How long does an eviction take in Arkansas?
For unpaid rent, expect about 2.5 weeks from the first notice to the lockout in Arkansas, and anywhere from 1.5 to 8.5 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Arkansas eviction timeline, step by step
- Notice to pay or leave 3 dayssecondary source
3-day unconditional notice to vacate for civil unlawful detainer (Ark. Code §§ 18-60-304); no right to pay and stay source - File the case and get a judgment about 6-30 days (typical 10)secondary source
5 days (excluding Sundays and holidays) after service of the notice of intention to file a written objection; otherwise the clerk issues the writ source - Judgment to lockout 1-5 dayssecondary source
Sheriff gives at least 24 hours to vacate after the writ of possession source - If the tenant appeals 30-day windowofficial source
30 days to appeal (Ark. R. App. P.-Civ. 4); to stay the eviction the tenant must post a bond covering rent as it comes due (Ark. Code § 18-17-707) source
Timeline model: notice + filing-to-judgment window + judgment-to-lockout window; the high case adds 21 days for a contested hearing. Methodology.
Can the tenant pay and stay?
No right to pay and stay once notice is given. secondary source source
Eviction costs in Arkansas
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Court filing fee | $150-$165 | Statewide: Circuit court uniform filing fee $150 by statute; many clerks list $165 with surcharges official source source |
| Serving the tenant | $30-$77 | Not verified for Arkansas; the calculator uses the national default range. unverified |
| Sheriff/marshal lockout | $75-$180 | Not verified for Arkansas; the calculator uses the national default range. unverified |
| Lawyer, uncontested | $500-$1,500 | National rough estimate, not state-specific estimate |
| Lawyer, contested | $2,000-$5,000+ | National rough estimate estimate |
| Median gross rent | $982/mo | Census ACS 2024 1-year (±$13) data file |
Tenant protections
| Statewide rent control | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Statewide just-cause rules | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Right to counsel for tenants | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Seasonal or weather limits | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Required mediation / pre-filing program | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
Eviction cost calculator for Arkansas
| What | Typical | Low to high |
|---|
Full timeline and sources · Total = rent × (months behind + months to evict + months to re-rent) + court fees + lawyer + turnover. How we calculate.
Tenant screening
Reserved for a tenant-screening partner (credit, eviction and background checks). No partner yet; nothing here is a recommendation.
Rent-guarantee insurance
Reserved for a rent-guarantee or landlord insurance partner that covers unpaid rent and eviction costs. No partner yet.
Landlord-friendliness score: 98/100
Timeline 47.9/50 · right to cure 20/20 · statewide protections 30/30. How the score works.
Arkansas eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Arkansas?
A nonpayment eviction in Arkansas typically takes about 2.5 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 1.5 to 8.5 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an EvictionMath estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked 2026-10-17.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Arkansas?
3-day unconditional notice to vacate for civil unlawful detainer (Ark. Code §§ 18-60-304); no right to pay and stay.
Can a tenant stop an eviction in Arkansas by paying the rent?
No right to pay and stay once notice is given.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Arkansas?
The court filing fee is $150-$165 statewide. Service and lockout fees are extra. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
Is Arkansas landlord-friendly for evictions?
Arkansas scores 98 out of 100 on the EvictionMath landlord-friendliness score (timeline 47.9/50, right to cure 20/20, statewide tenant protections 30/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
| Field | Source type | Link | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice period | secondary source | www.nolo.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Court deadlines | secondary source | a.arlawhelp.org | 2026-10-17 |
| Judgment to lockout | secondary source | a.arlawhelp.org | 2026-10-17 |
| Appeal | official source | opinions.arcourts.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Filing fee | official source | law.justia.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Service fee | unverified | none yet | 2026-10-17 |
| Lockout fee | unverified | none yet | 2026-10-17 |
| Median rent | official source | census.gov (ACS B25064) | 2026-10-17 |
Not yet verified for Arkansas: service fee, lockout fee. Fields we couldn't source are left blank, never guessed. Found an error? Laws change; tell us via the newsletter reply.
Compare similar states
North Dakota (98, 2.5 wk) · Louisiana (100, 2 wk) · South Dakota (96, 3 wk) · West Virginia (96, 3 wk) · Wyoming (100, 2 wk)