Short-Term Rentals in Fort Smith, AR (2026)
6 verified short-term rentals rules for Fort Smith, Arkansas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Permit Requirements
Fort Smith does not have a standalone short-term rental ordinance, and Arkansas Act 1023 of 2023 bars cities from prohibiting STRs outright. Hosts must comply with the Fort Smith business license requirement, zoning, and applicable health/safety/noise rules; the Code of Ordinances is hosted at library.municode.com/ar/fort_smith.
Fort Smith Short-Term Rental Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsNoise Rules
Short-term rental hosts in Fort Smith are responsible for guest noise under the city's general noise and nuisance provisions in the Code of Ordinances. Arkansas Act 1023 of 2023 expressly preserves municipal authority to regulate noise at STRs, so loud parties and amplified sound that disturb neighbors trigger citations regardless of guest status.
Fort Smith STR Guest Noise Compliance
Some RestrictionsTaxes & Fees
Short-term rental operators in Fort Smith collect stacked lodging taxes: the Arkansas 6.5% state sales tax (A.C.A. §26-52-301), the Sebastian County local sales tax, the Fort Smith local sales tax, and the 3% Fort Smith Advertising and Promotion (A&P) tax under A.C.A. §26-75-602 et seq. Stays of 30 consecutive days or more to the same guest are generally exempt from the A&P tax.
Fort Smith STR Lodging Tax Collection
Heavy RestrictionsParking Rules
Fort Smith does not impose STR-specific off-street parking minimums, but Arkansas Act 1023 of 2023 expressly allows cities to regulate parking at short-term rentals. STR hosts must satisfy the parking provisions of the Fort Smith Unified Development Ordinance for the underlying residential use and avoid parking on lawns, blocked sidewalks, or fire-lane violations.
Fort Smith STR Parking Compliance
Some RestrictionsOccupancy Limits
Fort Smith has no STR-specific occupancy cap, but Arkansas Act 1023 of 2023 expressly authorizes cities to set health-and-safety-based occupancy limits at short-term rentals. Hosts must comply with the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) bedroom-occupancy standards adopted by the city and the underlying fire and building codes.
Fort Smith STR Occupancy Standards
Some RestrictionsInsurance Requirements
Fort Smith does not require a minimum STR liability insurance limit, but Arkansas Act 1023 of 2023 expressly authorizes cities to impose insurance requirements on short-term rentals. Hosts should carry commercial STR liability coverage (or rely on documented platform host-protection programs) because standard homeowners policies generally exclude business use.