100 mills (= ~1.00% gross before the homestead, ~0.55% effective post-homestead).

Louisiana\'s $75,000 Homestead Exemption is among the most-generous in the United States — for the median Louisiana home, the homestead often eliminates the entire parish portion of the tax bill. Apply with the parish assessor — automatic renewal as long as owner-occupied. The exemption applies to state, parish, and special ad valorem — but NOT to municipal ad valorem. So homeowners in incorporated cities (New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport) still owe city property tax on the first $75K, while homeowners in unincorporated parish areas often owe $0 in property tax for sub-$75K homes.

The Special Assessment Level (SAL) freeze is Louisiana\'s primary senior protection. Owners 65+ with adjusted gross income at or below $102,700 (2026 limit, indexed by CPI from $100K base set by Amendment 6 of 2020) can freeze their AV at the level when first qualified — preventing value-driven tax increases. Note: SAL does NOT cap millage rate increases (so tax bills can still rise if local taxing entities raise rates). Available also for permanently disabled (any age) and surviving spouses of military killed in action / MIA / POW. Apply with parish assessor. Once granted, the freeze continues automatically as long as ownership and occupancy continue and the value does not increase more than 25% due to construction.

Louisiana provides a FULL property tax exemption for 100% service-connected disabled veterans (LA Const. Art. VII §21, effective 2023) — stacks on top of the regular $75,000 Homestead Exemption. Partial-rating vets receive additional FMV exemptions: 50-69% rating = additional $25K FMV; 70-99% rating = additional $45K FMV. Surviving spouses may retain. Apply with parish assessor with current Form A25 from Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs.

Lafayette Parish rate breakdown (consolidated millage per $1,000 of AV (10% AR × FMV), Lafayette district)

Taxing entity	Rate
Combined parish + municipal + school + special districts (~100 mills × 10% AR = ~0.55% effective post Homestead)	100.0000
Combined total	100.0000

Data record updated April 26, 2026. This is an editorial update date, not a tax year or a guarantee that every figure has been independently verified.

Sources and scope: Check rates and parcel details with Lafayette Parish Louisiana Assessor. Figures may refer to different source years; a county-seat rate does not apply to every address. How we use data and estimates.

Note: Lafayette Parish is **the cultural capital of Acadiana** — the historic French-Louisiana region settled by Acadian (Cajun) refugees expelled from Nova Scotia by the British in 1755 (the "Grand Dérangement"). Lafayette (~125K, the seat) is the largest city in southwestern Louisiana and the cultural-economic anchor of the Cajun heartland. Anchored by Lafayette, Broussard (~14K), Carencro (~10K), Scott (~9K), Youngsville (~17K — among the fastest-growing US cities), and Duson. The parish is home to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL Lafayette / "ULL," ~17,000 students) and the Lafayette Cajun-Creole cultural community. Major employment includes oil and gas services (Schlumberger / SLB has major Lafayette operations), healthcare (Lafayette General Health, Our Lady of Lourdes), and substantial Cajun-French heritage tourism.

Note: Lafayette Parish effective property tax rates run approximately **0.55% — among the lower in Louisiana**. Combined parish + municipal + school district + special district millage is ~100 mills (× 10% AR = ~1.00% gross, reduced by Louisiana's $75,000 Homestead Exemption to ~0.55% effective). Median home values around $235K combined with the very low effective rate produce median annual bills around $1,293.

Note: For relocation buyers: Lafayette Parish offers **the celebrated Acadiana / Cajun cultural Louisiana** option — substantial UL Lafayette university amenities, the celebrated Cajun music + dance + cuisine scene, the historic French-Acadian cultural heritage, and exceptional cost of living. The trade-off: oil-and-gas-dependent economy (Lafayette has experienced cyclical downturns when global oil prices fall), substantial hurricane and flooding risk, limited high-skill commercial sector outside oil services and healthcare.

Deductions and exemptions for 2026

Louisiana homeowner property tax relief is concentrated in three mechanisms: (1) the $75,000 Homestead Exemption (LA Const. Art. VII §20 — among the most-generous in the United States), (2) the Special Assessment Level (SAL) freeze for owners 65+ with AGI ≤ $102,700 (2026, indexed), and (3) the FULL Disabled Veteran Exemption for 100% service-connected disabled vets (LA Const. Art. VII §21, effective 2023).

$75,000 Homestead Exemption (LA Const. Art. VII §20)

Louisiana\'s $75,000 Homestead Exemption is among the most-generous in the United States — exempts the first $75,000 of fair market value (= $7,500 of AV at 10% AR) from state, parish, and special ad valorem taxes. NOT exempt from municipal ad valorem. For the median Louisiana home (FMV ~$200K), the homestead often eliminates the entire parish portion of the tax bill. Only one homestead exemption per landowner. Apply with parish assessor — automatic renewal as long as owner-occupied.

Special Assessment Level (SAL) — Senior/Disabled Freeze

The SAL is a true AV freeze (not a millage rate cap) for qualifying owners. Eligibility: 65+ with AGI ≤ $102,700 (2026 limit, indexed by CPI from $100K base set by Amendment 6 of 2020); OR permanently disabled (any age); OR surviving spouse of military killed in action / MIA / POW (with income test). Once granted, AV freezes at the level when first qualified. Continues automatically as long as ownership and occupancy continue and value does not increase more than 25% due to construction. Apply with parish assessor.

FULL Disabled Veteran Exemption (100% service-connected)

Louisiana provides a FULL property tax exemption for veterans rated 100% service-connected disabled (LA Const. Art. VII §21, effective 2023) — stacks on top of the regular $75,000 Homestead Exemption. Partial-rating vets receive additional FMV exemptions: 50-69% rating = additional $25K FMV; 70-99% rating = additional $45K FMV. Surviving spouses may retain. Apply with parish assessor with current Form A25 from Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs.

Appealing your assessment

Louisiana property tax appeals follow a 3-tier process. Level 1: Parish Assessor. File written appeal during the open inspection period (typically 15 days in August/September each year — varies by parish). Level 2: Parish Board of Review. If unresolved, appeal to the Parish Board of Review within 3 business days of the open inspection period closing. The Board holds quasi-judicial hearings. Level 3: Louisiana Tax Commission. Board decisions can be appealed to the Louisiana Tax Commission within 10 business days. From there to District Court. Most Louisiana appeals are resolved at Level 1 or Level 2.

Cities and towns in Lafayette Parish

This guide lists 6 selected communities in or associated with Lafayette Parish. It is not a complete municipal directory. Local taxing districts can differ between communities and individual addresses.

Data: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census. Populations rounded. Cities marked as "split" straddle a county border — the portion inside Lafayette Parish is subject to Lafayette Parish's tax rolls, while the portion outside is subject to the adjacent county's.

City or town	Type	Population (2020)
Lafayette County seat	city	125,000
Youngsville	city	17,000
Broussard	city	14,000
Carencro	city	10,000
Scott	city	9,000
Duson	town	1,900

About city-level property tax rates: The rate breakdown and calculator on this page use a representative district around Lafayette. Other cities in Lafayette Parish may pay into different school districts, city rates, and special districts — so their combined rates can differ, sometimes substantially. Always verify the specific rates for your address with the Lafayette Parish Louisiana Assessor before relying on any estimate.

Frequently asked questions

When are Louisiana property taxes due?

Louisiana property tax bills are typically mailed in November and are due by December 31. Late payments after December 31 accrue interest (1% per month) and the property may be subject to tax sale if delinquent for an extended period (varies by parish). Most Louisiana homeowners pay through escrow via mortgage servicer.

Why does Louisiana use parishes instead of counties?

Louisiana uses parishes — the only US state to do so. The term is a Napoleonic Code legacy from French and Spanish colonial Louisiana, when the Catholic Church\'s ecclesiastical parishes served as administrative subdivisions. When Louisiana was admitted to the United States in 1812, it kept the parish structure. There are 64 parishes in Louisiana. Functionally, parishes are equivalent to counties in other US states — they have parish governments (often called Police Juries, though some parishes use Parish Council government), elected parish assessors (rather than county assessors), and parish-level taxing authority.

How does the $75,000 Homestead Exemption work?

Louisiana\'s $75,000 Homestead Exemption (LA Const. Art. VII §20) is among the most-generous in the United States. It exempts the first $75,000 of fair market value (= $7,500 of AV at 10% AR) from state, parish, and special ad valorem taxes. Note: NOT exempt from municipal ad valorem. So homeowners in incorporated cities (New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport) still owe city property tax on the first $75K, while homeowners in unincorporated parish areas often owe $0 in property tax for sub-$75K homes. Apply with parish assessor — automatic renewal as long as owner-occupied.

What is the Special Assessment Level (SAL) freeze?

The Special Assessment Level (SAL) is Louisiana\'s primary senior protection — a true AV freeze (not a millage rate cap) for owners 65+ with adjusted gross income at or below $102,700 (2026 limit, indexed by CPI from $100K base set by Amendment 6 of 2020). Once granted, the AV freezes at the level when first qualified — preventing value-driven tax increases. Available also for permanently disabled (any age) and surviving spouses of military killed in action / MIA / POW. The SAL stacks with the regular $75,000 Homestead Exemption. Apply with parish assessor. Continues automatically as long as ownership and occupancy continue and value does not increase more than 25% due to construction.

How does the Disabled Veteran exemption work in Louisiana?

Louisiana provides a FULL property tax exemption for veterans rated 100% service-connected disabled (LA Const. Art. VII §21, effective 2023) — stacks on top of the regular $75,000 Homestead Exemption. Partial-rating vets receive additional FMV exemptions: 50-69% rating = additional $25K FMV exemption; 70-99% rating = additional $45K FMV exemption; 100% = FULL exemption. Surviving spouses may retain. Apply with parish assessor with current Form A25 from Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs.

How do I appeal my Louisiana assessment?

Louisiana property tax appeals follow a 3-tier process. Level 1: Parish Assessor. File written appeal during the open inspection period (typically 15 days in August/September each year — varies by parish). Level 2: Parish Board of Review. Within 3 business days of the open inspection period closing. Level 3: Louisiana Tax Commission. Within 10 business days. From there to District Court. Most appeals are resolved at Level 1 or Level 2.

About Lafayette Parish

Beyond the property tax — a few things you might not know about the place.

Weird fact

Lafayette is **the cultural and gastronomic capital of Cajun country** — the parish hosts dozens of celebrated Cajun-French cultural institutions including **Festival International de Louisiane** (annual, late April, since 1986 — the largest free music festival in the US, drawing 350,000+ attendees with international French/Francophone programming), **Festivals Acadiens et Créoles** (annual, October), and the iconic **Vermilionville Living History Museum and Folklife Park**. Lafayette Parish has the highest concentration of Cajun-French speakers in the United States — though Cajun French has declined dramatically (peaked at ~1 million speakers in 1900, down to ~150,000 in 2024 mostly elderly). The University of Louisiana at Lafayette's Center for Louisiana Studies and CODOFIL (Council for the Development of French in Louisiana) work to preserve the language. **Cajun cuisine** — crawfish étouffée, gumbo, jambalaya, boudin, andouille, beignets — was popularized nationally by Lafayette-area chef **Paul Prudhomme** (1940-2015) starting in the 1970s.

Hometown hero

Paul Prudhomme

The American chef Paul Prudhomme (1940-2015) — among the most-influential American chefs of the 20th century, who singlehandedly popularized Cajun cuisine nationally — was born in Opelousas (St. Landry Parish, just north of Lafayette) and based much of his early career in Lafayette. Prudhomme opened K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen in New Orleans in 1979, and his celebrated **"blackened redfish"** dish became a 1980s American culinary phenomenon — generating such demand that redfish populations were severely depleted in the Gulf of Mexico. Prudhomme's cookbooks (**Chef Paul Prudhomme's Louisiana Kitchen** 1984) and PBS cooking shows established Cajun cuisine in the American mainstream. Other Lafayette Parish figures include **Hunter Hayes** (the country music star, born 1991 in Breaux Bridge in adjacent St. Martin Parish).

Biggest annual event

Festival International + Festivals Acadiens

**Festival International de Louisiane** (annual, last weekend of April, since 1986) is **the largest free music festival in the United States** — drawing 350,000+ attendees over 5 days with 70+ international performers focused on Francophone and indigenous music. The festival has grown to be among the most-prestigious world-music events in North America. **Festivals Acadiens et Créoles** (annual, second weekend of October, since 1974) is **the largest Cajun and Creole music festival in the world** — drawing 75,000+ attendees with the celebrated Cajun-Creole music heritage programming.

Property Tax in Lafayette Parish