Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Marion, Arkansas

Rules another office applies inside Marion

Marion 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 on land inside Marion city, Arkansas (Crittenden County). The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) rules apply; permits are issued by ADH or by an authorized agent it designates for the city or county. Whether a county health unit is the designated authorized agent for Marion city was not verified.

  • Authorized agent role applies only where ADH has designated one for the city or county; otherwise applications go to ADH.
  • Rules are statewide, not a Marion city ordinance. Any Marion city sewer ordinance was not located.

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

• Septic permitRequired

  New or altered onsite wastewater (septic) systems on land inside Marion city, Arkansas, permitted by ADH or its authorized agent

  • Construction may proceed only after a valid construction permit is issued; permit is valid for one year from approval (rule definition 2.67).
  • Part I of the application must be completed by a designated representative and approved before construction (section 4.10.1).
  • Installer must notify the authorized agent at least 24 hours before starting work (section 4.7).
  • Variations from the rules may be approved at the department's sole discretion (section 3.1).
  • Plan review fee applies (section 4.9).

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

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Onsite wastewater (septic) systems on land inside Marion city, Arkansas, before they may be operated

  • Inspection is by ADH or its authorized agent; operation requires a permit for operation after approval.
  • Permit for operation is issued only after the system is inspected and approved.

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

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Privies and onsite systems on premises inside Marion city, Arkansas, that the state rule requires to connect to sanitary sewer

  • Sentence appears in section 4.1 after the sewer connection requirement; applies to premises required to connect.
  • Premises beyond the 300-foot sewer reach may use an onsite wastewater system only after an ADH construction permit (section 4.5).

  “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)

  New homes on land inside Marion city, Arkansas, when a public sanitary sewer is available nearby

  • Applies only when a sanitary sewer is within 300 feet of the point where the sewer exits a building on the property.
  • Connection is required only when it can be made without crossing another person's property.
  • Marion city's own sewer connection ordinance was not located; water connection requirement not researched.

  distance to sanitary sewer requiring connection: <= 300 feet (connection must be 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.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Onsite wastewater (septic) permit review fee for systems on land inside Marion city, Arkansas. This is the only fee found; Marion city building and zoning fees were not located.

  • Fee for structures over 1,500 sq ft is higher under section 4.9.1.2 to 4.9.1.5 ($45 to $150).
  • Alteration, repair, or extension of an individual sewage disposal system carries a $30 fee (section 4.9.1.6).
  • Fee is paid to ADH before issuance of Part 1 of the permit; no refund if the applicant does not proceed.

  onsite wastewater permit review fee, structure 1,500 sq ft or less: 30 USD (larger structures pay $45 to $150 under section 4.9.1; alteration fee is $30)

  “4.9.1.1 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);”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for residential construction inside Marion city, Arkansas
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permitting inside Marion city, Arkansas
• Building code adopted — Building code adopted by Marion city, Arkansas
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Marion city, Arkansas
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Marion city, Arkansas

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.