Arkansas Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
Arkansas rules on lockouts, utility shutoffs & retaliation for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: No statute — Arkansas has no landlord anti-retaliation statute. The Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (Ch. 17) and the deposit subchapter contain no retaliation provision or presumption period. Ark. Code Ann. Title 18, Ch. 17 (§§ 18-17-101 et seq.); §§ 18-16-301 to -306
The rules in Arkansas
| Landlord retaliation | No statute — Arkansas has no landlord anti-retaliation statute. The Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (Ch. 17) and the deposit subchapter contain no retaliation provision or presumption period. Confirmed from the section list of Act 1004 of 2007 (no retaliation section) and arkleg amendment lists: Ch. 17 changes since are Act 315 of 2019 (§ 18-17-301(2) definition) and Act 1052 of 2021 (new § 18-17-502); no 2023, 2025, or 2026 act amended Ch. 17. arkleg has no amendment data for the 2009-2011 sessions. |
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Related questions
Arkansas vs. neighboring states
| State | Lockouts and illegal eviction | Landlord shutting off utilities | Landlord retaliation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | Not verified yet | Not verified yet | No statute — Arkansas has no landlord anti-retaliation statute. The Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (Ch. 17) and the deposit subchapter contain no retaliation provision or presumption period. Ark. Code Ann. Title 18, Ch. 17 (§§ 18-17-101 et seq.); §§ 18-16-301 to -306 |
| Louisiana | Louisiana's eviction procedure runs through the courts: after a notice to vacate, the landlord files a rule to show cause, gets a judgment of eviction, and a warrant for possession is executed by the sheriff, constable or marshal (Code of Civil Procedure arts. 4701, 4731-4734). After the required notice, a landlord may retake possession without further court process only on a reasonable belief that the tenant has abandoned the premises (art. 4731(B)). In parishes under a federal disaster declaration, leaving the home is not treated as abandonment for 30 days; a landlord who violates that rule owes the residential tenant $500 or twice the monthly rent, whichever is greater, and the tenant may get a restraining order (art. 4731(C)). La. C.C.P. arts. 4701, 4731-4734 | Not verified yet | No statewide statute identified. In New Orleans, the city's Healthy Homes ordinance protects tenants who use its complaint process ('protected activity'). New Orleans Healthy Homes Ordinance (City Code ch. 26) |
| Mississippi | Not verified yet | Not verified yet | Very limited. There is no general anti-retaliation statute and no presumption period. The only reference is in § 89-8-17(2): after a lease expires, a landlord may raise the rent only if the action's dominant purpose was not retaliation for the tenant's actions authorized under the Act, and the landlord had received written notice of each condition the tenant acted on. Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-17(2) |
| Missouri | A landlord or agent who removes or shuts out a tenant or the tenant's belongings without court process and a court order, or removes the doors or locks, is deemed guilty of 'forcible entry and detainer' under RSMo chapter 534 (except as allowed by RSMo 441.065). After an eviction judgment, if the officer does not deliver possession within seven days of receiving the writ, the landlord may, within 60 days of the judgment and in the presence of a law enforcement officer, break and remove locks and take possession without breach of the peace. RSMo 441.233.1; RSMo 441.060.5 | A landlord or its agent who willfully cuts services to a tenant by interrupting or causing the interruption of essential services - including electric, gas, water or sewer service - to the tenant or the premises is deemed guilty of 'forcible entry and detainer' under RSMo chapter 534, unless the landlord did so for health or safety reasons. RSMo 441.233.2 | No general statewide anti-retaliation statute for residential tenants. RSMo Chs. 441, 534 and 535 (no section on retaliation) |
| Oklahoma | If a landlord wrongfully removes or locks a tenant out of the unit, the tenant may go to court to recover possession, or give notice and end the lease. In either case the tenant may recover up to twice the average monthly rent or twice the actual damages, whichever is greater. If the lease ends, the landlord must return all recoverable deposits and all prepaid, unearned rent. 41 O.S. § 123 | If, contrary to the lease or the landlord's legal duties, the landlord willfully or negligently fails to supply heat, running water, hot water, electricity, gas or another essential service, the tenant may give written notice and then (1) end the lease immediately on written notice, (2) buy reasonable amounts of the service and deduct the actual, reasonable cost from rent, (3) recover damages for the reduced rental value, or (4) on written notice, get substitute housing and owe no rent while the problem lasts. A landlord who removes or excludes a tenant from the unit is liable under the wrongful-exclusion rule. 41 O.S. §§ 121(C), 123 | No general anti-retaliation statute. The Oklahoma Residential Landlord and Tenant Act does not protect tenants who complain about conditions or exercise other rights. One narrow exception: a landlord may not deny a tenancy to, or retaliate against, a tenant because the tenant previously ended a rental agreement as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking (§ 113.3). 41 O.S. §§ 101-136 (no general retaliation section); 41 O.S. § 113.3 |
| Tennessee | If a landlord unlawfully removes or shuts out a tenant (a 'self-help' eviction), the tenant may get back possession or end the lease. In either case the tenant may recover actual damages, punitive damages where appropriate, and a reasonable attorney's fee. If the lease ends, the landlord must refund all prepaid rent and security deposits. Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-504 | No. A landlord may not take back a unit by deliberately cutting off, or causing the cutoff of, electricity, gas or another essential service, unless the tenant has abandoned or surrendered the unit. If the landlord willfully cuts off essential services the lease requires, the tenant may get back possession or end the lease, and in either case may recover actual damages, punitive damages where appropriate, and reasonable attorney's fees. If the lease ends, the landlord must return all prepaid rent and security deposits. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 66-28-504, 66-28-517(d) | URLTA counties: a landlord may not retaliate by raising rent, cutting services, or bringing or threatening an eviction because the tenant complained to the landlord of a violation under 66-28-301 or used remedies under the URLTA. Exceptions: the landlord may still seek possession if the tenant's household caused the code violation, the tenant is behind on rent, or code compliance requires work that would effectively deprive the tenant of the unit. The statute sets no time-based presumption of retaliation. T.C.A. 66-28-514 |
| Texas | A landlord may not remove doors, windows, locks or landlord-supplied furniture or appliances (except for bona fide repair), and may not keep a tenant out without a court order except for repairs or emergencies, removing contents of abandoned premises, or changing locks for unpaid rent. A lock change for unpaid rent requires a lease clause and advance written notice, and the landlord must give the tenant a new key at any hour even if the rent is not paid. If the landlord violates these rules, the tenant may get back possession or end the lease and recover one month's rent plus $1,000, actual damages, court costs and attorney's fees, less rent owed. The tenant can also file a sworn complaint for a writ of reentry in justice court. Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.0081, 92.009 | No. A landlord may not interrupt utilities the tenant pays the utility for directly, or water, wastewater, gas or electricity the landlord furnishes, except for bona fide repairs, construction or an emergency (submetered electricity may be cut for nonpayment only under strict notice rules). If the landlord violates this, the tenant may get back possession or end the lease and recover actual damages, one month's rent plus $1,000, attorney's fees and court costs, less any rent owed. The tenant can also ask the justice court for a writ of restoration of utility service. A landlord who agreed to pay for utilities is also liable if service is cut off for the landlord's nonpayment; the tenant may then pay the utility and deduct it from rent or end the lease. Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.008, 92.0091, 92.301 | Landlord may not, within six months after a tenant in good faith exercises a legal right, gives a repair notice, complains to a code-enforcement or other agency, or participates in a tenant organization, file an eviction (except on statutory grounds), deprive use of the premises, decrease services, raise rent, terminate the lease, or engage in bad-faith interference. Remedy: one month's rent + $500, actual damages, court costs and attorney's fees. Tex. Prop. Code Sec. 92.331; 92.332; 92.333 |
City rules that may add to state law
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Arkansas Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation FAQ
Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Arkansas?
No statute — Arkansas has no landlord anti-retaliation statute. The Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (Ch. 17) and the deposit subchapter contain no retaliation provision or presumption period. (Ark. Code Ann. Title 18, Ch. 17 (§§ 18-17-101 et seq.); §§ 18-16-301 to -306)
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.