Building permits, zoning and land rules in Little River County, Arkansas
76Index Score / 100 #30 of 75 in Arkansas
Unincorporated Little River County, Arkansas does not require a county residential building permit and has no county zoning, but the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code is the statewide fire and building code123. Foreman has its own zoning and building rules45. Septic permits for every address, city or not, come from the Arkansas Department of Health through the county Environmental Health Specialist67.
At a glance
Building permit
Not required for homes in unincorporated areas; statewide code standards still apply13
Zoning
No county zoning in unincorporated areas; Foreman has municipal zoning24
Septic (OSSF) permit
Required statewide, administered locally by the county's ADH Environmental Health Specialist7
Owner-builder
State contractor licensing exemption for your own residence, limited to 1 per calendar year; other approvals still apply8
RV, tiny home or mobile home
Single-parcel occupancy is unconfirmed; paid sites with 3 or more spaces are regulated as parks91011
Sets statewide septic (OSSF) rules; permits for Little River County properties are handled through the county's Environmental Health Specialist under this program
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Do you need a building permit in Little River County, Arkansas?
Unincorporated Little River County does not require a county residential building permit or operate a county residential inspection process1. Construction is not code-free: the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code applies statewide as the fire and building code for Arkansas jurisdictions3. State-project designs must comply with Arkansas law and the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, while other standards may also apply to a specific project15. Foreman separately adopted municipal building rules covering construction, alteration, demolition, use and occupancy within its corporate limits5. A parcel inside Ashdown or another municipality can be subject to city building permits instead of the unincorporated-county answer, but septic permits stay with the Arkansas Department of Health either way17. Ask the city about land inside its limits; for an unincorporated parcel or unusual project, contact the County Judge's office16.
Who do you call about building permits, driveway permits and septic permits in Little River County?
Little River County has no separate building or zoning department; direct county questions to the County Judge's Office at 351 N. Second St., Ste. 4, Ashdown, AR 71822, or (870) 898-72021216. For driveway access onto a county road, contact the County Road & Bridge Department at 531 S 5th Street, Ashdown, AR 71822, or (870) 898-344617. The Arkansas Department of Health's Onsite Wastewater Program sets septic policy and assists Environmental Health Specialists in county health departments6. Call the state program at 501-661-2171 and ask for the Environmental Health Specialist serving Little River County67.
Does Little River County have zoning?
Little River County has no countywide zoning in its unincorporated areas and maintains no county planning or zoning department2. Foreman is a confirmed exception to the county answer: the Foreman City Council serves as its planning and zoning agency, and the municipal code identifies a zoning title and zoning ordinance4. We could not confirm parcel-level setbacks, minimum home size, lot coverage, building-height limits, subdivision requirements, or an agricultural exemption for unincorporated land. Ask the County Judge's office about any county rule tied to a specific parcel, and ask the relevant city when land lies inside municipal limits16. Private deed restrictions, easements, flood conditions, road access, and septic approval can still constrain a project even without county zoning; verify those items before treating a tract as build-ready.
How do septic permits work in Little River County?
Septic permits for Little River County are issued by the Arkansas Department of Health, not by the county or a city. A completed application and plans must be approved before construction of a building or residence18. The department, rather than Little River County government, handles onsite wastewater systems through the county Environmental Health Specialist76. State plan-review fees for an individual system run from $30 for a structure of 1,500 square feet or less to $150 for one over 4,000 square feet; the fee is due before the first part of the permit application is issued19. A system must be inspected and approved before operation20. When an available sanitary sewer is within 300 feet of the building's sewer exit and connection does not cross another person's property, the premises must connect instead21. Septic planning must preserve at least 100 feet from a domestic water source, while soil suitability, bedrooms, absorption areas and other setbacks can affect approval22. Off-grid builders may use only pre-manufactured composting or incinerating toilets the department has authorized, and the 300-foot sewer-connection rule still applies23. Only about 6.9% of Little River County soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional drain field, so arrange the site evaluation before fixing the house or well location24.
Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your own land in Little River County?
We could not confirm whether Little River County allows full-time occupancy of one RV, tiny house on wheels, or mobile home on an individual unincorporated parcel; ask the County Judge's office before relying on that use16. Arkansas does clearly regulate a parcel as a mobile-home or recreational-vehicle park when 3 or more spaces are occupied or intended for RVs, tiny houses on wheels, or mobile homes and placement or maintenance services are provided for a fee911. Construction, alteration, repair, or expansion of such a park requires Department of Health approval before work begins9. For park regulation, a tiny house on wheels inspected and plumbed under the 2018 Arkansas Plumbing Code is treated as a mobile home; otherwise it is treated as an RV10. These park rules do not answer occupancy on a single private homesite9.
Building a home in Little River County: the steps, in order
Confirm whether the parcel is unincorporated; Foreman has municipal zoning and an adopted building code that includes permits45.
For unincorporated land, document that no county residential building permit is required, then design to the statewide Arkansas Fire Prevention Code13.
Ask the Environmental Health Specialist whether sewer connection is mandatory and, if not, arrange the septic site evaluation and permit before fixing the house and well locations21227.
Apply to the Arkansas Department of Transportation District Engineer before building a driveway in a state-highway right-of-way; for a county road, contact Road & Bridge1217.
File any qualifying subdivision plat with the State Surveyor after applicable county or city recording steps25.
An owner may use the state contractor-license exemption for no more than 1 self-built residence in a calendar year, but that licensing exemption does not waive permits, inspections, septic approval, or other requirements8.
What to check before you buy land in Little River County
Little River County has about 22.2 people per square mile and 11,805 residents; the nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 92 miles from the county center262728. Farmland averages about $2,717 per acre, while a typical home is valued around $156,0822930. Annual precipitation averages 52.5 inches, about 98% of the land has a slope of 15% or less, and roughly 57.8% is wooded313233. Only about 6.9% of local soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field, making early site evaluation especially valuable24. A typical home-insurance premium is about $1,589 per year; the effective property-tax rate is about 0.5%, with a median annual bill around $549341314. Before closing, verify boundaries, legal road access, flood exposure, water source, utility availability, deed restrictions, and the proposed septic area.
Watch-outs
No county residential permit does not mean no construction standard: the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code is the statewide fire and building code for Arkansas jurisdictions13.
Foreman's municipal zoning and building-code rules differ from the unincorporated-county answer45.
An available sanitary sewer within 300 feet can make sewer connection mandatory, while an onsite system must stay at least 100 feet from a domestic water source2122.
Arkansas park rules do not answer whether one RV, tiny house on wheels, or mobile home may be occupied on an individual parcel; ask the County Judge's office before buying for that use916.
Written October 9, 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.
Little River County highlighted among the Arkansas counties · colored by Index score
How Little River County scores
Seclusion76100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency61100% ev.
Admin Boringness85100% ev.
Durability45100% ev.
Property Autonomy47100% ev.
Carry Cost86100% 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 →
$156kTypical home
0.5%Property tax
$2,717Land / acre
52.5"Annual rain
14.5% of yrsSevere drought
30.3 / yr (+23.4)Mid-century 100°F days
19.2 daysMid-century dry spell
2.55" (+3.3%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.43×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,589Home insurance / yr
1.3% / yrInsurance growth
0.91%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
6,987People within 30 min
619,670People within 2 hr
16,352Radius comparison (15 mi)
22.2People / sq mi
6.6%Federal land
98%Land at 15% slope or less
6.9%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
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Cities and towns in Little River 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.
Ashdown · Foreman · Ogden · Wilton · Winthrop
Answers from the rulebook for Little River County
What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.
Little River County rules
County-wide zoningAbsent
The county maintains no planning or zoning department and has not established county-wide zoning in unincorporated areas; land-use control exists only within municipalities.
Construction subject to the Arkansas Energy Code for New Building Construction Supplements and Amendments.
The source does not impose a single statewide building-permit requirement for all private residential and commercial construction.
Local governments may establish prior plan approval, building-permit requirements, and construction inspections.
Counties, cities, or municipalities that issue building permits for new building construction are required to adopt the Arkansas Energy Code for new construction, additions, and renovations.
The cited document is the 2014 Arkansas Energy Code; current Arkansas Fire Prevention Code applicability should be confirmed separately.
“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.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
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.”
Arkansas residential-contractor licensing for an owner constructing the owner's own residence or acting as the owner's own home-improvement contractor on the owner's property; this is a state licensing exemption and does not establish a county building-permit exemption.
The exemption applies to a person acting as a residential building contractor in the construction of his or her residence only if the person builds no more than one residence during any calendar year.
The exemption applies to the owner of a single-family residence acting as his or her own home-improvement contractor on the owner's own property.
The same statute separately exempts projects whose work cost does not exceed $2,000, but that exemption does not apply when construction work necessary to complete the project is divided into separate contracts of less than $2,000.
Subcontractors of a contractor licensed by the Residential Contractors Committee are exempt from the licensing requirements.
A person or entity licensed as a contractor by another Arkansas licensing agency, board, or commission is exempt when performing work within the scope of that license.
A roofing contractor is exempt from the residential-contractor licensing requirements under the separately stated roofing exemption.
The source states licensing exemptions; it does not state that building permits, inspections, or certificates of occupancy are waived.
maximum residences built by owner under residence exemption: <= 1 residence per calendar year (The source states the exemption does not apply if the person builds more than one residence during any calendar year.) · project-cost exemption threshold: <= 2000 USD (The source states this separate exemption does not apply when the necessary construction work is divided into separate contracts of less than $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;”
3 more reviewed findings on this topic
Conditional — Owner-builders constructing or improving their own residence or a single-family residence on their own property in Little River County, subject to Arkansas residential-contractor licensing law.
“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 (with conditions) — Residential builder and home-improvement contractor licensing for single-family residences in Arkansas, including Little River County.
“The following are exemptions to the residential builder and home improvement licensing requirements: (1) owners are exempt from licensure when acting as the contractor in the construction of his or her residence unless he or she builds more than one residence during any calendar year (2) owners acting as his or her own home improvement contractor on his or her own property”
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 adoptedPartial
State building-code requirements relevant to construction in Little River County, including state projects and projects subject to the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code.
The source expressly identifies the adopted code for state projects.
Arkansas laws and the cited subchapter take precedence where they exceed the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code.
All project designs covered by the cited state-project rule must comply with Arkansas laws and the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code.
Other codes, rules, or standards may apply to a specific project.
The department and design professional are responsible for determining all applicable codes for each specific project.
The source separately states that the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code is the fire prevention code for the State of Arkansas.
code: Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, 12 CAR pt. 15 (Arkansas laws and the cited subchapter take precedence where they exceed the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code)
“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.”
7 more reviewed findings on this topic
Adopted (with conditions) — The Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, including its building and residential-code volumes, as applied statewide to jurisdictions in Arkansas, including Little River County.
“The Arkansas Fire Prevention Code applies statewide and is the fire and building code for all jurisdictions within Arkansas.”
Adopted (with conditions) — Building-code requirements applicable in Little River County through Arkansas's statewide building and fire code.
“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.”
Adopted (with conditions) — Building construction in Little River County under 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) — Building-code requirements applicable statewide, including Little River County.
“The International Codes were amended and adopted, effective January 1, 2014, by the Arkansas State Police. The Arkansas Fire Prevention Code applies statewide and is the fire and building code for all jurisdictions within Arkansas.”
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.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
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.”
Minimum lot sizeSpecified
Subdivision lots in Little River County using onsite wastewater systems, including lots using drip dispersal design to determine minimum lot size
Primary and secondary absorption areas for standard onsite wastewater systems must be sized according to natural soil conditions and Table 1 loading rates.
For lots less than three acres proposed for subdivision development, undisturbed soils must have at least 13 inches to a brief seasonal water table, 18 inches to an adjusted moderate seasonal water table, or 24 inches to an adjusted long seasonal water table.
Interceptor drains may be used for minimum-lot-size determinations only when the specified brief seasonal-water-table condition exists and the drain can effectively reduce the seasonal water table.
Lots under three acres requiring interceptor drains in subdivision approval must include a complete permit submittal establishing primary and secondary area siting, including the interceptor drain.
Drip dispersal may be used for subdivision minimum-lot-size determinations only when the minimum depth-to-bedrock requirement in 14 CAR § 21-602(b)(3) is met, primary and secondary absorption areas are flagged on contour, and legal descriptions of those areas are included in the legal descriptions of the lots.
Submission must be made to the local health unit using an approved method.
This is an onsite-wastewater subdivision suitability rule, not a universal county zoning minimum for every parcel.
minimum lot size using drip dispersal design for subdivision minimum-lot-size determination: >= 0.5 acre (Only when all criteria in 14 CAR § 21-405(a)(6)(A) are met.) · threshold for specified seasonal-water-table soil-depth requirements: < 3 acres (Applies to lots proposed for subdivision development.) · minimum undisturbed soil depth to brief seasonal water table: >= 13 inches (For lots under three acres proposed for subdivision development.) · minimum undisturbed soil depth to adjusted moderate seasonal water table: >= 18 inches (For lots under three acres proposed for subdivision development.) · minimum undisturbed soil depth to adjusted long seasonal water table: >= 24 inches (For lots under three acres proposed for subdivision development.)
“Lots using drip dispersal design for minimum lot size shall be five-tenths (0.5) of an acre or larger.”
SetbacksSpecified
Setbacks affecting onsite wastewater systems and associated wells in Little River County under statewide Arkansas Department of Health rules.
The FAQ identifies a 100-foot setback from water wells as part of determining space required for a sewage system.
Additional onsite wastewater setbacks in Section 6.2 of the rule may apply.
Soil suitability, bedrooms, and primary and secondary absorption areas also affect system approval.
setback from water wells: >= 100 feet
“at least 100 feet from any source of domestic water supply.”
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.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Limited — Recreational-vehicle occupancy in Arkansas mobile-home or recreational-vehicle parks, including qualifying parks in Little River County.
“(a) 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”
2 more reviewed findings on this topic
Limited — Tiny-house-on-wheels occupancy in Arkansas mobile-home or recreational-vehicle parks, including qualifying parks in Little River County.
““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;”
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 Little River County and throughout Arkansas.
The Arkansas State Board of Health promulgates the rules.
The Department is the Arkansas Department of Health.
An Environmental Health Specialist assigned to the county or business unit may serve as the Department's Authorized Agent.
“promulgated by the Arkansas State Board of Health”
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.”
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 Little River County.
“inspected and approved by the Department”
Off-grid sanitationAllowed (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 may be used.
The devices must be evaluated by an ANSI-approved laboratory under NSF Standard 41.
Wastewater other than urine and feces must be renovated or disposed of under Sections 8 or 9 of the rule.
Stabilized compost must be buried onsite or deposited in an approved sanitary landfill.
The system remains subject to applicable onsite wastewater permitting and approval requirements.
“Only pre-manufactured composting or incinerating toilets authorized by the Department”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Limited — Use of composting or incinerating toilets as part of an onsite wastewater system in Little River County.
“Only pre-manufactured composting or incinerating toilets authorized by the Department shall be utilized in the onsite wastewater system. Under NSF standard 41, composting and incinerating devices shall be evaluated by an ANSI approved laboratory.”
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)
All premises in Little River County where a sanitary sewer is available within 300 feet of the point where the sewer exits a building and connection can be made without crossing another person's property.
All premises must connect to a sanitary sewer when the sewer is within 300 feet and available to the premises.
No privies, onsite wastewater systems, or other receptacles for human excreta may be constructed, maintained, or used on premises meeting that condition.
The rule does not establish that a sanitary sewer is available at a particular Little River County parcel.
distance from building sewer exit: <= 300 feet (The sewer must be available to the premises and connection must not require crossing another person's property.)
“All premises shall be connected to a sanitary sewer when within 300 feet 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. No privies, onsite wastewater systems or other receptacles for human excreta shall be constructed, maintained, or used on the premises.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
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.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
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;”
Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)
Subdivision plats that are boundary surveys creating parcels in Arkansas.
The plat must be filed with the State Surveyor's office after any recording requirements imposed by city or county government.
Filing is not required, but may be submitted, for survey plats of subdivided property located in a municipality where the property has previously been surveyed and a plat filed.
plat distribution deadline: 30 days after completion
“Subdivision plats [...] are to be filed with the State Surveyor’s office [...] Filing is not required [...] for survey plats [...] located in a municipality [...]”
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.”
Building in a floodplainRequired
Development by an Arkansas state department on property within the boundaries of the hundred-year floodplain or a Building Authority Division designated flood hazard area.
The rule applies to a state department proposing the development, not generally to all private or local development statewide.
The department must submit an application on a form approved by the Design Review Section.
The application must include the application number, date, department or property owner, site address or legal description, development type, brief description, base flood elevation, lowest-floor elevation, attachment acknowledgment, and applicant contact/signature information.
Supporting attachments should include the FEMA map, copies of other regulatory permits such as Clean Water Act sections 401 and 404 permits, elevation certificates, a certification of no increase in base flood elevation or no-rise certificate, a flood-proofing certificate, certifications for water supply, sanitary sewer, and on-site waste disposal systems, and notification of watercourse alteration or relocation.
The Design Review Section reviews and approves or disapproves the application; if approved, the floodplain administrator issues a development permit for the design phase.
The permit must be posted during construction; the site is reviewed before final acceptance; and noncompliant work requires correction or may be designated a nonconforming use site.
For riverine watercourse alteration or relocation, the department must notify the division, adjacent communities, and the state NFIP Coordinator at the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission before the alteration or relocation, submit copies to the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, maintain flood-carrying capacity, and provide an engineering study of before-and-after conditions prepared by a registered professional engineer.
For structures and equipment pads under the state rule, elevation requirements vary by FEMA-map and base-flood-elevation availability: two feet above adjacent grade where no FEMA map exists; two feet above the Building Authority Division base flood elevation where no nearby FEMA base flood elevation data exists; and one foot above the accepted or mapped base flood elevation in the circumstances specified by 22 CAR § 111-708.
minimum elevation where no FEMA map exists and site is flood-prone: 2 feet above adjacent grade · minimum elevation where FEMA map exists but no base flood elevation data is provided within 500 feet: 2 feet above the Building Authority Division-established base flood elevation · minimum elevation where FEMA map exists, no site base flood elevation is provided, and a base flood elevation is available within 500 feet or from another authoritative source: 1 foot above the base flood elevation accepted by the division · minimum elevation where FEMA map provides a base flood elevation at the site: 1 foot above the elevation shown on the map in the flood insurance study, if available, or as interpolated between map elevations
“When a department proposes to develop property within the boundaries of the hundred-year floodplain or a Building Authority Division designated flood hazard area, the department shall submit an application for a development permit on a form approved by the Design Review Section.”
Permit feesPublished (with conditions)
Arkansas Department of Health review fees for individual onsite wastewater permit applications applicable in Little River County.
The plan-review fee must be paid before issuance of Part 1 of the Permit Application.
There is no refund for failure to proceed under the Permit Application.
Auxiliary areas such as garages, carports, and porches are excluded when calculating residential square footage.
These are statewide onsite wastewater review fees, not a Little River County building-permit fee schedule.
individual onsite wastewater permit review fee for structure 1500 sq. ft. or less: 30 USD · individual onsite wastewater permit review fee for structure more than 1500 and up to 2000 sq. ft.: 45 USD · individual onsite wastewater permit review fee for structure more than 2000 and up to 3000 sq. ft.: 90 USD · individual onsite wastewater permit review fee for structure more than 3000 and up to 4000 sq. ft.: 120 USD · individual onsite wastewater permit review fee for structure more than 4000 sq. ft.: 150 USD · alteration, repair, or extension of individual sewage disposal system review fee: 30 USD
“the fee to review a permit application is thirty dollars ($30.00)”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Published (with conditions) — Basic design-service fees for Arkansas state department projects governed by the Building Authority Division.
“$50,001 to $75,000 | 9.25%”
Permit processPublished (with conditions)
Arkansas state department development projects located within a hundred-year floodplain or a Building Authority Division-designated flood hazard area.
The application is submitted on a Design Review Section-approved form.
The application must identify the site, development type, base flood elevation, lowest-floor elevation, attachments, and applicant contact and signature information.
Supporting materials may include FEMA maps, other regulatory permits, elevation certificates, no-rise certification, flood-proofing certification, utility or onsite-waste-disposal certification, and watercourse-alteration notification.
The Design Review Section reviews and approves or disapproves the application; additional information may be requested.
If approved, the floodplain administrator issues a design-phase development permit; the permit must be posted during construction, followed by compliance review before final acceptance.
permit application timing: before development of covered property · appeal or review completion point: prior to final acceptance
“the department shall submit an application for a development permit”
Campground & park staysLimited
Manufactured or mobile-home occupancy in Arkansas mobile-home parks, including qualifying parks in Little River County.
The state rule uses the term mobile home, defined as a transportable, single-family dwelling unit suitable for year-round occupancy with the same water supply, waste disposal, and electrical conveniences as immobile housing.
The park rules apply 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.
Department of Health approval is required before construction, alteration, repair, or extension of a qualifying park begins.
Department of Health waivers or exceptions are case-by-case and discretionary.
minimum spaces: >= 3 spaces (Applies where placement or maintenance services, or both, are provided for a fee.)
““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; “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;”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
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 Little River County
Municipal rules found while researching the county. They apply inside that city or town, not to unincorporated land.
Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)
Construction, alteration, removal, demolition, equipment, use, occupancy, location, and maintenance of buildings and structures within the corporate limits of Foreman.
The ordinance states that the adopted code is controlling within the corporate limits of the City of Foreman.
The cited ordinance identifies the adopted code as the National Building Code, Abbreviated Edition; the source does not establish that this municipal ordinance has been replaced by a later local building-code ordinance.
“There is hereby adopted by the City Council of the city of Foreman, Arkansas, for the purpose of establishing rules and regulations for the construction, alteration, removal, demolition, equipment, use and occupancy, location and maintenance of buildings and structures, including permits and penalties, that certain building code known as the National Building Code, Abbreviated Edition”
Local zoningPresent (with conditions)
Land-use regulation within the incorporated City of Foreman, Little River County, Arkansas.
The Foreman City Council serves as the planning and zoning agency as of the resolution's approval date.
The municipal-code page identifies Title 14 as Zoning and identifies Ordinance No. 351 as the zoning ordinance.
“The attached PDF files contain the current municipal code. Click to download the appropriate file.”
Still unanswered
We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.
Zoning districts — Countywide publication of zoning districts, zoning maps, or a zoning-district schedule for Little River County.
Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size under county land-use rules in unincorporated Little River County.
Lot coverage — Lot coverage in unincorporated Little River County, Arkansas.
Building height — Building height limits in unincorporated Little River County, Arkansas.
Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land in Little River County.
2 more unanswered
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.
Living off-grid in Little River County, Arkansas
Is Little River County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?
Little River County scores 76/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and low administrative friction for a quiet rural property.
Do you need a building permit in Little River County, Arkansas?
Little River 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 (ADH), Onsite Wastewater Program (administered 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 Little River County?
Living in an RV on your own land in Little River 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 Little River County, Arkansas?
Land in Little River County runs about $2,717 per acre, based on the latest county data.
What is the water situation in Little River County?
Little River County gets about 52.5" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 14.5% of years.
How remote is Little River County?
A representative private-land location has about 6,987 people within a 30-minute drive and 619,670 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.
