Arkansas Landlord-Tenant Laws (2026)

Arkansas landlord-tenant rules at a glance

Security deposits in Arkansas

The deposit rule in Arkansas is: 2 months' rent (applies to landlords with 6+ units). After the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the deposit within 60 days, typically with an itemized statement for any amounts withheld. Deductions are limited to unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, and other charges the statute or lease allows, routine repainting and carpet aging from ordinary use generally cannot be charged to the tenant. Both parties should document the unit's condition at move-in and move-out; disputes usually turn on that evidence.

Landlord entry and tenant privacy

Arkansas's entry rule is: No statute, reasonable notice expected. Entry is generally limited to legitimate purposes such as repairs, inspections, and showings, and emergencies allow immediate entry everywhere. Where the statute is silent or vague, courts fall back on the tenant's right to quiet enjoyment, so landlords should give written notice and enter at reasonable hours regardless of the statutory minimum.

Rent increases and rent control

Rent control status in Arkansas: Preempted/none. Even without rent control, a landlord cannot raise rent mid-lease unless the lease allows it, and periodic tenancies require proper advance notice of an increase, commonly the same notice period used to terminate (30 days in Arkansas). Retaliatory increases after a tenant exercises a legal right are prohibited in most states.

Eviction process overview

For unpaid rent, Arkansas requires: 3-day notice under the unlawful detainer statute. If the tenant does not pay or leave, the landlord files an eviction case (the name varies: unlawful detainer, summary process, forcible entry and detainer), serves the tenant, and attends a hearing. Only a court judgment followed by a sheriff or constable can remove a tenant, lockouts and utility shutoffs are illegal in every state. Timelines vary from a few weeks to several months depending on court backlog and whether the tenant contests the case.

Late fees

Arkansas's late fee rule: No statutory cap, must be reasonable and stated in the lease. Even where no statutory cap exists, courts can strike down fees that operate as penalties rather than reasonable estimates of the landlord's actual cost, and the fee must appear in the written lease to be enforceable.

Ending a lease or month-to-month tenancy

To end a month-to-month tenancy in Arkansas, the required notice is: 30 days. Fixed-term leases end on their own schedule unless renewed, though some states and cities require just cause or additional notice even at lease end. Notice should always be written, dated, and delivered by a method the statute recognizes.

Is Arkansas landlord-friendly or tenant-friendly?

Arkansas is generally considered landlord-friendly. Arkansas imposes minimal statutory duties on landlords, has no rent control, and only adopted a limited habitability standard in 2021, leaving tenants with fewer protections than in most states.

Official source

The governing law is the Arkansas Landlord-Tenant Law (Ark. Code Ann. Title 18, Subtitle 2, Ch. 16-17). Read the current text at the state's official legislative site: https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/.

Arkansas landlord-tenant law FAQs

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Arkansas?

Security deposits in Arkansas are governed by the Arkansas Landlord-Tenant Law (Ark. Code Ann. Title 18, Subtitle 2, Ch. 16-17). The deposit rule is: 2 months' rent (applies to landlords with 6+ units). After the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the deposit (minus properly documented deductions) within 60 days. Landlords who miss the deadline or take undocumented deductions can owe the tenant damages, so both sides should document the unit's condition at move-in and move-out and keep an itemized statement of any charges. Deposit rules are amended fairly often, so verify the current statute before relying on a specific number.

How much notice does a landlord have to give before evicting for unpaid rent in Arkansas?

For nonpayment of rent, Arkansas requires: 3-day notice under the unlawful detainer statute. That notice is only the first step, a landlord cannot legally remove a tenant without then filing an eviction case and winning a court judgment, and self-help evictions (changing locks, shutting off utilities) are prohibited. Local courts and city ordinances can add procedural steps, so check the Arkansas Landlord-Tenant Law (Ark. Code Ann. Title 18, Subtitle 2, Ch. 16-17) and local rules before starting an eviction.

Can a landlord enter a rental property without permission in Arkansas?

Arkansas's entry rule is: No statute, reasonable notice expected. Genuine emergencies (fire, flooding, gas leaks) are a standard exception in every state, and lease clauses can add detail but generally cannot strip a tenant's right to quiet enjoyment. For ending a month-to-month tenancy, Arkansas requires 30 days of notice. When in doubt, put entry requests and termination notices in writing and confirm the current rule in the Arkansas Landlord-Tenant Law (Ark. Code Ann. Title 18, Subtitle 2, Ch. 16-17).

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