20 Ark. Code of Rules § 138-101
Definitions
Operative Text
20 CAR § 138-101. Definitions. The following terms are defined for the purpose of this part: (1) “Department” means the Department of Health; (2) “Dependent recreational vehicle” means a recreational vehicle that is dependent upon a service building for toilet, shower, and lavatory facilities; (3) “Holding tank” means a tank or device used for the temporary storage of untreated human waste mounted on the recreational vehicle; (4) “Mobile home” means a transportable, single-family dwelling unit suitable for year-round occupancy and containing the same water supply, waste disposal, and electrical conveniences as immobile housing; (5) “Mobile home park” means a parcel of land for the placement of three (3) or more mobile homes, tiny homes on wheels, or recreational vehicles where services for a fee are provided for the placement for residential purposes; (6) “Mobile home space” means a space or lot in a mobile home park where water and sewer services are provided; (7) “Recreational vehicle” means any of the following: (A) Travel trailer. A portable structure built on a chassis, designed to be used as a dwelling for travel, recreation, and vacation uses, permanently identified as a travel trailer by the manufacturer of the trailer and factory equipped for the road; (B) Truck camper. A structure designed to be mounted on a truck chassis for use as a temporary dwelling for: (i) Travel; (ii) Recreation; and (iii) Vacation; (C) Motor-home. A self-powered, enclosed recreational vehicle dually used as both a vehicle and a temporary or full-time dwelling; and (D) Camping trailer. A folding or collapsible structure, mounted on wheels and designed for travel, recreation, and vacation use; (8) “Recreational vehicle park” means a parcel of land, for which plans have been approved by the Department of Health, where three (3) or more spaces are occupied or intended for occupancy by recreational vehicles for transient dwelling purposes, typically by night or week, commonly associated with travel to, at, or near an attraction; (9) “Recreational vehicle space” means a parcel of land in a recreational vehicle parking area for the: (A) Placement of a single recreational vehicle; and (B) Exclusive use of its occupants; (10) “Sanitary station” means a facility used for removing and disposing of wastes from self-contained recreational vehicle holding tanks; (11)(A) “Self-contained recreational vehicle” means a recreational vehicle that can operate independent of connections to sewer and water. (B) A self-contained recreational vehicle contains a water-flushed toilet, lavatory, shower, and kitchen sink, all of which are connected to water storage and sewage holding tanks located within the self-contained recreational vehicle; (12) “Service building” means a structure housing toilet, lavatory, and other facilities that are necessary to adequately serve the park occupants; (13) “Service water” means a sanitary station water supply for the wash-down of sewage holding tanks that is equipped with a backflow prevention device, air gap supply line, and drain to the sewage disposal system; (14) “Sewage” means all wastes discharging from sanitary conveniences and plumbing fixtures of a domestic nature, exclusive of industrial and commercial wastes; (15) “Sewer connections” means the connection consisting of all pipes, fittings, and appurtenances from the drain outlet to the inlet of the corresponding sewer riser pipe of the sewer system serving the space; (16) “Sewer riser pipe” means that portion of the sewer line that extends vertically to or above the ground elevation and terminates at each recreational vehicle or mobile home space; (17) “Tiny house on wheels” means a structure intended as a habitable dwelling for one (1) or more individuals which, for the purposes of this part, shall be considered a: (A) Mobile home, if plumbed and inspected in accordance with the 2018 Arkansas Plumbing Code, 17 CAR pt. 65; or (B) Recreational vehicle, if not plumbed and inspected in accordance with the 2018 Arkansas Plumbing Code; (18) “Wastewater” means any sewage containing animal or vegetable matter in suspension or solution, including but not limited to liquid wastes from: (A) Toilets; (B) Kitchen sinks; (C) Lavatories; (D) Washing machines; and (E) Other plumbing fixtures; (19) “Water connection” means a connection consisting of all pipes, fittings, and appurtenances from the water riser pipe to the water inlet pipe of the distribution system within the recreational vehicle or mobile home; (20) “Water riser pipe” means that portion of the water supply system serving the mobile home or recreational vehicle parking area which extends vertically at least four inches (4”) above ground elevation and terminates at a designed point at each space; and (21) “Watering station” means a facility for supplying the water storage tanks of recreational vehicles with potable water.
Section 138-101 of the Arkansas Code of Regulations (20 Ark. Code R. pt. 138 § 138-101) establishes a shared vocabulary for the rules governing mobile home parks and recreational vehicle parks in Arkansas. It defines key terms — such as "mobile home," "mobile home park," "recreational vehicle," and "tiny house on wheels" — that are used throughout the rest of Part 138. These definitions determine which facilities, spaces, and structures fall under the Department of Health's regulatory framework for this part.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of mobile home parks and recreational vehicle parks in Arkansas should be familiar with the definitions set out in § 138-101, because those definitions determine which regulatory requirements apply to their property and its infrastructure. For example, how a "tiny house on wheels" is classified — as a mobile home or a recreational vehicle — depends on whether it has been plumbed and inspected under the 2018 Arkansas Plumbing Code, which in turn affects which standards the space must meet. Compliant operators generally ensure that their facilities, spaces, and equipment align with the specific definitions used throughout Part 138 to avoid misclassification issues during Department of Health inspections.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Residents of mobile home parks or recreational vehicle parks in Arkansas benefit from understanding the definitions in § 138-101, because those definitions shape what protections and standards apply to their living situation. For instance, whether a tiny house on wheels is treated as a mobile home or a recreational vehicle under this part affects the services and infrastructure a park is required to provide for that space. Tenants who believe their park is not meeting the standards tied to these definitions may wish to consult the Arkansas Department of Health or a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
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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