Washington County, AR Rental Property Rules: Just Cause Eviction (2026)
Just cause eviction rules in Washington County, AR, sometimes called tenant protection or "for cause" eviction ordinances, list the specific legal reasons a landlord can end a tenancy.
Key Facts
- Just cause
- Not required
- Criminal remedy
- Ark. Code §18-16-101
- Civil eviction
- Unlawful detainer, §18-60-301
- Written notice
- 10 days (criminal)
- County authority
- None
Summary
Arkansas requires no just cause to evict, and Washington County cannot add one. It is the only state with a criminal eviction remedy: under Ark. Code §18-16-101 a tenant who won't leave after ten days' notice commits a misdemeanor. Civil eviction runs through unlawful detainer.
If, after ten (10) days' notice in writing shall have been given by the landlord or the landlord's agent or attorney to the tenant to vacate the dwelling house or other building or land, the tenant shall willfully refuse to vacate and surrender the possession of the premises to the landlord or the landlord's agent or attorney, the tenant shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Full Breakdown
No Arkansas law forces a landlord to prove cause before ending a tenancy, and the county has no power to require it. Arkansas is unique nationally for its criminal failure-to-vacate statute: §18-16-101 provides that after ten days' written notice, a tenant who willfully refuses to vacate is guilty of a misdemeanor, fined $25 per day, and, if rent was not paid into the court registry, guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. Landlords more often use civil unlawful detainer under Ark. Code §18-60-301 et seq., which starts with a three-day notice, then a circuit court complaint. Self-help lockouts remain unlawful.
Violations & Fines
A tenant who ignores a §18-16-101 notice faces a misdemeanor and $25-per-day fines. A landlord who skips proper notice or uses a self-help lockout can have the case dismissed and face liability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be charged with a crime for not moving out?
Does my landlord need a reason to evict me?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington County
Compare Washington County to another location·View the Arkansas rental property rules overview
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