Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Piggott, Arkansas

Piggott’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  All newly erected structures within Piggott city limits.

  • Applicant must complete and return the Building Permit Application to City Hall before building or placing a new structure.
  • A Code Enforcement Officer approves the application and may identify other conditions.

  “A building permit is required for all newly erected structures within city limits.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Piggott city limits, Clay County, Arkansas.

  • The city page states that zoning regulations were adopted by ordinance in accordance with the General Land Use Plan.

  “The City of Piggott Zoning Regulations were a dopted by ordinance in accordance with the General Land Use Plan.”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Zoning districts inside Piggott city limits.

  • The city directs users to identify the property's zone on the zoning map and consult that zone's subsection of the Zoning Regulations.
  • Specific district names and full district controls were not extractable from the official linked document.

  “To know your setbacks, find which zone your property is located in (see the above map) and see that zone's subsection of the Zoning Regulations.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  New structures inside Piggott city limits; the applicable setback depends on the property's zoning district.

  • Applicant must determine the property's zone from the city zoning map and consult that zone's zoning-regulation subsection.
  • All new structures must be within applicable property setbacks.

  “All new structures must be within your property setbacks as outlined in the Zoning Regulations.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permits for newly erected structures inside Piggott city limits.

  • Total permit cost is calculated from construction cost.
  • The city says all fees must be paid at City Hall after approval.

  building permit fee: per 2 USD per $1,000 of construction cost

  “The total permit fee is calculated at $2.00 per every $1,000.00 of the cost of construction.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications for newly erected structures inside Piggott city limits.

  • Submit the application to City Hall or cityhall@cityofpiggott.org.
  • After approval, the Code Enforcement Officer provides total cost and any other applicable conditions.
  • All fees must be paid at City Hall.

  “Please submit your application to City Hall or to cityhall@cityofpiggott.org. Once approved, a Code Enforcement Officer will let you know the total cost of the permit and any other conditions that may apply. All fees must be paid at City Hall.”

Rules another office applies inside Piggott

Piggott 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 systems inside Piggott city limits when an onsite system is proposed.

  • The Arkansas Department of Health or its Authorized Agent approves applications.
  • Where an Authorized Agent has not been designated for a city or county, applications are made to the Department.

  “shall be submitted to and receive the approval of the Arkansas Department of Health or its Authorized Agent, prior to construction of a building or residence.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction, alteration, repair, or extension of an onsite wastewater system inside Piggott city limits.

  • The owner must first obtain a valid Permit for Construction issued by the Department or its Authorized Agent.
  • Emergency repairs may be undertaken without prior notification if a permit is obtained within ten working days.
  • Where public sewer is reasonably available or economically feasible, the permit must be refused except as provided in Section 3.4.

  “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 an onsite wastewater system inside Piggott city limits.

  • The system cannot be operated until inspected and approved by the Department or its Authorized Agent and a Permit for Operation is obtained.
  • Installer must notify the Authorized Agent or Designated Representative when installation is ready for inspection.

  “The system shall not be used until the Permit for Operation is issued.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Off-grid sanitation inside Piggott city limits.

  • No privy, onsite wastewater system, or other receptacle for human excreta may be constructed, maintained, or used where sanitary sewer meets the state availability and distance test.
  • Elsewhere, an onsite wastewater system requires state approval and permitting.

  sanitary sewer distance: <= 300 feet (Measured from the point where the sewer exits a building; sewer must be available without crossing another person's property.)

  “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)

  Premises inside Piggott city limits with sanitary sewer available under the state onsite-wastewater rule.

  • Connection is required when the sewer is within 300 feet from the point where it exits a building on the property owner's property.
  • Connection must be possible without crossing another person's property.
  • No privy, onsite wastewater system, or other receptacle for human excreta may be constructed, maintained, or used on those premises.

  sewer distance: <= 300 feet (Measured from the point where the sewer exits a building on the property owner's property; sewer must be available and connection 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.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision plans inside Piggott city limits that propose standard onsite wastewater systems for any lots or tracts.

  • Plans must be submitted to the Arkansas Department of Health for review and approval of the overall onsite-wastewater plan.
  • Lots or parcels unsuitable for standard onsite systems must be incorporated into surrounding lots or parcels.

  “All subdivision plans, which are proposed to utilize standard onsite wastewater systems as a method of wastewater treatment for all or part of the lots or tracts in said subdivision, shall be submitted to the Arkansas Department of Health for review and approval”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Piggott city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Piggott city limits.
• Inspections — Building inspections for structures inside Piggott city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for structures inside Piggott city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Piggott city limits.

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.