Little Rock is the capital and largest city in Arkansas, with a population of roughly 200,000 and a renter population that makes up approximately 40% of households in Pulaski County. Renters in Little Rock frequently search for information about security deposit return deadlines, eviction procedures, and what to do when a landlord refuses to make repairs — all areas where Arkansas law provides fewer statutory protections than most other states.
Arkansas operates under one of the most landlord-friendly legal frameworks in the United States. There is no statutory implied warranty of habitability for residential rentals, meaning tenants cannot automatically withhold rent or repair-and-deduct for unlivable conditions the way renters can in many other states. Your lease agreement and the City of Little Rock's housing code enforcement process carry more weight here than state statute alone.
This page summarizes the tenant rights laws that apply to Little Rock renters under Arkansas state law and Pulaski County regulations. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you face an eviction, habitability dispute, or other serious housing matter, contact a licensed Arkansas attorney or one of the legal aid organizations listed at the bottom of this page.
Little Rock has no rent control ordinance, and Arkansas state law does not establish any form of rent stabilization or rent increase limits. There is no statewide preemption statute that explicitly bans rent control, but no Arkansas city — including Little Rock — has ever enacted a rent control law. As a practical matter, rent control does not exist anywhere in Arkansas.
This means your landlord can raise your rent by any amount at the end of a lease term or, for a month-to-month tenancy, with proper written notice of at least one full rental period under Ark. Code § 18-16-101. There is no cap on how much the rent can be increased, no requirement that the landlord justify the increase, and no city agency that reviews or approves rent hikes.
If your landlord raises your rent and you do not wish to pay the new amount, your option is to give proper written notice to vacate before the new rent takes effect. Staying in the unit after the new rent period begins constitutes acceptance of the new rate under Arkansas common law principles of tenancy.
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's landlord-tenant law is governed primarily by Ark. Code Title 18, Chapter 16. The following state-level protections apply to Little Rock renters:
Security Deposits (Ark. Code § 18-16-301 through § 18-16-306): Landlords must return your security deposit within 60 days of move-out, along with a written itemized statement of any deductions. Failure to comply entitles the tenant to recover double the amount wrongfully withheld. See the Security Deposit section below for full details.
Implied Warranty of Habitability: Arkansas does not recognize a statutory implied warranty of habitability for residential rentals. Unlike most states, Arkansas courts have not broadly implied a habitability standard in residential leases. Your right to a habitable unit depends on what your lease expressly provides and whether the City of Little Rock's housing code applies. Tenants should file complaints with Little Rock's Department of Housing & Neighborhood Programs when conditions violate local housing codes.
Notice to Terminate (Ark. Code § 18-16-101): Either party to a month-to-month tenancy must give at least one full rental period of written notice before terminating the tenancy. For a tenant paying rent monthly, this means written notice at least one full month before the termination date. Fixed-term leases end on their stated date without additional notice unless the lease says otherwise.
Unlawful Detainer / Eviction Process (Ark. Code § 18-60-301 through § 18-60-308): Landlords must use the court unlawful detainer process to remove a tenant. Self-help eviction — including changing locks, removing a tenant's belongings, or shutting off utilities to force a tenant out — is prohibited without a court order. Violations may expose the landlord to civil liability.
Anti-Retaliation: Arkansas statutory retaliation protections for tenants are limited compared to most states. There is no broad anti-retaliation statute covering all protected tenant activity. However, if you report housing code violations to the City of Little Rock or exercise a legal right, document every communication in writing, including dates and the landlord's responses, to build a record in the event of a retaliatory eviction claim.
Rent Withholding: Arkansas does not provide a statutory rent withholding remedy for repair failures. Tenants who stop paying rent over habitability issues risk eviction. The most effective tool for repair disputes in Little Rock is filing a complaint with the city's code enforcement division.
Security deposit rules in Little Rock are governed by the Arkansas Security Deposit Act, Ark. Code §§ 18-16-301 through 18-16-306.
Deposit Cap: Arkansas law does not impose a statutory cap on the amount a landlord may collect as a security deposit. The amount is set by the lease agreement.
Return Deadline: Your landlord must return your security deposit — or the remaining balance after lawful deductions — within 60 days of the termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession. The return must be accompanied by a written itemized statement identifying each deduction and its amount (Ark. Code § 18-16-305).
Permissible Deductions: Landlords may deduct for unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, and other costs expressly authorized by the lease. Deductions for ordinary wear and tear are not permitted.
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding: If a landlord willfully fails to return the deposit or provide the itemized statement within 60 days, the tenant is entitled to recover double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus court costs (Ark. Code § 18-16-305). This is a significant penalty designed to deter landlords from improperly keeping deposits.
Practical Steps: When you move out, give written notice, document the unit's condition with dated photographs, return all keys, and provide a forwarding address in writing. Keeping proof of your move-out date and forwarding address is essential if you need to pursue a claim for double damages in Pulaski County District Court.
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.
Evictions in Little Rock are governed by Arkansas's Unlawful Detainer statutes, Ark. Code §§ 18-60-301 through 18-60-308, and must follow a specific court process. A landlord cannot remove a tenant without a court order.
Step 1 — Notice to Vacate: Before filing in court, the landlord must serve the tenant with a written notice. For nonpayment of rent, a landlord pursuing a civil unlawful detainer action must serve a 3-day written notice to quit before filing (Ark. Code § 18-60-304(3)); this is a demand to vacate, not a cure period that lets the tenant pay and stay. For month-to-month tenancies being terminated without cause, at least one full rental period of written notice is required under Ark. Code § 18-16-101. For lease violations other than nonpayment, review your lease for any cure period the landlord must provide.
Step 2 — Court Filing: If the tenant does not vacate, the landlord files an unlawful detainer complaint in Pulaski County District Court. The tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to file a written response and appear at a hearing.
Step 3 — Hearing: The court schedules a hearing, typically within a few weeks of filing. Both parties may present evidence. If the court rules for the landlord, a judgment for possession is entered. Tenants should appear at every scheduled hearing — failure to appear almost always results in a default judgment for the landlord.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: If the tenant does not vacate after a court judgment, the landlord may obtain a writ of possession, authorizing the sheriff to remove the tenant and their belongings.
Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal: It is unlawful for a landlord to evict a tenant through self-help measures such as changing locks, removing doors or windows, shutting off utilities, or removing the tenant's personal property without a court order (Ark. Code § 18-60-308 and related common law). If your landlord attempts a self-help eviction, contact the Little Rock Police Department and a legal aid organization immediately.
No Just Cause Requirement: Arkansas does not require landlords to have just cause to terminate a month-to-month tenancy. A landlord may decline to renew a lease or terminate a month-to-month tenancy for any reason that is not unlawfully discriminatory, provided proper notice is given.
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.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws can change, and the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. For advice about your individual circumstances, consult a licensed Arkansas attorney or contact one of the legal aid organizations listed above. RentCheckMe makes no warranties as to the accuracy or completeness of this information and is not responsible for actions taken in reliance on it.
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