Bolthole Index

Pulaski County, Arkansas

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Maumelle, Arkansas

The City of Maumelle, Arkansas (Pulaski County) adopts its own zoning1 and requires a building permit for new residential construction inside city limits2. The city's Planning & Permits office enforces state building codes3. Septic permits come from the Arkansas Department of Health, not the city4. Land outside city limits follows Pulaski County's rules instead.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for new homes, additions, decks, fences, pools and more inside Maumelle2
Zoning
City zoning with published districts and a zoning map15
Building code
State building codes enforced by the city3
Septic
Arkansas Department of Health or its Authorized Agent; city-limits details unconfirmed4
Owner-builder
Homeowners who live in the house may do most repairs themselves, but permits still apply6
Minimum home size
1,000 sq ft of heated/cooled space in the standard R-1 district7
Minimum lot size
7,500 sq ft in R-1; 2 acres in A-1 Agricultural89

Who to call

Building permits

City of Maumelle Planning & Permits

Building permits, code enforcement, planning and zoning applications inside Maumelle city limits

501-851-2784

550 Edgewood Dr

Septic permits

Arkansas Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Program

State septic (onsite wastewater) program that works with the local Environmental Specialist on construction and operation permits

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 Maumelle means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Maumelle, Arkansas?

Yes. The City of Maumelle lists construction of residential, commercial and industrial structures among the most common work that needs a building permit2. The city says its list is only the most common items, so other work may need a permit too2. Additions, decks, fences, pools, roofs, storage buildings and retaining walls are on the same list10.

Homeowners who live in the house may make most repairs themselves, but a permit and code-compliant work are still required for the listed items6. Permitted work needs one or more inspections, depending on the job11. Arkansas's owner-builder licensing exemption covers contractor licensing only; it does not waive permits, zoning or septic rules12.

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

The city's own Planning & Permits office issues building permits inside Maumelle, not Pulaski County13. It enforces all State of Arkansas Building Codes and the Arkansas Energy Conservation Code3. Applications go through the city's online applications portal, which also carries checklists for conditional use, plats, site plans and development plans13.

The office is at 550 Edgewood Dr in Maumelle; see the contact block on this page10. Pulaski County Planning & Development handles unincorporated land, so a Maumelle address is sent to the city, not the county counter. We could not confirm a published building-permit fee schedule on the city's page13; ask the Planning & Permits office for current fees.

Does Maumelle have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. Maumelle adopts its own zoning regulations and publishes a zoning map5. Rules depend on the district, so check the parcel's district before you buy.

  • R-1 Single-Family Detached: a detached house needs at least 1,000 square feet of heated/cooled space7. The minimum lot is 7,500 square feet8, with a front setback of at least 25 feet14. Buildings may cover no more than 33⅓ percent of the lot15.
  • A-1 Agricultural: the minimum site area is two acres9. Buildings may cover no more than 30 percent of the lot, and a primary structure may be 35 feet tall1617.

Subdividing land inside the city goes through preliminary and final plat review18.

How do septic permits work in Maumelle?

Septic permits in Arkansas come from the Arkansas Department of Health or its Authorized Agent, and the city does not issue them19. Statewide, an onsite wastewater system needs a Permit for Construction before work starts and a Permit for Operation before use20.

Inside a city, sewer usually matters first. Arkansas rules refuse a septic permit where public sewer is reasonably available or economically feasible21. Whether a given Maumelle lot must connect to city sewer, and who acts as the Authorized Agent inside city limits, we could not confirm; ask the Arkansas Department of Health22 and the city's Planning & Permits office before you plan a septic system.

Land in Pulaski County often rates poorly for conventional drain fields, so expect a site evaluation23.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Maumelle?

We could not confirm a Maumelle rule on living in an RV or tiny home. The city's residential zoning provision we reviewed covers RV storage, not occupancy, and nothing we found addresses tiny homes, accessory dwellings or temporary camping. Ask Maumelle Planning & Permits before you buy or park anything, and do not assume it is allowed.

If an RV sits in a special flood hazard area, the city allows it there only temporarily unless it meets manufactured-home requirements24.

Building a home in Maumelle: the steps, in order

  1. Look up the parcel's zoning district on the city's zoning map and confirm the lot size, setbacks and minimum home size for that district5.
  2. Ask the city whether the lot has public sewer, and call the Arkansas Department of Health if you may need a septic system22.
  3. Check flood status. In special flood hazard areas, new residential floors must sit at least one foot above the published base flood elevation, and basements are prohibited24.
  4. If you are dividing land, file plat review applications with the city18.
  5. Apply for the building permit through Maumelle's online portal13.
  6. Schedule the inspections the permit requires11.
  7. If the driveway meets a state highway, get a state driveway permit first25.

What stays with Pulaski County, and what to check before you buy

Land outside Maumelle city limits follows Pulaski County and the state instead. Pulaski County's zoning applies only in the Lake Maumelle Watershed portion of unincorporated land26, so a lot with a Maumelle mailing address may be inside the city or outside it. Confirm the jurisdiction with the city before you rely on this page. The county's rules are on the Pulaski County page.

Pulaski County's median property tax bill is $1,562 a year, an effective rate of 0.8%2728. Pulaski County's typical home insurance premium is $2,029 a year29.

Watch-outs

  • The city's list of permit-triggering work is only the most common items, so ask Planning & Permits about anything not listed2.
  • We could not confirm septic rules, sewer connection requirements or well rules inside Maumelle city limits; ask the Arkansas Department of Health22 and the city10 before you buy.
  • We could not confirm rules on RVs, tiny homes, accessory dwellings or certificates of occupancy in Maumelle; call the city's Planning & Permits office10.
  • Flood-zone lots carry extra rules: basements are prohibited and lowest floors must sit above the base flood elevation24.

Sources

  1. Sec. 94-163. Use regulation (Maumelle), quoted and re-checked
  2. Planning & Permits (Maumelle), quoted and re-checked
  3. Planning & Permits (Maumelle), quoted and re-checked
  4. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), quoted and re-checked
  5. Planning & Permits (Maumelle), quoted and re-checked
  6. Planning & Permits (Maumelle), quoted and re-checked
  7. Sec. 94-163. Use regulation (Maumelle), quoted and re-checked
  8. Sec. 94-166. Yard and area requirements (Maumelle), quoted and re-checked
  9. Sec. 94-527. Lot, yard, and height regulations (Maumelle), quoted and re-checked
  10. City of Maumelle Planning & Permits (maumelle.gov)
  11. Planning & Permits (Maumelle), quoted and re-checked
  12. State of Arkansas Home Improvement New Application (2026 county census)
  13. Planning & Permits (Maumelle), quoted and re-checked
  14. Sec. 94-166. Yard and area requirements (Maumelle), quoted and re-checked
  15. Sec. 94-166. Yard and area requirements (Maumelle), quoted and re-checked
  16. Sec. 94-527. Lot, yard, and height regulations (Maumelle), quoted and re-checked
  17. Sec. 94-527. Lot, yard, and height regulations (Maumelle), quoted and re-checked
  18. Planning & Permits (Maumelle), quoted and re-checked
  19. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), quoted and re-checked
  20. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), quoted and re-checked
  21. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), quoted and re-checked
  22. Arkansas Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Program (healthy.arkansas.gov)
  23. 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
  24. library.municode.com (Maumelle), quoted and re-checked
  25. Regulations: Rules for Access Driveways to State Highways (Arkansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. Pulaski County | Lake Maumelle Watershed Zoning Code, quoted and re-checked
  27. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  29. Typical home insurance premium: 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 Maumelle

Maumelle’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Residential, commercial, and industrial construction and listed improvements inside Maumelle city limits.

    • The city's list is expressly described as the most common things requiring a permit, so other permit-triggering work may also exist.
    • Homeowners may perform most repairs themselves, but listed work still requires a permit.
    “The following are the most common things that require a permit as a resident in Maumelle: [...] Construction of Residential, Commercial and Industrial Structures”
  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Homeowners who live in the house and perform most repairs themselves inside Maumelle city limits.

    • A permit remains required for listed work.
    • Work must comply with applicable codes.
    “Home owners that live in the house may make most repairs to their home themselves, but you will still need a permit for the items listed and will need to do the work in compliance with applicable codes.”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Construction inside Maumelle city limits; the city enforces state building codes.

    • The city page lists all State of Arkansas Building Codes and the Arkansas Energy Conservation Code among ordinances enforced in Maumelle.
    “The following is a list of common ordinances enforced in Maumelle: [...] All State of Arkansas Building Codes [...] Arkansas Energy Conservation Code”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted repair and construction work inside Maumelle city limits.

    • The number and type of inspections depend on the work being done.
    “This work does require one or more inspections depending on the work being done.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Maumelle city limits; Chapter 94 is the city's zoning regulations.

    “The purpose of the R-1 district is the development of single-family detached houses at densities not to exceed six dwelling units per gross acre.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts and zoning-map information inside Maumelle city limits.

    • The city's planning page publishes a zoning map and the adopted code contains district regulations, including R-1, R-4, and A-1.
    “Zoning Map (PDF) 2023 [...] Zoning Map 2018 [...] Zoning Map July 2026”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    R-1 Single-Family Detached district, standard single-family detached dwelling.

    • A smaller-lot or zero-lot-line dwelling may use 800 square feet as a conditional use.
    • The standard R-1 by-right dwelling requirement is 1,000 square feet of heated/cooled living space.

    minimum heated/cooled living space: >= 1000 sq ft (800 sq ft for specified conditional uses)

    “One single-family detached dwelling with a basic minimum of 1,000 square feet of heated/cooled living space at a density of three dwelling units per acre maximum, is permitted by right as the primary or principal use on a lot of record.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    A-1 Agricultural District.

    • Maximum density is one unit per acre.
    • Minimum lot width at building lines is 100 feet.

    minimum site area: >= 2 acres (87,120 sq. ft.)

    “The minimum site area shall be two acres (87,120 sq. ft.).”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — R-1 Single-Family Detached district, standard single-family detached lots.
      “the minimum lot area shall be 7,500 square feet, with a lot width of not less than 60 feet at the front building line, but not to exceed the average density rate of three dwelling units per gross acre maximum.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-1 Single-Family Detached district, standard single-family detached lots.

    • Corner lots require a 25-foot exterior street-side yard.
    • Front setback may be modified by the hillside development provision of chapter 70.

    front setback: >= 25 ft (hillside development provision may modify) · rear setback: >= 15 ft (accessory buildings have separate 10-foot rear-line rule)

    “there shall be a front yard setback having a depth of not less than 25 feet, except as may be modified by the hillside development provision of chapter 70.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    A-1 Agricultural District.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 30 percent

    “the principal building and all accessory buildings on a lot shall not occupy more than 30 percent of the total lot area.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — R-1 Single-Family Detached district, standard single-family detached lots.
      “the main building (principal use) and all accessory buildings on a lot shall not occupy more than 33⅓ percent of the total lot area.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    A-1 Agricultural District primary and accessory structures.

    • Accessory structures have a separate 50-foot maximum.

    primary structure maximum height: <= 35 ft (accessory structures maximum 50 ft)

    “the maximum height for the primary structure shall be 35 ft., max stories of three floors. accessory structures shall have a maximum height of 50 ft.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and platting inside Maumelle city limits.

    • The city publishes preliminary plat review, final plat or re-plat, and preliminary/final development-plan applications.
    “Final Plat or Re-Plat (PDF) [...] Preliminary Development Plan (DOC) [...] Preliminary Plat Review (DOC)”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in special flood hazard areas inside Maumelle city limits.

    • New construction and substantial improvements must be anchored, flood-damage resistant, and fully compliant with the flood article.
    • Placement of on-site waste disposal systems must avoid impairment or contamination during flooding.
    • Residential elevation requirements vary by risk zone; in AE/A1-30, new residential lowest floors must be at least one foot above published BFE.
    • Basement foundations are prohibited in special flood hazard areas.
    • RV placement in special flood hazard areas is temporary-only unless it meets manufactured-home requirements.

    residential lowest-floor elevation in AE/A1-30: >= 1 ft above published BFE

    “For all new residential structures, the top surface of the lowest floor must have an elevation one or more feet above the published BFE.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Permit applications and planning submissions inside Maumelle city limits.

    • The city provides an online applications portal and publishes checklists/applications for commercial building design, conditional use, final development plans, plats, preliminary development plans, preliminary plat review, and site plans.
    “Complete online applications & Citizens portal”

Still unanswered

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

  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate-of-occupancy requirements inside Maumelle city limits.
  • Living in an RV — Occupancy of recreational vehicles as residences inside Maumelle city limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Maumelle city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Maumelle city limits.
  • Manufactured homes — Manufactured-home occupancy inside Maumelle city limits.
11 more unanswered
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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 Maumelle publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Pulaski County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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