Searcy County sits in the rugged heart of the Ozark Mountains in north-central Arkansas, 669 square miles of deep valleys, towering limestone bluffs, and the Buffalo National River — America’s first national river — angling across the county from southwest to northeast. With a population of just 7,828 (2020 census), it is among the least populous and most economically challenged counties in the state, ranking near the bottom in Arkansas for weekly wages. Yet it draws 1.5–1.6 million visitors annually to its trails, canoe launches, elk viewing areas, and river camps, creating a seasonal tourism economy layered over a base of cattle farming, timber cutting, and wood products manufacturing. The county seat is Marshall, the commercial hub, situated on U.S. Highway 65.
Tourism and the Buffalo National River are increasingly central to Searcy County’s identity and economic future. Remote-work relocation has also begun attracting newcomers drawn by the county’s natural beauty and low cost of living. All evictions are filed in the 14th Judicial Circuit Court. Searcy County is a dry county — alcohol sales are prohibited.
🏞️ Buffalo National River — America’s first national river (1972); 1.5–1.6M visitors/yr; first International Dark Sky Park in Arkansas (2019); Gilbert is the only private town remaining on the river and the world’s smallest sister city |
🏛️ 1889 Sandstone Courthouse — One of the oldest in Arkansas; native sandstone construction; on National Register of Historic Places; Marshall also hosts the Kenda Drive-In, the only year-round operating drive-in movie theater in Arkansas (opened 1966) |
🎶 Elton Britt — Country singer from Searcy County; “There’s a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere” earned a gold record in the 1940s; one of the first country music gold records in history |
🦌 Elk & Dark Skies — Major elk herd; elk viewing, hiking, horseback riding, autumn leaf peeping, cave exploration (Hurricane River Cave); Witts Springs’ annual Hillbilly Daze
📊 Quick Stats
County Seat
Marshall
Other Communities
Leslie, Gilbert, St. Joe, Pindall, Witts Springs, Snowball
Population
7,828 (2020 Census)
Major Employers
Buffalo River tourism/NPS, timber, cattle, wood products, healthcare, public sector
Court
14th Judicial Circuit
Rent Control
None
Alcohol
Dry county — alcohol prohibited
⚡ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
3-Day Notice to Vacate
Lease Violation
14-Day Notice to Cure or Quit
Month-to-Month Term.
30-Day Written Notice
Week-to-Week Term.
7-Day Written Notice
Eviction Filing
Unlawful Detainer / Complaint
Tenant Response Window
5 days after summons
Eviction Timeline
3–6 weeks typical
Security Deposit Cap
2 months rent (6+ unit landlords)
Deposit Return
60 days after termination
Statute
A.C.A. §§ 18-16-101; 18-17-101 et seq.
Searcy County Ordinances & Local Rules
Topic
Rule / Notes
Circuit Clerk & Filing
All evictions in Searcy County are filed in the 14th Judicial Circuit Court. Combined County/Circuit Clerk: Cassy Ward — Mailing Address: P.O. Box 998, Marshall, AR 72650; Physical: Courthouse Square, Marshall, AR 72650; Phone: (870) 448-3807; Fax: (870) 448-5005. File the Unlawful Detainer complaint at the 1889 native sandstone courthouse after the required notice period expires without tenant compliance. The courthouse is one of the oldest in Arkansas and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Rent Control
None. Arkansas preempts local rent control statewide. No city or county in Arkansas may impose rent control. Landlords throughout Searcy County may raise rents freely at renewal or with 30 days’ written notice on month-to-month tenancies.
Security Deposit
Capped at 2 months’ rent (A.C.A. § 18-16-304). Applies to landlords renting six or more dwellings. Return with written itemized deductions within 60 days of termination (A.C.A. § 18-16-305).
Notice to Vacate — Nonpayment
Written 3-day notice to vacate required before filing for unlawful detainer for nonpayment. Best practice: wait until rent is at least 5 days past due before serving (A.C.A. § 18-17-901). Retain dated proof of service.
Lease Violation Notice
For non-rent violations, serve a written 14-day notice to cure or quit identifying the specific breach (A.C.A. § 18-17-701). If the tenant remedies the violation within 14 days, the tenancy continues.
Month-to-Month Termination
30-day written notice required to terminate a month-to-month tenancy (A.C.A. § 18-17-704). Week-to-week tenancies require 7-day written notice.
Dry County
Searcy County prohibits the sale of alcohol. Draft lease provisions with this in mind — restrict only on-premises conduct that affects the property or other tenants, not off-premises legal activity. Tenants seeking alcohol must travel to neighboring wet counties.
Tourism & Seasonal Rental Market
The Buffalo National River draws 1.5–1.6 million visitors annually, creating a significant short-term and vacation rental market alongside traditional long-term rentals. If you operate cabin rentals, river camp housing, or short-term rentals, be aware that short-term rental income is subject to Arkansas state sales tax and applicable local hospitality taxes; verify current requirements with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. For long-term tenants whose income is tied to seasonal tourism employment (outfitters, guides, lodging staff), verify income across the full year — peak season pay stubs alone may overstate annual earnings.
Remote Worker Relocation
Searcy County has attracted remote workers drawn by its low cost of living, natural beauty, and broadband expansion. Remote-worker tenants typically have W-2 employment or 1099 contract income from employers outside the county. Verify income with recent pay stubs or contract documentation plus 2–3 months of bank statements confirming consistent deposits.
No Warranty of Habitability (Default)
Arkansas does not impose a general implied warranty of habitability by default. Leases executed after October 2021 carry some statutory habitability protections unless waived in writing. Tenants have no repair-and-deduct remedy under Arkansas law.
Abandoned Property
Personal property remaining after lease termination is deemed abandoned and may be disposed of by the landlord (A.C.A. § 18-16-108). Document with timestamped photos and video before disposal.
Self-Help Eviction
Prohibited. Do not attempt lockouts, utility shutoffs, or removal of belongings without a court order. Use the lawful judicial process through the 14th Judicial Circuit Court in Marshall.
Late Fees & NSF Checks
No statutory cap on late fees in Arkansas. Specify amount and grace period in writing in the lease. For returned checks: $30 per check plus bank fees (A.C.A. § 5-37-307(c)(2)(B)).
Notice Type3-Day Notice to Quit (Civil unlawful detainer) / 10-Day Notice (Criminal failure to vacate)
Notice Period3 days
Tenant Can Cure?No - 3-day civil notice is unconditional quit; tenant must vacate (landlord not required to accept late rent)
Days to Hearing5-15 days
Days to Writ1-5 days
Total Estimated Timeline15-30 days
Total Estimated Cost$100-$350
⚠️ Watch Out
Arkansas historically had a criminal eviction statute allowing landlords to charge tenants with a misdemeanor for failure to vacate. This was struck down in 2023 but some counties still reference it. Civil unlawful detainer is now the primary path.
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the Circuit Court (or District Court with concurrent jurisdiction). Pay the filing fee (~$65-165).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Arkansas eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice.
Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections.
For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified Arkansas attorney or local legal aid organization.
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AI-generated, state-specific eviction notices, pay-or-quit letters, lease termination documents, and more — pre-filled with your tenant's information and built to Arkansas requirements.
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⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
Underground Landlord
🏘️ Communities & Screening Tips
Key communities: Marshall (county seat), Leslie, Gilbert, St. Joe, Pindall, Witts Springs, Snowball.
Searcy County market: 14th Judicial Circuit; Circuit Clerk Cassy Ward, P.O. Box 998 / Courthouse Square, Marshall, (870) 448-3807. Dry county. Small market; most tenants work in tourism/NPS services, timber, cattle, or public-sector jobs. For seasonal tourism workers: verify full-year income, not just peak-season stubs. For remote workers: verify W-2 or consistent 1099 contract payments with bank statements. Cabin/vacation rental landlords: consult AR DFA on state sales tax obligations for short-term rentals.
Arkansas key rules: 3-day notice (nonpayment), 14-day cure (violations), 30-day M-to-M termination, no rent control, 60-day deposit return, 2-month cap (6+ unit landlords), no habitability warranty by default, no repair-and-deduct.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Searcy County Arkansas Landlord-Tenant Law: The Buffalo National River, Gilbert (the World’s Smallest Sister City), the Kenda Drive-In, and What Every Landlord Needs to Know
Searcy County, formed on December 13, 1838, from a portion of Marion County and named for Richard Searcy — the first clerk and judge in the Arkansas Territory — occupies one of the most scenically spectacular and economically challenging corners of the state. Its 669 square miles lie almost entirely within the Boston Mountains and Springfield Plateau sections of the Ozark Plateau, bisected by the Buffalo River as it winds northeast through enormous limestone bluffs toward the White River. The county seat is Marshall, the commercial and governmental hub, on U.S. Highway 65; other communities include Leslie, St. Joe, Pindall, Gilbert, Witts Springs, and Snowball. The city of Searcy, Arkansas — some 70 miles away — shares the name of Richard Searcy but was never part of Searcy County.
The Buffalo National River and Gilbert
America’s first national river — designated by President Nixon on March 1, 1972, the same day he signed the legislation creating Newton County’s Buffalo National River — flows through both Newton and Searcy counties, drawing 1.5 to 1.6 million visitors per year to the region and generating tens of millions of dollars in economic activity. In 2019, the Buffalo National River became Arkansas’s first International Dark Sky Park, recognized for its exceptionally low light pollution. The town of Gilbert, situated on the north bank of the Buffalo where the Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad once crossed, is celebrated as the “Coolest Town in Arkansas” and holds the distinction of being the world’s smallest sister city — paired with a similarly tiny community abroad as part of an international friendship program. The Gilbert General Store, built in 1901 by “Uncle” Billy Mays, is on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the last of its kind in the Ozarks.
The 1889 Sandstone Courthouse and the Kenda Drive-In
The Searcy County Courthouse in Marshall, built in 1889 from native sandstone, is one of the oldest courthouses in Arkansas and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The stone masons who built it — Jim Eatherly, Tom Treadwell, T.J. Thomas, and others — created a structure that has served county government for more than 135 years. Eviction filings for Searcy County properties are made here. Marshall also hosts the Kenda Drive-In, opened in April 1966 by Kenneth and Marilyn Sanders, which holds the distinction of being the only year-round operating drive-in movie theater in all of Arkansas. The drive-in hosts movies, vintage car nights, and live music and has become a cultural landmark for the region.
A Persistently Republican County
Along with neighboring Newton County, Searcy County is one of only two Arkansas counties that remained consistently Republican during the overwhelmingly Democratic “Solid South” era. This unusual political pattern stemmed from the county’s mountain topography: the Ozark soils were too poor for cotton plantation agriculture, so slavery was minimal, and many residents supported the Union during the Civil War. Searcy and Newton were the only two Arkansas counties carried by Alf Landon in 1936, Wendell Willkie in 1940, and Calvin Coolidge in 1924. Since 1980, the county has voted Republican in virtually every presidential, gubernatorial, and congressional election.
Arkansas Landlord-Tenant Law in Searcy County
All residential rental relationships in Searcy County are governed by statewide Arkansas law. There is no local rent control — state law preempts any county or municipal rent control ordinance. For nonpayment, serve a 3-day written notice to vacate after rent is at least 5 days past due, then file an Unlawful Detainer complaint with Circuit Clerk Cassy Ward, P.O. Box 998, Marshall, AR 72650, (870) 448-3807. For lease violations, serve a 14-day notice to cure. Month-to-month tenancies require 30 days’ written notice to terminate. Security deposits are capped at two months’ rent for landlords with six or more units, returned with written itemized deductions within 60 days. No implied warranty of habitability by default; no repair-and-deduct remedy; self-help evictions are prohibited. Searcy County remains a dry county — alcohol sales are prohibited within its borders.
This guide is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Arkansas attorney for guidance specific to your situation. Last updated: March 2026.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Landlord-tenant law is governed by statewide Arkansas statutes. Consult a licensed Arkansas attorney for guidance specific to your situation. Last updated: March 2026.
