Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Mitchellville, Arkansas

Rules another office applies inside Mitchellville

Mitchellville 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 Mitchellville city limits (Desha County, AR). The state program works with the local health unit's environmental health specialists.

  • The state program reviews onsite systems under 1500 gallons per day; systems 1500 gpd and larger are reviewed by the Division of Environmental Quality (per the ADH FAQ page).
  • The page does not name the Desha County health unit or the specialist assigned to Mitchellville; that local contact was not verified.

  design flow threshold: < 1500 gallons per day (systems 1500 gpd and larger are reviewed by the Division of Environmental Quality)

  “this program, in cooperation with the local environmental specialists, reviews permit applications for onsite wastewater systems under 1500 gallons per day (gpd).”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction, alteration, repair or extension of an onsite wastewater (septic) system on land inside Mitchellville city limits

  • Construction may proceed only after the owner obtains a valid permit for construction from ADH or its authorized agent.
  • Systems 1500 gpd and larger are reviewed by the Division of Environmental Quality (per the ADH FAQ page), not the local health unit.

  “owned by any other person, firm, corporation, association, municipality or governmental agency until the owner first obtains a valid permit for construction issued by the department or its authorized agent.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Onsite wastewater (septic) systems on land inside Mitchellville city limits, before operation

  • Installation inspection may be made during any phase of construction; the installer must notify the authorized agent or designated representative when the installation is ready.
  • Operation may not begin until the system has been inspected and approved and a permit for operation has been issued.
  • Installer must notify the authorized agent at least 24 hours before starting work.

  installer notice before work begins: >= 24 hours (emergency repairs may proceed with notice and a permit obtained within ten working days)

  “it shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, association, municipality or governmental agency to begin operation of any onsite wastewater system until such system has been inspected and approved by the department or its authorized agent and the owner has first obtained a permit for operation issued by the department or its authorized agent.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction (non-septic) inside Mitchellville city limits
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permits inside Mitchellville city limits
• Building code adopted — Building codes for construction inside Mitchellville city limits
• Inspections — Building (non-septic) inspections inside Mitchellville city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Mitchellville 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.