Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Parkdale, Arkansas

Rules another office applies inside Parkdale

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

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  Onsite wastewater (septic) systems for a home inside Parkdale city (Ashley County, AR), under the state onsite wastewater rules administered by the Arkansas Department of Health through its county environmental health specialist

  • Rule 4.8: for those cities or counties with authorized agents, the authorized agent shall be the authorized agent of the department; where none is designated, applications go to the department.
  • Whether an Ashley County or Parkdale city authorized agent is designated was not verified.
  • No Parkdale city septic ordinance was found.

  “for those cities or counties with authorized agents, the authorized agent shall be the authorized agent of the department.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction, alteration, repair or extension of an onsite wastewater (septic) system serving a home inside Parkdale city

  • Section 4.3: a completed onsite wastewater system permit application and plans must receive approval of the Arkansas Department of Health or its authorized agent prior to construction of a building or residence.
  • Section 4.9: the plan review fee must be paid before issuance of part 1 of the permit application.
  • Construction must begin within one year of issuance or the permit must be re-validated.

  “until the owner first obtains a valid permit for construction issued by the department or its authorized agent.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Operation of a new onsite wastewater (septic) system serving a home inside Parkdale city

  • Section 4.6: the owner must also first obtain a permit for operation issued by the department or its authorized agent.
  • Inspection and approval occurs before operation begins; the rule does not in this excerpt set an inspection schedule.

  “until such system has been inspected and approved by the department or its authorized agent”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Non-sewer sanitation (privies, onsite systems) for a home inside Parkdale city

  • Section 4.1 bars privies, onsite systems and other receptacles for human excreta where the premises must connect to a sanitary sewer under the 300-foot rule.
  • Elsewhere, an onsite wastewater system is allowed only with a construction permit and operation permit (sections 4.5 and 4.6).

  “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)

  A new home inside Parkdale city: connection to a sanitary sewer under the state onsite wastewater rule

  • Applies only when a sanitary sewer is within 300 feet of the point where the sewer exits the building, on the owner's property, and is available to the premises without crossing another person's property.
  • Whether Parkdale city operates a public sewer system was not verified.
  • Where no sewer is available within that distance, onsite wastewater treatment is permitted under the permit rules.

  distance from sewer: <= 300 feet (measured from the point where the sewer exits the building on the property owner'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.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  ADH plan review fee for an individual onsite wastewater system permit serving a home inside Parkdale city

  • Fee is payable to the department before issuance of part 1 of the permit application (section 4.9).
  • Structures over 4,000 sq ft and the other tiers are listed in the parameters.
  • The fee is stated in the 2024 edition of the rule as published; no later fee schedule was found.

  plan review fee, structures 1,500 sq ft or less: 30 USD (structures of 1,500 sq ft or less, excluding auxiliary areas (garages, carports, porches)) · plan review fee, structures over 1,500 up to 2,000 sq ft: 45 USD · plan review fee, structures over 2,000 up to 3,000 sq ft: 90 USD · plan review fee, structures over 3,000 up to 4,000 sq ft: 120 USD · plan review fee, structures over 4,000 sq ft: 150 USD · plan review fee, alteration, repair or extension of an individual sewage disposal system: 30 USD

  “for structures one thousand five hundred square feet (1,500 sq. ft.) or less, the fee to review a permit application is thirty dollars ($30.00)”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Septic (onsite wastewater) permit process for a home inside Parkdale city; the city's own building permit process is not recorded here

  • Part I of the permit is the construction permit; the application is completed by a designated representative and approved by ADH or its authorized agent before work starts (section 4.10.1).

  “part i of the permit is the permit for construction.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — General building permits for new homes inside Parkdale city (not septic)
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permits inside Parkdale city
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption by Parkdale city (Ashley County, AR)
• Inspections — General building inspections inside Parkdale city (not septic)
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Parkdale city

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.