Can You Have Pets in Apartments in Arkansas? What Renters Need to Know

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.

If you’re set on an unconventional companion rather than a dog or cat, it’s worth checking which species are even legal to own in the state before you start apartment hunting. Arkansas has its own rules on exotic pets legal in Arkansas, and some animals that are perfectly legal statewide are still banned by individual leases.

Pro Tip: Get the pet policy in writing before you sign anything. A verbal “yes, pets are fine” from a leasing agent means nothing if the lease itself says otherwise.

Pet Deposits and Pet Fees: What Arkansas Allows

Once a landlord agrees to allow pets, the next question is what they can charge you for the privilege. Arkansas does not have a specific cap on pet deposits, so landlords can set a pet deposit amount as long as it’s fair and reasonable. In practice, pet deposits typically range from $200 to $500, though the exact figure depends on the pet’s size, type, and the property’s own policies.

It helps to understand the difference between a deposit and a fee, because Arkansas treats them differently at move-out. A pet deposit and pet fee aren’t the same thing: deposits are usually refundable, while pet fees are not, since fees serve as compensation for the privilege of having a pet on the premises. According to Nolo’s overview of Arkansas landlord-tenant law, Arkansas does not prohibit nonrefundable cleaning fees or pet fees, so don’t assume a “non-refundable pet fee” line item is illegal just because it sounds one-sided.

Charge Type	Refundable?	Typical Arkansas Range
Pet Deposit	Yes, minus damage	$200–$500
Pet Fee	No	Varies by landlord
Pet Rent (monthly)	Not applicable	Set at landlord’s discretion

There’s a ceiling that matters, though: your total security deposit. Arkansas law caps total security deposits at two months’ rent for most landlords, and that “total” includes your standard security deposit plus any pet deposit you’re charged. There is a notable exception worth knowing about before you negotiate: if the landlord owns five or fewer rental units and doesn’t use a property management company, they’re exempt from this cap. That’s common with smaller Arkansas landlords, so don’t assume the two-month rule always applies.

If a landlord tries to deduct heavily from your deposit for pet-related “damage” at move-out, know your protection: a landlord can only deduct from your deposits for actual damages beyond normal wear and tear, and the deductions must be reasonable and supported by evidence. Photos from move-in and move-out are your best defense if a dispute comes up.

Smaller, lower-cost pets can sometimes sidestep steep deposits altogether. If budget is a factor, browsing low-maintenance pets for kids or general low-maintenance pets options before you apply can help you pick a companion that won’t trigger the highest fee tier.

Breed and Weight Restrictions in Arkansas

Breed and weight limits are common in Arkansas leases, and they’re entirely legal for regular pets. Landlords in Arkansas can implement breed restrictions at their discretion, and common restricted breeds include Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, and German Shepherds. Some public housing policies go further; for example, Arkansas County Housing Authority’s pet policy lists Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, Dobermans, Labradors, large bird or hound dogs, Dalmatians, German Shepherds, Chows, Boxers, or any large mixed-breed dogs as ineligible.

Weight limits work the same way. A well-drafted lease won’t just say “pets allowed” — it should be specific, spelling out something like “tenants may keep up to two dogs or cats with a combined weight not exceeding 50 pounds” rather than a vague blanket statement. Read that section of your lease carefully before you commit to a specific breed or a puppy that hasn’t finished growing.

Violating these terms carries real consequences. Tenants can face eviction if they violate pet policies set in the lease agreement, and common reasons include unauthorized pets or breaching breed and size restrictions. This is where a lot of renters get into trouble, since bringing home a dog “temporarily” or assuming a landlord won’t notice a weight violation rarely ends well.

Important Note: Breed and weight restrictions apply to conventional pets only. They cannot be enforced against a documented service animal or emotional support animal, which is covered in the next section.

If breed or weight limits are working against you, it’s worth considering pets that never trigger those clauses in the first place. Reptiles, arachnids, and invertebrates typically fall outside standard “dog and cat” restrictions. You might look into types of spiders in Arkansas, types of scorpions kept as pets, or rabbit breeds to keep as pets as alternatives — though always confirm your specific lease doesn’t have a broader “no animals” clause. Not every animal makes a good fit for apartment living regardless of legality, so it’s worth reviewing which species land on lists of worst animals to keep as pets before you commit.

Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals: Your Rights in Arkansas

Service animals and emotional support animals (ESAs) operate under a completely different legal framework than regular pets. As long as you can supply a valid ESA letter to your landlord, your ESA must be permitted to live with you, even if the property doesn’t usually permit pets, because landlords are permitted by law to refuse to allow animals on their properties, but if that pet is an ESA with appropriate documentation, they cannot refuse to lease you the property.

Money is a big part of this protection. Under the federal Fair Housing Act, landlords cannot charge pet rent, pet deposits, or additional fees for an ESA. Breed and weight rules disappear too: landlords cannot enforce general breed, size, or weight restrictions on an emotional support animal, so a property manager can’t deny your accommodation simply because your dog is a breed typically banned by the building’s policy. For a deeper look at how this plays out for tenants specifically, see this breakdown of ESA housing laws in Arkansas.

Arkansas does have its own documentation standard worth knowing about. Arkansas requires a 30-day relationship with a licensed mental health professional before they’re eligible to write an ESA letter, a rule intended to cut down on instant, no-questions-asked ESA certificates sold online.

None of this means the protection is unlimited. A landlord can sometimes deny an ESA letter in Arkansas, though this tends to be circumstantial — it typically only happens if the emotional support animal isn’t well-behaved, harms others, or damages the property. There are also narrower carve-outs: the FHA includes exceptions for landlords who live on the property or for animals that could pose a threat to other tenants. And you’re still financially responsible for your animal — individuals with assistance animals are responsible for maintaining and controlling their animals, which includes paying for any damage done to the unit.

Key Insight: Service animals and ESAs are legally distinct from pets under the Fair Housing Act. A landlord who applies a “no pets” or breed-restriction clause to a documented assistance animal is very likely violating federal law, not just being strict.

Can a Landlord Change the Pet Policy Mid-Lease in Arkansas

This is one of the more misunderstood areas of Arkansas rental law. Changing the lease terms mid-lease is more complicated than changing them at renewal — generally, a landlord cannot unilaterally change the lease terms mid-lease, even if it’s to change from not allowing pets to allowing pets. If your signed lease allows a 40-pound dog, a landlord generally can’t rewrite that rule on you halfway through the term.

Where pet policy changes do happen legitimately is at renewal:

1. The landlord updates the lease terms and presents a new lease for the tenant to sign.
2. The new lease states all landlord requirements for a tenant to have a pet, such as fees, deposits, size and breed restrictions, vaccinations, and monthly rent.
3. The tenant can accept the new terms and sign, renewing their tenancy, or object — in which case the lease ends and they must vacate the property.

Month-to-month agreements work a little differently. If you rent month-to-month, your landlord can usually change the rules with 30 days’ written notice, but if you’re on a fixed-term lease, they can’t usually change the rules in the middle of the term unless the lease itself says they can — so if the lease says pets are allowed, the landlord has to stick with it until the lease ends. That 30-day figure lines up with general Arkansas notice requirements, since Arkansas landlords must give 30 days’ written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy under Ark. Code § 18-17-704(b).

One rule never changes regardless of lease type: service animals are always allowed, and no landlord can ban a seeing-eye dog or other service animal, no matter what the policy says. For a closer look at how courts and legal analysts treat mid-lease pet disputes generally, the Super Lawyers breakdown of no-pets clause violations is a useful reference point.

What to Do If Your Landlord Won’t Allow Your Pet in Arkansas

If a property says no to your pet, your options depend on whether you’re dealing with a regular pet or a documented assistance animal. For a standard pet, the honest answer is that Arkansas gives landlords the right to refuse, so your best moves are negotiation and preparation rather than legal challenge.

• Ask if a higher pet deposit or added pet rent would change the landlord’s decision — many “no pet” policies are really “no pet without extra insurance” policies.
• Offer a pet reference letter from a previous landlord, vet, or trainer showing a clean history.
• Consider a species the lease doesn’t address at all. Small, quiet, low-odor animals like insects kept as pets, snails kept as pets, or crabs kept as pets often fall outside standard dog-and-cat clauses, though you should always get written confirmation before bringing one home.

If your situation involves a service animal or ESA, you have a much stronger legal footing. Start by submitting a formal accommodation request. A reasonable accommodation is a change in a rule, policy, practice, or service of a housing provider that may be necessary to allow a person with a disability the equal opportunity to use and enjoy their home. Put the request in writing and attach your ESA or service-animal documentation.

If the landlord denies a legitimate request or continues to demand pet fees for a documented assistance animal, you have two main paths. First, contact your local legal aid organization for clarity — the Arkansas Law Help assistance animals guide from Legal Aid of Arkansas is a solid starting point. Second, file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for housing discrimination if informal communication doesn’t resolve things.

Common Mistake: Don’t move in with an undisclosed pet hoping the landlord won’t notice. Under Arkansas’s eviction process, an unauthorized pet is treated as a straightforward lease violation, and it can cost you the deposit, the pet, and the apartment.

Whatever route you take, document everything — emails, texts, the ESA letter, and any correspondence about fees or denials. Whether you’re working through a standard “no pets” policy or asserting your rights under federal disability law, a paper trail is what turns a disagreement into a resolved case rather than a drawn-out dispute.