Arkansas · Renters' rights · Updated Oct 2026
Arkansas tenant rights
Security deposits, repairs, landlord entry, notices and evictions in Arkansas, in plain English from official sources, with free tools to get your deposit back and ask for repairs.
We could not confirm all of Arkansas's rules yet. Some facts on this page rest on limited sources. Check the official sources below, or ask legal aid, before you rely on them.
Guides for Arkansas renters
Security deposit
Limit, deadline, deductions, penalty and the calculator.
Repairs
The landlord's duty, repair and deduct, withholding rent and a repair letter.
Eviction
Notice periods, court deadlines, illegal lockouts and a timeline tool.
Security deposit in Arkansas
- Limit
- Two months' rent, but only if the landlord owns six or more rental units or uses a manager or rent collector. Landlords with five or fewer units who manage them themselves are not covered by the deposit law, so put the deposit terms in a written lease.
- Deadline to return it
- For covered landlords: within 60 days after the lease ends, the landlord must return the deposit or give you a written, itemized list of what was kept for damages or unpaid rent. Give the landlord your new address. If the deposit is mailed to your last known address and comes back, the landlord only has to make a reasonable effort to find you; after 180 days the landlord may keep it.
- Itemized list
- Yes, for covered landlords: a written, itemized list of the damages and amounts withheld, within 60 days. Receipts are not required.
- What may be deducted
- Unpaid rent and damage beyond normal wear and tear. Legal Aid of Arkansas notes landlords also deduct for failure to clean, unpaid late fees, and failing to give the move-out notice your lease requires. The landlord may keep the whole deposit if damages and unpaid rent are more than the deposit.
- Interest
- No. No interest requirement was found.
- Move-in checklist
- Not required for the deposit, but under the 2021 habitability law, if the landlord gives you a written form at move-in to list problems with water, electricity, sewer, roof, or heating and air, and you sign it without noting a defect or do not return it within 2 business days, the landlord is treated as meeting those standards at move-in. Fill it out carefully. Ark. Code § 18-17-502(c).
- If the landlord keeps it wrongly
- If a covered landlord wrongfully keeps all or part of the deposit, or does not send the itemized list, you can sue for it, usually in small claims court. Legal Aid of Arkansas says you may be entitled to twice the amount of the deposit plus costs and attorney's fees. The statute (Ark. Code § 18-16-305) is often summarized as twice the amount wrongfully withheld; we could not read the official text to confirm which.
How to get your deposit back
- Before you move out, clean, take dated photos and video of every room, and return all keys.
- Give your landlord your new address in writing. In Arkansas: Give the landlord your new address.
- Wait for the deadline: For covered landlords: within 60 days after the lease ends, the landlord must return the deposit or give you a written, itemized list of what was kept for damages or unpaid rent.
- If the money or an itemized list doesn't come, or the deductions are wrong, send a demand letter (below). Keep proof of mailing.
- If that doesn't work, sue in small claims court. Limit: $5,000 in money or property. Small claims court in Arkansas on Small Claims Map
Repairs in Arkansas
- The landlord's duty
- Since November 1, 2021, every residential lease (signed or renewed after that date) requires the home to have, at move-in and throughout the lease: hot and cold running water, electricity, safe drinking water, sewer and plumbing that met code when installed, a functioning roof and building envelope, and working heating and air-conditioning if the home had them when you signed. Beyond these minimums, Arkansas has no general warranty of habitability; local housing codes may require more. Ark. Code § 18-17-502.
- How to ask for repairs
- Send the landlord written notice of the problem by certified mail (or another method your lease allows), describing what is wrong. If your rent is current and the landlord does not fix it within 30 calendar days, your only remedy under the statute is to end the lease without penalty and get back your deposit. You can also call your city code enforcement office. Ark. Code § 18-17-502(d).
- Repair and deduct
- Not allowed. You may not offset rent for violations of the minimum standards. Ark. Code § 18-17-502(d)(3).
- Withholding rent
- Not allowed. The law says you may not withhold rent for violations of the minimum standards. Keep paying rent. Ark. Code § 18-17-502(d)(3).
- Law
- Ark. Code Ann. § 18-17-502 (Act 1052 of 2021)
Landlord entry in Arkansas
No statute found that sets a notice period for landlord entry. Check your lease and ask that entry terms be written in it.
Eviction in Arkansas
- Notice for unpaid rent
- Most evictions are 'unlawful detainer' cases. The landlord must give you a 3-day written notice to vacate before filing in court (Ark. Code § 18-60-304; Arkansas Attorney General). Under the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, a landlord may instead give a 5-day notice that the lease will end for nonpayment (per Legal Aid of Arkansas). Arkansas also still has a criminal 'failure to vacate' law (Ark. Code § 18-16-101, rewritten by Act 159 of 2017 and not changed since): if you do not pay rent and willfully stay after a 10-day written notice to vacate, you can be charged with a misdemeanor and fined $1 to $25 for each day you stay. If you plead not guilty and stay in the home, you must pay the rent due into the court registry while the case goes on; not paying it is a separate Class B misdemeanor.
- Notice for a lease violation
- Under the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act: written notice that the lease will end at least 14 days after you receive it if you do not fix the problem (per Legal Aid of Arkansas).
- Ending a month-to-month tenancy
- Landlord or tenant: one rental period's notice (for example, one month for month-to-month) if there is no written lease; otherwise follow the lease. The landlord does not need a reason. (Arkansas Attorney General.)
- Time to respond to an eviction lawsuit
- 5 days after you are served, not counting Sundays and legal holidays, to file a written objection with the court clerk. If you do not, the clerk issues a writ of possession and the sheriff can remove you. If you stay in the home while the case is pending, you must pay the rent due into the court registry when you file the objection and keep paying it. Ark. Code § 18-60-307.
- Lockouts and utility shutoffs
- Illegal, according to Legal Aid of Arkansas: the landlord may not change the locks, remove doors, shut off utilities, or remove your belongings without a court order. You can sue for 'forcible entry' to get back in and recover damages, costs and attorney's fees. No specific statutory penalty amount was found.
- Court self-help
- The court's eviction self-help page
- Law
- Ark. Code Ann. §§ 18-60-304, 18-60-307, 18-17-701, 18-16-101 (Act 159 of 2017)
Rent increases and rent control in Arkansas
- Notice of a rent increase
- At least one rental period's notice before a rent increase, for both oral and written leases (Arkansas Attorney General). A fixed-term lease cannot be raised during the term unless it allows it.
- Rent control
- No statewide rent control or rent cap.
Late fees in Arkansas
No statute found that caps late fees. Late fees must be in your lease.
Retaliation in Arkansas
No statute found protecting tenants from retaliation. Arkansas law lets a landlord end a month-to-month tenancy for any reason with proper notice. Retaliation based on fair housing complaints is illegal under the federal Fair Housing Act.
Small claims court in Arkansas
Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer.
Limit: $5,000 in money or property.
Where to get free help in Arkansas
- Arkansas Attorney General: Landlord and Tenant Rights
- Legal Aid of Arkansas: Arkansas Law Help, Landlord/Tenant (includes an interactive Answer and Objection form) · 1-800-952-9243
- Arkansas Legal Aid Helpline (Legal Aid of Arkansas and Center for Arkansas Legal Services), ArLawHelp.org · 1-800-952-9243
Good to know in Arkansas
- Arkansas is one of the least tenant-protective states: no repair-and-deduct, no rent withholding, and no anti-retaliation law.
- The deposit law covers only landlords with six or more units or a property manager. With smaller landlords, get the deposit terms in writing.
- After an eviction case is served, you have only 5 days (not counting Sundays and holidays) to file a written objection, and you must pay rent into the court registry to stay.
Recent law changes
No changes found. The Arkansas Legislature's list of code sections amended in the 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 sessions shows no change to the deposit law (§ 18-16-301 et seq.), the failure-to-vacate law (§ 18-16-101), the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (§ 18-17-101 et seq.) or the unlawful detainer notice rules. Act 414 of 2023 only reworded § 18-60-307(b); the 5-day objection deadline did not change.
Free tools for Arkansas renters
Pre-set for Arkansas. They run in your browser and send nothing.
Deposit return calculator for Arkansas
Find your state's deadline for returning a security deposit, whether your landlord is late and what you may be owed. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.
Security deposit demand letter for Arkansas
A short, firm and polite letter asking your landlord to return your deposit by a date. It cites your state's deposit law. Many landlords pay at this step, and the letter is proof that you asked. Fill this in, download the letter as PDF or Word (or copy it), sign it, keep a copy and send it in a way you can prove, such as certified mail with a return receipt.
Repair request letter for Arkansas
Ask your landlord in writing to fix the problem by a date. A written, dated request is the first step in almost every state, and it is proof that the landlord knew. Check the problems, add dates, then download the letter as PDF or Word (or copy it). Sign it, keep a copy and photos, and send it in a way you can prove.
Eviction notice timeline for Arkansas
Got a notice from your landlord? Enter the kind of notice and the day you got it to see the dates that follow from your state's rule, what your landlord may not do, and where to get free help fast.
This is not legal advice. Eviction deadlines are short and missing one can cost you your home. Read your notice carefully and contact legal aid or your court's self-help center right away.
Questions about renters' rights in Arkansas
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Arkansas?
Two months' rent, but only if the landlord owns six or more rental units or uses a manager or rent collector. Landlords with five or fewer units who manage them themselves are not covered by the deposit law, so put the deposit terms in a written lease.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Arkansas?
For covered landlords: within 60 days after the lease ends, the landlord must return the deposit or give you a written, itemized list of what was kept for damages or unpaid rent. Give the landlord your new address. If the deposit is mailed to your last known address and comes back, the landlord only has to make a reasonable effort to find you; after 180 days the landlord may keep it.
What can I do if my landlord won't return my deposit in Arkansas?
If a covered landlord wrongfully keeps all or part of the deposit, or does not send the itemized list, you can sue for it, usually in small claims court. Legal Aid of Arkansas says you may be entitled to twice the amount of the deposit plus costs and attorney's fees. The statute (Ark. Code § 18-16-305) is often summarized as twice the amount wrongfully withheld; we could not read the official text to confirm which.
What can a landlord deduct from a security deposit in Arkansas?
Unpaid rent and damage beyond normal wear and tear. Legal Aid of Arkansas notes landlords also deduct for failure to clean, unpaid late fees, and failing to give the move-out notice your lease requires. The landlord may keep the whole deposit if damages and unpaid rent are more than the deposit.
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Arkansas?
No. No interest requirement was found.
How do I ask my landlord for repairs in Arkansas?
Send the landlord written notice of the problem by certified mail (or another method your lease allows), describing what is wrong. If your rent is current and the landlord does not fix it within 30 calendar days, your only remedy under the statute is to end the lease without penalty and get back your deposit. You can also call your city code enforcement office. Ark. Code § 18-17-502(d).
Can I repair and deduct the cost from rent in Arkansas?
Not allowed. You may not offset rent for violations of the minimum standards. Ark. Code § 18-17-502(d)(3).
Can I withhold rent for repairs in Arkansas?
Not allowed. The law says you may not withhold rent for violations of the minimum standards. Keep paying rent. Ark. Code § 18-17-502(d)(3).
How much notice does a landlord need to enter in Arkansas?
No statute found that sets a notice period for landlord entry. Check your lease and ask that entry terms be written in it.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Arkansas?
Most evictions are 'unlawful detainer' cases. The landlord must give you a 3-day written notice to vacate before filing in court (Ark. Code § 18-60-304; Arkansas Attorney General). Under the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, a landlord may instead give a 5-day notice that the lease will end for nonpayment (per Legal Aid of Arkansas). Arkansas also still has a criminal 'failure to vacate' law (Ark. Code § 18-16-101, rewritten by Act 159 of 2017 and not changed since): if you do not pay rent and willfully stay after a 10-day written notice to vacate, you can be charged with a misdemeanor and fined $1 to $25 for each day you stay. If you plead not guilty and stay in the home, you must pay the rent due into the court registry while the case goes on; not paying it is a separate Class B misdemeanor.
How much notice for a lease violation in Arkansas?
Under the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act: written notice that the lease will end at least 14 days after you receive it if you do not fix the problem (per Legal Aid of Arkansas).
How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month lease in Arkansas?
Landlord or tenant: one rental period's notice (for example, one month for month-to-month) if there is no written lease; otherwise follow the lease. The landlord does not need a reason. (Arkansas Attorney General.)
How long do I have to respond to an eviction lawsuit in Arkansas?
5 days after you are served, not counting Sundays and legal holidays, to file a written objection with the court clerk. If you do not, the clerk issues a writ of possession and the sheriff can remove you. If you stay in the home while the case is pending, you must pay the rent due into the court registry when you file the objection and keep paying it. Ark. Code § 18-60-307.
Can my landlord lock me out or shut off utilities in Arkansas?
Illegal, according to Legal Aid of Arkansas: the landlord may not change the locks, remove doors, shut off utilities, or remove your belongings without a court order. You can sue for 'forcible entry' to get back in and recover damages, costs and attorney's fees. No specific statutory penalty amount was found.
How much notice is needed for a rent increase in Arkansas?
At least one rental period's notice before a rent increase, for both oral and written leases (Arkansas Attorney General). A fixed-term lease cannot be raised during the term unless it allows it.
Is there rent control in Arkansas?
No statewide rent control or rent cap.
Is there a limit on late fees in Arkansas?
No statute found that caps late fees. Late fees must be in your lease.
Can my landlord retaliate if I complain in Arkansas?
No statute found protecting tenants from retaliation. Arkansas law lets a landlord end a month-to-month tenancy for any reason with proper notice. Retaliation based on fair housing complaints is illegal under the federal Fair Housing Act.
What is the small claims limit in Arkansas?
$5,000 in money or property.
- Ark. Code Ann. §§ 18-16-301 to 18-16-306
- Act 1052 of 2021 (SB 594), Arkansas General Assembly
- Legal Aid of Arkansas: Security Deposits
- Legal Aid of Arkansas: Unlawful Detainer Evictions
- Legal Aid of Arkansas: Failure to Vacate / Criminal Evictions
- Legal Aid of Arkansas: Residential Landlord Tenant Act
Last checked: Oct 2026.