15 Ark. Code of Rules § 86-315
Section 8 housing choice vouchers
Operative Text
15 CAR § 86-315. Section 8 housing choice vouchers. (a) Owners may not refuse to rent to Section 8 housing choice voucher holders simply because they have Section 8. (b) On the other hand, owners must not assume a Section 8 certificate or voucher holder automatically qualifies. (c) Applicants eligible for Section 8 may: (1) Have incomes exceeding LIHTC income limits; (2) Have negative references; or (3) Otherwise not qualify. (d) Proof of income eligibility must be in the tenant file.
Under 15 Ark. Code R. pt. 86 § 86-315, landlords in Arkansas are prohibited from rejecting rental applicants solely on the basis that they hold a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher. At the same time, possession of a voucher does not serve as automatic proof that an applicant meets all eligibility requirements for a particular unit. Owners are still permitted to screen voucher holders using the same criteria applied to other applicants, and documentation of income eligibility must be maintained in the tenant file.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 86-315, compliant operators apply their standard screening criteria to all applicants, including Section 8 voucher holders, rather than either rejecting or approving them based solely on voucher status. A voucher does not guarantee that an applicant meets income limits for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties, has satisfactory references, or otherwise qualifies under the property's criteria. Operators generally maintain documentation of income eligibility determinations in each tenant's file, as the regulation explicitly requires proof of income eligibility to be on record.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 86-315 establishes that a landlord in Arkansas cannot turn away a rental applicant simply because that applicant holds a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher. However, tenants should be aware that holding a voucher does not exempt them from a property's standard screening process, including income limit checks and reference reviews. Tenants who believe they were denied housing solely because of their voucher status may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization or a fair housing agency to understand available complaint and enforcement paths.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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