Bolthole Index

Mississippi County, Arkansas

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Blytheville, Arkansas

Blytheville, Arkansas requires a city building permit to construct, reconstruct, relocate or modify a structure, and the city sets its own zoning through Title 14 of its code.12 Mississippi County itself issues no permits, so the city is the office to call for building permits and zoning.3 Septic permits come from the Arkansas Department of Health or its authorized agent, not the city.4

At a glance

Building permit
Required for new, rebuilt, relocated or modified structures; valid 180 days1
Zoning
City zoning under Title 14; R-1 front yard setback is 30 feet25
Septic
Arkansas Department of Health permit required before work begins6
Sewer connection
Required when a sewer is available within 300 feet7
Private septic near sewer
Barred when an available sewer is within 300 feet8
Owner-builder
State contractor-licensing exemption for one residence per year; city permits still apply9
Floodplain
Development in a Special Flood Hazard Area needs a floodplain permit10

Who to call

Building permits

Blytheville Building Inspections & Permits (Permits and Inspections Division)

Building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, roofing and other construction permits, plan review, inspections and certificates of occupancy inside Blytheville

870-763-4733

124 W Walnut Street, Blytheville, AR 72315

Planning & zoning

Blytheville Planning Commission

Zoning ordinance, rezoning, subdivision plats, lot splits and conditional or special use permits inside Blytheville; agenda requests go through the Building Inspector

870-763-4733

Septic permits

Arkansas Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Program (Environmental Health)

Onsite wastewater (septic) permits and approvals statewide, through the Department or its authorized agent

501-661-2171

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

Online permits →

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

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Blytheville, Arkansas?

Yes. No one may construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate, relocate or modify a structure inside Blytheville without a permit, except for routine maintenance or repair of an existing structure.1 A building permit stays valid for 180 days.1 The city's building inspector lists additions, accessory buildings such as sheds and workshops, covered patios, metal carports and swimming pools as work that may need permits and inspections, and any electrical, plumbing or mechanical work requires a permit.11

Mississippi County's own page says the county issues no permits, but that statement does not remove city permits.12

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

The Building Inspections & Permits office, also called the Permits and Inspections Division, issues building permits for work inside city limits; call 870-763-4733 before starting any project.11 New construction plans must be submitted in duplicate, and the building inspector calls when the permits are ready.11 After the final inspection, the city issues a Certificate of Occupancy.11 The office is at 124 W Walnut Street.11

Does Blytheville have zoning, and what does it mean for homes?

Yes. Blytheville adopts and amends its own Title 14 zoning ordinance for land inside the city.2 In the R-1 residential district, the front yard setback is 30 feet.5 The Planning Commission also decides conditional and special use permits, and requests to be placed on its agenda go through the Building Inspector at 870-763-4733.13

We could not confirm city rules for minimum lot size, lot coverage, building height, minimum home size, accessory dwellings, tiny homes, manufactured homes or living in an RV on a private lot; ask the Building Inspector which district applies and what it permits.

How do septic permits work in Blytheville?

Septic permits are issued by the Arkansas Department of Health or its authorized agent.4 A valid construction permit is required before work begins, and the system must be inspected, approved and permitted for operation before use.614

City sewer comes first: when a sanitary sewer is within 300 feet of the building and can be reached without crossing another person's property, the premises must connect and no onsite wastewater system may be used.78 Soils are a separate issue; Mississippi County soils with no severe limits for a conventional drain field come to 0 percent in the soil survey, so expect an engineered design if sewer is not available.15 Call the Department of Health's Onsite Wastewater Program at 501-661-2171.16

What stays with the state and county when you build in Blytheville?

Septic permitting stays with the Arkansas Department of Health, not the city.17 A driveway onto a state highway needs a permit from the Arkansas Department of Transportation.18 Development in a Special Flood Hazard Area in Mississippi County, including fences, accessory structures and grading, needs floodplain review.10

Arkansas exempts an owner who builds his or her own residence from residential contractor licensing unless more than one residence is built in a calendar year.9 That is a licensing rule; Blytheville still requires a building permit.1

Building a home in Blytheville: the steps, in order

  1. Call the Building Inspector (870-763-4733) to confirm your lot's zoning district and permit needs.11
  2. Find out whether a sanitary sewer is within 300 feet, since connection is required if so.7
  3. If no sewer applies, get an Arkansas Department of Health onsite wastewater permit before any septic work.616
  4. Submit plans and apply for the building permit.111
  5. Schedule inspections through the same office, then obtain the Certificate of Occupancy after final inspection.11

Watch-outs

  • Mississippi County issues no permits itself, but that does not exempt a Blytheville address from city building permits.31
  • A private septic system is barred when an available sanitary sewer is within 300 feet.8
  • Development in a mapped Special Flood Hazard Area needs floodplain review, so check a lot's flood status before you buy.10

Sources

  1. Code of Ordinances: Title 11 - Building and Construction, Chapter 11.08 - Contractors License, § 11.08.03 - Permits and fees (Blytheville), quoted and re-checked
  2. Code of Ordinances: Title 14 - Zoning, Chapter 14.04 - Zoning Ordinance Adopted by Reference, § 14.04.02 - Amendments by reference (Blytheville), quoted and re-checked
  3. Mississippi County Government Transparency Information, quoted and re-checked
  4. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024) (Blytheville), quoted and re-checked
  5. Code of Ordinances: Title 14 - Zoning, Chapter 14.04 - Zoning Ordinance Adopted by Reference, § 14.04.02 - Amendments by reference (Blytheville), quoted and re-checked
  6. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024) (Blytheville), quoted and re-checked
  7. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024) (Blytheville), quoted and re-checked
  8. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024) (Blytheville), quoted and re-checked
  9. Arkansas Residential Contractors Committee Rules and Statutes (Arkansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Mississippi County OEM/911 Director Position Description, quoted and re-checked
  11. Blytheville Building Inspections & Permits (Permits and Inspections Division) (cityofblytheville.gov)
  12. Mississippi County, AR — Government Transparency Information, quoted and re-checked
  13. Blytheville Planning Commission (cityofblytheville.gov)
  14. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024) (Blytheville), quoted and re-checked
  15. 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
  16. Arkansas Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Program (Environmental Health) (healthy.arkansas.gov)
  17. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), quoted and re-checked
  18. Regulations: Rules for Access Driveways to State Highways (Arkansas statewide rule), 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.

Answers from the rulebook for Blytheville

Blytheville’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, relocation, or modification of structures inside Blytheville city limits.

    • Routine maintenance or repair of an existing structure does not require a building permit.
    • A building permit is valid for 180 days.
    • The cited section separately requires permits for certain demolitions and compensated electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work.

    building permit validity: 180 days

    “No person shall construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate, relocate, or modify any structure within the city without a permit, provided that, no permit shall be required for routine maintenance or repair of an existing structure. A building permit shall be valid for 180 days.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Structures inside Blytheville city limits to which the adopted International Existing Building Code and Arkansas Energy Code apply.

    • The City adopts the current editions automatically as they are revised.
    • The section identifies the International Existing Building Code and Arkansas Energy Code; it does not establish that every construction code is adopted in this section.
    “The International Existing Building Code and The Arkansas Energy Code current edition automatically adopting each code as they're revised and are hereby adopted in full as ordinances of the City of Blytheville, Arkansas.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • InspectionsRequired

    Work performed under a City permit inside Blytheville city limits.

    • Inspection is for safety and compliance with applicable codes.
    • The permit holder bears the inspection cost.
    • After-hours inspections cost 150 percent of the listed rate; weekend and holiday inspections cost 200 percent of the listed rate.
    “All work performed under a city permit will be inspected for safety and compliance with applicable codes. The cost of inspection shall be borne by the permit holder and shall be in addition to all other fees.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Blytheville city limits subject to the City's Title 14 zoning ordinance.

    • The cited adopted-code section records amendments to the zoning ordinance, including residential district and dimensional requirements.
    “The chart in section 6.04.0 showing residential lot, yard & height requirements be amended to add Multi-family Dwellings to the section on R-2 and listing the requirements to be the same as Single-family Duplexes.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Overnight camping on Blytheville park property.

    • Overnight camping is allowed only with a special permit issued by the Director of Parks and Recreation.
    • This claim does not establish rules for camping on private land.
    “Overnight camping is prohibited on any park property except by special permit issued by the Director of Parks and Recreation.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Mobile-home parks inside Blytheville city limits whose sewer lines are not connected to public sewer.

    • A method of sewage disposal approved by the Health Officer is required.
    • Treatment-facility design must be based on maximum park capacity.
    • Discharge into state waters requires prior approval of the appropriate state authority and the local Health Officer.
    • Facilities cannot create a nuisance or health hazard.
    • Health Officer approval of treatment type and disposal-plant design is required before construction.
    “Where the sewer lines of the mobile home park are not connected to a public sewer, a method of sewage disposal approved by the Health Officer shall be provided. The design of such sewage-treatment facilities shall be based on the maximum capacity of the mobile home park.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    City building-permit applications for work inside Blytheville city limits.

    • Only the owner of the property where work will be performed may submit the permit application.
    • Appropriate fees are required.
    • The application requires duplicate scale drawings, a site location description, a plat showing structures and setbacks, materials, anchoring information, first-floor elevation information, proposed start date, and proof of required state trade licenses.
    • The Building Inspector may require standardized public forms.
    “Permits shall only be awarded upon submission of an application by the owner of property where work is to be performed with appropriate fees. The application shall contain the following information:”

Rules another office applies inside Blytheville

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

  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Front yards in Blytheville's R-1 zoning district.

    • This is an amendment to the residential lot, yard, and height chart; other yard dimensions and exceptions were not supplied.
    • The amendment changes the R-1 front-yard setback from 25 feet to 30 feet.

    front yard setback: 30 feet (R-1 district)

    “Section 6.04.0 Lot Yard and Height Requirements - Change the front yard setback for the R-1 district on the chart from 25 feet to 30 feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Who permits septicState

    Onsite wastewater systems serving land inside Blytheville city limits.

    • The Arkansas Department of Health or its Authorized Agent administers the cited permitting and approval requirements.
    “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, or extension of onsite wastewater systems serving land inside Blytheville city limits.

    • A valid Permit for Construction is required before work begins.
    • Emergency repairs may be undertaken without prior notification if a permit is obtained within ten working days.
    • A permit may be refused where public sewer is reasonably available or economically feasible, subject to the rule's exceptions.
    “Permits for construction and operation of onsite wastewater systems shall be obtained in accordance with the RULES PERTAINING TO ONSITE WASTEWATER SYSTEMS prior to the construction, installation or modification of the Onsite Wastewater System.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Operation of onsite wastewater systems serving land inside Blytheville city limits.

    • The system must be inspected and approved before operation.
    • A Permit for Operation must be obtained 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.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Premises inside Blytheville city limits when a sanitary sewer is available and the connection can be made without crossing another person's property.

    • Connection is required when the premises are within 300 feet from the point where the sewer exits a building on the owner's property and the sewer is available.
    • No privy or onsite wastewater system may be used in that circumstance.

    distance to available sanitary sewer: <= 300 feet (connection must be possible without 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.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders performing construction inside Blytheville city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings inside Blytheville city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Residential districts inside Blytheville city limits.
  • Minimum lot size — Residential districts inside Blytheville city limits.
  • Lot coverage — Zoning districts inside Blytheville city limits.
11 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • 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.

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

← All of Mississippi County: county rules, score and offices