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Art. 4843.City Court Jurisdiction; Amount In Dispute; Injunctive Actions By State Or Political Subdivision

Book VIII. Trial Courts of Limited Jurisdiction · Title I. General Dispositions · Chapter 2. Civil Jurisdiction · Last amended 2025 · Last verified July 30, 2026

This article has two versions. The text below is in effect now. A new version takes effect August 1, 2026; it appears further down this page.
In one sentenceArticle 4843 caps a city court's ordinary civil jurisdiction at fifteen thousand dollars by default, then raises that ceiling city by city, to twenty-five, thirty, thirty-five, or fifty thousand dollars, for dozens of named city courts, while exempting certain larger cities' government injunction suits from any dollar limit.

Full Text of Art. 4843 (Current Version)

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A. Except as otherwise provided for in this Article, the civil jurisdiction of a city court is concurrent with the district court in cases where the amount in dispute, or the value of the property involved, does not exceed fifteen thousand dollars.
B. The civil jurisdiction of a city court in which the population of the territorial jurisdiction is greater than fifty thousand is concurrent with the district court in cases or proceedings instituted by the state, a parish, a municipality, or other political subdivision of the state for injunctive relief or other civil relief for the cessation or abatement of any acts or practices which may violate a parish or municipal ordinance or state law. In such case, the court has jurisdiction regardless of the amount in dispute or the value of the property involved.
C. In the City Court of Bossier City, and any city court in which the population of the territorial jurisdiction is less than fifty thousand, except as otherwise specifically provided by law, the civil jurisdiction is concurrent with the district court in cases where the amount in dispute, or the value of the property involved, does not exceed fifteen thousand dollars.
D. In the City Court of Bastrop, City Court of Bogalusa, the City Court of Bunkie, the City Court of Eunice, the City Court of Marksville, the City Court of Natchitoches, a city court in New Orleans, the City Court of Opelousas, the City Court of Port Allen, the City Court of Ville Platte, and the City Court of Winnsboro, the civil jurisdiction is concurrent with the district court in cases where the amount in dispute, or the value of the property involved, does not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars.
E. In the City Court of Breaux Bridge, the City Court of Houma, the City Court of Jeanerette, the City Court of Jennings, the City Court of Monroe, the City Court of New Iberia, the City Court of Oakdale, and the City Court of Winnfield, the civil jurisdiction is concurrent with the district court in cases where the amount in dispute, or the value of the property involved, does not exceed thirty thousand dollars.
F. In the City Court of Abbeville, the City Court of Baker, the City Court of Baton Rouge, the City Court of Crowley, the City Court of Kaplan, the City Court of Lafayette, the City Court of Leesville, the City Court of Minden, the City Court of Plaquemine, the City Court of Rayne, the City Court of Shreveport, the City Court of Springhill, and the City Court of Zachary, the civil jurisdiction is concurrent with the district court in cases where the amount in dispute, or the value of the property involved, does not exceed thirty-five thousand dollars.
G. In the City Court of Alexandria, the City Court of East St. Tammany, the City Court of Hammond, the City Court of Lake Charles, the City Court of Pineville, the City Court of Ruston, the City Court of Sulphur, and the Third Ward City Court of Franklin, the civil jurisdiction is concurrent with the district court in cases where the amount in dispute, or the value of the property involved, does not exceed fifty thousand dollars.
H. Repealed by Acts 2024, No. 57, § 2.

Amendment History (Current Version)

Amended by Acts 2025, No. 21, §1, eff. 8/1/2025. Amended by Acts 2024, No. 105, §1, eff. 8/1/2024. Amended by Acts 2024, No. 57, §1, 2, eff. 8/1/2024. Amended by Acts 2022, No. 98, §1, eff. 8/1/2022. Amended by Acts 2021, No. 251, §1, eff. 8/1/2021. Amended by Acts 2020, No. 205, §3, eff. 6/11/2020. Amended by Acts 2019, No. 135, §1, eff. 8/1/2019. Amended by Acts 2015, No. 461, §1, eff. 7/1/2015. Amended by Acts 2015, No. 367, §1, eff. 8/1/2015. Amended by Acts 2014, No. 843, §1, eff. 8/1/2014. Amended by Acts 2014, No. 363, §1, eff. 8/1/2014. Amended by Acts 2013, No. 68, §1, eff. 8/1/2013. Acts 1986, No. 539, §1; Acts 1986, No. 924, §1; Acts 1988, No. 75, §1; Acts 1988, No. 314, §1; Acts 1990, No. 186, §1; Acts 1990, No. 504, §1, eff. 7/18/1990; Acts 1992, No. 10, §1; Acts 1992, No. 939, §1; Acts 1993, No. 541, §1; Acts 1995, No. 126, §1; Acts 1995, No. 204, §1; Acts 1995, No. 311, §1, eff. 6/16/1995; Acts 1995, No. 466, §1; Acts 1997, No. 193, §1, eff. 1/1/1998; Acts 1997, No. 323, §1; Acts 1997, No. 407, §1; Acts 1999, No. 504, §1, eff. 1/1/2000; Acts 1999, No. 644, §1; Acts 1999, No. 694, §1; Acts 2001, No. 255, §1; Acts 2001, No. 343, §1, eff. 1/1/2001; Acts 2001, No. 357, §1; Acts 2001, No. 762, §1, eff. 6/25/2001; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 58, §1; Acts 2003, No. 153, §1; Acts 2003, No. 276, §1; Acts 2003, No. 435, §1; Acts 2003, No. 436, §1; Acts 2003, No. 601, §1; Acts 2003, No. 905, §2; Acts 2003, No. 1213, §1; Acts 2004, No. 205, §1; Acts 2004, No. 487, §1; Acts 2004, No. 511, §1; Acts 2004, No. 538, §1; Acts 2004, No. 539, §1; Acts 2004, No. 714, §1; Acts 2005, No. 31, §1; Acts 2005, No. 109, §1; Acts 2005, No. 349, §1; Acts 2005, No. 353, §1; Acts 2006, No. 365, §1; Acts 2006, No. 379, §1; Acts 2006, No. 575, §1; Acts 2006, No. 680, §1; Acts 2006, No. 681, §1; Acts 2008, No. 44, §1; Acts 2010, No. 161, §1; Acts 2010, No. 180, §1; Acts 2010, No. 228, §1; Acts 2011, No. 88, §1; Acts 2011, No. 103, §1, eff. 6/20/2011; Acts 2012, No. 166, §1; Acts 2012, No. 331, §1.

Full Text of Art. 4843 — Effective August 1, 2026

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A. Except as otherwise provided for in this Article, the civil jurisdiction of a city court is concurrent with the district court in cases where the amount in dispute, or the value of the property involved, does not exceed fifteen thousand dollars.
B. The civil jurisdiction of a city court in which the population of the territorial jurisdiction is greater than fifty thousand is concurrent with the district court in cases or proceedings instituted by the state, a parish, a municipality, or other political subdivision of the state for injunctive relief or other civil relief for the cessation or abatement of any acts or practices which may violate a parish or municipal ordinance or state law. In such case, the court has jurisdiction regardless of the amount in dispute or the value of the property involved.
C. In the City Court of Bossier City, and any city court in which the population of the territorial jurisdiction is less than fifty thousand, except as otherwise specifically provided by law, the civil jurisdiction is concurrent with the district court in cases where the amount in dispute, or the value of the property involved, does not exceed fifteen thousand dollars. D. In the City Court of Bastrop, City Court of Bogalusa, the City Court of Bunkie, the City Court of Eunice, the City Court of Marksville, the City Court of Natchitoches, a city court in New Orleans, the City Court of Opelousas, the City Court of Port Allen, the City Court of Ville Platte, and the City Court of Winnsboro, the civil jurisdiction is concurrent with the district court in cases where the amount in dispute, or the value of the property involved, does not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars.
E. In the City Court of Breaux Bridge, the City Court of Houma, the City Court of Jeanerette, the City Court of Jennings, the City Court of Monroe, the City Court of New Iberia, the City Court of Oakdale, and the City Court of Winnfield, the civil jurisdiction is concurrent with the district court in cases where the amount in dispute, or the value of the property involved, does not exceed thirty thousand dollars.
F. In the City Court of Abbeville, the City Court of Baker, the City Court of Baton Rouge, the City Court of Crowley, the City Court of Kaplan, the City Court of Lafayette, the City Court of Leesville, the City Court of Minden, the City Court of Plaquemine, the City Court of Rayne, the City Court of Shreveport, the City Court of Springhill, and the City Court of Zachary, the civil jurisdiction is concurrent with the district court in cases where the amount in dispute, or the value of the property involved, does not exceed thirty-five thousand dollars.
G. In the City Court of Alexandria, the City Court of East St. Tammany, the City Court of Bogalusa, the City Court of Hammond, the City Court of Lake Charles, the City Court of Pineville, the City Court of Ruston, the City Court of Sulphur, and the Third Ward City Court of Franklin, the civil jurisdiction is concurrent with the district court in cases where the amount in dispute, or the value of the property involved, does not exceed fifty thousand dollars.
H. Repealed by Acts 2024, No. 57, § 2.

Amendment History (Effective August 1, 2026 Version)

Amended by Acts 2026, No. 50, §1, eff. 8/1/2026. Amended by Acts 2025, No. 21, §1, eff. 8/1/2025. Amended by Acts 2024, No. 105, §1, eff. 8/1/2024. Amended by Acts 2024, No. 57, §1, 2, eff. 8/1/2024. Amended by Acts 2022, No. 98, §1, eff. 8/1/2022. Amended by Acts 2021, No. 251, §1, eff. 8/1/2021. Amended by Acts 2020, No. 205, §3, eff. 6/11/2020. Amended by Acts 2019, No. 135, §1, eff. 8/1/2019. Amended by Acts 2015, No. 461, §1, eff. 7/1/2015. Amended by Acts 2015, No. 367, §1, eff. 8/1/2015. Amended by Acts 2014, No. 843, §1, eff. 8/1/2014. Amended by Acts 2014, No. 363, §1, eff. 8/1/2014. Amended by Acts 2013, No. 68, §1, eff. 8/1/2013. Acts 1986, No. 539, §1; Acts 1986, No. 924, §1; Acts 1988, No. 75, §1; Acts 1988, No. 314, §1; Acts 1990, No. 186, §1; Acts 1990, No. 504, §1, eff. 7/18/1990; Acts 1992, No. 10, §1; Acts 1992, No. 939, §1; Acts 1993, No. 541, §1; Acts 1995, No. 126, §1; Acts 1995, No. 204, §1; Acts 1995, No. 311, §1, eff. 6/16/1995; Acts 1995, No. 466, §1; Acts 1997, No. 193, §1, eff. 1/1/1998; Acts 1997, No. 323, §1; Acts 1997, No. 407, §1; Acts 1999, No. 504, §1, eff. 1/1/2000; Acts 1999, No. 644, §1; Acts 1999, No. 694, §1; Acts 2001, No. 255, §1; Acts 2001, No. 343, §1, eff. 1/1/2001; Acts 2001, No. 357, §1; Acts 2001, No. 762, §1, eff. 6/25/2001; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 58, §1; Acts 2003, No. 153, §1; Acts 2003, No. 276, §1; Acts 2003, No. 435, §1; Acts 2003, No. 436, §1; Acts 2003, No. 601, §1; Acts 2003, No. 905, §2; Acts 2003, No. 1213, §1; Acts 2004, No. 205, §1; Acts 2004, No. 487, §1; Acts 2004, No. 511, §1; Acts 2004, No. 538, §1; Acts 2004, No. 539, §1; Acts 2004, No. 714, §1; Acts 2005, No. 31, §1; Acts 2005, No. 109, §1; Acts 2005, No. 349, §1; Acts 2005, No. 353, §1; Acts 2006, No. 365, §1; Acts 2006, No. 379, §1; Acts 2006, No. 575, §1; Acts 2006, No. 680, §1; Acts 2006, No. 681, §1; Acts 2008, No. 44, §1; Acts 2010, No. 161, §1; Acts 2010, No. 180, §1; Acts 2010, No. 228, §1; Acts 2011, No. 88, §1; Acts 2011, No. 103, §1, eff. 6/20/2011; Acts 2012, No. 166, §1; Acts 2012, No. 331, §1.

Plain-English Summary

City courts do not share one jurisdictional ceiling the way parish courts do. Article 4843 starts with a default: a city court's civil jurisdiction runs concurrent with the district court up to fifteen thousand dollars, the same figure Paragraph C repeats for the City Court of Bossier City and for any city court whose territorial jurisdiction has a population under fifty thousand.

From there, the article builds a tiered structure, moving from lower to higher dollar ceilings as it names specific city courts. One group of named city courts sits at a twenty-five-thousand-dollar ceiling, a second group at thirty thousand, a third at thirty-five thousand, and a fourth, generally covering some of the state's larger cities, at fifty thousand. Each tier lists its own set of city courts by name rather than by a population formula or a general rule, and that patchwork is not an accident of drafting: over more than a decade, the legislature has repeatedly amended this article one Act at a time, each amendment moving one or more named city courts up a tier or into the article for the first time, as caseloads and local advocacy called for a higher local ceiling.

Paragraph B carries over the same government-injunction exemption found in the parish court article: a city court whose territorial jurisdiction has a population over fifty thousand can hear a suit by the state, a parish, a municipality, or another political subdivision seeking an injunction or other civil relief against ordinance or state-law violations, without regard to any dollar figure at all.

An amendment effective August 1, 2026 moves the City Court of Bogalusa out of the twenty-five-thousand-dollar tier and into the fifty-thousand-dollar tier, more than doubling that court's ordinary civil jurisdiction ceiling.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the default jurisdictional limit for a Louisiana city court?

Fifteen thousand dollars, under Article 4843(A), unless the city court is named in one of the article's higher tiers.

Why do different city courts have different dollar limits?

Because the legislature has repeatedly amended Article 4843 over many years, raising the ceiling for specific named city courts one at a time rather than adopting a single statewide figure.

Can a city court hear a government injunction suit above its normal dollar cap?

Yes, if its territorial jurisdiction has a population over fifty thousand. Article 4843(B) lets that city court hear a state or political-subdivision injunction suit enforcing an ordinance or state law regardless of amount.

Is the City Court of Bogalusa's jurisdictional limit changing?

Yes. Effective August 1, 2026, an amendment moves Bogalusa from the twenty-five-thousand-dollar tier to the fifty-thousand-dollar tier, raising its ordinary civil jurisdiction ceiling.

Source & verification. Article text is reproduced verbatim from the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure (legis.la.gov). Enacted by the Louisiana Legislature. Last verified July 30, 2026. · Official source
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