Tenant Rights in Harrison, Arkansas

1. Overview: Tenant Rights in Harrison

Harrison is a city of roughly 13,000 residents and the county seat of Boone County in northern Arkansas. Renters in Harrison most commonly search for information about security deposit returns, eviction procedures, and what happens when a landlord refuses to make repairs — all of which are governed by Arkansas state law rather than any local ordinance.

Arkansas is one of the most landlord-friendly states in the country. There is no statutory implied warranty of habitability, no rent control, and relatively limited retaliation protections. Tenants in Harrison should understand their lease terms carefully and document all communications with their landlord in writing.

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws change and individual circumstances vary — consult a licensed Arkansas attorney or a legal aid organization for advice specific to your situation.

2. Does Harrison Have Rent Control?

Harrison has no rent control ordinance, and neither does any other city in Arkansas. Arkansas law does not authorize municipalities to enact rent control, so landlords in Harrison may set and raise rents to any amount they choose.

For month-to-month tenants, a landlord must provide written notice of a rent increase equal to at least one full rental period before the increase takes effect (Ark. Code § 18-16-101). There is no cap on how much the rent can be raised. Tenants with fixed-term leases are protected from mid-lease rent increases unless the lease expressly allows them.

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).

3. Arkansas State Tenant Protections That Apply in Harrison

Arkansas tenants in Harrison are protected by the following state-law rights:

• Security Deposit Return (Ark. Code § 18-16-305): Landlords must return your security deposit — with an itemized written statement of any deductions — within 60 days after you vacate the unit. If a landlord wrongfully withholds any portion of the deposit, you may be entitled to recover double the amount wrongfully withheld in court.
• Notice to Terminate a Month-to-Month Tenancy (Ark. Code § 18-16-101): Either you or your landlord must give at least one full rental period of written notice before ending a month-to-month lease. For a monthly rental period, that means roughly 30 days' notice.
• Habitability: Arkansas has no statutory implied warranty of habitability for residential rentals. Your rights depend on what your lease says and whether Harrison enforces a local housing or building code. Filing a complaint with Harrison's code enforcement office is often the most practical remedy when a landlord refuses to make serious repairs.
• Prohibition on Self-Help Eviction: A landlord cannot remove you by changing your locks, removing your belongings, or shutting off utilities without a court order. These self-help eviction tactics are illegal in Arkansas, and you may have a civil claim against a landlord who uses them.
• Retaliation: Arkansas provides limited statutory retaliation protections. If you exercise a legal right — such as reporting a housing code violation — document everything in writing. Evidence of timing between complaints and adverse landlord action can support a retaliation defense in court.

4. Security Deposit Rules in Harrison

Arkansas law (Ark. Code § 18-16-305) governs security deposits for Harrison rentals. Key rules include:

• No statutory cap: Arkansas does not limit the amount a landlord may charge as a security deposit. The deposit amount is set by the lease.
• Return deadline: The landlord must return your deposit — or the remaining balance after documented deductions — within 60 days of the date you move out and return possession of the unit.
• Itemized statement required: Any deductions must be accompanied by a written, itemized statement explaining what was withheld and why. Deductions are typically limited to unpaid rent and damages beyond normal wear and tear.
• Penalty for wrongful withholding: If a landlord fails to return the deposit or provide a proper itemized statement within 60 days, you may be entitled to recover double the amount wrongfully withheld (Ark. Code § 18-16-305(c)).
• Best practice: Document the condition of the unit with dated photos at move-in and move-out, and request that the landlord conduct a joint move-out inspection.

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.

5. Eviction Process and Your Rights in Harrison

Landlords in Harrison must follow the Arkansas unlawful detainer process to remove a tenant — there is no legal shortcut. The key steps and rules are:

• Notice for nonpayment of rent: Before filing in court, the landlord must give you a written notice of at least 3 days to pay overdue rent or vacate (Ark. Code § 18-60-304).
• Notice for other lease violations: For violations other than nonpayment, the landlord typically must provide at least 14 days written notice to cure the violation or vacate before filing an unlawful detainer action.
• End of lease term: Arkansas does not require just cause to decline to renew a lease at its natural expiration. Month-to-month tenants must receive at least one full rental period of written notice before termination (Ark. Code § 18-16-101).
• Court process: If you do not vacate after proper notice, the landlord must file an unlawful detainer lawsuit in Boone County District Court. You have the right to appear and present a defense. A judge must issue a judgment before any eviction can proceed.
• Self-help eviction is prohibited: Changing your locks, removing your belongings, or cutting off utilities without a court order is illegal. If this happens to you, contact legal aid immediately.
• Writ of possession: Only after a court judgment may the sheriff enforce a writ of possession to remove the tenant.

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.

6. Resources for Harrison Tenants

• Center for Arkansas Legal Services — Free civil legal assistance for income-eligible Arkansans, including landlord-tenant disputes and eviction defense.
• Legal Aid of Arkansas — Statewide free legal help for low-income residents; covers evictions, housing discrimination, and deposit disputes. Call 1-800-952-9243 to apply.
• Arkansas Attorney General – Consumer Protection — Information on landlord-tenant rights and how to file a complaint against a landlord.
• Northwest Regional Housing Authority — Harrison-based authority offering Section 8/Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance and fair housing resources. Located at 114 Sisco Ave, Harrison, AR; phone 870-741-5522.
• Harrison Housing Authority — Local housing authority administering the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program for Harrison and surrounding Boone County. Located at 715 W. Sherman Ave., Harrison, AR 72601.

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