Arkansas Security Deposit Demand Letter
In Arkansas, a landlord has 60 days after move-out to return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions (as of 2026; source: Ark. Code §18-16-305). This letter cites that deadline, states the amount and your forwarding address, and gives the landlord a date to respond before you file. Free, no signup.
Maintained by Rapi Stack · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.
Need the document itself?
Fill in a Arkansas security deposit demand letter and download a print-ready PDF — free, no signup, and it runs entirely in your browser.
Open the generator →The generator opens with Arkansas already selected.
Arkansas deposit rules at a glance
- Return deadline
- 60 days after move-out
- Deposit cap
- 2 months' rent
As of 2026. Source: Ark. Code §18-16-305 ↗. Want the exact due date? Use the deposit return calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Arkansas landlord have to return the deposit?
60 days after you move out, as of 2026 (source: Ark. Code §18-16-305). Counted in calendar days; check the statute for whether the clock starts at move-out, lease end, or receipt of your forwarding address, and whether a weekend deadline rolls over. Use the deposit return calculator to get the exact date.
Is there a limit on how much deposit a Arkansas landlord can charge?
Yes: 2 months' rent (as of 2026; source: Ark. Code §18-16-305). If you paid more than the cap, say so in the letter; the excess is usually recoverable too.
How much can I sue for in Arkansas if the landlord ignores this?
$5,000 exclusive of interest and costs in the small claims division of District Court. The court is the Small Claims Division of the District Court, and the filing fee is $65 statewide ($50 filing fee + $15 technology fee, Ark. Code Ann. §§16-17-705, 21-6-416); sheriff or certified-mail service costs extra. As of 2026; source: Ark. Code Ann. §§16-17-601 to -613 (attorney bar at §16-17-606).
Do I need a lawyer in Arkansas small claims?
Attorneys are not allowed - if any party appears through an attorney the case is transferred to the district court's regular civil docket. Source: Ark. Code Ann. §§16-17-601 to -613 (attorney bar at §16-17-606) (as of 2026).
Deposit rules in every state, cited to statute: security deposit limits by state.
How Arkansas compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Arkansas: Ark. Code §18-16-305 ↗.
- Deposit return deadline
Deposit return deadline: 60 days — about 2× the national median of 30 days across the 51 states with a statutory rule.
Ranked #1 of 51 states (tied with 2) — higher means more time for the landlord to return the deposit.
2 other states use the same figure.
Deposit return deadline in neighboring states — Louisiana (30 days), Mississippi (45 days), Missouri (30 days), Oklahoma (45 days), Tennessee (30 days), Texas (30 days). Arkansas's 60 days is the longest among its neighbors.
The rest of what Arkansas requires
The figures below are Arkansas's, not national averages — each one is the value we verified for this state, with the statute it comes from. Follow a row to the full Arkansas page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- 2 months' rent Ark. Code §18-16-305 ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 60 days after move-out Ark. Code §18-16-305 ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 30 days Ark. Code §18-16-305 ↗
- Notice for unpaid rent · as of 2026
- 3 days to pay or quit Ark. Code § 18-60-304; § 18-17-701; § 18-17-704 ↗
- Notice to cure a lease violation · as of 2026
- 14 days Ark. Code § 18-60-304; § 18-17-701; § 18-17-704 ↗
- Small claims limit · as of 2026
- $5,000 Ark. Code Ann. §§16-17-601 to -613 (attorney bar at §16-17-606) ↗
- Where you file · as of 2026
- Small Claims Division of the District Court · filing fee $65 statewide ($50 filing fee + $15 technology fee, Ark. Code Ann. §§16-17-705, 21-6-416); sheriff or certified-mail service costs extra Ark. Code Ann. §§16-17-601 to -613 (attorney bar at §16-17-606) ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- No statutory limit Arkansas Code ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required Arkansas DFA / DMV.ORG ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization recommended Ark. Code §28-68-105 (form §28-68-301) ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules Ark. Code Ann. § 4-38-102(13) ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- County Recorder — the Circuit Clerk serves ex officio as recorder in most counties (county clerk in a few) · no witnesses Ark. Code Ann. § 18-12-104 ↗
Security deposit demand letter in other states
More Arkansas legal forms
Different state? See security deposit demand letters by state →