Bolthole Index

Craighead County, Arkansas

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Bono, Arkansas

Bono, Arkansas (Craighead County) publishes its own zoning codes and zoning maps for land inside city limits, and its website offers building permit forms, including residential, electrical, plumbing-gas and mechanical permits.12 Septic permits are different: onsite wastewater systems inside Bono are administered under Arkansas Department of Health rules, and applications go to the Department where no city or county authorized agent has been designated.3 Craighead County's unincorporated-area rules do not govern city lots.

At a glance

Zoning
City zoning codes and maps published by the City of Bono14
Building permit
City permit forms online; submit by email to the city2
Septic
Permit for Construction required before work begins; Arkansas Department of Health rules apply5
Septic operation
Inspection and a Permit for Operation before the system is used6
Owner-builder
State contractor-licensing exemption exists; city permit rules not confirmed7
RV and tiny home
No Bono rule confirmed1

Who to call

Building permits

City of Bono building permits (City Hall)

Building, electrical, plumbing-gas, mechanical and solar permit forms for work inside Bono city limits

[email protected]

Septic permits

Arkansas Department of Health - Onsite Wastewater (Environmental Health)

Statewide onsite wastewater (septic) permit review, applied for through the Environmental Health Specialist at the Craighead County health department where no city or county authorized agent has been designated

501-661-2171

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 10, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Bono means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Bono have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes and lot size?

Yes. The City of Bono publishes its zoning codes and a zoning map for land inside city limits.14 A lot inside Bono follows the city code rather than any county rule.

We could not read the district-by-district text, so we cannot give a verified minimum lot size, setback, height or dwelling size for any Bono district. We also found no official Bono rule on RV occupancy, tiny-home occupancy, manufactured homes or accessory dwellings. Download the zoning code and map from the city website and confirm your parcel's district with City Hall before you buy or place anything on a lot.

Do you need a building permit in Bono, and who issues it?

The City of Bono's website has a building permits page with forms for residential building, electrical, plumbing-gas, mechanical and solar permits, and says to email completed forms to [email protected].2 We could not open an operative city rule stating which work requires a permit, what fees apply, or how inspections work, so ask City Hall before starting any work.

Arkansas building codes are mandatory statewide minimums even where no local permit or inspection is required.8

Arkansas exempts a person building their own residence from residential contractor licensing unless they build more than one residence in a calendar year, but that licensing exemption does not by itself exempt the project from building, septic or other permits.7

How do septic permits work in Bono?

Permits for the construction and operation of an onsite wastewater system must be obtained before the system is constructed, installed or modified.5 Inside Bono, applications go to the Arkansas Department of Health where no authorized agent has been designated for the city or county.39

A permit may be refused where public sewer is reasonably available or economically feasible, so ask whether Bono's sewer reaches your lot first.5

After installation the system must be inspected and approved, and a Permit for Operation must be issued before anyone uses it.6

Expect scrutiny of soils: the share of Craighead County soils without severe limits for a conventional drain field is 0%, so conventional systems rate poorly and an engineered system is likely.10

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Bono?

We found no official Bono rule on long-term RV occupancy, temporary camping or tiny-home occupancy. Statewide, Arkansas rules about RV parks and campgrounds cover transient park spaces and do not answer whether you can live in an RV on your own lot.11

Because Bono has zoning, the answer will depend on your parcel's district. Ask City Hall and read the zoning code before you rely on either.1

Building a home in Bono: the steps, in order

  1. Download the zoning code and map and confirm your parcel's district with City Hall.4
  2. Ask whether city sewer reaches the lot; if not, plan for an onsite system.5
  3. Get a Permit for Construction from the Arkansas Department of Health before building the septic system.39
  4. Email the completed residential building permit forms to the city.2
  5. Have the septic system inspected and obtain a Permit for Operation.6

What stays with Craighead County and the state, and what should you check before you buy?

Septic permits stay with the Arkansas Department of Health, not the city.3 Subdivision plans inside Bono that use standard onsite systems must be submitted to the Department for approval.12

Floodplain permits in unincorporated Craighead County come from the county; we found no Bono floodplain rule, so ask City Hall whether your lot is in a flood zone.13

County figures: typical home value is about $220,115, and the nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 61 miles from the county center.1415

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Bono's permit requirements, fees or inspection rules; call City Hall before starting any work.2
  • Septic needs a Permit for Construction before work and a Permit for Operation before use.56
  • Craighead County's rules for unincorporated land do not apply inside Bono.1

Sources

  1. City of Bono Zoning Codes (Bono), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Bono building permits (City Hall) (cityofbono.gov)
  3. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024) (Bono), quoted and re-checked
  4. City of Bono Zoning Codes (Bono), quoted and re-checked
  5. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024) (Bono), quoted and re-checked
  6. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024) (Bono), quoted and re-checked
  7. Arkansas Residential Contractor Law revised August 2025, quoted and re-checked
  8. Home Improvement New Application, quoted and re-checked
  9. Arkansas Department of Health - Onsite Wastewater (Environmental Health) (healthy.arkansas.gov)
  10. 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
  11. codeofarrules.arkansas.gov, quoted and re-checked
  12. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024) (Bono), quoted and re-checked
  13. 2024-15 An Ordinance providing for the establishment of a flood damage prevention program for Craighead County and for other purposes, quoted and re-checked
  14. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  15. Straight-line distance from the county center to the nearest city of 100,000+ people: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 10, 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 Bono

Bono’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Bono city limits.

    “Please download and review the zoning codes below.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts and map for land inside Bono city limits.

    “Please download and review the zoning codes below. The pdf file can be unzipped for viewing using programs such as 7-zip or winrar.”

Rules another office applies inside Bono

Bono 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

    Onsite wastewater systems inside Bono city limits are administered under Arkansas Department of Health rules by the Department or its authorized agent.

    • Applications are made to the Department where a city or county authorized agent has not been designated.
    “In the event that an Authorized Agent has not been designated for a city or county, applications for onsite wastewater systems shall be made to the Department.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction, alteration, repair, or extension of onsite wastewater systems inside Bono city limits.

    • A valid Permit for Construction must be obtained before work begins.
    • Emergency repairs may proceed without prior notification only if a permit is obtained within ten working days.
    • A permit may be refused where public sewer is reasonably available or economically feasible.
    “Permits for construction and operation of onsite wastewater systems shall be obtained [...] prior to the construction, installation or modification of the Onsite Wastewater System.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Operation of onsite wastewater systems inside Bono city limits.

    • The system must be inspected and approved before operation.
    • A Permit for Operation must be issued before the system is used.
    “The system shall not be used until the Permit for Operation is issued.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision plans inside Bono city limits that propose standard onsite wastewater systems.

    • Plans must be submitted to the Arkansas Department of Health for review and approval of the overall onsite-wastewater plan.
    • Unsuitable lots must be incorporated into surrounding lots or parcels.
    • Green or community space is not assigned a lot number or considered in approval.
    “All subdivision plans, which are proposed to utilize standard onsite wastewater systems [...] 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 Bono or Craighead County directly.

  • Building permit — Residential and other building permits inside Bono city limits.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions for construction inside Bono city limits.
  • Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Bono city limits.
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Bono city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings inside Bono city limits.
18 more unanswered
  • Minimum dwelling size
  • Minimum lot size
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

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

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