Arkansas tenant screening laws

No section read limits what a landlord may charge for an application or screening. State law bars cities, counties and other local governments from controlling the amount of rental application fees (Ark. Code Ann. § 14-54-1409(b)).

• The ban on local control applies to landlords, property owners, property managers, tenants, prospective tenants and real estate companies doing business in Arkansas (Ark. Code Ann. § 14-54-1409(b)(2)).

The Arkansas Fair Housing Commission’s guidance says covered housing may not be denied or offered on different terms because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or disability. Apply that review to rent changes as well as applications. The full Arkansas fair housing statute has not been independently read for this page; coverage and exemptions still need to be checked (42 U.S.C. § 3604; Arkansas Fair Housing Commission: prohibited conduct).

• State law read here bars refusing, ending or not renewing a tenancy because a tenant, applicant or household member is a victim of domestic abuse shown in a court order (Ark. Code Ann. § 18-16-112(b)(1)).See Retaliation on the Arkansas page
• For covered housing, review necessary reasonable disability accommodations during applications as well as tenancy. This can include changing an application procedure or a parking rule. Reasonable modifications to the home or common areas are generally at the resident's expense; a reasonable interior-restoration agreement must except reasonable wear and tear. Check coverage and the particular request rather than applying a blanket refusal (Arkansas Commission, disability rights in housing; 42 U.S.C. 3604(f)(3)).
• Review an animal-related housing request under the current reasonable-accommodation rules. The federal regulation gives a guide dog under a no-pets policy as an example of a required accommodation. Federal rules also restrict inquiries about an applicant's disability or its nature or severity, with specified uniform-inquiry exceptions. HUD withdrew FHEO 2013-01 and FHEO 2020-01 effective September 17, 2025; use the Act and current regulations rather than those withdrawn notices (24 CFR 100.202(c) and 100.204; HUD withdrawal notice, 91 FR 17291).
• Arkansas Act 819 of 2025 permits some private-property emotional-support-animal bans, but expressly makes that permission subject to the federal Fair Housing Act as it existed January 1, 2025 and other existing federal law. It does not replace a covered housing accommodation review (Act 819 of 2025, section 1 (20-14-1005)).