Bolthole Index

Lonoke County, Arkansas

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Ward, Arkansas

The City of Ward, Arkansas requires building permits for construction, additions, fences, accessory structures and more, approved by the city's Planning Administrator1. Ward zones land under its Unified Development Ordinance, effective January 1, 20262. Septic permits come from the Arkansas Department of Health or its authorized agent, not the city3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required inside Ward city limits for construction, additions, fences and accessory structures1
Zoning
Yes, under the Ward Unified Development Ordinance effective January 1, 20262
Septic
Construction and operation permits from the Arkansas Department of Health or its authorized agent3
RV living
Limited: one RV per lot, by permit, with no permanent utility hookups4
Tiny homes
Defined as 400 square feet or less; conditional in two zones5
Accessory dwelling
One per platted lot with an existing single-family home; building permit required6
Certificate of occupancy
Required before a new or altered building is occupied7

Who to call

Building permits

City of Ward, Permitting Official

Building permit applications inside Ward city limits, filed online or at the Water Office in City Hall

(501) 843-7686

permitting@cityofward.com

Online permits →

Septic permits

Arkansas Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Program

Statewide septic (onsite wastewater) program; the local Environmental Health Specialist in the county health department reviews permit applications

501-661-2171

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

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 16, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Ward means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Ward, Arkansas have zoning?

Yes. The City of Ward zones land under its Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), which replaced the city's early-1990s subdivision and zoning regulations on January 1, 20262. The UDO covers land and structures in the city's planning area, to the extent state law allows2.

Rules differ by zone. In the R-NH Neighborhood Residential zone, the minimum lot size is 6,000 square feet, or 4,400 square feet in a cluster subdivision8. Building coverage in R-NH is capped at 60% and impervious surface at 70%9. Dwellings in R-NH may be 2 stories, with other structures up to 35 feet10; in the AG Agricultural zone, dwellings may be 3 stories and other structures 50 feet11. Confirm which zone a parcel sits in with the Planning Administrator before you buy.

Do you need a building permit in Ward, Arkansas?

Yes. Inside Ward city limits, building permits are required for construction, reconstruction and remodeling (including excavation, fill and paving), additions, and structural alterations, and the city's ordinance also lists demolition, roofing, fences, signs and accessory structures1. No listed work may start until the Planning Administrator approves the permit as meeting the UDO and applicable building and fire codes1.

All building work in Ward must meet the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code and other applicable state and city building codes12. The city may inspect buildings, structures and land use to check compliance with the UDO13. A new or structurally altered building cannot be occupied until the Building Inspector issues a certificate of occupancy, and permanent utility service may not be connected without evidence of it7.

We could not confirm whether Ward offers an owner-builder exemption from city permits; ask the Permitting Official.

Who issues building permits in Ward, and how do you reach them?

The City of Ward issues its own building permits; Lonoke County does not run a building permit office for land inside the city. Ward's Permitting Official takes applications online or at the Water Office in City Hall, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm14. Call (501) 843-7686 or email permitting@cityofward.com14.

The UDO also requires zoning-compliance verification as part of the building permit application15. Building permit forms on the city's permit page cover new construction, changes to existing construction such as plumbing, HVAC, electrical and roofing, fences and storage sheds, and demolition15.

How do septic permits work inside Ward, Arkansas?

Septic is handled by the state, not the city. Before anyone builds, alters, repairs or extends an onsite wastewater system in Ward, the owner needs a Permit for Construction from the Arkansas Department of Health or its authorized agent, and a Permit for Operation before the system is used316. The state program works through an Environmental Health Specialist in the county health department17.

Plan review fees run from $30 for a structure up to 1,500 square feet to $150 for a structure over 4,000 square feet18.

If Ward's sanitary sewer is within 300 feet of the building and reachable without crossing another person's property, the premises must connect to it, and a privy or onsite system may not be used19. Ward separately charges installation, connection, inspection and road-crossing fees for sewer connections19. Holding tanks are not approved for homes, full or part time20. Soils matter too: only 3.6% of Lonoke County soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system if you are outside the sewer21.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Ward, Arkansas?

Only in limited ways. Ward allows camper trailers and recreational vehicles, not tents, as temporary dwellings, with no more than one per lot4. A permit can run up to 365 consecutive days while you build or remodel your primary residence, for medical care, or after a natural disaster; other permits run 8 to 30 days in any 365-day period, and no permit is needed for up to 7 days in any 30-day period4. The RV may not be commercially rented, placed in a front or corner side yard, or connected to permanent utility hookups4. Camping on publicly owned property is prohibited22.

The UDO defines a tiny house as a dwelling of 400 square feet or less, excluding lofts, and lists tiny homes as conditional in two zones5. Building permit, zoning, utility and occupancy requirements all still apply. One accessory dwelling unit is allowed per platted lot that already has a single-family home, with a building permit6.

Building a home in Ward: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel's zone and setbacks under the UDO with the Permitting Official14.
  2. Check whether city sewer is within 300 feet; if so, plan to connect19.
  3. If there is no sewer, apply to the Arkansas Department of Health or its authorized agent for a septic Permit for Construction3.
  4. If the property is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, obtain a Floodplain Development Permit before submitting a construction plat or site-plan application23.
  5. Apply for the building permit online or at City Hall14.
  6. Pass inspections, get the Permit for Operation for any septic system, and obtain the certificate of occupancy before moving in167.

What stays with Lonoke County, and what to check before you buy in Ward?

Septic and state-highway driveways are not decided by the city. Driveway permits for state highways come from the Arkansas Department of Transportation24. For land outside Ward city limits, see the Lonoke County page; the city's rules above do not apply there.

For context, Lonoke County's effective property tax rate is 0.6% and the median property tax bill is $1,178 per year2526. The nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 28 miles from the county's center27.

Watch-outs

  • Ward's Unified Development Ordinance took effect January 1, 2026 and replaced the earlier zoning rules, so older summaries of Ward zoning may be out of date2.
  • Ward's city limits are the boundary: the UDO's building permit rules apply inside the city, and land outside it falls under different rules1.
  • We could not confirm an owner-builder exemption, a well permit requirement, a minimum dwelling size or an agricultural-building exemption inside Ward; ask the Permitting Official at (501) 843-768614.

Sources

  1. City of Ward Unified Development Ordinance (Ward), quoted and re-checked
  2. Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) (Ward), quoted and re-checked
  3. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024) (Ward), quoted and re-checked
  4. City of Ward Unified Development Ordinance (Ward), quoted and re-checked
  5. City of Ward Unified Development Ordinance (Ward), quoted and re-checked
  6. City of Ward Unified Development Ordinance (Ward), quoted and re-checked
  7. City of Ward Unified Development Ordinance (Ward), quoted and re-checked
  8. City of Ward Unified Development Ordinance (Ward), quoted and re-checked
  9. City of Ward Unified Development Ordinance (Ward), quoted and re-checked
  10. City of Ward Unified Development Ordinance (Ward), quoted and re-checked
  11. City of Ward Unified Development Ordinance (Ward), quoted and re-checked
  12. City of Ward Unified Development Ordinance (Ward), quoted and re-checked
  13. City of Ward Unified Development Ordinance (Ward), quoted and re-checked
  14. City of Ward, Permitting Official (wardarkansas.org)
  15. License, Permits (Ward), quoted and re-checked
  16. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024) (Ward), quoted and re-checked
  17. Arkansas Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Program (healthy.arkansas.gov)
  18. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), quoted and re-checked
  19. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024) (Ward), quoted and re-checked
  20. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), quoted and re-checked
  21. 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
  22. Municipal Code: Camping Prohibited (Ward), quoted and re-checked
  23. City of Ward Unified Development Ordinance (Ward), quoted and re-checked
  24. 27 CAR § 94-301. General, quoted and re-checked
  25. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  27. Straight-line distance from the county center to the nearest city of 100,000+ people: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 16, 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.

Answers from the rulebook for Ward

Ward’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, reconstruction, remodeling, additions, structural alterations, demolition, roofing, fences, signs, and accessory structures inside Ward city.

    • The UDO requires permits for the listed activities.
    • No listed activity may occur within the corporate limits until the permit is approved by the Planning Administrator as meeting the UDO and applicable building and fire codes.
    “Building permits are required for: a. Construction/reconstruction/remodel (includes excavation, fill, paving, drainage, and similar activities) b. Addition (construction that increases the size of a building in terms of site coverage, height, length, width, or finished floor area) c. Structural alteration (any change in the supporting members of a building, such as bearing walls)”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Building and structure work inside Ward city.

    • All work must meet the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code and other applicable state and city building codes.
    “all fabrication, erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, repairs of buildings or structures shall meet the arkansas fire prevention code and other applicable state and city building codes.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Building, structure, and land-use compliance inspections inside Ward city, including inspection by the Building Inspector for applicable occupancy approval.

    • The Planning Administrator may conduct inspections as necessary to determine UDO compliance.
    • A manufactured dwelling moved into the R-MH zone may require inspection before being moved on site.
    “conduct inspections of buildings, structures, and use of land as is necessary to determine compliance with the regulations of this udo.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Any building erected or structurally altered inside Ward city.

    • The certificate must be issued by the Building Inspector.
    • The building must comply with the UDO and applicable building and fire codes.
    • Permanent utility service may not be connected without evidence that the certificate was issued.
    “No building erected or structurally altered shall be used or occupied until a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the Building Inspector stating that the building complies with the provisions of this UDO and applicable building and fire codes.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land and structures inside Ward city’s planning area, including the city limits, under the Ward UDO.

    • The UDO applies to all land and structures within the city's planning area to the extent authorized by state law and implemented by City Council ordinance.
    “Effective January 1, 2026, the Ward Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) replaces the early 1990s Subdivision and Zoning Regulations.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single-family residential development in the R-NH Neighborhood Residential Zone inside Ward city.

    • Cluster subdivision lots may be smaller.
    • Lot width and depth standards also apply.

    minimum lot size: >= 6000 square feet (cluster subdivision: 4,400 square feet minimum)

    “r-nh neighborhood residential 14,500 sf min 6,000 sf min cluster subdivision: 4,400 sf min”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Buildings in the R-NH Neighborhood Residential Zone inside Ward city.

    • The front setback may be 15 feet where rear parking is provided.
    • Attached and detached side setbacks differ.

    front setback: 15-25 feet (15 feet minimum if rear parking; otherwise 25 feet minimum) · detached interior side setback: >= 5 feet · attached interior side setback: >= 0 feet · side street setback: >= 15 feet · rear setback: >= 15 feet

    “g building setback - side interior 15' min 7.5' min attached: 0' min* detached:6' min* attached: 0' min* detached: 5' min* attached: 0' min* detached: 7.5' min h building setback - side street 15' min 15' min 15' min same as applicable front setback. 15' min i building setback - rear 25' min 20' min 15' min”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Development in the R-NH Neighborhood Residential Zone inside Ward city.

    • Impervious surface coverage is separately limited.

    building coverage: <= 60 percent · impervious surface coverage: <= 70 percent

    “d building coverage 30% max 40% max 60% max 70% max 60% max e impervious surface coverage 50% max 60% max 70% max 80% max 70% max”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Buildings in the AG Agricultural Zone inside Ward city.

    • Dwelling and other-structure height limits differ.

    dwelling height: <= 3 stories · other structures height: <= 50 feet

    “k stories/height (section 4.16.) du: 3 stories max other structures: 50' max dwelling: 3 stories max other structures: 50' max dwelling: 2 stories max”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Buildings in the R-NH Neighborhood Residential Zone inside Ward city.
      “k stories/height (section 4.16.) du: 3 stories max other structures: 50' max dwelling: 3 stories max other structures: 50' max dwelling: 2 stories max other structures: 35' max”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Temporary dwelling use of a camper trailer or recreational vehicle on a lot inside Ward city.

    • Only camper trailers and recreational vehicles may serve as temporary dwellings; tents may not.
    • No more than one camper trailer or recreational vehicle per lot.
    • Permits may be issued for up to 365 consecutive days during construction or remodeling of the primary residence, for medical care, or after a natural disaster.
    • Other permits may be 8 to 30 days in any 365-day period.
    • No permit is required for up to 7 days in any 30-day period.
    • The temporary dwelling may not be commercially rented, placed in a front or corner side yard, or served by permanent utility hookups.

    maximum RV temporary dwellings per lot: 1 RV · construction/medical/disaster permit period: <= 365 consecutive days · ordinary permit period: 8-30 days per 365-day period

    “only camper trailers and recreational vehicles may serve as temporary dwellings. tents shall not be used as temporary dwellings.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping and temporary dwelling use inside Ward city.

    • Camping is prohibited on publicly owned property.
    • Private-lot temporary dwelling use is governed by UDO Section 3.3.18 and requires the listed limits and, where applicable, a permit.
    “No person may occupy a campsite in or upon any sidewalk, street, alley, lane, public right of way, park, bench, or any other publicly-owned property or under any bridge or viaduct.”
  • Tiny homesLimited

    Tiny homes inside Ward city.

    • The UDO defines tiny houses as dwelling units of 400 square feet or less excluding lofts.
    • The use table lists Tiny Homes as conditional in two zones; the applicable zone and all building-permit, zoning, utility, and occupancy requirements must be satisfied.

    tiny-home floor area: <= 400 square feet (lofts excluded)

    “Tiny houses are dwelling units that are 400 square feet or less in floor area, excluding lofts.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory dwelling units on lots inside Ward city.

    • No more than one ADU per lot.
    • The lot must be platted and contain one existing single-family dwelling.
    • The ADU must meet residential building-code requirements and the zone setbacks.
    • A building permit is required.

    ADUs per lot: <= 1 ADU

    “no more than one accessory dwelling unit (adu) is allowed per lot in any zone.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Front driveways serving development in the R-NH Neighborhood Residential Zone inside Ward city.

    • Front, rear, and side driveways are allowed.
    • A front driveway must have at least 25 feet of length.
    • Additional UDO access, parking, and loading standards may apply.

    minimum front driveway length: >= 25 feet

    “Front/Rear/Side driveways allowed. Min front driveway length: 25'.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Proposed plats and site plans inside Ward city that are impacted by a floodplain or located in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area.

    • Base floodplain elevation data must be provided for impacted plats or site plans.
    • Land within the 100-year floodplain may not be platted for residential, commercial, or industrial development unless applicable floodplain and flood-damage-protection standards are met.
    • A Floodplain Development Permit is required before submitting a construction plat or site-plan approval application when the property is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area.
    “If the property to be developed is located within a “Special Flood Hazard Area” on a flood map issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the developer shall obtain a Floodplain Development Permit prior to submitting a construction plat/site plan approval application to the City.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term rentals inside Ward city.

    • STRs are permitted only in zones where the use table lists “PC.”
    • Each bedroom has a maximum two-guest capacity, except children under 13.
    • Operators may not receive compensation for occupancy under 24 hours.
    • The same guests may not occupy an STR longer than 90 consecutive days.
    • Commercial meetings and compensated gatherings are prohibited.
    • Applicable room, occupancy, sales taxes and insurance requirements apply.
    • Ward Ordinance 2023-06, as amended, governs rules, fees, penalties, and fines.

    maximum guests per bedroom: <= 2 guests (children under 13 exempted) · maximum continuous occupancy by same guests: <= 90 days

    “Short-Term Rentals (STRs) shall be permitted in zone in which they are listed as “PC” provided. Refer to City of Ward Ordinance 2023-06, as amended for rules, fee, penalties and fine associated with STRs.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit applications inside Ward city.

    • Applications may be submitted and paid online or at the Water Office in City Hall Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    • The city identifies a Permitting Official and provides telephone and email contact information.
    • The UDO requires zoning-compliance verification as part of the building-permit application.
    “Click the links below to apply for and pay for a permit on-line. You may also visit the Water Office in City Hall, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm, or click the item below to download the permit application.”

Rules another office applies inside Ward

Ward does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Septic permitRequired

    Onsite wastewater construction, alteration, repair, or extension inside Ward city.

    • A valid Permit for Construction from the Arkansas Department of Health or its Authorized Agent is required before work begins.
    • A Permit for Operation is required before operation begins.
    • Emergency repairs may proceed without prior permit only if a permit is obtained within 10 working days.
    “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

    Onsite wastewater systems inside Ward city before operation.

    • The system must be inspected and approved by the Department or its Authorized Agent.
    • The owner must obtain a Permit for Operation before use.
    “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.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Privies and onsite wastewater systems on premises inside Ward city.

    • Off-grid sanitation is barred when sanitary sewer is available within 300 feet and can be connected without crossing another person's property.
    • Where sewer is not reasonably available or economically feasible, onsite wastewater may be permitted only under ADH rules and permits.

    sewer availability distance: <= 300 feet (connection must be possible 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.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    New or existing premises inside Ward city where sanitary sewer is available within the stated distance.

    • Connection is required when the premises is within 300 feet from the point where the sewer exits a building and the sewer is available without crossing another person's property.
    • No privy, onsite wastewater system, or other receptacle for human excreta may be used in that circumstance.
    • Ward separately charges installation, connection, inspection, and road-crossing fees for connections to the Ward Sewer System.

    sewer distance: <= 300 feet (availability and no crossing of 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.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Ward or Lonoke County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from Ward building permit or inspection requirements.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area inside Ward city.
  • Well permit — Private or public water-well permitting inside Ward city.
  • Agricultural exemption — Agricultural-building exemption from Ward permits or building-code requirements.

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Ward publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Lonoke County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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