ADU Guide · Verified 2026
Building an ADU in Arkansas
Arkansas requires every city and county to allow at least one ADU per single-family lot, one of the most recent and most sweeping statewide ADU mandates in the country. The law caps permit application fees at $250, a genuinely unusual dollar-specific limit for a statewide preemption law.
Quick Facts
Statewide floors set by Act 313 of 2025 (HB 1503), effective August 5, 2025. Your city may be more generous but cannot go below them.
The Three Types of ADU
A real, unusual dollar-specific fee cap
Act 313 caps ADU permit application fees at $250 statewide, a genuinely specific dollar limit written directly into the law, distinct from most other states' laws in this research that regulate process (no hearing, no variance) but leave fee amounts to local discretion.
A real, recent local example of implementation
Little Rock had to run a public survey and pass a placeholder ordinance while finalizing its own compliant local code, a documented, real example of how a major city worked through the January 1, 2026 compliance deadline.
One of the newest and broadest mandates in the country
Act 313 reaches every city AND county in Arkansas, a genuinely broad scope, and became law less than two years before this research, making Arkansas one of the most recent states to adopt a full statewide ADU mandate.
What people get wrong
The most common mistake is assuming Arkansas's new law still leaves room for local owner-occupancy or parking requirements the way older or more limited state laws do. Act 313 explicitly bars both, statewide, with no exception.
From Idea to Move-In: The Timeline
Who Administers It
Building It Yourself? Here's What You'll Need
Planning an ADU? Tools homeowners use in the design and layout phase:
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Check Your Local Rules
Your city may allow more than the state floor
State law sets the minimum; many Arkansas cities and counties are more generous. Browse the full directory of 75 counties and every city in Arkansas for local rules, fees, and building department contact details.
Browse the full Arkansas directory →Not sure if your project needs a building permit, a zoning approval, or both? See our guide to building permits vs. zoning approval.
Official Sources
ADU law changes frequently and local ordinances add detail. This guide is general information, not legal advice, always confirm with your local building department. Reviewed by the StateDataIndex Editorial Team · Updated September 2026.