Little Rock's Accessory Structures: The Rules That Matter
Every city handles accessory structures a little differently. In Little Rock, Arkansas, there are 4 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.
ADU Rental Restrictions
Little Rock allows one accessory dwelling unit by right on any single-family lot under Sec. 36-204, adopted in 2025 to carry out Arkansas Act 313, and that unit can be rented on a long-term basis without extra zoning approval. Only nightly or short-term rental use of the ADU pulls in the city's separate short-term rental compliance requirement under Sec. 36-601.
Key details: By-right ADUs per lot: One, on any single-family lot. Adopted: Aug. 19, 2025, Ord. No. 22,647. State authority: Implements Arkansas Act 313 of 2025. Size cap: 75% of house or 1,000 sq. ft.. Short-term rental use: Still needs Sec. 36-601 compliance.
Sec. 36-204 sits in chapter 36, so a violation, such as building a second by-right ADU, exceeding the 75%/1,000-square-foot cap, or running short-term rentals out of an ADU without Sec. 36-601 compliance, falls under Sec. 36-4's general zoning penalty: a misdemeanor with a fine of not less than $50.00 nor more than $500.00 per offense, capped at $250.00 per day if the violation continues, after a written order giving seven days to abate or appeal.
ADU Owner Occupancy
Little Rock's by-right accessory dwelling unit rule, Sec. 36-204, allows one ADU on a single-family residential lot without conditioning it on the owner living on the property, and it overrides stricter chapter 36 rules that would.
Key details: Governing section: Sec. 36-204 (2025). State authority: Act 313 of 2025. Units allowed by right: One (1) per single-family residential lot. Owner must live on-site: Not required. Standards imposed: Location, size, lot coverage, height.
Sec. 36-204 requires no occupancy affidavit or proof of owner residency to build or use a by-right ADU. A variance comes into play only where the unit misses the section's size, setback or height standards.
The rules around adu owner occupancy in Little Rock lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.
Shed & Carport Rules
Little Rock requires accessory buildings, including backyard sheds, to sit at least 3 feet from side and rear property lines under the zoning code, though sheds 200 square feet or smaller skip the building permit entirely.
Key details: Side/rear setback: 3 ft from property line. Alley exception: No setback on dedicated alley. Permit-exempt size: One-story shed ≤200 sq ft. R-1–R4A front setback: 60 ft from front line. Zoning violation fine: $50–$500 per offense.
Violating the setback or building without a required permit is a misdemeanor under Sec. 36-4: fines run $50 to $500 per offense, with continuing violations penalized up to $250 for each additional day.
ADU Rules
Little Rock allows accessory dwelling units only in the R-2, R-3, R-4, and R-7A residential districts, and caps their floor area at no more than the principal home's square footage.
Key details: Allowed districts: R-2, R-3, R-4, R-7A only. Floor area cap: Can't exceed principal dwelling. R-2/R-3 rule: Landowner must occupy one unit. R-4 rule: Barred if duplex already on lot. Approval type: Conditional use permit.
Building an accessory dwelling in a district that doesn't allow it, or exceeding the floor-area cap, is a zoning violation enforceable by Little Rock's Department of Planning and Development.
Compared to other cities, Little Rock takes a harder line on adu rules. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.
The Bottom Line
Little Rock's accessory structures rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Little Rock is broadly strict or permissive.
All of the above reflects Little Rock's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.