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Landlord's Desk

State law guide · Checked November 14, 2026

Arkansas landlord rules: late fees, deposits and rent increases

Arkansas doesn't put a number on late fees, but it does cap security deposits at two months' rent. Small landlords are exempt from the deposit rules. Here is what the Arkansas Code says, with the section for each rule.

All states

The short version

  • Late fees: the statute sets no limit.
  • Deposit limit: two months' periodic rent, for landlords the deposit subchapter covers.
  • Return the deposit within 60 days after the tenancy ends, with deductions itemized in a written notice.
  • A wrongful deposit claim can cost double the amount withheld, plus costs and attorney's fees.
  • No statute sets a notice period for raising rent, and cities and counties can't control rent.

Late fees in Arkansas

Limit
The statute sets no limit. Ark. Code Ann. tit. 18, ch. 17
Grace period
None in the statute. A separate rule lets a landlord end the rental agreement if rent is unpaid five days after it was due. That is a termination right, not a late fee rule. Ark. Code Ann. § 18-17-701(b)
Other conditions
None in the statute. Ark. Code Ann. tit. 18, ch. 17

Security deposits in Arkansas

Maximum deposit
Two months' periodic rent. The subchapter doesn't apply to an individual who owns five or fewer dwelling units, unless a third person manages the units, including rent collection, for a fee (§ 18-16-303). Ark. Code Ann. § 18-16-304
Return deadline
Within 60 days of termination of the tenancy. Mailing the notice and any payment to the tenant's last known address counts as meeting the deadline. A mailed payment that comes back, with the tenant not found after reasonable effort, becomes the landlord's property 180 days after mailing. Ark. Code Ann. § 18-16-305(a)
Itemized deductions
Required, in a written notice delivered to the tenant. The notice comes with the remainder of the deposit due. Ark. Code Ann. § 18-16-305(a)(2)
Interest
The statute doesn't require it. Ark. Code Ann. §§ 18-16-301 to 18-16-306
How it's held
No special account or bond in the statute. Ark. Code Ann. §§ 18-16-301 to 18-16-306
Penalty
The tenant can recover the money due plus damages of two times the amount wrongfully withheld. The tenant can also recover costs and reasonable attorney's fees. If the failure came from an error despite reasonable procedures, or a good faith dispute over the amount, the landlord owes the costs and the sum withheld, without the double damages. Ark. Code Ann. § 18-16-306(a)

Rent increases in Arkansas

Notice to raise rent
No statute sets a notice period for a rent increase. The closest rule covers ending a month-to-month tenancy: 30 days' written notice before the termination date. Check your lease for its own notice term. Ark. Code Ann. § 18-17-704(b)
Statewide cap
None in the statute. Ark. Code Ann. tit. 18, ch. 17
City rent control
Not allowed. Cities and counties can't enact, maintain or enforce rules that control rent, rental application fees or rental deposits for private residential or commercial property, except as provided in § 18-16-304. Act 459 of 2025 added the application fee and deposit language. Ark. Code Ann. §§ 14-54-1409, 14-16-601

This page covers Arkansas state law for ordinary residential rentals. Cities and counties can add their own rules, and subsidized housing and mobile home lots follow different ones. The official Arkansas Code site doesn't offer per-section links we could use, so the citations above link to the code's public access site, except the rent control rule, which links to Act 459 of 2025. Search the code for the section number.

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Questions landlords ask

Is there a late fee limit for rent in Arkansas?

No. The statute sets no limit on late fees. A separate five-day rule lets a landlord end the rental agreement if rent is unpaid five days after it was due (Ark. Code Ann. § 18-17-701).

What is the maximum security deposit in Arkansas?

Two months' periodic rent. The rule doesn't apply to an individual who owns five or fewer dwelling units, unless a third person manages them for a fee (Ark. Code Ann. §§ 18-16-303, 18-16-304).

How long does an Arkansas landlord have to return a security deposit?

Within 60 days of termination of the tenancy, with deductions itemized in a written notice delivered to the tenant (Ark. Code Ann. § 18-16-305).

Free templates you can use in Arkansas

These are plain templates that aren’t tied to one state. Fill in the numbers your statute and lease call for.

Keep Arkansas rent and deposits on one ledger

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This guide is general information, not legal advice. It summarizes state statutes as read on November 14, 2026; laws change and courts interpret them. Check the current statute (Arkansas Code, title 18 (public access site)) or talk to a local attorney before you act.