Ashley County, Arkansas Eviction Risk: Low

Ashley County, Arkansas eviction laws carries an average eviction-risk score of 1.9/10 (Low), placing it in the middle third of all 75 Arkansas eviction laws counties, with 41 counties scoring higher (riskier) and 33 scoring lower (more landlord-friendly). Across the county's 9 mapped cities, scores range from 1.5 to 2/10, a narrow band that signals broadly stable operating conditions, though landlords should not treat the county average as a guarantee at the street level. Average rent sits at $739 per month, and the average rent burden runs 34.1% of renter income, a figure worth watching when screening applicants for payment reliability.

The county's total population of 12,260 is spread across a mix of small cities and rural crossroads, with renters making up 36.5% of households. That renter share, combined with a 24.5% average poverty rate, tells a nuanced story: demand for affordable rentals is real, but so is the financial fragility that can precede late payments. Landlords willing to price units thoughtfully and screen carefully will find the legal framework here to be among the more workable in Arkansas.

The cities inside Ashley County

At the top of the local risk range, Hamburg (population 2,886) and Wilmot (population 408) both score 2/10, the highest readings in the county. Neither score is alarming in absolute terms, but between them they represent the most tenant-stress-sensitive markets in Ashley County and warrant tighter screening and cash-reserve planning. Crossett, the county's largest city at 4,639 residents, scores 1.9/10, in line with North Crossett (population 2,556) and West Crossett (population 1,413), which share the same rating.

On the lower end of the range, Montrose scores 1.7/10, and Fountain Hill and Parkdale each score 1.5/10, the lowest readings across the county's mapped cities. The gap between the top (2/10) and bottom (1.5/10) is modest but meaningful: a landlord operating in Hamburg faces measurably different conditions than one holding units in Fountain Hill. Risk is genuinely hyper-local here, and reviewing the individual city scores before acquiring or managing property is worth the few minutes it takes.

State-level laws that apply here

Every landlord operating in Ashley County works under Ark. Code § 18-17 (Residential Landlord-Tenant Act). For nonpayment of rent, the required notice period is 3 days. Lease-violation cure notices run 14 days, and end-of-term no-cause terminations require 30 days of notice. Once a case is filed, an uncontested eviction typically resolves in 30 to 60 days; a contested proceeding can stretch to 90 to 150 days. Understanding the full Arkansas eviction laws eviction process before a dispute arises is one of the most cost-effective things a local landlord can do.

On costs, court filing fees run $165 to $250, sheriff lockout fees add $40 to $120, and attorney fees for an eviction action typically range from $500 to $2,500, so total out-of-pocket exposure can vary widely depending on whether the tenant contests. Arkansas eviction laws state law does not impose just-cause requirements for eviction, and the state preempts any local rent-control ordinance, meaning no city in Ashley County can cap rent increases. For a full breakdown, see the Arkansas eviction costs guide and the Arkansas security deposit limits page, both of which reflect current state law.

With a 24.5% average poverty rate and a renter share of 36.5%, Ashley County carries real financial fragility beneath its low overall risk score, and the city-by-city grid above shows where that fragility is most concentrated.