Arkansas · Evictions · Updated Oct 2026

Arkansas eviction rules for tenants

The notices a landlord in Arkansas must give, how long you have to respond in court, why a lockout is illegal and where to get free legal help fast.

Short answer

Most evictions are 'unlawful detainer' cases.

Notice for unpaid rent
3 days
Time to respond in court
5 days after you are served, not counting Sundays and legal holidays, to file a written objection with the court clerk.
Lockouts
See the rule

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.

If you get an eviction notice

  1. Read it closely: the kind of notice, the amount, the dates and how it was delivered. Use the timeline below.
  2. Don't move out or stop paying because of a notice alone. Only a court can order an eviction; the notice is the first step.
  3. Get free legal help now. Legal aid and the court's self-help center can check whether the notice is valid.
  4. If you are served with court papers, respond by the deadline and go to every hearing. Missing one can mean losing by default.
  5. Keep copies of the notice, your lease, rent receipts, texts and photos.

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)

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.

Enter the date you got the noticeThe timeline appears when you pick a date.

Dates are estimates from the rule in our data. We skip weekends only where the rule counts business or court days, and we don't skip holidays.

Where to get free help in Arkansas

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.

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.

Questions about eviction in Arkansas

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.

More for Arkansas renters

Eviction in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.