Arkansas Bans Local Rent Control

Arkansas is a rent-control-preemption state. Ark. Code § 14-16-601(b) provides that a "local governmental unit shall not enact, maintain, or enforce an ordinance or resolution that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential or commercial property." Subsection (a) defines a local governmental unit broadly to include any political subdivision, such as a county, city, village, or township. A parallel municipal provision, Ark. Code § 14-54-1409, reaches cities and towns. The only carve-out preserves a local government's authority to manage property in which it holds a property interest. Because the legislature occupies this field, no Arkansas municipality may impose rent control or a rent-increase cap on private landlords, and the state sets no statewide ceiling on rent or rent increases.

Any local rent-control ordinance or resolution is void and unenforceable as preempted by Ark. Code § 14-16-601. An affected landlord could challenge such a measure in court, where it would be struck down; the state provides no penalty mechanism because localities lack authority to enact rent control in the first place.