Arkansas Residential Lease Agreement
What Arkansas law requires in a residential lease — the deposit cap, the return deadline, the notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, and the disclosures you have to give the tenant. Every figure is cited to the statute it comes from and dated. The free Arkansas lease template is one click away.
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.
Other Arkansas rules your lease has to live with
Beyond the deposit, Arkansas law sets rules on entry, late fees, and repairs that apply whether or not the lease mentions them.
- Rent increases. No specific rent-increase statute; month-to-month tenancy terminable by written notice at least 30 days before the termination date (§ 18-17-704) — Ark. Code § 18-17-704(b) (current as of Mar. 28, 2024) ↗
- Repair and deduct. Not permitted: if rent is current and landlord fails to remedy within 30 days of notice, tenant's sole remedy is to terminate the lease and recover the deposit — Ark. Code § 18-17-502(d)(2)(A) (Act 1052 of 2021; current as of Mar. 28, 2024) ↗
- Habitability. Arkansas law implies a warranty of habitability into every residential lease; a clause waiving it is unenforceable. — Ark. Code § 18-17-502(a), as enacted by Act 1052 of 2021 (SB594) ↗
Each point links to the Arkansas source it was taken from. Rules change; confirm before relying on them.
What Arkansas law requires · as of 2026
- Max security deposit
- 2 months' rent
- Deposit return deadline
- 60 days after move-out
- Notice to end month-to-month
- 30 days
Source: Ark. Code §18-16-305 · verify ↗. Laws change — confirm the current rule before you rely on it.
Deposit still not back 60 days after move-out? Ask for it in writing with a Arkansas security deposit demand letter; if that doesn’t work, the usual next step is Arkansas small claims court.
Need the document itself?
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Frequently asked questions
How much security deposit can a landlord charge in Arkansas?
In Arkansas, the security deposit is limited to 2 months' rent, and it must be returned within 60 days after move-out (as of 2026). Source: Ark. Code §18-16-305. Confirm the current rule before you sign.
Is this lease valid in Arkansas?
A written lease that identifies the parties, the property, the term, and the rent is generally enforceable in Arkansas once both sides sign. What it cannot do is contract around Arkansas law: the deposit rules, entry notice, and habitability duties below apply whether or not the lease mentions them.
Can a tenant repair and deduct rent in Arkansas?
Not permitted: if rent is current and landlord fails to remedy within 30 days of notice, tenant's sole remedy is to terminate the lease and recover the deposit Source: Ark. Code § 18-17-502(d)(2)(A) (Act 1052 of 2021; current as of Mar. 28, 2024).
How does Arkansas compare? See the security deposit limits in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute.
How Arkansas compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Arkansas: Ark. Code §18-16-305 ↗.
- Arkansas is one of 29 of 51 jurisdictions that cap the deposit by statute (22 set no statutory cap on the security deposit).
- 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.
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy: 30 days, exactly the national median.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 39 other states.
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy in neighboring states — Louisiana (10 days), Mississippi (30 days), Missouri (30 days), Oklahoma (30 days), Tennessee (30 days), Texas (30 days).
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.
- 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 ↗
Lease agreement in other states
More Arkansas legal forms
Different state? See lease agreements by state →