Short-Term Rental Laws in Bentonville, Arkansas

Bentonville's STR demand is driven by Walmart business travel + the rapidly-growing cycling tourism economy (Coler, Slaughter Pen, OZ Trails). The 2022 ordinance restricted non-owner-occupied (investor) STRs in single-family residential zones (R-O, R-1, R-2) to a conditional use permit (CUP) process; owner-occupied STRs are by right with registration. Multi-family, mixed-use, and downtown zones permit non-owner-occupied STRs with registration only. The city tracks aggregate listings counts to inform future density caps.

Owner-occupied: R-O, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-PUD all permit by right with registration. Non-owner-occupied: requires CUP in R-O, R-1, R-2; permitted by right in R-3 (multi-family), MU (mixed-use), C-1, C-2, C-3 (commercial), and Downtown Overlay. CUP applications evaluated by Planning Commission against neighborhood-impact criteria. HOA covenants in newer subdivisions (Pleasant Crossing, Rocky Pointe, Bright Field Road) often prohibit STRs by covenant.

Operators must hold a short-term rental permit before listing. See the official permit portal.

Bentonville Community Development administers registration and CUP process. Annual renewal. CUP terms may include occupancy caps, parking conditions, designated quiet hours, and neighbor-notification requirements. Operating without registration/CUP: $500+ per violation + back-tax + A&P assessment + permit revocation. Benton County also has its own STR registration for unincorporated areas.

Combined short-term lodging tax in Bentonville is approximately 12.500% of gross nightly revenue (state sales + state TRT + local TRT + applicable resort/city options).

Arkansas State sales 6.5% + Benton County 1% + Bentonville city sales 2% + Bentonville A&P tax 3% — combined ~12.5% on transient lodging

Verify the current combined rate via the Utah State Tax Commission before remitting — rates drift quarterly.