Arkansas Rental Fee Rules
Arkansas rules on rental fees for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: No state cap or refund rule for rental application or screening fees, and no portable screening report law. Ark. Code §§ 14-16-601, 14-54-1409 (as amended by Act 459 of 2025)
The rules in Arkansas
| Application / screening fees | No state cap or refund rule for rental application or screening fees, and no portable screening report law. Since Act 459 of 2025, cities, counties, and other local governments may not regulate or control the amount of rental application fees (or of rent or deposits) for private residential or commercial property. Act 459 (SB 91) was approved April 3, 2025. The Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (Act 1004 of 2007) contains no application-fee provision. |
|---|---|
| Other rental fees | No statute limits other rental fees (move-in, convenience, or online-payment fees) or requires total-cost-of-rent disclosure. The Landlord-Tenant Act lets the parties include any lease terms not prohibited by law, so the lease governs. Checked the enacted text of Ch. 17 (Act 1004 of 2007). Its only fee provisions are the $25 eviction-affidavit filing fee and a 3% fee on rent paid through the court. |
Related questions
- How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee?
- What rental fees are illegal (junk fees)?
Arkansas vs. neighboring states
| State | Application / screening fees | Other rental fees |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | No state cap or refund rule for rental application or screening fees, and no portable screening report law. Since Act 459 of 2025, cities, counties, and other local governments may not regulate or control the amount of rental application fees (or of rent or deposits) for private residential or commercial property. Ark. Code §§ 14-16-601, 14-54-1409 (as amended by Act 459 of 2025) | No statute limits other rental fees (move-in, convenience, or online-payment fees) or requires total-cost-of-rent disclosure. The Landlord-Tenant Act lets the parties include any lease terms not prohibited by law, so the lease governs. Ark. Code § 18-17-401(a) (Act 1004 of 2007) |
| Louisiana | No cap on the amount, and no refund rule. Before accepting an application fee, the landlord must give the applicant written notice of: the amount of the fee; whether the landlord considers credit scores, employment history, criminal history, or eviction records in deciding whether to rent; and that the applicant may share, in good faith, a statement of 200 words or less explaining financial hardship from a state or federally declared disaster or emergency and how it affected the applicant's credit, employment, or rental history (the notice must mention the COVID-19 pandemic and hurricanes). The notice may be electronic. The rule covers rentals used as the tenant's primary residence, except owner-occupied buildings of four or fewer units. The statute gives applicants no right to sue: landlords and their agents are immune from suits over violations. La. R.S. 9:3258.1 (Acts 2021, No. 422) | No statute. Louisiana has no rental junk-fee, total-price, or fee-disclosure law; fees other than rent are governed by the lease. Two narrow rules apply: a landlord must disclose an application fee in writing before collecting it (R.S. 9:3258.1), and in covered buildings a lease may not impose penalties on a tenant for calling police or emergency help after domestic abuse (R.S. 9:3261.1(C)). La. R.S. 9:3201 to 9:3261.2 (lease chapter checked); R.S. 9:3258.1; R.S. 9:3261.1(C) |
| Mississippi | Not verified yet | Not verified yet |
| Missouri | No statute. Missouri statutes do not cap or regulate rental application or screening fees. Since 28 Aug 2025, cities and counties may not restrict a landlord's use of credit scores, credit reports, eviction or property damage history, or criminal history in screening. RSMo Ch. 441, 534, 535 (no fee section); RSMo 441.043.2(2) | No statute. No Missouri statute limits move-in, convenience, or online-payment fees or requires all-in rent disclosure. In a rent-and-possession case, other lease charges may be joined to the claim but are not treated as rent and cannot by themselves support an order for possession. RSMo Ch. 441, 535 (no fee section); RSMo 535.020 |
| Oklahoma | No statute. The Oklahoma Residential Landlord and Tenant Act has no cap or refund rule for application or screening fees. 41 O.S. §§ 101-136 (no application-fee section) | No statute. Title 41 has no limits on move-in, convenience, or other rental fees and no fee-disclosure rule. 41 O.S. §§ 101-136 (no fee section) |
| Tennessee | No statute - Tennessee has no cap or refund rule for rental application or screening fees. T.C.A. Title 66, Chapter 28 | No general statute limiting move-in, convenience or other rental fees. The only statutory fee limit is on late fees in URLTA counties: none until after a 5-day grace period, and no more than 10% of the past-due rent. T.C.A. 66-28-201(d) |
| Texas | No cap on application fees. Landlord must make printed tenant-selection criteria available with the application, and the applicant signs an acknowledgment; if the landlord rejects an applicant without having made the criteria available, it must refund the application fee and any application deposit. An applicant not accepted within 7 days is deemed rejected (application deposits refundable). Bad-faith failure to refund: $100 + 3 times the amount wrongfully retained + attorney's fees. No portable screening report law. Tex. Prop. Code Sec. 92.351-92.355 | No general statute limiting move-in, convenience or other rental fees or requiring total-cost-of-rent disclosure. Specific rules: late fees (limited by Sec. 92.019; tenant may request a written statement of late fees owed, Sec. 92.0191) and fees in lieu of a security deposit (Sec. 92.111). Tex. Prop. Code ch. 92 (Sec. 92.019, 92.0191, 92.111) |
City rules that may add to state law
More Arkansas rental law
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- Free legal help in Arkansas
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Arkansas Rental Fee Rules FAQ
Is there a limit on rental application fees in Arkansas?
No state cap or refund rule for rental application or screening fees, and no portable screening report law. Since Act 459 of 2025, cities, counties, and other local governments may not regulate or control the amount of rental application fees (or of rent or deposits) for private residential or commercial property. (Ark. Code §§ 14-16-601, 14-54-1409 (as amended by Act 459 of 2025))
What rental fees are banned or limited in Arkansas?
No statute limits other rental fees (move-in, convenience, or online-payment fees) or requires total-cost-of-rent disclosure. The Landlord-Tenant Act lets the parties include any lease terms not prohibited by law, so the lease governs. (Ark. Code § 18-17-401(a) (Act 1004 of 2007))
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.