Sherwood is a suburban city in Pulaski County, directly north of Little Rock and part of the greater Little Rock metropolitan area. Renters in Sherwood are governed by Arkansas's landlord-tenant statutes, principally Ark. Code §§ 18-16-101 through 18-16-310. Arkansas has not adopted the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act and has no statutory implied warranty of habitability for residential rentals — making it one of the less tenant-protective states in the country when it comes to repair obligations.
Arkansas has no statewide rent control law, and Sherwood has not enacted any local rent stabilization ordinance. Landlords may set rents at any level and raise them between lease terms. The most important tenant protection in Arkansas is the security deposit statute (Ark. Code § 18-16-305), which requires return of the deposit within 60 days and provides a double-damages remedy for wrongful withholding.
As a Pulaski County renter, your best resources for legal help are the Center for Arkansas Legal Services and Legal Aid of Arkansas. Contact one of these organizations early if you are facing eviction or a deposit dispute.
There is no rent control in Sherwood or anywhere in Arkansas. Arkansas has not enacted a statewide rent control statute, and Sherwood has no local ordinance limiting rent increases. Landlords may charge market rates and raise rents at the end of any lease term without restriction.
For month-to-month tenants, Arkansas law requires at least one full rental period of written notice before the landlord can change the lease terms or terminate the tenancy (Ark. Code § 18-16-101). For tenants who pay rent monthly, this means approximately 30 days' notice. For fixed-term leases, rent cannot be raised during the lease period unless the lease explicitly permits it.
If you receive a rent increase that you believe is retaliatory — for example, after you filed a code enforcement complaint — Arkansas has limited statutory retaliation protections. Document all communications in writing and dates, and consult the Center for Arkansas Legal Services for guidance on whether a retaliation defense may apply in your situation.
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 framework is less tenant-protective than most states. The state has no statutory implied warranty of habitability for residential rentals. Your rights regarding repairs depend heavily on what your lease says and whether your city has a housing code. Sherwood is within Pulaski County and has city-level code enforcement — filing a complaint with Sherwood's code enforcement division is often the most effective tool for compelling a landlord to make repairs.
The most significant statutory protection for Arkansas renters is the security deposit law (Ark. Code § 18-16-305), which sets a 30-day return deadline and provides a double-damages penalty for wrongful withholding. Arkansas also prohibits self-help eviction: landlords must go through the courts' unlawful detainer process to remove a tenant, and changing locks or removing a tenant's belongings without a court order is prohibited.
Arkansas has limited statutory retaliation protections for tenants. Unlike URLTA states, there is no provision creating a presumption of retaliation or reversing the burden of proof. Document all repair requests, code complaints, and landlord communications in writing with dates. If your landlord takes adverse action after you assert a housing right, consult an attorney about whether a common law retaliation defense applies.
Arkansas's security deposit statute (Ark. Code § 18-16-305) requires Sherwood landlords to return your deposit — with a written, itemized statement of any deductions — within 60 days after you vacate the unit. Provide your landlord with a written forwarding address before or at move-out to start the clock and ensure proper delivery.
Allowable deductions include unpaid rent and damage beyond normal wear and tear. Ordinary wear and tear — minor scuffs, small nail holes, routine carpet wear — cannot be charged to you. Protect yourself with dated photographs of every room at move-in and move-out, and request a written move-in condition checklist from your landlord at the start of your tenancy.
If your landlord fails to return the deposit or provide an itemized statement within 60 days, you are entitled to double the amount wrongfully withheld (Ark. Code § 18-16-305(b)). Send a written demand letter by certified mail before filing a claim in Pulaski County District Court's small claims division. The Center for Arkansas Legal Services can assist if your landlord does not respond.
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.
Arkansas landlords must go through the court-based unlawful detainer process to evict any tenant. The notice requirements depend on the basis for eviction: for nonpayment of rent, the landlord must provide written notice and allow an opportunity to pay before filing in Pulaski County District Court. For termination of a month-to-month tenancy, one full rental period's written notice is required (Ark. Code § 18-16-101).
After filing, you will be served with a court summons and have the opportunity to appear at a hearing. Common defenses include proof of rent payment, improper notice, habitability failures, or landlord retaliation. Arkansas justice courts move quickly — seek legal assistance from the Center for Arkansas Legal Services or Legal Aid of Arkansas as soon as you receive an eviction notice or summons.
Arkansas prohibits self-help eviction. Your landlord cannot change your locks, remove your belongings, or shut off utilities to force you out without a court order. If a self-help eviction is attempted, call Sherwood police and contact the Center for Arkansas Legal Services immediately. You may be entitled to damages for an unlawful lockout or utility shutoff.
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.
Sherwood and Pulaski County renters can access the following organizations for legal help:
Contact Sherwood's code enforcement division for habitability complaints. The Arkansas Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division (arkansasag.gov) also accepts complaints about landlord misconduct.
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Arkansas landlord-tenant law does not include a statutory warranty of habitability, and rights vary based on lease terms. Always consult a licensed Arkansas attorney or the Center for Arkansas Legal Services for advice specific to your situation.
Averigua si tu vivienda está cubierta por el control de renta o las protecciones para inquilinos.
Usa el verificador de direcciones →Te enviaremos un correo si cambian el tope de renta, las reglas de cobertura o las protecciones para inquilinos: sin spam, cancela cuando quieras.