Little Rock, AR Accessory Structures: ADU Owner Occupancy (2026)

Arkansas Act 313 of 2025, the statewide enabling law for accessory dwelling units, restricts the conditions cities may attach to by-right ADU approval. Among the prohibitions, Act 313 bars municipalities from requiring that the owner of the property live in either the primary dwelling or the ADU as a condition of permitting. Little Rock's implementing ordinance, Ord. No. 22,647 (Aug. 19, 2025), is described by city officials as the most conservative implementation of Act 313 the law allows, but it does not add an owner-occupancy mandate, because doing so would conflict with the state statute. As a practical matter, an investor who buys a single-family home in Little Rock may add an ADU and rent both units to separate tenants, subject to building permits, utility hook-ups, and any short-term rental restrictions if either unit is used for stays under 30 days. The Planning and Development Department (501-371-4790) administers ADU permits and can confirm current standards. Because the August 2025 ordinance was adopted as an interim measure pending permanent rules, applicants should monitor Board of Directors agendas for amendments.