Rent control rules in Fort Smith, AR — also known as rent stabilization or rent cap ordinances — limit annual rent increases and protect tenants from displacement.
The City of Fort Smith has no rent-control ordinance. Residential rent is governed by the Arkansas Residential Landlord-Tenant Act of 2007 (A.C.A. §18-17-101 et seq.) and the older landlord-tenant chapter (A.C.A. §18-16-101+), neither of which caps rent or limits increases.
Fort Smith has not adopted rent control, and Arkansas — widely described as the least tenant-friendly state in the United States — provides no statewide rent cap. Rent is set by the lease at signing and may change during the term only if the lease provides for it. For month-to-month tenancies, A.C.A. §18-17-704 (URLTA) and A.C.A. §18-16-101 require written termination notice on or before the rental due date, with the tenancy ending on the next rental due date at least 30 days later; the same notice window is used for a rent change. Federal Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. §3601+) and the Arkansas Fair Housing Act (A.C.A. §16-123-201+) anti-discrimination rules still apply.
No local rent-cap penalties exist. Disputes over improper notice, retaliation, or fair-housing violations go to Sebastian County District Court or Circuit Court, with discrimination complaints filed with the Arkansas Fair Housing Commission or HUD.
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See how Fort Smith's rent control rules stack up against other locations.
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