Bolthole Index

Crawford County, Arkansas

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Van Buren, Arkansas

A building permit from the City of Van Buren, Arkansas is required before excavation, construction, moving or alteration of any building inside city limits1. Van Buren adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance2. Septic permits for Van Buren addresses come from the Arkansas Department of Health or its authorized agent, not the city3. Van Buren is in Crawford County.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the city before excavation, construction, moving or alteration, including accessory buildings1
Building code
City adopts the International Building Code and International Residential Code4
Zoning
City zoning ordinance with districts such as R-1, R-2, R-5 and R-425
Septic
Arkansas Department of Health or its authorized agent3
Accessory dwelling
One accessory dwelling unit allowed per lot with a single-family dwelling6
Manufactured homes
Permanently installed in R-5; elsewhere outside R-4 needs a zoning change78
Driveway permit
Separate permit not required when a building permit is issued for new construction9

Who to call

Building permits

City of Van Buren Building Department

Building permits, plumbing, electrical and heat-and-air permits and inspections, and driveway permits inside Van Buren city limits

479.474.8943

1003 Broadway Street, Van Buren, AR 72956

Planning & zoning

City of Van Buren Planning Department

Zoning, subdivision review and floodplain questions inside Van Buren city limits

479-471-5006

Septic permits

Arkansas Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Program (Environmental Health)

Statewide onsite wastewater (septic) program that reviews septic permit applications with the Environmental Health Specialist assigned to Crawford County

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 Van Buren means bringing your own water and power. 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.

Do you need a building permit in Van Buren, Arkansas?

Yes. Van Buren requires a building permit, issued before excavation, construction, moving or alteration of any building, accessory buildings included1. The city adopts the International Building Code and the International Residential Code for one- and two-family dwellings4. A new house gets plumbing inspections at rough-in, top-out and final stages, with electrical and heat-and-air inspections at top-out and final, each listed at $20 per inspection10. Other inspections may be required under the adopted codes or by the Building Department10. We could not confirm an owner-builder exemption from city permits, so assume you need one and ask the Building Department11.

Who issues building permits in Van Buren, and how do you reach them?

The City of Van Buren Building Department issues building permits and handles inspections inside city limits; call 479.474.8943 or visit the Van Buren Municipal Complex at 1003 Broadway Street1112. Zoning, subdivision review and floodplain questions go to the Planning Department at 479-471-500613. Floodplain development permits for land in Special Flood Hazard Areas are administered by the city floodplain administrator12. A driveway permit is listed at $100, but a separate driveway permit is not required when a building permit is issued for new construction9. Septic is not a city permit: the Arkansas Department of Health handles it314.

Does Van Buren have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Van Buren has its own zoning ordinance for land inside the city2. The code lists 14 districts, from R-1 to I-25. Minimum lot area for a one-family dwelling is 8,500 square feet in R-1 and 7,000 square feet for the first unit in R-51516. In R-2 and R-5, the side setback is at least 7.5 feet and the rear setback at least 20 feet1718. R-1, R-2 and R-5 all cap structures at two stories and 35 feet192021. We could not confirm a minimum dwelling floor area or lot-coverage limit in those districts; ask the Planning Department13. Crawford County itself appears not to zone unincorporated land, so these rules end at the city line22.

How do septic permits work in Van Buren?

Septic permits are not issued by the City of Van Buren. In Arkansas, a permit for construction from the Department of Health or its authorized agent is required before building, altering or extending an onsite wastewater system, and a permit for operation is required before it runs3. The statewide onsite wastewater program reviews applications in cooperation with the local Environmental Health Specialist14. A permit may be refused where public sewer is reasonably available, and premises must connect to a sanitary sewer within 300 feet of where the sewer exits the building when connection is available323. Confirm sewer availability with the Building Department before planning a septic system inside city limits11. Only 5.4% of Crawford County soils rate free of severe septic limits24.

Can you live in an RV, manufactured home or tiny home in Van Buren?

Manufactured homes are allowed in the R-5 district when permanently installed on a lot to current HUD foundation guidelines, and other zoning and building-code requirements still apply7. Outside a parcel already zoned R-4 Mobile Home District, placing a mobile or manufactured home first requires a Planning Commission zoning change8. One accessory dwelling unit is allowed on a lot with a single-family dwelling, up to 75% of the main home's floor area or 1,000 square feet, whichever is less, with Department of Health approval where city water or sewer is unavailable6. We could not confirm the city's rules on living in an RV, temporary camping or tiny homes, so call the Planning Department before you place one13.

Building a home in Van Buren: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot is inside Van Buren city limits and check its zoning district with the Planning Department213.
  2. Check lot size, setbacks and height for that district1517.
  3. If the lot lacks city sewer, ask the Arkansas Department of Health for a septic permit before construction314.
  4. Get a building permit from the Building Department before excavation111.
  5. Schedule the plumbing, electrical and heat-and-air inspections as work proceeds10.
  6. If you are subdividing, submit review materials by noon five working days before the review meeting25.

What should you check before buying land in Van Buren?

Confirm whether the lot is inside the city, since county rules and city rules differ2. Ask about sewer availability, because it decides whether septic is allowed23. For wells, Arkansas water-well rules are statewide and require a licensed contractor, and we could not confirm any Van Buren well permit26. Crawford County's effective property-tax rate is about 0.5% and the median annual property-tax bill is about $9042728. The nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 37 miles from the county center29.

Watch-outs

  • Septic permits for Van Buren come from the Arkansas Department of Health or its authorized agent, not the City Building Department314.
  • Manufactured homes outside an existing R-4 parcel need a Planning Commission zoning change, so check the district before you buy8.
  • We could not confirm Van Buren rules for RV living, tiny homes or short-term rentals; ask the Planning Department13.

Sources

  1. Van Buren Municipal Code § 14.04.102, Building permits and Certificates of Occupancy (Van Buren), quoted and re-checked
  2. Van Buren Municipal Code § 14.04.03, Classification of Districts (Van Buren), quoted and re-checked
  3. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), quoted and re-checked
  4. Van Buren Municipal Code § 11.32.01, Building Code (Van Buren), quoted and re-checked
  5. Van Buren Municipal Code § 14.04.03, Classification of Districts (Van Buren), quoted and re-checked
  6. Van Buren Municipal Code § 14.04.24, Accessory Dwelling Units (Van Buren), quoted and re-checked
  7. Van Buren Municipal Code § 14.04.48, R-5 Single-Family Residential District (Van Buren), quoted and re-checked
  8. Van Buren Municipal Code § 14.04.46, R-4 Mobile Home District (Van Buren), quoted and re-checked
  9. City of Van Buren Building Department Fee Schedule (Van Buren), quoted and re-checked
  10. City of Van Buren Building Department Fee Schedule (Van Buren), quoted and re-checked
  11. City of Van Buren Building Department (cityofvanburenar.gov)
  12. Van Buren Municipal Code § 14.04.102, Building permits and Certificates of Occupancy (Van Buren), quoted and re-checked
  13. City of Van Buren Planning Department (cityofvanburenar.gov)
  14. Arkansas Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Program (Environmental Health) (healthy.arkansas.gov)
  15. Van Buren Municipal Code § 14.04.41, R-1 Family Residential District (Van Buren), quoted and re-checked
  16. Van Buren Municipal Code § 14.04.48, R-5 Single-Family Residential District (Van Buren), quoted and re-checked
  17. Van Buren Municipal Code § 14.04.43, R-2 Family Residential District (Van Buren), quoted and re-checked
  18. Van Buren Municipal Code § 14.04.48, R-5 Single-Family Residential District (Van Buren), quoted and re-checked
  19. Van Buren Municipal Code § 14.04.41, R-1 Family Residential District (Van Buren), quoted and re-checked
  20. Van Buren Municipal Code § 14.04.43, R-2 Family Residential District (Van Buren), quoted and re-checked
  21. Van Buren Municipal Code § 14.04.48, R-5 Single-Family Residential District (Van Buren), quoted and re-checked
  22. Crawford County, Arkansas - County Officials/Departments (2026 county census)
  23. codeofarrules.arkansas.gov, quoted and re-checked
  24. 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
  25. Van Buren Municipal Code § 15.04.04, Minimum design standards (Van Buren), quoted and re-checked
  26. 17 CAR § 11-306. Water well contractor licenses, quoted and re-checked
  27. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  29. 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 Van Buren

Van Buren’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, moving, or alteration of any building, including accessory buildings, inside Van Buren city limits.

    • A building permit must be issued before excavation, construction, moving, or alteration begins.
    “It shall be unlawful to commence the excavation for the construction of any building, including accessory buildings, or to commence the moving or alteration of any building, including accessory building, until the Building Inspector has issued a building permit for such work.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction of buildings and structures within Van Buren city limits.

    • The ordinance adopts the 2002 International Building Code and appendices, or the most recent edition.
    • The city also adopts the 2002 International Residential Code for one- and two-family dwellings, or the most recent edition.
    “There is hereby adopted by reference the 2002 International Building Code and all appendices for the City of Van Buren, Arkansas, or most recent edition.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    At least the listed plumbing, electrical, and HVAC inspections for new construction inside Van Buren city limits.

    • The fee schedule states that a new house has rough-in, top-out, and final plumbing inspections.
    • Electrical and heat-and-air inspections are also listed as top-out and final inspections.
    • Other inspections may be required by the adopted codes or Building Department.

    plumbing inspection fee: 20 USD (per inspection) · electrical inspection fee: 20 USD (per inspection) · heat-and-air inspection fee: 20 USD (per inspection)

    “$20 per Inspection. On new house three inspections: Rough-in, Top out and Final”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Van Buren city limits; the city adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance.

    “For the purpose of this Ordinance, Van Buren, Arkansas, has fourteen (14) zoning districts designated as follows:”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Van Buren city zoning districts.

    • The code lists fourteen districts: R-1, R-1B, R-2, R-3, R-3B, R-4, R-5, C-1, C-2, H-I, I-1, I-2, G-1, and O-1.

    number of zoning districts: 14

    “For the purpose of this Ordinance, Van Buren, Arkansas, has fourteen (14) zoning districts designated as follows:”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Mobile or manufactured-home placement outside a parcel already zoned R-4 Mobile Home District.

    • Before location or installation outside an existing R-4 parcel, an application must be made to the Planning Commission for a change in zoning classification.
    • Mobile home parks are located in the R-4 Mobile Home District under the code.
    “Prior to the location or installation of a mobile home within the City Limits of Van Buren, other than on a parcel or plot of ground previously zoned as an R-4 Mobile Home District, application shall be made to the Planning Commission for a change in zoning classification.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Manufactured homes permanently installed on lots in the R-5 Single-Family and Manufactured Home Residential District.
      “Manufactured homes that are permanently installed on a lot in a manner which is in compliance with current United States Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines for Manufactured Home foundations”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    One accessory dwelling unit on a lot or parcel containing a single-family dwelling inside Van Buren city limits.

    • No more than one ADU is allowed per lot or parcel containing a single-family dwelling.
    • An attached, detached, or internal ADU is allowed.
    • A detached or attached ADU may not exceed 75% of the primary dwelling's gross floor area or 1,000 square feet, whichever is less.
    • The ADU must comply with district minimum height, setbacks, lot size, lot coverage, and other requirements.
    • No separate water or sewer service is required.
    • Department of Health approval is required where municipal water or sewer service is unavailable.

    maximum ADU size: 75% of primary dwelling gross floor area or 1,000 square feet, whichever is less

    “An accessory dwelling unit is an allowed or permitted land use by right on a lot or parcel that contains a single-family dwelling. [...] There shall be no more than one accessory dwelling unit allowed per lot or parcel that includes a single-family dwelling. [...] Approval from the Department of Health shall be required where a municipal water service or municipal sewer service is not available.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Subdivision development inside Van Buren city limits.

    • Where an approved public water supply is available or reasonably accessible or procurable, connections should be made with it.
    • A subdivision must be connected to a public water supply so potable water is available to every lot.
    • Sanitary sewer systems must be constructed for subdivisions within a reasonable distance of public sewers.
    • When existing sanitary sewers cannot serve the subdivision, septic tanks or other approved disposal methods may be used under the stated approvals.
    “Where an approved public water supply for domestic and fire protection uses is available or reasonably accessible or procurable, connections should be made with such water supply. [...] The subdivision shall be connected to a public water supply system in such a manner that an adequate supply of potable water is available to every lot within the subdivision. [...] Sanitary sewer systems shall be constructed for any Subdivision located within a reasonable distance of public sewers.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision plats and subdivision improvements inside Van Buren city limits.

    • Plats and construction plans must conform to design standards in effect at submission and approval.
    • Subdivision review materials are due by 12:00 P.M. five working days before the review meeting.
    • Lot size, area, width, and building setback are referenced to the applicable Van Buren zoning classification.
    “The subdivision plat shall conform to all design standards in effect. Construction plans and specifications shall conform to the minimum design standards in effect at the time of plan submittal and approval by the City.”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Driveways inside Van Buren city limits.

    • A driveway permit is listed at $100.
    • A separate driveway permit is not required when a building permit is issued for new residential or nonresidential construction.
    • The city publishes driveway design specifications and driveway details.

    driveway permit fee: 100 USD (no separate permit for new construction when a building permit is issued)

    “Note: A separate Driveway permit is not required when a building permit is issued for “new” residential or nonresidential construction.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building, planning, subdivision, floodplain, and related permit processes inside Van Buren city limits.

    • Building permits are required before excavation, construction, moving, or alteration.
    • Subdivision-review materials are due by noon five working days before the meeting.
    • Floodplain development permits are administered by the city floodplain administrator for development in Special Flood Hazard Areas.
    • The official city website identifies the Building Department, Planning Department, applications, permits, fee schedule, zoning information, subdivision procedures, and floodplain documents.
    “All items for review by the subdivision review committee are due in the Planning Department office by 12:00 P.M., five working days before the actual meeting.”

Rules another office applies inside Van Buren

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

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    One-family dwellings in Van Buren's R-1 Family Residential District.

    minimum lot area: >= 8500 square feet (one-family dwelling)

    “One family dwelling: Minimum 8,500 square feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Residential dwellings in the R-2 Family Residential District.

    • Cul-de-sac residential lots with frontage on the radius may use a 20-foot front setback.
    • An open attached carport may be within five feet of one side-yard boundary.
    • Older nonconforming lots 50 feet wide or less may use the stated reduced setbacks.

    front setback: 25 feet from property line or 50 feet from centerline of existing right-of-way, whichever is greater (cul-de-sac radius lots may use 20 feet) · side setback: >= 7.5 feet (one open attached carport may be within 5 feet of one side boundary) · rear setback: >= 20 feet (measured from property line or center of alley where one exists) · street-side setback: 15 feet from street property line or 35 feet from street centerline, whichever is greater (specified nonconforming-lot reductions)

    “Front yard: 25 feet from property line or 50 feet from centerline of existing right-of-way, whichever is greater. [...] Rear yard: Minimum of 20 feet from property line of center of alley where one exists.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — One-family dwellings in the R-5 Single-Family Residential District.
      “Front Yard: 25 feet from property line or 50 feet from center line of existing right-of-way, whichever is greater. [...] Side Yard: Minimum 71/2 feet from each property line. [...] Rear Yard: 20 feet from property line or center of alley, whichever is greater.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Structures in the R-1 Family Residential District.

    • The district limit is stated as both stories and feet.

    maximum height: two stories and 35 feet

    “Maximum height of a structure shall be two stories and not to exceed 35 feet.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Van Buren or Crawford County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built construction inside Van Buren city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area inside Van Buren city limits.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Van Buren city limits.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term or residential RV occupancy on private land inside Van Buren city limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Van Buren city limits.
8 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Short-term rentals

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

← All of Crawford County: county rules, score and offices