No, sleeping on a refrigerator in your Arkansas backyard is not illegal under any current state law. This notion stems from an old urban legend or misattributed “dumb law,” often circulated online without basis in Arkansas statutes.
Origin of the Myth
The claim appears in joke lists and Reddit threads as a quirky prohibition, sometimes vaguely tied to Arkansas or other states, but no Arkansas code section bans it.
Actual Arkansas laws around refrigerators focus on safety, like §20-27-801, which prohibits leaving abandoned iceboxes unlocked if accessible to children (to prevent suffocation), not sleeping on them outdoors.​
Such myths likely twist outdated local ordinances from decades ago, now repealed or never real, similar to fake rules about ice cream in pockets.​
Relevant Arkansas Rules
Arkansas has no specific backyard sleeping restrictions beyond general nuisance or zoning ordinances, which vary by city/county (e.g., no camping in urban yards without permits).​
Property owners can use their land reasonably, including placing appliances outdoors if not creating hazards or violating health codes (e.g., no attracting pests).​
Sleeping in vehicles at rest areas is allowed briefly, showing no broad anti-napping laws exist.
Practical Advice
Check local city codes (e.g., Little Rock or Fayetteville) for yard clutter rules, as HOAs or neighbors might complain about an eyesore fridge.​
A real concern would be child safety if kids could climb it, tying back to the icebox law—secure it if needed.​
If it’s a prank or neighbor dispute, document everything; no state law backs a citation for this.
