Draft page: these local rules haven't been verified yet. Check the official source before you rely on them. This page is hidden from search engines until a person has checked every fact.
Arkansas Eviction Notice Requirements
Under Arkansas's unlawful detainer statute, Arkansas Code § 18-60-304, a landlord gives a tenant who has not paid rent a written three-day notice to vacate before filing in court. For a lease violation other than rent, the Arkansas Residential Landlord-Tenant Act of 2007, § 18-17-701, lets a landlord deliver a written notice that ends the rental agreement no sooner than 14 days after the tenant receives it unless the breach is remedied. Ending a month-to-month tenancy takes at least 30 days' written notice under § 18-17-704.
The notice should be in writing and identify the tenant and property, the rent owed or the specific acts that broke the agreement, and the date by which the tenant must pay, cure or move out. For a lease violation, the 14 days run from when the tenant receives the notice, so allow time for delivery. Keep a copy and a record of how and when the notice was delivered, because the court will ask about it.
If the tenant stays, the landlord files an unlawful detainer complaint in court, and the tenant has five days after being served, not counting Sundays and legal holidays, to file a written objection. A tenant who objects and stays in the property must pay the rent due into the court registry while the case is pending. If no objection is filed, or the landlord wins at the hearing, the court issues a writ of possession, and the county sheriff, not the landlord, carries out any removal.
Put these rules in writing
Our Arkansas eviction notice cites them for you. Preview it free.
Arkansas: common questions
How many days' notice for unpaid rent in Arkansas?
Three days' written notice to vacate under the unlawful detainer statute. If the tenant does not leave, the landlord may file a complaint in court. The lease may also give the tenant a grace period or a chance to pay, so check its terms before serving notice.
Does an Arkansas tenant get a chance to fix a lease violation?
Under the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, a landlord can deliver a written notice describing the violation and stating that the rental agreement will end no sooner than 14 days after the tenant receives it. If the tenant remedies the problem within that time, the rental agreement continues. If not, it ends on the date in the notice.
How do I end a month-to-month lease in Arkansas?
Give at least 30 days' written notice before the termination date under Arkansas Code § 18-17-704. A week-to-week tenancy takes seven days' written notice. If the tenant stays after the tenancy ends without the landlord's consent, the landlord may bring an action for possession.
What happens after an Arkansas tenant is served with an eviction complaint?
The tenant has five days after service, excluding Sundays and legal holidays, to file a written objection with the court. If no objection is filed, the clerk issues a writ of possession. If the tenant objects, the court sets a hearing. In either case, the sheriff, not the landlord, carries out any removal.
Compare nearby states
| State | Unpaid rent | Lease violation | Month-to-month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | 3 days | 14 days | 30 days |
| Louisiana | See statute | See statute | 10 days |
| Mississippi | 3 days | 14 days | 30 days |
| Missouri | See statute | 10 days | See statute |
| Oklahoma | 5 days | 10 days | 30 days |
| Tennessee | 14 days | 14 days | 30 days |
FairLetter is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Letters are templates you customize and send yourself.