Arkansas building permits

Where to get a building permit in Arkansas

Apply to the building department of the city, town or county where the property is (the steps).

Arkansas state agencies

These offices set statewide codes or license the trades. They do not issue permits for most home projects.

Building code in Arkansas

For homes, the residential code is the 2021 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, Volume III⁸, in effect since January 1, 2023¹ (statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹).

Every code family, edition and effective date is on Arkansas building codes.

State rules on which work needs a permit

12 CAR pt. 15 (AFPC Vol. I § 105.1.1.1(4), Vol. II § 105.1); A.C.A. § 17-38-204; A.C.A. § 17-33-102(d)

• Permit required where a building department exists. Where a jurisdiction has established a building department in accordance with Vol. II, Section 103 of the Code, permits within the corporate limits of the jurisdiction for new construction or remodeling shall be required in accordance with Vol. II, Section 105 of the Code.¹
• Owner or agent applies. Any owner or owner’s authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be performed, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit, where required.¹
• Fire-separation exception that refers to sheds exempted from permits; sets no exemption or size. Detached tool sheds and storage sheds, playhouses and similar structures exempted from permits are not required to provide wall protection based on location on the lot.¹
• Plumbing needs permits when required. Started without the prescribed licenses, permits, and acceptable plan review of plumbing plans and specifications when required.¹²
• License-exempt HVACR still needs local permits. Any person exempt under this section is required to conform to rules on the performance of HVACR work as well as obtaining local permits and inspections as may be required by local ordinance.¹⁶

Can local rules be stricter?

Yes¹

Homeowners doing their own work

A.C.A. §§ 17-25-513, 17-25-610, 17-25-101(a)(2), 17-38-302, 17-33-102; 17 CAR § 210-602

• Own residence, one per calendar year. 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…¹⁷
• Owner as own home improvement contractor. The owner of a single family residence acting as his or her own home improvement contractor on his or her own property…¹⁷
• Owner as own roofing contractor. The owner of a single-family residence acting as his or her own roofing contractor on his or her own property…¹⁷
• Own property, commercial chapter. However, when a person or an entity acts as a contractor in the construction, erection, alteration, demolition, or repair of his or her own or its own property, such action shall not result in the person’s or entity’s being required to obtain a licensee, but the person or entity shall comply with all other provisions of this chapter.³
• Electrical: own primary residence. The performance of electrical work on an individual's primary residence by that individual, except as otherwise may be required by…¹⁰
• Plumbing: own occupied home. Plumbing work done by a property owner in a building owned and occupied by him or her as his or her home except when the license is required by local ordinance…¹²
• HVACR: own occupied home. Performs HVACR work in an existing building or structure owned and occupied by him or her as his or her home…¹⁶

Contractor licensing

A.C.A. §§ 17-25-101, 17-25-103, 17-25-502, 17-25-505, 17-25-510, 17-25-603

• Home improvement contractor license. A person shall not act as a home improvement contractor after January 1, 2012, unless…¹⁷
• Residential building contractor license. A person shall not act as a residential building contractor after July 1, 2001, unless licensed by the Residential Contractors Committee or exempted from licensure under this subchapter.¹⁷
• Class A misdemeanor, each day. …shall be deemed guilty of a Class A misdemeanor with each day in violation of the requirement to constitute a separate offense.¹⁷
• $100 to $400 per day. …shall pay to the Contractors Licensing Board a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than four hundred dollars ($400) for each day that the violation occurred…¹⁷
• Roofing contractor registration. A person shall not act as a roofing contractor after July 1, 2021, unless a person is…¹⁷
• $50,000. …including, but not limited to, labor and materials, is fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or more.³
• Single family residence definition. “Single family residence” means any project consisting of at least one (1) but no more than four (4) units of new construction for residential occupancy.¹⁷

Handyman limits

A.C.A. § 17-25-513(3)

• $2,000. A person or entity acting as a residential building contractor or a home improvement contractor on any project, when the cost of the work done or to be done does not exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000).¹⁷
• No splitting contracts. Subdivision (3)(A) of this section shall not apply to a project in which the construction work necessary to complete the project is divided into separate contracts of amounts less than two thousand dollars ($2,000)…¹⁷
• Roofing contractors fall under § 17-25-601 et seq. A person or entity performing work as a roofing contractor as defined under § 17-25- 601 et seq.¹⁷

Deadlines for permit decisions and inspections

A.C.A. § 14-1-504, as amended by Acts 2025, No. 591 · in effect August 5, 2025¹⁸

• 5 business days. No later than five (5) business days after receipt of a request for permit, a local government official shall notify the applicant electronically or in writing as to whether the request for permit meets the regulatory requirements of a complete application under § 14-1-505.¹⁸
• 60 days. A local government official shall act by approval, denial, or a request for revision of an applicant's request for permit within sixty (60) days from the date the local government official receives the request for permit.¹⁸
• Automatic approval. If the local government official does not approve, deny, or request a revision of an applicant's request for permit within sixty (60) days as required under subdivision (a)(1) (c)(1) of this section, the: (A) request Request for permit is automatically approved…¹⁸
• Fees refunded. Local government official shall refund all regulatory fees for the request for permit.¹⁸
• Applies to residential requests. “Request for permit” means a request for a local government official's approval of a permit related to the development of a residential, multifamily, commercial, or industrial improvement within the jurisdiction of…¹⁸
• Applicant delay does not count. A delay in action on a request for permit that is caused by the fault of the applicant shall not count toward the sixty-day period for action by approval, denial, or request for revisions on a request for permit.¹⁸
• Fee schedule required. A local government that imposes regulatory fees or regulatory requirements within its jurisdiction shall establish and make available a schedule of the regulatory fees.¹⁸

Private plan review and inspections

A.C.A. §§ 14-1-503(6), 14-1-506, 14-1-507, 14-1-512, added or amended by Acts 2025, No. 591 · in effect August 5, 2025¹⁸

• An applicant making a request for inspection may retain a private professional provider to conduct the requested inspection at the expense of the applicant.¹⁸
• Who qualifies. A person licensed, certified, or registered by the applicable agency or body to conduct the type of plan review or inspection covered under this section…¹⁸
• Report accepted unless flagged in 1 business day. The local government official shall accept the inspection and inspection report of the private professional provider without further inspection or approval by the personnel employed or contracted by the local government unless the local government official has notified the private professional provider, within one (1) business day after the submission of the inspection report, that the local government official finds the report incomplete or the inspection inadequate and has provided the private professional provider with a written description of the deficiencies and specific regulatory requirements that have not been adequately addressed.¹⁸
• 10 business days. No more than ten (10) business days after receipt of a plan review report from the private professional provider, the local government official shall issue the requested permit or provide written notice to the applicant identifying the specific plan features that do not comply with the applicable regulatory requirements as well as the specific code chapters and sections of the regulatory requirements.¹⁸
• Cannot issue permits. This subchapter does not authorize a private professional provider to issue a certificate of occupancy or building permit.¹⁸
• $1,000,000. One million dollars ($1,000,000) per claim and one million dollars ($1,000,000) in aggregate coverage for any project with a construction cost of less than five million dollars ($5,000,000)…¹⁸

Selling a home with unpermitted work

A.C.A. § 17-42-316(b)(2)(G); Arkansas Real Estate Commission regulation as quoted by the Commission

• Commission column dated July 15, 2012: no state law requiring every owner to disclose all aspects of condition. Is there a state law in Arkansas that requires every property owner to disclose all aspects of the condition of his or her property when selling that property? The answer is no.¹⁹
• Licensee must disclose known material facts to client. Disclose to the client material facts of the transaction that the licensee is aware of or should be aware of in the exercise of reasonable skill and care and that are not confidential information under a current or prior agency or dual agency relationship…²⁰

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs)

A.C.A. § 14-56-205 (Acts 2025, No. 313) · in effect August 5, 2025¹⁸

• One ADU by right. Except as provided in this section, a municipality shall not adopt a policy, regulation, or ordinance that restricts, prohibits, or otherwise regulates the use of at least one (1) accessory dwelling unit by right on a lot or parcel that contains a single-family dwelling.¹⁸
• ADU definition. "Accessory dwelling unit" means a self-contained and independently accessed living unit on the same parcel as a single-family dwelling of greater square footage that includes its own cooking, sleeping, and sanitation facilities and complies with or is otherwise exempt from any applicable regulatory requirements…¹⁸
• Attached, detached or internal. An accessory dwelling unit may be attached, detached, or internal to the single-family dwelling on a lot or parcel.¹⁸
• 1,000 square feet. If the accessory dwelling unit is detached from or attached to the single-family dwelling, it shall not be more than seventy-five percent (75%) of the gross floor area of the single-family dwelling or one thousand square feet (1,000 sq. ft.), whichever is less.¹⁸
• No added parking. …accommodate an accessory dwelling unit or require fees in lieu of additional parking…¹⁸
• No owner occupancy rule. Require that the single-family dwelling or the accessory dwelling unit be occupied by the owner…¹⁸
• $250. The application fee shall not exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for each accessory dwelling unit.¹⁸
• $250. Assess development impact fees on the construction of an accessory dwelling unit in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250)…¹⁸
• Usual building fees allowed. …municipality from requiring its usual building fees in addition to the application fee.¹⁸
• Effective January 1, 2026. A policy, regulation, or ordinance in effect on or after January 1, 2026, that applies to an accessory dwelling unit and does not comply with this section is invalid to the extent of its conflict with this section.¹⁸
• Codes still apply. Supersede applicable regulatory requirements…¹⁸
• Private covenants not barred. Subdivision (c)(9)(A) of this section does not prohibit restrictive covenants concerning accessory dwelling units entered into between private parties.¹⁸

Applies to

Municipalities¹⁸