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  1. Home
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  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. Arkansas
  6. ·
  7. Little Rock

Little Rock

Moderate
ArkansasUpdated Feb 16, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 4, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Little Rock regulates short-term rentals under a 2023 ordinance that caps citywide permits at 500 units. All hosts must obtain a permit through the Planning Department, pay a $500 annual inspection fee, and adhere to strict occupancy limits and density requirements.

Restriction level

Severity 23
Classification
Moderate
23
Severity

Why this classification

  • High permit fee: $500
  • Permit required
  • Reporting required
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in Little Rock, you must first verify that the city has not reached its 500-permit limit. You need to apply for a permit based on whether you live in the home (Type 1) or not (Type 2). Be prepared to pay a $500 annual fee and follow rules such as a maximum of 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 extra. You must also have $1 million in insurance and post an emergency exit map inside the rental.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredYes
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$500

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Verify your property is within the 500-unit citywide permit cap before investing.
  2. 2R-1 and R-2 zones allow only one STR per 300-foot radius.
  3. 3You must respond to complaints within 60 minutes or risk a violation.
  4. 4Three verified complaints in a single year will lead to the revocation of your license.
  5. 5The 4% Advertising and Promotion tax must be paid monthly even if Airbnb collects sales tax.
  6. 6Maximum occupancy is strictly enforced (2 people per bedroom + 2 additional).
  7. 7Special events like weddings or receptions are strictly prohibited at STR properties.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility5 rules
  • Little Rock, AR: Special events like weddings or receptions are strictly prohibited at STR properties.
  • Little Rock, AR: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
  • Little Rock, AR: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Requirements17 rules
  • Little Rock, AR: Three verified complaints in a single year will lead to the revocation of your license.
  • Little Rock, AR has different permit classes: Type 1 (Owner-Occupied); Type 2 (Non-Owner-Occupied). Hosted vs. unhosted rentals have different requirements.
  • Little Rock, AR: A fire inspection may be required before you can operate. Schedule early as this can delay your start date.
Application process7 rules
  • Little Rock STR permit - Step 3: Rental Registration. Register the property on the City’s Rental Registration database. Time: Immediate. Cost: 35.
  • Little Rock STR permit - Step 2: Business License Application. Apply for a Business License via the Treasury Management Division once zoning is approved. Required documents: Approved zoning permit. Time: 1-2 weeks. Cost: 500.
Fees & costs1 rule
  • Little Rock charges a registration fee of $500 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $35 (A separate $35 annual rental registration fee also applies.).
Taxes3 rules
  • Little Rock, AR: The 4% Advertising and Promotion tax must be paid monthly even if Airbnb collects sales tax.
  • Arkansas has a state sales tax of 6.5% that applies to STR rentals.
  • Little Rock charges a Hotel and Restaurant Tax (Advertising and Promotion Tax) of 4%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Note: Airbnb often collects state sales tax, but local 4% taxes may require direct remittance.
Limits & restrictions6 rules
  • Little Rock enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM - 7:00 AM.
  • Little Rock limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
  • Little Rock limits STRs to a maximum of 6 guests. Formula: 2 persons per bedroom plus 2 additional (e.g., 2 bedrooms = 6 guests)
  • Little Rock, AR occupancy calculation: 2 persons per bedroom plus 2 additional (e.g., 2 bedrooms = 6 guests). Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Little Rock requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Emergency exit route diagram approved by Fire Dept must be posted near the door..
Penalties2 rules
  • Little Rock, AR: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
  • Little Rock enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Violation notice. Second offense: Fines up to $500. Third offense: Revocation of license. Maximum fine: $500 per violation. Permit may be revoked for violations.
Exemptions2 rules
  • Little Rock exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days).
  • Little Rock, AR: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Little Rock

0/3
steps completed
Step 1

Zoning Entitlement

Obtain either a Special Use Permit (Type 1) or Planned Development zoning approval (Type 2).

6-12 weeks
Documents needed
  • Site plan
  • Parking plan
Official resource
Step 2

Business License Application

Apply for a Business License via the Treasury Management Division once zoning is approved.

1-2 weeks$500
Documents needed
  • Approved zoning permit
Official resource
Step 3

Rental Registration

Register the property on the City’s Rental Registration database.

Immediate$35
Official resource

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

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