Arkansas Landlord-Tenant Law Guide
Arkansas is relatively lease-driven, but current law includes covered-landlord security deposit rules, Act 1052 minimum residential quality standards, and multiple eviction paths that leases often confuse.
Security Deposit
Limit: 2 months' periodic rent for landlords covered by §18-16-304; certain small self-managed landlords with five or fewer units are exempt unless third-party management or rent collection is involved.
Return Period: Covered landlords must return the deposit or written itemized deductions within 60 days after termination of tenancy and delivery of possession. Wrongful withholding can expose the landlord to the money due, 2x wrongfully withheld, costs, and attorney fees.
Rent Increases
At least one rental period's notice before raising rent per Arkansas AG summary; written fixed-term leases should follow their rent-change and renewal terms.
Entry Notice
No broad statewide 24-hour entry statute for ordinary private rentals; lease should define notice method, timing, purpose, reasonable hours, and emergencies.
Key Statutes
- Arkansas Code §§18-16-303 to 18-16-306 - Security Deposits
- Arkansas Code §18-17-502 - Implied Residential Quality Standards
- Arkansas Code §18-17-701 - Tenant Noncompliance and Nonpayment
- Arkansas Code §18-17-901 - Civil Eviction Grounds
- Arkansas Code §§18-60-304 and 18-60-307 - Unlawful Detainer Notice and Objection
Common Issues
- Not returning deposits within 60 days
- Failure to provide itemized deductions
- Confusing Act 1052 quality standards with broader repair-and-deduct rights
- Entering without reasonable notice
- Mixing civil eviction, unlawful detainer, and criminal failure-to-vacate procedures