Arkansas's Act 313 now forces every city to allow an ADU by right — capped fees, no parking mandate, no owner-occupancy. The modular unit is overseen by the Manufactured Home Commission. Here's the real 2026 path for Northwest Arkansas, Little Rock and beyond.
Arkansas searches come from Northwest Arkansas (Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers — one of the fastest-growing US regions), Little Rock, and workforce projects. Arkansas just made ADUs by-right statewide, and the modular unit is overseen by the Manufactured Home Commission. Watch tornado wind and, in the northeast, seismic.
The short version: Act 313 makes one ADU by-right everywhere (with capped fees and no owner-occupancy); the commission licenses the modular path; and you engineer for wind (and NE-Arkansas seismic).
The ADU change: Act 313 (2025, effective Jan 1, 2026)
- Every city/county must allow at least one ADU by right on a single-family lot.
- Fees capped at $250; no off-street parking mandate; no owner-occupancy or matching-exterior rules.
- ADU ≤ 75% of the home or 1,000 sq ft (whichever is smaller).
- Cities are updating codes to comply through 2026.
The building: Manufactured Home Commission
- The Arkansas Manufactured Home Commission licenses/certifies manufacturers, retailers, and installers of modular homes and sets installation standards.
- Modular homes are built to the adopted building code.
- Your local jurisdiction permits the site work — foundation, utilities, zoning.
The site: tornado wind + NE seismic
- Wind. Significant tornado/high-wind activity — design to the wind speeds.
- Seismic. Northeastern Arkansas is in the New Madrid zone — seismic design essential there.
- Ozarks. Some cold and light snow.
The spec is set from your site at order time.
Realistic timeline
- Factory: build to the adopted code via a licensed manufacturer, in parallel with site work.
- Local: a site/building permit for foundation and utilities; one ADU is by-right (fees capped at $250).
- Set + finish: foundation, set, tie-ins, final inspection.
With the structure built off-site, a turnkey Arkansas project can reach handover in roughly four months.
Find your situation
Northwest Arkansas ADU. By-right with capped fees in a booming market — a strong rental play; the licensed unit moves fast.
Little Rock / central AR ADU. Same statewide by-right rule; confirm the city's updated ordinance.
Northeast Arkansas. Engineer for New Madrid seismic.
Workforce / hospitality. Multi-unit production runs in parallel with site work, all to the adopted code.
How PSL Modular fits
We build to Arkansas's adopted codes through a commission-licensed channel, and hand your jurisdiction a unit ready for site approval. Tornado-rated wind and NE-Arkansas seismic are engineered to your site; UL-listed electrical, ASTM E84 Class A cladding, and helical-pile foundations included. Turnkey from quote to handover in roughly four months.
Next step: tell us your city and site, and we'll apply Act 313 to your lot and spec the wind/seismic, and send a real quote.
Sources
- Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing — Manufactured Home Commission (labor.arkansas.gov); Ark. Code 20-25-106
- Arkansas General Assembly — Act 313 of 2025 (ADU law; effective Jan 1, 2026)
- USGS — New Madrid Seismic Zone (northeast Arkansas)
This guide is general information, current as of 2026, not legal advice. Confirm specifics with your jurisdiction and the Arkansas Manufactured Home Commission.
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The verdict, building-approval path, ADU law, and structural spec for Arkansas — at a glance — with a link to a parcel-specific quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are ADUs by-right in Arkansas now?
Yes. Act 313 of 2025, effective January 1, 2026, requires every Arkansas city and county to allow at least one ADU by right on a single-family lot — no public hearing or discretionary zoning action. The law caps ADU application fees at $250, removes off-street parking requirements, prohibits owner-occupancy and matching-exterior mandates, and limits the ADU to 75% of the primary home or 1,000 sq ft (whichever is smaller). Cities are updating their codes to comply through 2026.
Who oversees modular homes in Arkansas?
The Arkansas Manufactured Home Commission (within the Department of Labor and Licensing) licenses and certifies manufacturers, retailers, and installers of manufactured and modular homes, and sets installation standards. Modular homes are built to the adopted building code; your local jurisdiction permits the site work — foundation, utilities, zoning. Work only with a commission-licensed manufacturer and installer.
What does Act 313 mean for Northwest Arkansas?
It's a big deal in the booming NWA market (Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers, Springdale), where housing demand is high. With ADUs now by-right, capped fees, and no parking/owner-occupancy mandates, adding a rentable backyard unit is far more predictable. Cities are aligning their ordinances; confirm your city's updated rule and the 75%/1,000 sq ft cap.
What site factors matter most in Arkansas?
Wind and seismic. Arkansas sees significant tornado/high-wind activity statewide, so the structure is engineered to the design wind speeds. And northeastern Arkansas (the Mississippi County / Jonesboro area) sits in the New Madrid Seismic Zone, where seismic design is essential. The Ozarks add some cold and light snow. PSL Modular sets the spec from your site.
Is modular good for Arkansas workforce and rental housing?
Yes. NWA's growth (Walmart/JB Hunt/Tyson ecosystem) and statewide workforce demand suit modular, and Act 313 makes ADUs a strong play. The commission-overseen unit clears the building; your work is the (now simpler) local zoning and the site.