Cabot is a fast-growing city in Lonoke County, northeast of Little Rock in the Little Rock metropolitan area. Arkansas has no rent control and no city has enacted a rent stabilization ordinance. Arkansas also lacks a statutory implied warranty of habitability, making tenant rights more dependent on lease terms and local housing codes than in most states. Lonoke County has no additional local tenant protections. Arkansas law (Ark. Code § 18-16-101 et seq.) governs the landlord-tenant relationship in Cabot.
Cabot has no rent control. Arkansas has no statewide rent control statute, and no Arkansas city has enacted a rent stabilization ordinance. Landlords in Cabot may raise rents at lease renewal without restriction. Month-to-month tenants are entitled to one full rental period of written notice before the landlord can end the tenancy — approximately 30 days for a monthly lease (Ark. Code § 18-16-101).
In 2025, Arkansas enacted Act 459, which bars local governments from regulating the amount of any rental application fee or rental deposit on private residential or commercial property — reinforcing the state's existing preemption of local rent and rental-cost controls (Act 459 of 2025).
Arkansas provides limited statutory tenant protections. There is no implied warranty of habitability in Arkansas statute, so your habitability rights depend on your lease terms and the city of Cabot's housing codes. For serious conditions — no heat, plumbing failures, or structural hazards — file a complaint with Cabot code enforcement. Arkansas has no specific statutory anti-retaliation provision for tenants, so keep written records of all repair requests and communications with your landlord. Self-help eviction is illegal — your landlord must use the court unlawful detainer process to remove you.
Under Ark. Code § 18-16-305, your landlord must return your security deposit within 60 days of the end of your tenancy with an itemized written statement of any deductions. Wrongful withholding may entitle you to double the amount improperly kept. Document your unit at move-in and move-out with photos and provide your forwarding address in writing when you vacate to start the 60-day return period.
Who the cap and deadline cover: These statutory rules apply to landlords who rent six or more dwelling units. For those landlords, the security deposit may not exceed two months' rent (Ark. Code § 18-16-304). Landlords who own five or fewer dwelling units that they manage themselves are exempt from the statutory cap and the return-deadline requirement (Ark. Code § 18-16-303), so for those rentals the deposit amount and any refund timeline are governed by the lease.
To evict a Cabot tenant, the landlord must use the Arkansas unlawful detainer court process. Month-to-month tenants are entitled to one full rental period's written notice before the tenancy can be terminated (Ark. Code § 18-16-101). For nonpayment cases, landlords typically demand rent before filing in Lonoke County District Court. Self-help eviction — changing locks, removing belongings, or cutting off utilities — is prohibited. You have the right to appear at your eviction hearing and raise defenses including improper notice or habitability issues.
Nonpayment notice periods: Arkansas offers landlords three separate routes for nonpayment of rent, each with its own notice. A civil unlawful detainer action requires a 3-day written notice to quit (Ark. Code § 18-60-304(3)); a criminal failure-to-vacate charge requires a 10-day written notice (Ark. Code § 18-16-101); and, where the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act applies, a landlord may terminate the tenancy if rent remains unpaid 5 days after the due date (Ark. Code § 18-17-701). The 3-day notice to quit is a demand to vacate, not a cure period that lets you pay and stay.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws change — verify current statutes and consult a licensed Arkansas attorney for advice specific to your situation.
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