Seller tool · Property tax
What happens to your homestead exemption when you move
Your Louisiana homestead exemption does not move with you. It applies only to the home you own and live in. When you sell, it comes off the old home, and you must file a new application with the assessor in the parish where you buy. If you have an assessment freeze, that does not follow you either. You reapply at the new home.
Reviewed by the Nicole Spellman Group team
Updated September 27, 2026
The rule
One exemption, on the home you live in
The Louisiana Constitution ties the exemption to a home that is owned and occupied, and allows one homestead exemption per person.
Sources: La. Const. Art. VII §20; Ascension Parish Assessor ("permanent as long as you own and reside at that location"); East Baton Rouge Parish Assessor; St. Tammany Parish Assessor ("All exemptions and special assessments are removed when a property is sold, and all homeowners must reapply"). Full details in our homestead exemption guide.
Checklist
What to do when you sell and buy
Two homes, two parish offices, possibly two parishes. Handle each one.
The home you sell
- Tell the assessor if you no longer live there, as the EBR assessor asks
- Expect current-year property taxes to be prorated at closing
- Ask your title company how that year's tax is estimated for the proration
- Keep your closing statement for your records
The home you buy
- File for the homestead exemption with that parish's assessor
- Ask what documents to bring before you go
- Reapply for any assessment freeze you had
- Disabled veterans: ask the assessor what certification to bring for the added exemption
- Check the tax notice the next fall to confirm the exemption shows
Sources: East Baton Rouge Parish Assessor; LREC Residential Agreement to Buy or Sell (rev. 01/2026), which prorates real estate taxes through the date of the Act of Sale. More on our closing costs page.
Filing
Where to file for your new home
File with the assessor in the parish where the new home sits. Each office runs its own process.
| Parish | How to file | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ascension | Signed application on file; online homestead application available | Ascension Assessor |
| East Baton Rouge | In person at the Main, Coursey or Central office | EBR Assessor |
| Livingston | Online homestead exemption form through the assessor's site | Livingston Assessor |
| Lafayette | Contact the assessor's office | Lafayette Assessor |
| Orleans | Orleans Parish Assessor's office | City of New Orleans |
| St. Tammany | Reapply after purchase; exemptions come off at sale | St. Tammany Assessor |
Moving to another parish? Call its assessor's office and ask how to file. We can point you to the right office.
Special assessment level
If you have an assessment freeze
Owners who are 65 or older, have a VA disability rating of 50% or more, or are permanently and totally disabled may qualify to freeze their assessed value, subject to an income limit.
When you move
- The freeze does not follow you to the new home
- If you qualify, you can apply at the new home
- In St. Tammany, the new home is frozen at its current assessed value
Keep in mind
- A freeze locks the assessed value, not the tax rate
- The income limit changes; confirm this year's number with the assessor
- Plan for a different tax bill at the new home
Sources: St. Tammany Parish Assessor ("The Freeze does not follow you to your new home"); Ascension Parish Assessor; EBR Parish Assessor.
Straight answers
Homestead questions when you move
Does my homestead exemption transfer to my new house?
No. It applies only to the home you own and live in. File a new application with the assessor in the parish where you buy.
La. Const. Art. VII §20 · Ascension and St. Tammany parish assessors
Can I keep the exemption on my old house until it sells?
The exemption requires that you own and live in the home, and Louisiana allows only one per person. Ask the assessor how your move date affects each home.
La. Const. Art. VII §20
When should I file for the new home?
Soon after closing. In East Baton Rouge you must own and occupy the home by December 31 to qualify for that tax year.
East Baton Rouge Parish Assessor
Does my senior or disability freeze move with me?
No. You can reapply at the new home if you qualify. In St. Tammany, the new home is frozen at its current assessed value.
St. Tammany Parish Assessor
Do I have to do anything with the assessor for the home I sold?
The East Baton Rouge assessor asks owners to notify the office when they no longer live in the home. In St. Tammany, exemptions are removed when a property sells.
EBR and St. Tammany parish assessors
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General information about Louisiana property tax exemptions, current as of September 27, 2026. Not legal or tax advice. Nicole Spellman Group agents are licensed Louisiana real estate salespersons, not attorneys, tax advisors or assessors. Confirm eligibility, deadlines and documents with your parish assessor.