Bolthole Index

Faulkner County, Arkansas

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Conway, Arkansas

Conway, Arkansas requires building permits for new construction, remodels, additions and accessory buildings, and the City administers its own zoning code12. A Certificate of Occupancy must be issued before anyone occupies a new home3. Where public sewer is not available, a private wastewater system is allowed, and septic permits in Faulkner County run through the Arkansas Department of Health45.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for new construction, remodels, additions and accessory buildings1
Zoning
City of Conway administers its own zoning code2
Certificate of Occupancy
Required before occupancy3
Septic
Private system allowed only where public sewer is not available; state health department permits45
Minimum lot (R-2A single-family)
6,000 square feet6
Driveway in city right-of-way
Permit application required7
Owner-builder
Arkansas exempts owners building their own residence from contractor licensing8

Who to call

Building permits

City of Conway Permits & Inspections

Building permits, plan review and inspections inside Conway city limits

501-450-6107

[email protected]

1111 Main St, Conway, AR 72032

Septic permits

Faulkner County Health Unit (Arkansas Department of Health)

Local contact point for the Arkansas Department of Health's onsite wastewater (septic) permitting in Faulkner County

(501) 450-4941

811 North Creek Dr, Conway, AR 72032

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 Conway 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 Conway, AR?

Yes. Conway requires building permits for new construction, remodels, additions and accessory buildings inside city limits1. Individual permits are also required for electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical work, and impact fees apply to new one- and two-family dwellings9.

One- and two-family dwellings need plans drawn to scale before a permit is issued, including a site plan, a floor plan, and footing and foundation plans and details10. A Certificate of Occupancy must be issued before occupancy3.

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

The City of Conway's Permits & Inspections office issues building permits, reviews plans, and schedules and performs field inspections11. Call 501-450-6107 or email [email protected]; the office is at 1111 Main St, Conway, AR 720329.

This office covers land inside Conway only. Outside the city, Faulkner County's Office of Emergency Management manages floodplain permitting for areas beyond Conway, Mayflower, Wooster, Vilonia and Greenbrier12.

Does Conway have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and height?

Yes. Conway has and administers its own zoning code2. Standards depend on the zoning district, so identify the parcel's district before you plan a house.

In the R-2A district, a detached single-family lot needs 6,000 square feet6. Lot coverage is limited to 30 percent, and may reach 35 percent on an exterior or corner lot13. Building height is capped at 35 feet14.

The Planning Commission reviews and approves major subdivisions and replats of more than 4 lots within the City and its territorial jurisdiction15. We could not confirm Conway rules on RV occupancy, tiny homes or accessory dwelling units; ask Permits & Inspections9.

How do septic permits work in Conway?

Where a public sanitary sewer is not available, Conway's code requires the building sewer to connect to a private wastewater disposal system4. The City's Environmental Specialist must inspect within 24 hours of receiving notice16.

The permit itself is a state matter. Arkansas Department of Health oversees onsite wastewater systems in Faulkner County, and a permit is required to construct, alter, repair, extend or operate one517. A review fee is levied for each permit application18. Call the Faulkner County Health Unit at (501) 450-494119.

Where sewer is available, Faulkner County's rules say premises shall be connected to the sanitary sewer20. Only 2.7 percent of Faulkner County soils avoid severe limits for a conventional drain field, so expect an engineered system21.

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

We could not confirm a Conway rule on living in an RV, tiny-home occupancy, or accessory dwelling units, because the research did not turn up a clear statement. Ask Permits & Inspections at 501-450-6107 before you buy or park anything9.

In mapped flood zones, Faulkner County limits how recreational vehicles may be placed in Special Flood Hazard Areas, though that county rule is not Conway's22.

Building a home in Conway: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the zoning district, lot size and height limits2.
  2. Check whether public sewer is available; if not, contact the Faulkner County Health Unit about a septic permit1719.
  3. Prepare scaled plans: site plan, floor plan, and footing and foundation details10.
  4. Apply to Permits & Inspections for the building permit, plus electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical permits9.
  5. If the driveway enters a city street right-of-way, file the driveway permit application7.
  6. Pass final inspections and get the Certificate of Occupancy before moving in3.

What stays with Faulkner County, and what to check before you buy in Conway?

Septic permits for Faulkner County come from the Arkansas Department of Health's local health unit, not the City2319. Floodplain development inside Conway needs a City floodplain development permit for land-altering activity in a designated floodplain24.

Arkansas exempts a person who acts as the residential building contractor on his or her own residence from licensing, unless building more than one residence in a calendar year8. We could not confirm Conway rules on wells or agricultural exemptions; ask Permits & Inspections9.

Watch-outs

  • Impact fees apply to all new one- and two-family dwellings in Conway, so ask for the impact fee document when budgeting9.
  • We could not confirm Conway rules on owner-builder permits, wells, RVs, tiny homes or accessory dwellings; call 501-450-61079.

Sources

  1. Residential Building Permit Guidelines (Conway), quoted and re-checked
  2. Conway Zoning Code (Conway), quoted and re-checked
  3. Residential Building Permit Guidelines (Conway), quoted and re-checked
  4. Private sewage disposal (Conway), quoted and re-checked
  5. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), quoted and re-checked
  6. Conway Zoning Code (Conway), quoted and re-checked
  7. Conway Transportation Department (Conway), quoted and re-checked
  8. Residential Contractors Committee Rules, quoted and re-checked
  9. City of Conway Permits & Inspections (conwayarkansas.gov)
  10. Residential Building Permit Guidelines (Conway), quoted and re-checked
  11. Building Permits & Inspections (Conway), quoted and re-checked
  12. Floodplain Management, quoted and re-checked
  13. Conway Zoning Code (Conway), quoted and re-checked
  14. Conway Zoning Code (Conway), quoted and re-checked
  15. conwayarkansas.gov (Conway), quoted and re-checked
  16. Private sewage disposal (Conway), quoted and re-checked
  17. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), quoted and re-checked
  18. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), quoted and re-checked
  19. Faulkner County Health Unit (Arkansas Department of Health) (healthy.arkansas.gov)
  20. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), quoted and re-checked
  21. 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
  22. Flood Damage Prevention Code, quoted and re-checked
  23. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), quoted and re-checked
  24. Storm water permit requirements (Conway), quoted and re-checked

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 Conway

Conway’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    New residential construction, remodels, additions and accessory buildings inside Conway city limits.

    • Permits are issued upon review approval and payment.
    • Separate permits are required for electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical work.
    • No work may be performed until permits have been issued.
    • A floodplain development permit is required before the building permit when applicable.
    “Building permits are required for new constructions, remodels, additions, and accessory buildings.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Construction and permitted work inside Conway city limits.

    • Inspections must be called in at least one business day in advance.
    • Final inspections must pass before a certificate of occupancy is issued.
    “The office processes multiple types of construction permit applications, conducts plans reviews of construction plans, and schedules and performs subsequent field inspections”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Residential occupancy after construction inside Conway city limits.

    • The certificate of occupancy must be issued before occupancy.
    • It will not be issued until all final inspections have passed, all fees are paid and all applicable departments have offered final approval.
    “A Certificate of Occupancy must be issued prior to occupancy.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Conway city limits; Conway has and administers its own zoning code.

    “SF-Detached 6,000 6,000 50’ 30% (1) 25’ 6’ 25’ 25’ 3 35’”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Private wastewater disposal systems inside Conway city limits.

    • The Environmental Specialist may inspect the work at any stage.
    • The applicant must notify the Environmental Specialist when the work is ready for final inspection and before underground portions are covered.
    • The inspection must be made within twenty-four hours after notice.
    • The system must be approved before the permit becomes effective.

    final inspection timing: 24 hours (after receipt of notice by the Environmental Specialist)

    “The inspection shall be made within twenty-four (24) hours of the receipt of notice by the Environmental Specialist.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Sanitation not connected to the public sewer inside Conway city limits.

    • Private wastewater disposal is allowed only where public sanitary sewer is unavailable under the ordinance.
    • The private system must comply with Conway requirements and Arkansas Department of Health specifications.
    • Privies, septic tanks, cesspools and other wastewater disposal facilities are otherwise unlawful except as provided by the ordinance.
    “Where a public sanitary sewer is not available [...] the building sewer shall be connected to a private wastewater disposal system”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivisions and replats within Conway city limits and the City's territorial jurisdiction.

    • The Planning Commission reviews and approves major subdivisions and replats involving more than four lots.
    • Planning Staff reviews and approves subdivisions containing four lots or fewer.

    major subdivision threshold: > 4 lots (Planning Staff reviews and approves subdivisions containing 4 lots or fewer)

    “The Planning Commission reviews and approves major subdivisions and replats (more than 4 lots) within the City and the Territorial Jurisdiction.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Driveway installation or modification in a City of Conway street right-of-way.

    • A City of Conway Transportation Department permit application is provided for driveway installation or modification in street right-of-way.
    • Additional access-management and subdivision standards may apply depending on location and project type.
    “Driveway Install/Modification in Street R.O.W Permit Application”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Land-altering activity and construction on sites located within a designated floodplain inside Conway city limits.

    • A floodplain development permit is required before the building permit when applicable.
    • The floodplain permit is issued in lieu of the grading permit for applicable land-altering activity, though separate development-review or building-permit requirements may also apply.
    “Floodplain Development Permit —Required for land altering activity on sites located within a designated floodplain.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Residential building permit applications inside Conway city limits.

    • The application must be completed and submitted.
    • One- and two-family dwellings require plans drawn to scale for review and approval before permit issuance.
    • Required plans include a site plan, floor plan, foundation plans, elevations, framing details, wall bracing details and window and door sizes.
    • Payment is required before issuance.
    • No work may begin before issuance.
    “One- and Two-Family Dwellings are required to have plans drawn to scale for review and approval prior to issuance of the building permit. Such plans shall include the following: A Site Plan A Floor Plan Footing and Foundation plans and details”

Rules another office applies inside Conway

Conway 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

    R-2A SF-Detached residential district inside Conway city limits.

    • The zoning table identifies the district and use as SF-Detached.
    • The table also specifies minimum lot width, coverage, setbacks and height.

    minimum lot area: 6000 sq ft · minimum lot width: 50 ft

    “SF-Detached 6,000 6,000 50’ 30% (1) 25’ 6’ 25’ 25’ 3 35’”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-2A SF-Detached residential district inside Conway city limits.

    • The zoning table lists front, interior, exterior and rear setbacks.
    • Corner-lot and other footnotes may impose additional requirements.

    front setback: 25 ft · interior side setback: 6 ft · exterior setback: 25 ft · rear setback: 25 ft

    “SF-Detached 6,000 6,000 50’ 30% (1) 25’ 6’ 25’ 25’ 3 35’”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-2A SF-Detached residential district inside Conway city limits.

    • The lot coverage may be 35% on an exterior or corner lot.

    maximum lot coverage: 30 percent (may be 35% on an exterior or corner lot)

    “The lot coverage may be 35% on an exterior or corner lot.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-2A SF-Detached residential district inside Conway city limits.

    • The zoning table limits the use to 3 stories and 35 feet.

    maximum stories: 3 stories · maximum height: 35 ft

    “SF-Detached 6,000 6,000 50’ 30% (1) 25’ 6’ 25’ 25’ 3 35’”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from Conway permitting or inspection requirements.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Conway city limits.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term or residential RV occupancy on private land inside Conway city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Conway city limits.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling occupancy inside Conway city limits.
2 more unanswered
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption

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

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