Bolthole Index

Craighead County, Arkansas

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Craighead County, Arkansas

64Index Score / 100
#68 of 75 in Arkansas

Unincorporated Craighead County, Arkansas does not administer a general home building permit or county zoning ordinance, but statewide building codes apply123. Jonesboro issues its own building and zoning permits, while Bono administers city zoning45. Septic permits throughout Craighead County remain with the Arkansas Department of Health or its authorized agent6. Development in a Special Flood Hazard Area needs a county floodplain permit before work begins7.

At a glance

Building permit
No general county home permit; other permits may still apply1
Zoning
None; the county has no zoning ordinance2
Floodplain development permit
Required in a Special Flood Hazard Area; not required outside one89
Septic permit
Construction and operation permits required through Arkansas Department of Health or its authorized agent10
Owner-builder exemption
Contractor-licensing exemption available for your own residence; energy-code compliance is also voluntary for qualifying self-builders1112
Statewide residential code standard
2021 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code applies statewide, including unincorporated land3
Subdivision
Regulated in unincorporated areas through county concept-plan, plat and filing review13

Who to call

Floodplain permits

Craighead County Office of Emergency Management (Floodplain)

Issues Floodplain Development Permits and administers the county's NFIP floodplain program for Craighead County.

870-933-4575

acoy@craigheadcountyar.gov

Craighead County Annex, 511 Union, Room 5, Jonesboro, AR 72401

Online permits →

Septic permits

Arkansas Department of Health - Onsite Wastewater (Environmental Health)

Statewide onsite wastewater (septic) policy and permit review, carried out locally through the Environmental Health Specialist at the Craighead County health department.

501-661-2171

4815 W. Markham Street, Slot 46, Little Rock, AR 72205

Also useful

Craighead County Judge's Office

Craighead County's chief administrative office. With no county planning or zoning department, direct general county-government and unincorporated subdivision questions here; Jonesboro zoning questions go to the city.

870-933-4500

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 10, 2026.

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Do you need a building permit in Craighead County, Arkansas?

Craighead County does not administer a general residential building permit in its unincorporated area, but the 2021 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code applies there13. Arkansas building codes are mandatory minimums even where no building permit or inspection is required14. Where an applicable code permit is required and no building official has been appointed, the owner, authorized agent or contractor applies to the State Fire Marshal; the statewide provision does not require a general county permit for every home15. Nonresidential farm buildings have specified electrical-licensing and Electrical Code Authority Act exemptions, not a blanket exemption from building, floodplain or septic requirements1617. A county Floodplain Development Permit is required before work in a Special Flood Hazard Area, but not outside one89. The floodplain application costs $25, and development cannot be used or occupied until the county issues a Certificate of Compliance187.

Who issues building permits and floodplain permits in Craighead County?

The Craighead County Office of Emergency Management issues Floodplain Development Permits and runs the county's NFIP program from the Craighead County Annex in Jonesboro19. Craighead County has no general county building-permit program for unincorporated land1. Inside Jonesboro, the city requires building and zoning permits before construction, reconstruction, moving, demolition or structural alteration begins; septic approval remains with the Arkansas Department of Health or its authorized agent46. For work requiring an Arkansas Fire Prevention Code permit outside a local program, apply to the building official or, if none is appointed, the State Fire Marshal15. Direct unincorporated subdivision questions to the County Judge's Office, which reviews the initial Concept Plan2013.

Does Craighead County have zoning?

Unincorporated Craighead County has no zoning ordinance or planning board in place2. Jonesboro and Bono administer their own zoning inside city limits; septic permits remain with the Arkansas Department of Health or its authorized agent2156. Unincorporated land divisions still require county review: dividing land into 2 or more lots, or recombining previously platted lots, generally triggers concept-plan, plat and filing requirements13. Agricultural divisions into parcels of at least 5 acres are excluded unless street dedication or utility installation is involved13. Craighead County owner-builders qualify for a residential-contractor licensing exemption when constructing their own residence unless they build more than 1 residence in a calendar year; owners acting as their own home-improvement contractors on their own property also qualify11. These licensing exemptions do not waive applicable building codes or building, floodplain and septic permits22. Energy-code compliance is voluntary for qualifying self-builders building for personal occupancy, subject to thermal-performance requirements for specified federally financed homes12. We could not confirm minimum dwelling size, ordinary setbacks, height or lot coverage; ask the County Judge's Office before relying on their absence20.

How do septic permits work in Craighead County?

Arkansas requires construction and operation permits before an onsite wastewater system is built, installed or modified in Craighead County, including inside Jonesboro and other cities10. The Arkansas Department of Health handles applications through its authorized agent or, where none is designated, directly through the Department6. The Department uses Environmental Health Specialists in county health departments23. Connect to sanitary sewer instead when it is available within 300 feet of where the sewer exits the building and the connection does not cross another person's property24. A septic system cannot be used until inspection is approved and a Permit for Operation is issued25. Authorized composting or incinerating toilets are possible, but other wastewater still needs approved treatment or disposal26. Because 0% of mapped soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional drain field, make the site evaluation an early step27.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Craighead County?

We could not confirm whether a single RV, tiny home, manufactured home or accessory dwelling may be occupied long-term on private land in unincorporated Craighead County; ask the County Judge's Office about the proposed use and Environmental Health about wastewater approval2023. No county zoning does not establish permission for indefinite occupancy2. Arkansas regulates RV parks with at least 3 spaces intended for transient stays; park RVs must remain movable and cannot be permanently connected28. Arkansas mobile-home park rules cover parcels with at least 3 mobile homes where placement or maintenance services are provided for a fee, and park construction or alteration requires Department approval29. Mobile-home park rules and state-park camping limits do not establish a right to occupy a single private site2930.

What are the steps to build a home in Craighead County?

  1. Ask the County Judge's Office whether the parcel is part of a subdivision or proposed land division; unincorporated subdivisions begin with a Concept Plan and require final-plat approval and filing before lot sales2013.
  2. Determine whether the site lies in a Special Flood Hazard Area; obtain the $25 county permit before work there, while no county floodplain permit is required outside one19189.
  3. Confirm whether sanitary sewer is available within 300 feet without crossing another person's property; if so, connection is required24.
  4. If septic is allowed, secure construction approval before building and obtain the operation permit after inspection10.
  5. Ask whether the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code requires a permit for the project; where no building official is appointed, apply to the State Fire Marshal15.
  6. Obtain an Arkansas Department of Transportation access permit before work on a state-highway right-of-way31.
  7. Build to the statewide 2021 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code even where Craighead County does not administer a general home permit31.

What should you check before buying land in Craighead County?

Start with wastewater: 0% of Craighead County's mapped soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make an acceptable septic site a purchase contingency27. Confirm that the legal description and plat comply with the county subdivision ordinance; residential land sellers must certify lots of at least 3 acres or provide an Arkansas Health Department subdivision-review approval letter13. Check the flood map because development in a Special Flood Hazard Area needs a $25 permit and cannot be used or occupied until the county issues a Certificate of Compliance187. Verify legal road access and ask the road authority about the proposed driveway; work on a state-highway right-of-way needs a state access permit31. For carrying costs, the effective property tax rate is about 0.5% and the median annual bill is about $1,0843233.

Watch-outs

  • Craighead County has no zoning ordinance, but unincorporated land divisions are regulated; do not split, re-plat or market lots without checking the county's Concept Plan and plat requirements213.
  • A Floodplain Development Permit is required in a Special Flood Hazard Area but not outside one; other permits may still apply anywhere in Craighead County89.
  • RV, tiny-home and accessory-dwelling occupancy on a single private site remains unconfirmed, and every occupied setup still needs an approved method of sewage disposal34.

Sources

  1. Craighead County - Floodplain (Office of Emergency Management) (2026 county census)
  2. Craighead County - Floodplain (Office of Emergency Management) (2026 county census)
  3. Part 15. 2021 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code Rules, quoted and re-checked
  4. Jonesboro: City of Jonesboro Planning & Development Guide (Craighead County), quoted and re-checked
  5. Bono: City of Bono Zoning Codes (Craighead County), quoted and re-checked
  6. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), quoted and re-checked
  7. FLOODPLAIN PERMIT PACKET.xlsx, quoted and re-checked
  8. 2024-15 An Ordinance providing for the establishment of a flood damage prevention program for Craighead County and for other purposes, quoted and re-checked
  9. Arkansas Floodplain Development Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
  10. 14 CAR § 21-301. Generally, quoted and re-checked
  11. Arkansas Residential Contractor Law revised August 2025, quoted and re-checked
  12. Arkansas Energy Code for New Building Construction Supplements and Amendments, quoted and re-checked
  13. Craighead County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 12 - Roads / Transportation, quoted and re-checked
  14. Home Improvement New Application, quoted and re-checked
  15. 2021 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code Rules Changes, quoted and re-checked
  16. 17 CAR § 210-602. Construction and exemptions, quoted and re-checked
  17. 17 CAR § 210-602. Construction and exemptions, quoted and re-checked
  18. FLOODPLAIN PERMIT PACKET.xlsx, quoted and re-checked
  19. Craighead County Office of Emergency Management (Floodplain) (craigheadcountyar.gov)
  20. Craighead County Judge's Office (craigheadcountyar.gov)
  21. Jonesboro: Zoning Process (Craighead County), quoted and re-checked
  22. Arkansas Residential Contractor Law revised August 2025, quoted and re-checked
  23. Arkansas Department of Health - Onsite Wastewater (Environmental Health) (healthy.arkansas.gov)
  24. 14 CAR § 21-301. Generally, quoted and re-checked
  25. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), quoted and re-checked
  26. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024) (Arkansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  28. codeofarrules.arkansas.gov, quoted and re-checked
  29. Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Parks, quoted and re-checked
  30. 22 CAR § 50-108. Camping rules, fee collection, registration, and reservations, quoted and re-checked
  31. Regulations: Rules for Access Driveways to State Highways (Arkansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  32. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  33. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  34. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), quoted and re-checked

Written October 10, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

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Compared with neighboring counties

Like all 4 of the neighbors with published rules, Craighead County has no countywide zoning.

RuleCraighead CountyPoinsett CountyGreene CountyLawrence CountyMississippi CountyJackson CountyCross County
Building permitNot requiredNot requiredNot requiredNot requiredNot requiredNot requiredLimited
County zoningNoNoNoNoNot publishedNoNot published
Septic permitsAR Dept. of HealthAR Dept. of HealthAR Dept. of HealthAR Dept. of HealthAR Dept. of HealthAR Dept. of HealthAR Dept. of Health

County locator

Craighead County in Arkansas

64
County map
Craighead County highlighted among the Arkansas counties · colored by Index score

How Craighead County scores

Seclusion41100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency53100% ev.
Admin Boringness85100% ev.
Durability51100% ev.
Property Autonomy47100% ev.
Carry Cost81100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$220kTypical home
0.5%Property tax
$4,451Land / acre
51.1"Annual rain
6.8% of yrsSevere drought
21.3 / yr (+18)Mid-century 100°F days
16.7 daysMid-century dry spell
2.35" (+7.6%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.61×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,648Home insurance / yr
0.3% / yrInsurance growth
0.83%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
79,243People within 30 min
2,398,416People within 2 hr
96,860Radius comparison (15 mi)
161.2People / sq mi
0.3%Federal land
98.3%Land at 15% slope or less
0%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
0 acWorkable land screen
18.5%Wooded land
72.7 tonsBiomass / forest ac
60.3°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Craighead County

Inside a city or town, that city usually issues building permits and sets zoning; the county’s rules above cover unincorporated land. Septic, wells and floodplain rules usually stay with the county or state everywhere.

Not yet researched: Bay · Town of Black Oak · Brookland · Caraway · Town of Cash · Town of Egypt · Lake City · Monette

Answers from the rulebook for Craighead County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Craighead County rules

  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision development and re-platting of land in the unincorporated area of Craighead County, Arkansas.

    • A subdivision is defined as a division of land into two or more lots or parcels, including combination or recombination of two or more previously platted lots.
    • Agricultural divisions into lots or parcels of five acres or more are excluded unless street dedication or utility installation is involved.
    • A Concept Plan must first be submitted to the County Judge for review; the Quorum Court Road Committee may conduct further review within fifteen days when determined by the County Judge.
    • The approval process consists of Concept Plan submittal, preliminary plat and construction-plan submittal and approval, and final-plan and bond submission, approval, and filing.
    • Preliminary approval does not authorize construction or lot sales; the Final Plat must be approved and filed with the Craighead County Circuit Clerk.
    • Preliminary submissions may require a plat fee, eight copies of the Preliminary Plat, one copy of detailed construction plans, and additional copies at the developer's or contractor's cost.
    • Roads and drainage improvements must be designed and stamped by an Arkansas-registered professional engineer; minimum standards include a 60-foot right of way, a 22-foot ACHM paved driving surface, four-foot aggregate shoulders, and specified drainage and ditch requirements.
    • No subdivision plat may be approved if it contains lots or building sites in a floodway. Floodplain portions must be delineated, and structures in the floodplain require County-approved base-flood-elevation certification and a finished floor one foot above BFE.
    • All improvements must be completed within thirty-six months from preliminary-plat and construction-plan approval, secured by a performance bond equal to 100 percent of construction costs if unfinished.
    • Final approval requires a final-plat application, a final plat fee as determined by the Quorum Court, assurances that required improvements are complete or bonded, utility-agency letters, and an approved ADEQ Storm Water Pollution Protection Plan.
    • Residential land sellers must certify that lots are at least three acres or provide an Arkansas Health Department subdivision-review approval letter.
    • The County Judge must approve or disapprove the Final Plat in writing within sixty days after receiving the final plat and required information and certifications.
    • After County Judge approval, the developer must submit signed reproducible copies, file one copy with covenants and certifications at the Circuit Clerk's office, and may then begin selling lots.
    • All plats approved by Craighead County remain contingent on receipt of applicable federal, state, or local permits or approvals.
    • Conveyance by metes and bounds of tracts or lots meeting the subdivision definition is not permitted without compliance with the ordinance and filing an approved plat.
    • Craighead County recognizes that municipalities may exercise planning jurisdiction and set minimum design standards for roads and subdivisions within their jurisdictions; this claim therefore applies only to unincorporated areas.
    • The codified ordinance identifies the amendment as Ordinance 2019-013, passed 06-26-2019.

    agricultural-lot threshold: >= 5 acres (Agricultural divisions at or above this threshold are excluded from the subdivision definition unless street dedication or utility installation is involved.) · preliminary review period: 30 days (The County Judge and Quorum Court Road Committee indicate approval, disapproval, or approval with conditions within 30 days after review.) · minimum road right of way: >= 60 feet (Additional right of way may be required for large grade changes.) · minimum paved driving surface: >= 22 feet (ACHM surface, with four-foot aggregate shoulders on both sides.) · improvement completion period: 36 months (Measured from approval of the Preliminary Plat and Detailed Construction Plan; performance bond applies if incomplete.) · final approval period: 60 days (Measured after receipt of the Final Plat and required information and certifications.) · minimum residential lot size certification: >= 3 acres (Seller may instead provide an Arkansas Health Department subdivision-review approval letter.) · performance bond: 100 percent (Amount sufficient to complete unfinished improvements, as determined by the Road Superintendent and approved by the County Judge.)

    “When a developer intends to develop a parcel of land within the unincorporated area of Craighead County, a Concept Plan must first be submitted to the County Judge for review applicable to the planning requirements.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    All structural development and other listed development in a Special Flood Hazard Area within Craighead County, including placement of manufactured structures, clearing, grading, mining, drilling, dredging, placement of fill, excavating, watercourse alteration, drainage improvements, roadway or bridge construction, and individual water or sewer installations.

    • A Floodplain Development Permit is required before work begins in the floodplain.
    • The permit may be revoked for false statements; if revoked, all work must cease until the permit is re-issued.
    • The development may not be used or occupied until a Certificate of Compliance is issued.
    • The permit expires if no work commences within 6 months after issuance.
    • The permit will not be issued until other necessary local, state, or federal permits have been obtained.
    • The application instructions state that the application fee is $25.00, payable to the Floodplain Administrator by cash or check.

    application fee: 25 USD (Paid to the Floodplain Administrator by cash or check.) · permit commencement deadline: 6 months after issuance (Permit expires if no work is commenced.)

    “No work of any kind may begin in a floodplain until a floodplain development permit is issued.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Not required — Development that is not located in a Special Flood Hazard Area under the Craighead County floodplain permit application determination.
      “is NOT located in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). No development permit is required.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Craighead County floodplain development permits.

    • The published fee applies to the Arkansas Floodplain Development Permit application.
    • The source does not state an effective date for the fee.

    floodplain development permit fee: 25 USD

    “APPLICATION for (Select One) ARKANSAS FLOODPLAIN DEVELOPMENT PERMIT (FEE $25.00)”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Craighead County floodplain development permit process.

    • No work may begin until the permit is issued.
    • The permit may be revoked for false statements, and work must cease until re-issued.
    • The development may not be used or occupied until a Certificate of Compliance is issued.
    • The permit expires if no work begins within 6 months of issuance.
    • All other necessary local, state, or federal permits must be obtained before issuance.
    • All property owners must sign the application; the application will not be accepted without all required owner signatures.
    • The applicant consents to reasonable inspections before issuance of a Certificate of Completion.
    “No work of any kind may begin in a floodplain until a floodplain development permit is issued. The permit may be revoked if any false statements are made in this application. If revoked, all work must cease until a permit is re-issued. The development may not be used or occupied until a Certificate of Compliance is issued. The permit will expire if no work is commenced within 6 months of the date of issue. The permit will not be issued until any other necessary local, state, or federal permits have been obtained.”
  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    The county states it currently does not have a planning board in place; only floodplain permitting is handled at the county level.

    Craighead County - Floodplain (Office of Emergency Management) ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Arkansas rules that apply here

  • Building permitLimited

    Construction, alteration, repair, relocation, demolition, occupancy changes, and regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing work subject to the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code where a permit is required.

    • The owner or authorized agent must apply to the building official and obtain the required permit where required.
    • If no building official is appointed, the owner, authorized agent, or contractor must apply to the State Fire Marshal.
    • Detached one- and two-family dwellings and qualifying townhouses may comply with the Arkansas Residential Code, Volume III.
    • The code does not establish that every residential project requires a general county building permit.
    “Any owner or owner’s authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be performed, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit, where required. If there is no building official appointed, the owner, authorized agent or contractor shall make application to the State Fire Marshal.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Building construction, alteration, repair, movement, demolition, occupancy changes, and regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing work governed by the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, including its residential-code provisions, when a permit is required by the applicable fire-code official or jurisdiction.
      “Any owner or owner’s authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be performed, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit, where required. If there is no building official appointed, the owner, authorized agent or contractor shall make application to the State Fire Marshal.”
    • Limited — Construction subject to the Arkansas Building Code statewide minimums, including rural and unincorporated areas.
      “They apply statewide even in areas when no permit or inspections are required.”
    • Limited — Construction subject to the Arkansas Energy Code for New Building Construction Supplements and Amendments.
      “A local government may exercise other administrative and enforcement procedures that it deems necessary to affect the purposes of this Code, including, but not limited to, prior plan approval, building permit requirements, and inspections during the course of construction.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Arkansas residential-contractor licensing, including owner-builders in Craighead County; this is a contractor-licensing exemption and does not establish exemption from building, floodplain, septic, or municipal requirements.

    • A person acting as a residential building contractor in construction of their residence is exempt unless they build more than one residence during a calendar year.
    • An owner of a single-family residence acting as their own home-improvement contractor on their own property is exempt.
    • A project-cost exemption applies when the work does not exceed $2,000.
    • The $2,000 project exemption does not apply when construction work is divided into separate contracts of amounts less than $2,000.
    • The cited statute also exempts subcontractors of a contractor licensed by the Residential Contractors Committee and persons licensed by another Arkansas licensing agency performing work within that license's scope.
    • The source separately exempts persons performing work as roofing contractors under ACA § 17-25-601 et seq.

    project cost threshold: <= 2000 USD (The exemption does not apply when necessary construction work is divided into separate contracts below $2,000.)

    “The following shall be exempted from the licensing requirements of this subchapter: (1) A person who acts as a residential building contractor in the construction of his or her residence unless he or she builds more than one (1) residence during any calendar year; (2) The owner of a single family residence acting as his or her own home improvement contractor on his or her own property;”
    4 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Available — Builders who build or contract to build single-family buildings for their own occupancy, limited to compliance with the Arkansas Energy Code.
      “105.1.3 Compliance by Self-Builders: Compliance with this Code by builders who build, or contract to build, single-family buildings for their own occupancy is voluntary.”
    • Conditional — A person constructing his or her own residence, or the owner of a single family residence acting as his or her own home improvement contractor on his or her own property, including in Craighead County.
      “The following shall be exempted from the licensing requirements of this subchapter: (1) A person who acts as a residential building contractor in the construction of his or her residence unless he or she builds more than one (1) residence during any calendar year; (2) The owner of a single family residence acting as his or her own home improvement contractor on his or her own property;”
    • Available — Owner-builders and owners acting as their own home-improvement contractors anywhere in Arkansas, including Craighead County, for purposes of the state residential-contractor licensing requirements.
      “The following shall be exempted from the licensing requirements of this subchapter: (1) A person who acts as a residential building contractor in the construction of his or her residence unless he or she builds more than one (1) residence during any calendar year; (2) The owner of a single family residence acting as his or her own home improvement contractor on his or her own property; (3)(A) A person or entity acting as a residential building contractor or a home improvement contractor on any project, when the cost of the work done or to be done does not exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000). (B) Subdivision (3)(A) of this section shall not apply to a project in which the construction work necessary to complete the project is divided into separate contracts of amounts less than two thousand dollars ($2,000);”
    • Available (with conditions) — Arkansas residential contractor licensing for an individual constructing the individual’s own residence or an owner of a single-family residence acting as the owner’s own home-improvement contractor on the owner’s property.
      “construction of his or her residence unless he or she builds more than one (1) residence during any calendar year;”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building-code requirements applicable statewide in Arkansas, including unincorporated Craighead County, subject to the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code's provisions and any lawful, approved more-stringent local provisions.

    • The official Arkansas rules database identifies the current rule part as the 2021 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code Rules.
    • The Arkansas General Assembly rule-review document states that the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code applies statewide and is the fire and building code for all Arkansas jurisdictions.
    • The same rule-review document states that local jurisdictions may adopt more stringent individual provisions only after approval from the State Fire Marshal's Office.
    • No Craighead County ordinance number or county-specific effective date for a separate residential building-permit ordinance was located.

    code edition: 2021 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code · geographic applicability: all jurisdictions within Arkansas

    “The Arkansas Fire Prevention Code applies statewide and is the fire and building code for all jurisdictions within Arkansas.”
    6 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Building construction in Craighead County, including rural and unincorporated areas, under Arkansas's statewide building-code framework.
      “Arkansas Building Codes are mandatory statewide minimums. They apply statewide even in areas when no permit or inspections are required. The Arkansas Building Code is adopted by the State Fire Marshal’s office. It is a part of the Fire Prevention Code. The Code applies Statewide, even in rural and unincorporated areas. Arkansas is currently under the 2012 Edition of the Code.”
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Building-code requirements applicable statewide in Craighead County, including residential and building-code provisions of the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code.
      “The Arkansas Fire Prevention Code applies statewide and is the fire and building code for all jurisdictions within Arkansas.”
    • Adopted (with conditions) — State projects in Arkansas, including any project subject to the cited state-project building-code rule.
      “The adopted building code for state projects is the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, 12 CAR pt. 15, as adopted by the Division of Arkansas State Police, State Fire Marshal’s office. Arkansas laws and this subchapter shall have precedence over the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code where they exceed the requirements of the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code. All project designs shall comply with all Arkansas laws and the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code. Other codes, rules, or standards may be applicable to a specific project. It is the department’s and design professional’s responsibility to determine all applicable codes for each specific project.”
    • Adopted (with conditions) — New structures and applicable alterations, additions, changes in use, and changes in structures throughout Arkansas, under the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, including Volume II for building-code requirements and Volume III for residential-code requirements.
      “Each district, county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state shall only adopt and enforce the provisions of the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, 2021 Edition. [...] The design and construction of new structures shall comply with the International Building Code Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, Volume II, and any alterations, additions, changes in use or changes in structures required by this code, which are within the scope of the International Building Code, Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, Volume II, shall be made in accordance therewith.”
    • Partial — State projects in Arkansas.
      “The adopted building code for state projects is the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, 12 CAR pt. 15, as adopted by the Division of Arkansas State Police, State Fire Marshal’s office.”
    • Adopted (with conditions) — State projects in Arkansas subject to the Building Authority Division design-review rules.
      “The adopted building code for state projects is the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, 12 CAR pt. 15, as adopted by the Division of Arkansas State Police, State Fire Marshal’s office. Arkansas laws and this subchapter shall have precedence over the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code where they exceed the requirements of the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code. All project designs shall comply with all Arkansas laws and the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code. Other codes, rules, or standards may be applicable to a specific project. It is the department’s and design professional’s responsibility to determine all applicable codes for each specific project.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Construction or work that must comply with the Arkansas Energy Code for New Building Construction Supplements and Amendments.

    • Inspection is required for construction or work that must comply with the cited Code.
    • Inspection may be performed by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission Energy Office, its agent, or the code official.
    • Code officials within a county or municipality that has adopted the Code and normally conducts final inspections shall perform final inspection and approval when the building is completed and ready for occupancy.
    • The local government may conduct additional inspections during construction.
    “Construction or work that must comply with this Code shall be subject to inspection by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission - Energy Office or its agent, or by the code official.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Special inspections and tests for construction subject to Arkansas Fire Prevention Code Volume II Section 105 and the specified technical-code work.
      “Where application is made to the building official for construction as specified in Section 105, the owner or the owner’s authorized agent, other than the contractor, shall employ one or more approved agencies to provide special inspections and tests during construction on the types of work specified in Section 1705 and identify the approved agencies to the building official. These special inspections and tests are in addition to the inspections by the building official that are identified in Section 110.”
    • Limited — Construction subject to Arkansas Building Code compliance and any applicable inspection regime.
      “areas when no permit or inspections are required.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Open-enrollment public charter schools commencing student operations in a new or renovated facility anywhere in Arkansas.

    • Before commencing operations with students, the school must obtain one of three alternative approvals for the new construction or renovation.
    • The alternatives are: a certificate of occupancy issued by a local code official and approved by the state fire marshal; a certificate of occupancy or other approval of the state fire marshal; or a certificate of substantial completion issued by a licensed architect.
    • A certificate of occupancy is therefore not independently mandatory when one of the two listed alternative approvals is obtained.
    “An open-enrollment public charter school shall not commence operations with students in any new or renovated facility unless the school has obtained for the new construction or renovation: (1) A certificate of occupancy issued by a local code official, approved by the state fire marshal; (2) A certificate of occupancy or other approval of the state fire marshal; or (3) A certificate of substantial completion issued by a licensed architect.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — State of Arkansas construction projects administered by a state owner or agency.
      “Certificates of Occupancy are not issued by any one State Agency for State projects. The responsibility therefore rests with the Owner/Agency of the project.”
    • Limited — Buildings subject to the Arkansas Energy Code when located in a county or municipality that has adopted the Code and conducts final inspections as part of normal operations.
      “An open-enrollment public charter school shall not commence operations with students in any new or renovated facility unless the school has obtained for the new construction or renovation: (1) A certificate of occupancy issued by a local code official, approved by the state fire marshal; (2) A certificate of occupancy or other approval of the state fire marshal; or (3) A certificate of substantial completion issued by a licensed architect.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Occupancy of recreational vehicles in Arkansas recreational-vehicle parks regulated by the Arkansas Department of Health under 20 CAR Part 138.

    • The rule applies when three or more spaces are occupied or intended for occupancy by recreational vehicles, tiny houses on wheels, or mobile homes and placement or maintenance services, or both, are provided for a fee, whether new or existing.
    • The parcel is considered a mobile home or recreational vehicle park and must comply with 20 CAR Part 138.
    • The owner or operator is responsible for compliance.
    • Waivers or exceptions are considered case by case and approval is at the Department of Health's discretion.
    • Construction, alteration, repair, or extension of a mobile-home or recreational-vehicle park requires prior submission and department approval.
    • Detailed plans must include the park layout, sewage system, water source and distribution system, buildings, parking areas, dump stations, and topographical features.

    minimum spaces triggering park regulation: >= 3 spaces (Placement or maintenance services, or both, must be provided for a fee.)

    “Any parcel of land in which three (3) or more spaces are occupied or intended for occupancy by recreational vehicles, tiny houses on wheels, or mobile homes, where placement or maintenance services, or both, are provided for a fee, whether new or existing, shall be: (1) Considered a mobile home or recreational vehicle park; and (2) In compliance with this part.”
  • Tiny homesLimited

    Occupancy of tiny houses on wheels in Arkansas parcels operating as mobile-home or recreational-vehicle parks with three or more paid spaces.

    • The rule expressly includes tiny houses on wheels among spaces triggering mobile-home or recreational-vehicle-park regulation.
    • Placement or maintenance services, or both, must be provided for a fee.
    • The parcel is considered a mobile home or recreational vehicle park and must comply with 20 CAR Part 138.
    • The owner or operator is responsible for compliance.
    • Waivers or exceptions are considered case by case at the discretion of the Arkansas Department of Health.
    • Construction, alteration, repair, or extension of the park requires prior submission and Department approval.
    • Detailed plans and specifications must include the park layout, sewage system, water source and distribution system, buildings, parking areas, dump stations, and topographical features.
    • The rule does not establish a general statewide authorization or prohibition for a single tiny house on wheels outside a qualifying park.

    minimum qualifying spaces: >= 3 spaces (the spaces must be occupied or intended for occupancy by recreational vehicles, tiny houses on wheels, or mobile homes)

    “three (3) or more spaces are occupied or intended for occupancy by recreational vehicles, tiny houses on wheels, or mobile homes”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Occupancy of tiny houses on wheels in Arkansas mobile-home or recreational-vehicle parks regulated by the Arkansas Department of Health under 20 CAR Part 138.
      ““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;”
  • Who permits septicState

    Onsite wastewater systems in Craighead County, including systems in unincorporated areas and municipalities, subject to Arkansas Department of Health rules and authorized-agent administration.

    • For cities or counties with an Authorized Agent, the Authorized Agent acts for the Department.
    • If an Authorized Agent has not been designated for a city or county, applications are made to the Arkansas Department of Health.
    “For those cities or counties with Authorized Agents, the Authorized Agent shall be the Authorized Agent of the Department. In the event that an Authorized Agent has not been designated for a city or county, applications for onsite wastewater systems shall be made to the Department.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction, alteration, repair, extension, or operation of onsite wastewater systems statewide in Arkansas.

    • A completed permit application and detailed plans must be approved before construction of a building or residence.
    • Construction, installation, or modification requires permits for construction and operation before work begins.
    • A permit may be refused where public sewer is reasonably available or economically feasible, subject to the emergency-repair exception.
    • Emergency repairs may proceed without prior permit only if a permit is obtained within 10 working days.
    • Applications are made to the Department or its Authorized Agent; where no local Authorized Agent is designated, applications are made to the Department.
    • Construction must begin within one year after issuance or the permit must be revalidated.
    • The rule is effective September 5, 2024.

    public sewer connection distance: <= 300 feet (when available and connection can be made without crossing another person's property) · emergency repair permit deadline: 10 working days (after repairs are made) · permit review fee for structures 1,500 square feet or less: 30 USD · permit review fee for structures over 1,500 and up to 2,000 square feet: 45 USD · permit review fee for structures over 2,000 and up to 3,000 square feet: 90 USD · permit review fee for structures over 3,000 and up to 4,000 square feet: 120 USD · permit review fee for structures over 4,000 square feet: 150 USD · alteration, repair, or extension permit review fee: 30 USD

    “A completed Onsite Wastewater System Permit Application and detailed plans and specifications following the requirements found in Appendix F for the collection, treatment and/or renovation facilities for all wastes of a domestic nature, containing a predominance of human excreta and exclusive of industrial wastes shall be submitted to and receive the approval of the Arkansas Department of Health or its Authorized Agent, prior to construction of a building or residence. [...] Permit requirement. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, association, municipality, or governmental agency to begin construction, alteration, repair, or extension of any onsite wastewater system, owned by any other person, firm, corporation, association, municipality or governmental agency until the owner first obtains a valid Permit for Construction issued by the Department or its Authorized Agent.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Construction, alteration, repair, extension, and operation of onsite wastewater systems serving property in Craighead County, including residential systems.
      “Permits for construction and operation of onsite wastewater systems shall be obtained in accordance with this part prior to the construction, installation, or modification of the onsite wastewater system.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Operation of onsite wastewater systems statewide in Arkansas after installation or construction.

    • The system must be inspected and approved by the Arkansas Department of Health or its Authorized Agent before operation.
    • The owner must obtain a Permit for Operation before the system is used.
    • The installer must notify the Authorized Agent or Designated Representative when the installation is ready for inspection.
    • The owner or occupant must provide free access at reasonable times for inspection.
    • The installer must submit required installation documentation to the local health unit within five days.
    • The inspection may be performed by the Authorized Agent or, with the Authorized Agent's approval, by the Designated Representative.

    installer documentation deadline: 5 days (after installation pursuant to the approved permit)

    “It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, association, municipality or governmental agency to begin operation of any onsite wastewater system until such system has been inspected and approved by the Department or its Authorized Agent and the owner has first obtained a Permit for Operation issued by the Department or its Authorized Agent. [...] Within five (5) days, the installer shall submit the required documentation to the local health unit that the system has been installed pursuant to the approved permit. [...] After approval of the inspection, the Authorized Agent will approve and issue a Permit for Operation. The system shall not be used until the Permit for Operation is issued.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Operation of onsite wastewater systems in Craighead County.
      “After approval of the inspection, the authorized agent will approve and issue a permit for operation. The system shall not be used until the permit for operation is issued.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private off-grid sanitation and sewage disposal in Craighead County.

    • Onsite wastewater systems are allowed only under the applicable state permitting, inspection, operation, and setback rules.
    • Privies, onsite wastewater systems, and other receptacles for human excreta may not be constructed, maintained, or used on premises in the cited rule's context.
    • Off-property discharges require Department or Division of Environmental Quality permission and an NPDES permit.
    • Sewage facilities must be at least 100 feet from domestic water wells and 300 feet from the high-water mark of a water-supply lake or intake under ideal conditions; greater distances may be required locally.

    minimum distance from domestic water well: >= 100 feet (Greater distances may be required where local conditions demand.) · minimum distance from water supply lake or intake high-water mark: >= 300 feet (Distance applies under ideal conditions; greater distances may be required locally.)

    “All sewage must be deposited in sanitary sewers, sewage treatment facilities, septic tank systems, or other systems or devices adequate to meet the needs of the people being served.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — Use of composting or incinerating toilets as components of an Arkansas onsite wastewater system.
      “Only pre-manufactured composting or incinerating toilets authorized by the Department”
  • Well permitLimited

    Wells serving public and semi-public water systems in Arkansas.

    • Written approval from the Arkansas Department of Health is required before construction begins.
    • If the well's public or semi-public status is uncertain, the well contractor must obtain a written determination from the Department of Health before construction.
    • This claim does not establish a general construction-permit requirement for private domestic wells.
    “Wells for public and semi-public water systems shall be located, designed, and constructed in accordance with the respective rules of the Department of Health and shall have written approval from the department prior to the start of construction. If uncertain that a well is public or semi-public, the well contractor shall obtain a written determination from the department prior to construction.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Homes, businesses, and other premises in Craighead County subject to Arkansas onsite wastewater and sanitation rules.

    • Connection to a sanitary sewer is mandatory when the sewer is within 300 feet from the point where the sewer exits a building, is available to the premises, and connection can be made without crossing another person's property.
    • When those conditions apply, no privy, onsite wastewater system, or other receptacle for human excreta may be constructed, maintained, or used on the premises.
    • Plumbing must comply with the Arkansas Plumbing Code.
    • For domestic onsite wastewater systems, permit applications and plans must be approved before construction; permits may be refused where public sewer systems are reasonably available or economically feasible.

    mandatory sewer-connection distance: <= 300 feet (The sewer must be available to the premises and connection must be possible without crossing another person's property.)

    “All premises shall be connected to a sanitary sewer when within three hundred feet (300’) from the point where the sewer exits a building on the property owner’s property and available to said premises when connection can be made without crossing another person's property.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Sewer (with conditions) — Homes and businesses in Craighead County where the point at which sewer exits the building is within 300 feet of access to a public sewer on the owner's property or an adjacent street or alley
      “Connection to a public sewer system is required of all homes and businesses when the point where the sewer exits the building is located within three hundred feet (300’) of access to the public sewer located on the owner’s property or an adjacent street or alley (Arkansas Code § 14-235-304).”
    • Sewer (with conditions) — Homes and premises where a sanitary sewer is within 300 feet from the point where the sewer exits the building and available without crossing another person's property.
      “All premises shall be connected to a sanitary sewer when within three hundred feet (300’) from the point where the sewer exits a building on the property owner’s property and available to said premises when connection can be made without crossing another person's property.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    State and local sales-tax exemption for electricity, natural gas, and liquefied petroleum gas used by qualifying agricultural structures and qualifying aquaculture or horticulture equipment in Arkansas.

    • The utility must be separately metered and used only for the exempt purpose.
    • Multiple-use meters serving eligible and noneligible structures, facilities, or equipment do not qualify.
    • The farmer must obtain a certificate from the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration before the exemption is allowed and provide it to the utility supplier.
    • Qualifying agricultural structures include commercial poultry or livestock facilities, cattle or dairy facilities, and greenhouses used for commercial production.
    • Qualifying aquaculture or horticulture equipment includes specified cooling, collection, irrigation, pond-pumping, pond-aeration, and holding or sorting-tank equipment used in commercial operations.

    exemption start date: 2014-01-01 · eligible utilities: electricity, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (Must be separately metered and used only for the exempt purpose) · DFA certificate: true (Required before the exemption is allowed) · water exemption for commercial poultry farming start date: 2021-10-01 (Water must be used exclusively for poultry farming and separately metered)

    “Act 1441 of 2013 provides an exemption from state and local sales taxes for electricity, natural gas, and liquefied petroleum gas used by qualifying agricultural structures and qualifying aquaculture and horticulture equipment beginning January 1, 2014. The eligible utility must be separately metered and used only for the purpose of the exemption.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Conditional — Construction, installation, maintenance, repair, or renovation of nonresidential farm buildings or structures in Craighead County, under Arkansas electrical licensing and electrical-code-authority requirements.
      “(a) The licensing requirements of Arkansas Code § 17-28-101 et seq. shall not apply to the following: [...] (4) The construction, installation, maintenance, repair, or renovation of any nonresidential farm building or structure; [...] (b) The requirements of the Arkansas Electrical Code Authority Act, Arkansas Code § 20-31-101 et seq., shall not apply to the following: [...] (2) Any construction, installation, maintenance, repair, or renovation of any nonresidential farm building or structure;”
    • Available (with conditions) — Construction, installation, maintenance, repair, or renovation of a nonresidential farm building or structure in Craighead County, with respect to the specified Arkansas licensing requirements.
      “The licensing requirements [...] shall not apply [...] any nonresidential farm building or structure; [...] Ark. R. 2026-108 (eff. September 3, 2026)”
    • Conditional — Construction, installation, maintenance, repair, or renovation of a nonresidential farm building or structure in Arkansas, as an exemption from the Arkansas Electrical Code Authority Act requirements.
      “(b) The requirements of the Arkansas Electrical Code Authority Act, Arkansas Code § 20-31-101 et seq., shall not apply to the following: [...] (2) Any construction, installation, maintenance, repair, or renovation of any nonresidential farm building or structure;”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Construction, reconstruction, modification, or relocation of access driveways on Arkansas State Highway right-of-way, including residential, commercial, and temporary access driveways.

    • No work may begin on State Highway right-of-way until the engineer issues the permit.
    • Applications are made to the District Engineer and include a work description, location, applicant contact information, and required drawings or deposit/bond.
    • An Access Management Agreement may require approval or a permit from the relevant jurisdiction; failure to provide it may be grounds for denial.
    • Commercial driveway permits generally require a minimum $1,000 deposit or bond per driveway, with governmental-entity waiver possible.
    • Temporary driveway access is limited to 120 days initially, extendable at 60-day intervals up to 240 days.

    commercial driveway deposit or bond: >= 1000 USD per driveway minimum (May be waived for governmental entities.) · temporary driveway initial duration: <= 120 days maximum (May be extended at 60-day intervals up to 240 total days.) · frontage limit: 50 feet or less (Limited to one driveway.) · rural setback inside adjoining property frontage: >= 10 feet minimum (Urban minimum is 5 feet; Section 6.9 exceptions may apply.)

    “A permit shall be obtained from the Department for all access driveways on State Highways.”
  • Campground & park staysLimited

    Camping and campsite occupancy in Arkansas state parks, including state parks in or serving Craighead County.

    • Campers may not occupy campsites within the same park for more than fourteen days within a thirty-day period.
    • Seven-day extensions may be granted by the Park Superintendent from April through October when campgrounds are not at capacity.
    • Additional extensions require approval by the Director of the State Parks Division for campers with health problems, campers relocating to an area, or campers moving due to job reassignment.
    • From November through March, longer extensions may be granted by Park Superintendents.
    • Campers may not move from one campsite to another in the same park to evade the limits; the rule states that the intent is to prevent semi-permanent or permanent residence in a state park.
    • State park camping areas are fee areas for registered campers only, and use by picnickers or others who are not registered campers is prohibited.

    maximum campsite occupancy: 14 days within a 30-day period (Extensions described in 22 CAR § 50-108(a)(7)(B)-(D).) · standard extension: 7 days (May be granted by the Park Superintendent from April through October when campgrounds are not at capacity.) · registration requirement: registered campers only

    “Campers may not occupy campsites within the same park in excess of fourteen (14) days within a thirty-day period.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Manufactured-home occupancy in Arkansas mobile-home parks, including parks located in Craighead County.
      “Mobile homes shall be separated from each other and from other buildings and structures by at least fifteen feet (15’), provided that mobile homes placed end-to-end may have a clearance of ten feet (10’) where opposing rear walls are staggered.”
    • Limited — Occupancy of recreational vehicle parks in Arkansas, including qualifying parks in Craighead County.
      “where three (3) or more spaces are occupied or intended for occupancy by recreational vehicles for transient dwelling purposes, typically by night or week”
    • Limited — Camping at Arkansas state-park campsites.
      “Campers may not occupy campsites within the same park in excess of fourteen (14) days within a thirty-day period.”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    Arkansas counties may establish zoning ordinances for all or part of their unincorporated areas through a county planning board.

    • The county planning board may prepare or cause preparation of the ordinance.
    • The ordinance must include both a map and text.
    • Permitted subjects include building location, height, bulk, stories, size, open space, lot coverage, population density and distribution, and uses of land, buildings, and structures.
    • The ordinance may require off-street parking and loading.
    • The ordinance may provide for compatible-use districts, large-scale unified development, elimination of nonconforming uses, and other matters necessary to county health, safety, and general welfare.
    • The ordinance must designate districts or zones for all or part of the unincorporated area.
    • Regulations must be uniform throughout each district or zone.
    • The ordinance must allow and regulate home-based work as provided in Arkansas Code § 14-1-104.
    “The county planning board shall have authority to prepare, or to cause to be prepared, a zoning ordinance for all or part of the unincorporated area of the county, which ordinance shall include both a map and a text.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • General — Arkansas county planning boards adopting zoning ordinances for all or part of a county's unincorporated area.
      “The county planning board shall have authority to prepare, or to cause to be prepared, a zoning ordinance for all or part of the unincorporated area of the county, which ordinance shall include both a map and a text.”

Inside cities and towns in Craighead County

Municipal rules found while researching the county. They apply inside that city or town, not to unincorporated land.

  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land within the City of Jonesboro, Craighead County, Arkansas.

    • Uses must comply with the applicable zoning district and municipal zoning ordinance.
    • A zoning change or specific-use permit may be required where the proposed use conflicts with the existing zoning district.
    • The City Council makes the final disposition of zoning-change requests after Planning Commission review.
    “The City of Jonesboro's Zoning Ordinance is a body of regulations pertaining to allowable uses within given zoning districts”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Zoning districts — Zoning districts applicable in Craighead County, Arkansas, including possible municipal or other local zoning regimes.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling-size requirements for residential structures in unincorporated Craighead County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot-size requirements for residential property in unincorporated Craighead County.
  • Setbacks — Residential setbacks in unincorporated Craighead County.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage limits in unincorporated Craighead County.
3 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Water rights & wells in Craighead County

Whether a new home can legally get its own water here — the sub-state groundwater regime, from Arkansas’s water agency.

Over-appropriated / declining

The aquifer here is over-appropriated and declining. A domestic well is usually still permit-exempt, but long-term supply is a genuine risk.

Household wellExempt — no permit or water right

Critical Groundwater Area designation in Arkansas is explicitly NON-regulatory — no water right or permit is required to drill or use a well, even inside a critical area. A new landowner can drill a household well anywhere.

Limit: non-domestic users >=50,000 gpd register; domestic exempt

Arkansas Dept of Agriculture — Water-Use Registration / Critical Groundwater Areas ↗
  • Cache Critical Ground Water Areapartial of county

    Northeast Arkansas / Cache River alluvial cone of depression; Craighead and Poinsett largely below 50% saturated thickness. Non-regulatory conservation designation; domestic wells not barred.

    Arkansas Dept of Agriculture — 2023 Groundwater Report ↗

Regulated-riparian state (large uses permitted). Groundwater rules change and basin boundaries follow the aquifer, not the county line — confirm current well and appropriation rules with the Arkansas state water agency before you buy or drill.Groundwater governance as of Jul 2026, cited to each administering agency.

Living off-grid in Craighead County, Arkansas

Is Craighead County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Craighead County scores 64/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: about 79,243 people within a 30-minute drive.

Do you need a building permit in Craighead County, Arkansas?

Craighead County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Arkansas Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Program (via county Environmental Health Specialist). Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Craighead County?

Living in an RV on your own land in Craighead County is limited to specific cases: Statewide rule. Occupancy of recreational vehicles in Arkansas recreational-vehicle parks regulated by the Arkansas Department of Health under 20 CAR Part 138. The rule applies when three or more spaces are occupied or intended for occupancy by recreational vehicles, tiny houses on wheels, or mobile homes and placement or maintenance services, or both, are provided for a fee, whether new or existing. The parcel is considered a mobile home or recreational vehicle park and must comply with 20 CAR Part 138. A tiny home is limited to specific cases. Confirm with the county before relying on it.

How much does land cost in Craighead County, Arkansas?

Land in Craighead County runs about $4,451 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Craighead County?

Craighead County gets about 51.1" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 6.8% of years. On water rights, Craighead County lies in the Cache Critical Ground Water Area — Northeast Arkansas / Cache River alluvial cone of depression; Craighead and Poinsett largely below 50% saturated thickness. Non-regulatory conservation designation; domestic wells not barred..

How remote is Craighead County?

A representative private-land location has about 79,243 people within a 30-minute drive and 2,398,416 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

How Craighead compares in Arkansas

Compare side-by-side →See all 75 Arkansas counties ranked →