Quick answer: In an Arkansas eviction under the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, the court orders the tenant to vacate or show cause within ten calendar days after service, and after a judgment for the landlord a writ issues within three days; the sheriff removes a tenant who stays 24 hours after the writ is served.
This Arkansas eviction timeline calculator applies Ark. Code 18-17-902, 18-17-907 and 18-60-310. Choose the reason and enter the date: it shows the earliest legal dates for each step of the court case it starts. It shows legal minimums only, never how long a case usually takes.
Arkansas eviction timeline rules at a glance
| Rule | What Arkansas says |
|---|---|
| Notice first | Five days from the due date for rent, 14 days for a violation, 30 days for month-to-month (Ark. Code 18-17-701, 18-17-704) |
| Residential Act case | Complaint and affidavit in district court; an order to vacate or show cause within ten calendar days after service (18-17-902) |
| If the tenant does not appear | Judgment for the plaintiff and a writ of possession; the sheriff evicts (18-17-904) |
| After a judgment for the landlord | The court issues a writ of eviction within three days (18-17-907) |
| Unlawful detainer case | A tenant has five days, excluding Sundays and legal holidays, to object to the notice of intention to issue a writ (18-60-307) |
| Executing the writ | The sheriff serves it and removes the defendants after 24 hours if they remain (18-60-310) |
| Appeal | Does not stay the eviction unless the tenant gives an appeal bond; due within five days after service of the notice of appeal (18-17-910) |
| Rent | Continues to accrue after the order to vacate; acceptance does not waive eviction (18-17-911) |
How does the Arkansas eviction timeline work?
- The steps. See how long an eviction takes in Arkansas.
- In court. See the Arkansas eviction court process.
- After the judgment. See the writ of possession in Arkansas.
What does this eviction timeline calculator check?
It starts with the notice date and the earliest day the landlord can file, which the Arkansas eviction notice calculator explains. For a district court eviction it adds ten calendar days from service of the order to vacate or show cause, treats the next court day as the earliest default judgment and writ, and adds 24 hours after the sheriff serves the writ. For an unlawful detainer case it counts five days excluding Sundays and legal holidays for the tenant’s objection. It assumes the tenant does not respond and the landlord wins; it does not predict that. The calculator cannot know the court’s calendar, whether service succeeds on the first try, or whether the sheriff acts the same day.
Related Arkansas landlord-tenant calculators
These four calculators cover the same tenancy from different angles. From here you can go to the Arkansas security deposit return deadline calculator for the date the landlord must refund or itemize the deposit, the Arkansas security deposit limit calculator for the most a landlord may ask for as a deposit and the Arkansas eviction notice calculator for the notice period before a lease can end. Each one cites its own Arkansas statutes and shows only what the law says.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an eviction take in Arkansas?
The statutes fix only minimums and limits: the notice period, an order to vacate or show cause within ten calendar days after service, a writ within three days after a judgment for the landlord, and 24 hours after the sheriff serves the writ. How long a real case takes depends on the court and the facts.
How much time does the tenant have to respond to an eviction case?
In a district court eviction under the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, the order requires the tenant to vacate or show cause within ten calendar days after service.
What if the tenant does not show up?
The court enters judgment for the landlord and directs the clerk to issue a writ of possession, and the sheriff evicts the tenant.
How soon after the writ is served can the sheriff remove the tenant?
If at the expiration of 24 hours from service the defendants are still in possession, the sheriff removes them and their possessions.
Does an appeal stop the eviction?
Not unless the tenant gives an appeal bond, fixed by the court, when appealing; if the bond is not filed within five days after service of the notice of appeal, the appeal is dismissed.
Does rent keep running during the case?
Yes. Rent for use and occupancy continues to accrue after the order to vacate or show cause, and the landlord’s acceptance of rent does not waive its right to evict.
Official sources
- Ark. Code 18-17-902: eviction proceeding
- Ark. Code 18-17-904: tenant ejected on failure to show cause
- Ark. Code 18-17-907: effect of judgment for plaintiff
- Ark. Code 18-17-910: bond required to stay eviction on appeal
- Ark. Code 18-17-911: accrual of rent after institution of proceedings
- Ark. Code 18-60-307: unlawful detainer complaint, summons and notice
- Ark. Code 18-60-310: execution of writ of possession
- Ark. Code 18-17-701: noncompliance with the rental agreement
- Ark. Code 1-5-101: state holidays