Overview — Are short‑term rentals allowed?

• Explicit answer: Yes. Short‑term rentals are permitted in all residential units in Russellville provided adequate on‑site parking exists and the use is allowed by the zoning of the subject property.
• To operate legally, each STR unit must:
  • Obtain and maintain an annual City of Russellville business license (Short‑Term Rental Permit).
  • Pass the required fire and building safety inspections for new permits.
  • Collect and remit applicable state and local taxes on gross rental proceeds.
  • Maintain compliance with the City’s zoning and property maintenance standards.
• Licenses expire December 31 each year; renewals are due by January 31. Late fees and penalties apply for late renewals. A 10% late fee is assessed for applications not received prior to January 31; if the fee is not paid within 60 days of the due date, a 30% penalty will be added.

How to start a short‑term rental business in Russellville

1. Confirm zoning and permitted use

• Verify that short‑term rental use is a permitted use at the property’s location per Russellville Zoning Code Article 6 (Table of Permitted Uses for each zone). The license does not waive zoning compliance.
• Ensure adequate on‑site parking in accordance with the parking standards applicable to the zoning district.

2. Prepare the property

• The STR must meet all applicable safety and property maintenance codes.
• Major short‑term rentals must designate a local “Short‑Term Rental Primary Contact” who serves as the administrative contact at all times the unit(s) are rented.

3. Obtain required permits and inspections

• New STR permits require a fire and building inspection prior to license issuance.
• Submit a complete Business Permit (License) Application – Short‑Term Rental and the signed Affidavit of Assurance confirming adherence to state and local property maintenance codes.

4. Apply for the business license

• Annual fee: $25 per location.
• Complete the Business Permit (License) Application – Short‑Term Rental and include all requested information (rental address, business name and owners, mailing address, primary contact information, Arkansas Tax ID, Federal Tax ID, etc.).
• Sign the Affidavit of Assurance and include any required attachments.
• Submit the application to the Permitting Department. The license expires December 31 annually.

5. Tax registration and collections

• Register with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) as required by Arkansas law and begin collecting applicable taxes on gross rental proceeds.
• The Russellville license confirms you are operating under City Ordinance No. 1811 and are subject to citation for noncompliance.

6. Manage operations and compliance

• Maintain a responsive local primary contact/representative. If the Russellville Police Department is summoned to the property on three separate occasions within 48 hours, the designated contact must visit the property within one hour of the third call or face fines as specified in Zoning Code Article 10.4.
• Renew your STR business license annually by December 31, with renewals due by January 31 to avoid late fees and penalties.

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

• Business License (Short‑Term Rental)
  • Annual fee: $25 per location
  • Separate application required for each business in the same structure
  • License expires December 31 annually; renewals due by January 31
• Affidavit of Assurance
  • Signed confirmation that properties comply with state and local property maintenance codes
• Fire and Building Inspection
  • Required for new STR permits prior to license issuance
  • Not required for license renewals (only fee and application submission)
• Short‑Term Rental Primary Contact
  • Required for major short‑term rentals
  • Must be local and available at all times during rentals
• Documentation to include with application (as applicable)
  • DBA name (if applicable)
  • Business name and owner(s) name and mailing address
  • Phone number and email
  • Arkansas Tax ID and Federal Tax ID
  • Rental address, and any additional STR addresses
  • Rental Primary (LOCAL) Contact name, address, and 24‑hour phone number

Tax obligations (state and local)

• State taxes: All lodging providers must register with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration and collect applicable state taxes on gross rental proceeds. Consult Arkansas law for the current rate and remittance schedule.
• Local taxes: The City of Russellville requires the collection and payment of all applicable taxes, including the A & P (Advertising & Promotion) tax, on gross proceeds from STR rentals. Coordinate with the City on remittance procedures for local taxes.

Local enforcement, response standards, and penalties

• Zoning and permitted uses: STRs are limited to the permitted uses for the subject property’s zoning district under the Russellville Zoning Code Article 6.
• Parking and neighborhood compatibility: STRs are permitted in residential units provided adequate parking exists per the applicable parking standards.
• Response requirement: A designated primary contact/representative must be able to respond to the property within a reasonable time. If Russellville Police are summoned to the property on three separate occasions within a 48‑hour span, the primary contact must visit the property within one hour of the third call. Failure to do so will result in fines under Zoning Code Article 10.4.
• License discipline and penalties: The application affirms compliance with all federal, state, county, and city laws. Providing false information may void the license and lead to forfeiture of paid fees. Noncompliance with City Ordinance No. 1811 is subject to citation.
• Renewal penalties:
  • If renewal application and fee are not received prior to January 31, a 10% late fee applies.
  • If the fee is not paid within 60 days of the due date, an additional 30% penalty will be added.

State‑level context (Arkansas)

• State law requires all lodging providers, including short‑term rentals, to register with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration and to remit applicable state and local taxes on gross rental proceeds.
• Cities in Arkansas regulate short‑term rentals primarily through their land use (zoning) and taxation (business license/occupation tax and sales tax) authorities. Russellville’s STR license program is the local framework for this market, alongside applicable state tax requirements.

Local authority contacts (Russellville)

• Permitting Department
  • 220 N. Knoxville Ave., Russellville, AR 72801
  • Phone: 479‑968‑1002
  • Fax: 479‑968‑4327
  • Staff: Permitting Clerks Nikki Duvall and Robelyn Kendall (emails available on the Permits & Forms page)

Source pages and documents (for verification and application)

• Business Permit (License) Application – Short‑Term Rental (Russellville)
  • www.rsvlar.org/DocumentCenter/View/11930
• Permits and Forms (Russellville Fire, Building & Safety)
  • russellvillearkansas.org/611/Permits-and-Forms
  • Includes links to:
    • Business Permit Application – Short‑Term Rental
    • Short‑Term Rental Inspection Checklist
    • Property Maintenance Code Book
    • Code Enforcement Requests portal
• Arkansas Times coverage of city STR regulation (statewide context and municipal approaches)
  • arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2022/04/18/arkansas-cities-regulate-airbnbs-and-other-short-term-rentals
• Market overview and management services (third‑party; general Russellville STR info)
  • www.gosummer.com/vacation-rental-management/russellille-arkansas
  • Note: Use the City’s official documents above for authoritative licensing and compliance details.

Notes for investors

• Apply early and plan for inspections. New permits require fire and building safety inspections before issuance; renewals do not.
• Always confirm that STR use is a permitted use in the subject property’s zoning district and that parking meets Code.
• Maintain an on‑site/local primary contact and establish protocols to meet the one‑hour response requirement following repeated police calls.
• Track license expiration (December 31) and renewal deadline (January 31) to avoid late fees and penalties.
• Register with the state for tax collection/remittance and coordinate A & P tax remittance with the City.