Bolthole Index

Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-10-07

Arkansas Counties With No Building Codes and No Zoning

46 of Arkansas's 75 counties — 61% — require no residential building permit and have no county-wide zoning in their unincorporated areas. That is the 3rd-largest count of any state. The strongest of them on the Bolthole Index is Cleveland County (85/100). Every entry below cites the county’s own official source.

Rules change, and cities inside these counties set their own — treat this as a verified starting point, not legal advice. All 515 counties nationwide → Arkansas: no building codes → Arkansas: no zoning → Arkansas: owner-builder → Arkansas: rv living → Arkansas: tiny homes → Arkansas: no minimum home size → Full Arkansas profile →

From the Arkansas guide

Which Arkansas counties don't require a building permit?

Arkansas has 57 counties without a residential building-permit requirement, 15 with requirements limited to certain cases, and 3 where residential building permits are required.

Arkansas has 57 counties without a residential building-permit requirement, 15 with requirements limited to certain cases, and 3 where residential building permits are required1,5. The highest-scoring counties in the no-permit group are Cleveland County, Drew County, Dallas County, Clark County, Ouachita County, Hempstead County, Madison County, Polk County1. Use the county building-permit list to narrow your search1.

Arkansas Building Code requirements apply statewide even where building permits or inspections are not required2. The State Fire Marshal’s Office enforces and updates the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code11. Arkansas's owner-builder exemption concerns contractor licensing for your own residence and ends if you build more than 1 residence in a calendar year; building-code, building-permit and zoning obligations still apply where required10.

Which Arkansas counties have no zoning?

Arkansas has 54 counties without countywide zoning and 5 counties with zoning.

Arkansas has 54 counties without countywide zoning and 5 counties with zoning4,5. The highest-scoring counties without countywide zoning are Cleveland County, Drew County, Dallas County, Clark County, Grant County, Ouachita County, Hempstead County, Madison County4. Arkansas county planning boards may prepare zoning ordinances for all or part of an unincorporated area, so ask the county planning office about the actual parcel and current zoning map12.

For buyers seeking both conditions, 48 counties have neither a residential building-permit requirement nor countywide zoning8. Compare the no-zoning list and no-building-permit and no-zoning list4,8. State septic approval remains required for an onsite wastewater system even where the county does not require a residential building permit9.

Read the full Arkansas guide →

Sources

9 official pages, each quoted and re-checked · written October 10, 2026

  1. Bolthole Index county rulebook, 75 Arkansas counties, as of October 10, 2026: Arkansas counties that do not require a residential building permit in unincorporated areas
  2. Arkansas: Home Improvement Contractor License Application
  3. Bolthole Index county rulebook, 75 Arkansas counties, as of October 10, 2026: Arkansas counties with no county-wide zoning
  4. Bolthole Index county rulebook, 75 Arkansas counties, as of October 10, 2026: Who issues septic permits across Arkansas's counties: a state agency, a multi-county health district, or the county
  5. Bolthole Index county rulebook, 75 Arkansas counties, as of October 10, 2026: Arkansas counties with neither a residential building permit nor county-wide zoning
  6. Arkansas: Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024)
  7. Arkansas: Arkansas Residential Contractors Committee Rules and Statutes
  8. Arkansas State Fire Marshal’s Office (dps.arkansas.gov)
  9. Arkansas: arkleg.state.ar.us

From the Arkansas guide, written from the cited official sources and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: confirm with the office before you buy or build.

46 of 75 Arkansas counties · sorted by Index score

Keep exploring

Every county here has a full profile — water, land prices, hazard safety, seclusion, and the rest of its building rules. See the Arkansas state page for all 75 counties ranked, or go back to the national list.

Off-grid gear

Building on land in one of these Arkansas counties? The kit we'd start with:

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.