Cleveland County Arkansas Landlord-Tenant Law: A Guide for Rental Property Owners in Rison, Kingsland, and the South-Central Arkansas Timberlands
Cleveland County is quiet, rural, and deeply rooted — a place of rolling pine hills, hunting clubs, the Saline River, and the kind of small-town character that persists in communities that never chased growth for its own sake. It is also, improbably, the birthplace of two of the most significant American cultural figures of the 20th century. Johnny Cash was born in Kingsland on February 26, 1932. Paul “Bear” Bryant, who would go on to win six national championships coaching Alabama and compile more Division I-A victories than anyone before him, was born near Kingsland on September 11, 1913. The county observes both legacies with quiet pride — the Kingsland post office was named in Cash’s honor in 1994 and redesignated by Congress in 2025 as the Kingsland Johnny Cash Post Office.
Where Cleveland County Fits
Cleveland County covers 598 square miles of south-central Arkansas, bordered by Bradley, Calhoun, Dallas, Jefferson, and Lincoln counties. Its population of 7,550 (2020 Census) makes it one of Arkansas’s smaller counties, and it has been declining slowly as rural outmigration continues. The county is formally part of the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area — a designation that reflects its relationship to the broader regional economy rather than its character, which is entirely rural. The county has two school districts (Cleveland County and Woodlawn), a historic 1911 courthouse in Rison that sits on the National Register of Historic Places, and no major employer of its own.
The Commuter County Reality
The Encyclopedia of Arkansas states it plainly: Cleveland County “has no major industry, so many residents travel to nearby counties to work.” The data bears this out. The average commute time for Cleveland County workers is 31.4 minutes — above the national average of 26.6 minutes — and 4.4% of the workforce has super-commutes of more than 90 minutes. Production occupations are the largest employment category by resident worker count, which largely reflects manufacturing jobs in neighboring counties rather than local plants.
For landlords, this means that the most important thing to understand about a Cleveland County tenant is often not what they do in Rison or Kingsland, but what they do in Pine Bluff, Fordyce, Camden, or elsewhere. Verify employment at the actual employer, wherever it is. The commuter’s job stability — not the local economy — determines their ability to pay rent. A Pine Bluff Arsenal employee or a Camden defense contractor worker living in Cleveland County because of lower housing costs and rural quality of life is a fundamentally different risk profile than someone relying on local timber or agriculture employment.
The Local Economy: Timber, Hunting, and Agriculture
Timber remains the leading local industry. Cleveland County’s rolling pine hills support logging, pulpwood hauling, and related forestry services. Timber work is cyclical and income can vary significantly with lumber market conditions, seasonal weather, and individual contract arrangements. When screening timber workers, verify employment over multiple months of pay stubs rather than relying on a single recent pay stub that may reflect an unusually productive period.
Agriculture — tomatoes, broiler chickens, cattle, and soybeans — contributes additional income for some residents. The county schools, county government offices, and Rison’s small commercial center provide the most stable local employment. School district and county government employees are the most predictable tenant profiles for local employment; their income is consistent, their employment is stable, and their community ties are deep.
Hunting is a significant cultural and economic activity in Cleveland County. The county consistently ranks among the top 10 in Arkansas for deer harvested annually, and over 45 hunting clubs operate in the county. Members of these clubs come from across the state. Rural properties with deer hunting infrastructure — food plots, stands, trail cameras, and adequate acreage — can generate meaningful seasonal income through hunting cabin rentals or seasonal leases to hunting clubs, particularly during the October through December peak of whitetail deer season.
The Rental Market
The rental market in Cleveland County is thin and affordable. Median rents sit around $692/month with average home values around $111,000 and very low property taxes. The county median household income of approximately $50,509 is modestly above the Arkansas average, suggesting that the workforce commuting out to better-paying jobs in neighboring counties is lifting the income profile above what purely local employment would support. The rental stock is predominantly single-family houses with some mobile homes on land; apartment units are essentially nonexistent outside of Rison proper.
In this thin market, tenant retention is critical. A good tenant who stays several years saves you the cost, vacancy, and effort of finding a replacement in a small community where your options are limited. Price competitively, maintain properties proactively, and deal professionally — these basics matter more in a county of 7,550 than in any growth market.
Arkansas Landlord-Tenant Law in Cleveland County
All Arkansas landlord-tenant law applies statewide. There are no local ordinances, rent control measures, or just-cause eviction requirements in Cleveland County or Rison. The governing statutes are A.C.A. §§ 18-16-101 through 18-16-108 and the Arkansas Residential Landlord-Tenant Act of 2007, A.C.A. §§ 18-17-101 et seq. Arkansas caps security deposits at two months’ rent, returnable within 60 days (applies to landlords with 6+ units). No habitability warranty by default; no repair-and-deduct. Abandoned property may be disposed of immediately on lease termination. No rent control anywhere in Arkansas.
All Cleveland County evictions are filed in the 13th Judicial Circuit Court. The combined Circuit/County Clerk office is under Brandy Herring at 20 Magnolia Street, Rison, AR 71665 (P.O. Box 368). Circuit court phone: (870) 325-6902. Filing fee: $165. Hours: 8:30 AM–4:00 PM weekdays. Serve the appropriate notice (3-day for nonpayment, 14-day cure for violations), file the Unlawful Detainer complaint, allow 5 days for the tenant to object, then proceed to hearing or default judgment and Writ of Possession. Never use self-help eviction.
This guide is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Arkansas landlord-tenant law is governed by the Arkansas Code Annotated and applies statewide, with no local rent control or just-cause eviction requirements in Cleveland County. Consult a licensed Arkansas attorney or contact the 13th Judicial Circuit Court Clerk at (870) 325-6902 for guidance specific to your situation. Last updated: March 2026.
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