Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Arkansas City, Arkansas

Rules another office applies inside Arkansas City

Arkansas City 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 Arkansas City city, administered by the Arkansas Department of Health through the Environmental Health Specialist assigned to Desha County (county health unit).

  • The Arkansas Department of Health onsite wastewater rule governs; local health staff act as the department's authorized agent.
  • No Arkansas City ordinance on onsite systems was located.

  “authorized agent. the environmental health specialist assigned to the county, or business unit by the department.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New onsite wastewater (septic) system serving a home on land inside Arkansas City city

  • A completed onsite wastewater system permit application with detailed plans and specifications must be submitted.
  • Lots must have suitable primary and secondary absorption areas; subsurface renovation is not approved if soils are unsuitable regardless of lot size.
  • Municipal sewer connection under the 300-foot rule (Section 4.1) may take precedence where a sewer is available.

  “a completed onsite wastewater system permit application and detailed plans and specifications following the requirements found in appendix f for the collection, treatment and/or renovation facilities for all wastes of a domestic nature, containing a predominance of human excreta and exclusive of industrial wastes 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.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  A new home on land inside Arkansas City city: state rule requiring connection to a sanitary sewer where one is within 300 feet and available. No Arkansas City sewer-availability map or city rule was located.

  • Applies only when the sewer exits a building on the property owner's property within 300 feet of the premises and is available to the premises.
  • Connection is required only when it can be made without crossing another person's property.
  • Whether any public sewer line serves Arkansas City city was not verified.

  distance from sanitary sewer exit point: <= 300 feet (only where connection can be made 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.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Arkansas City or Desha County directly.

• Building permit — Building permits for a new home inside Arkansas City city, AR
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a home built by the owner inside Arkansas City city, AR
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption inside Arkansas City city, AR
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Arkansas City city, AR
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for a new home inside Arkansas City city, AR

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.