Arkansas has no single statewide law that bans backyard pigs outright, but that does not mean you can simply bring one home without doing your homework. The rules that govern pig ownership in the Natural State are set almost entirely at the local level — by cities, counties, and homeowners associations — and they vary widely from one community to the next.
Whether you want a full-sized hog on a rural property or a miniature pig in a suburban backyard, you need to know how your municipality classifies pigs, what your zoning district allows, and what permits or registrations apply before you spend a single dollar. This guide walks you through every layer of Arkansas pig law so you can make an informed decision.
Are Backyard Pigs Legal in Arkansas?
The short answer is: it depends entirely on where you live. In Arkansas, the legality of owning a pet pig depends on where you reside, and each municipality has its own set of regulations regarding animal ownership and zoning restrictions. There is no Arkansas state statute that prohibits a resident from keeping a pig on private property, which means the question immediately shifts to your city or county code.
Rural property owners on agricultural land generally face the fewest hurdles. Pigs are a traditional farm animal in Arkansas, and on land zoned agricultural, keeping swine is typically treated as a normal farming activity. The situation changes dramatically once you move into a city or a residential subdivision…