If you’re wondering whether you can have pets in apartments in Arkansas, the short answer is that it depends entirely on your lease. Arkansas gives landlords far more control over pet policies than most states, which means the fine print in your rental agreement carries more weight than a general assumption about “renters’ rights.”
Before you sign a lease with a dog, cat, or any other animal in mind, it helps to understand exactly what landlords can and can’t do under Arkansas law, where federal protections step in, and what your options are if a property says no.
Can a Landlord Ban Pets in Arkansas
Arkansas landlords have wide latitude when it comes to pets, and there’s no state law forcing a property owner to accept them. The state gives landlords a lot of freedom, since the Arkansas Residential Landlord-Tenant Act of 2007 doesn’t micromanage pet policies the way some states do. That means a landlord can legally advertise a unit as “no pets” and turn away an otherwise qualified applicant simply because they have a dog or cat.
Landlords can decide whether to allow or restrict pets in their properties, and they usually state pet policies in the lease agreement. The inclusion or exclusion of pets is generally at the discretion of the landlord, but must comply with applicable laws and regulations. There’s one major exception, though: assistance animals. Under fair housing laws, assistance animals are considered tools of a person’s disability. They are not pets. Pet rules in housing do not apply to assistance animals…