Building permits, zoning and land rules in Franklin County, Arkansas
71Index Score / 100 #49 of 75 in Arkansas
Franklin County, Arkansas does not list a building department, and available information indicates that permits are not required in unincorporated areas, but no official county statement confirms that conclusion1. Arkansas building-code standards still apply statewide even in places where permits or inspections are not required2. Before building, ask the county about parcel-specific requirements and arrange septic approval through the Arkansas Department of Health3.
At a glance
Building permit (unincorporated)
Classified as not required, but not confirmed by an express county rule1
Zoning (unincorporated)
No county planning or zoning office is listed, but the current ordinance status is unconfirmed4
Septic permit
Required before construction, installation or modification5
Owner-builder
State contractor-license exemption applies to an owner building their own residence, subject to its annual limit6
RV or tiny-home living
Rule for a single unit on private land is unconfirmed; paid multi-space parks are state-regulated7
Road work
County permit required before building, maintaining or altering a road8
Private well
State construction standards and licensed-driller rules generally apply9
Conventional septic soils
13.4% of soils are rated without severe limitations10
Local health-unit contact for Franklin County; onsite wastewater applications are administered by the Arkansas Department of Health or its Authorized Agent
Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 28, 2026.
Do you need a building permit in Franklin County, Arkansas?
The best available answer for unincorporated Franklin County is that a county building permit is not required, but no official county ordinance or statement was located that expressly confirms that answer1. Arkansas recognizes that its building-code requirements apply statewide even in areas where permits or inspections are not required211. The Arkansas Fire Prevention Code is the statewide fire and building code, while the state framework ties ordinary building permits to jurisdictions that have established building departments1213. Because Franklin County's own permit and inspection arrangements remain unconfirmed, ask the county government what applies to the parcel before ordering plans or beginning work. A state owner-builder exemption can remove residential-contractor licensing for an owner building their own residence, but it does not waive any permit, inspection or code requirement that otherwise applies6.
Who handles Franklin County building permits and road permits?
Franklin County's public office listings do not identify a building department, building inspector or construction-permit office, so there is no verified county building-office contact to list1. For a final parcel-specific answer, contact Franklin County government before construction and ask which authority, if any, reviews the proposed work. Road work has a clearer path: the Franklin County Road Department says an ordinance requires a permit before building, maintaining or altering a road in Franklin County148. The Road Department is at 1601 Airport Rd, Ozark, AR 72949 and can be reached at 479-667-472614. Private roads remain the responsibility of the adjoining property owners unless accepted into the County Maintenance System after meeting county specifications and inspection requirements14. A driveway connecting to a state highway instead requires an Arkansas Department of Transportation access-driveway permit before work starts15.
Does Franklin County, Arkansas have zoning?
Franklin County's census classifies county zoning as absent because no planning or zoning department appears among the listed county offices, but no current county ordinance or explicit no-zoning statement was confirmed4. Treat minimum home size, general minimum lot size, setbacks, lot coverage and building height as questions for the county, not as unrestricted rights. Municipal rules are separate: property inside the City of Ozark is subject to city zoning regulations and a zoning map, so an answer about unincorporated Franklin County does not govern an Ozark parcel16. State health rules can also shape land division even without a confirmed county zoning program: under the default state definition, certain residential divisions involving at least 3 lots, with any lot under 3 acres, enter subdivision review when no local ordinance controls17. Confirm jurisdiction first from the deed, survey and parcel map, then ask the relevant county or city office about the intended use.
How do septic permits work in Franklin County?
Franklin County septic systems fall under the Arkansas Department of Health or its Authorized Agent, and approval of the application and plans is required before construction of a building or residence18. Construction, installation or modification of an onsite wastewater system requires construction and operation permits, and the completed system must be inspected and approved before operation519. Start with the Arkansas Department of Health Franklin County Health Unit at 509 N 29th St, Ozark, AR 72949, phone 479-667-255520. Only 13.4% of county soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, making an early site and soil evaluation especially valuable10. If an available sanitary sewer is within 300 feet of the building's sewer exit and connection does not cross another person's property, connection is required and a private onsite system or privy cannot be used21.
Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Franklin County?
We could not confirm a Franklin County rule that allows or prohibits living in a single RV, tiny home, manufactured home or accessory dwelling on ordinary private land. The county zoning status itself is not established by an express official statement, so the absence of a listed planning office should not be read as permission for a particular occupancy4. Arkansas does regulate a different situation: a parcel with at least 3 RV, tiny-house-on-wheels or mobile-home spaces, where placement or maintenance services are provided for a fee, is treated as a regulated park and needs Department of Health approval7. In that park setting, a tiny house on wheels is classified according to whether it is plumbed and inspected under the state plumbing code22. Before moving onto a parcel, ask Franklin County about occupancy and ask the Health Unit how wastewater approval applies to the proposed setup20.
Building a home in Franklin County: the steps in order
Verify whether the parcel is unincorporated or inside a city, because Ozark has municipal zoning and countywide zoning remains unconfirmed164.
Ask Franklin County government whether a building permit, inspection, floodplain review or certificate of occupancy applies to the site; the county building-permit answer is not expressly confirmed1.
Check sewer availability, then arrange the septic site work and submit plans through the Arkansas Department of Health process before construction321.
Use a properly licensed well contractor if a private well is needed, because statewide construction and driller requirements generally apply9.
Obtain the county road permit before building, maintaining or altering a road, or obtain the state access permit before connecting to a state highway815.
Build to the applicable Arkansas Fire Prevention Code even if the project is in an area without a permit or inspection requirement232.
What should you check before buying land in Franklin County?
Confirm the parcel's city or county jurisdiction and ask about building permits, zoning, floodplain review, setbacks and lawful occupancy before closing; Franklin County's building and zoning answers remain based on office listings rather than express county rules14. Order septic feasibility work early because only 13.4% of county soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field10. Verify whether an available sewer triggers the 300-foot connection rule, and confirm water plans with a licensed well professional when public water is unavailable219. Check recorded access and maintenance obligations because private-road upkeep belongs to the affected property owners, while road alteration requires a county permit14. Franklin County is 58.6% wooded and 32.4% federally owned, so confirm boundaries, legal access and nearby federal ownership from the survey and title work2425. The effective property-tax rate is about 0.5%, with a median annual bill of about $5982627.
Watch-outs
No official Franklin County statement confirms whether unincorporated residential construction needs a building permit or inspection; ask the county before relying on the census classification1.
A public sewer available within 300 feet of the building's sewer exit can require connection and rule out a private septic system21.
The state park rule for at least 3 paid spaces does not answer whether one RV or tiny home may be occupied on private land in Franklin County7.
A county road-work permit is not the same as a state-highway driveway permit; the issuing authority depends on which road the access meets815.
Written September 28, 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.
Franklin County highlighted among the Arkansas counties · colored by Index score
How Franklin County scores
Seclusion58100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency62100% ev.
Admin Boringness85100% ev.
Durability46100% ev.
Property Autonomy47100% ev.
Carry Cost85100% ev.
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Answers from the rulebook for Franklin County
What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.
Franklin County rules
Permit processPublished (with conditions)
Building, maintaining, or altering a road in Franklin County, including private-road work where the county road ordinance applies.
A permit is required before building, maintaining, or altering a road in Franklin County.
The cited page does not publish the application form, review timeline, permit fee, or complete ordinance text.
Private roads are not in the County Maintenance System and are maintained by the property owners.
Bringing a private road into the County Maintenance System requires compliance with Franklin County specifications set by Quorum Court ordinance and inspection by the Franklin County Road Foreman.
County roads used by oil and gas industries with heavy equipment must be bonded.
“It is required by ordinance to obtain a permit, prior to building, maintaining, or altering a road in Franklin County.”
County-wide zoningAbsent
No planning or zoning department appears among Franklin County's listed offices, consistent with unzoned rural Arkansas counties.
New construction or remodeling subject to the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code where a local jurisdiction has established a building department, and specified fire-code-regulated work where a permit is required.
A building permit is required under Volume II Section 105 where the jurisdiction has established a building department under Volume II Section 103.
The cited rule does not establish that Franklin County has established a building department or adopted a county permit program.
If no building official is appointed, the application is made to the State Fire Marshal.
The Arkansas Fire Prevention Code Rules state an effective date of January 1, 2023.
The cited provision concerns permits within the corporate limits of the jurisdiction; it does not by itself establish a Franklin County unincorporated-area permit requirement.
“Where a jurisdiction has established a building department in accordance with Vol. II, Section 103 of the Code, permits within the corporate limits of the jurisdiction for new construction or remodeling shall be required in accordance with Vol. II, Section 105 of the Code.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Limited — Construction subject to the Arkansas Building Code statewide minimums, including rural and unincorporated areas.
“They apply statewide even in areas when no permit or inspections are required.”
Owner-builder exemptionConditional
Arkansas residential builder and home-improvement contractor licensing for owner-builders, including Franklin County
The exemption concerns residential builder and home-improvement licensing, not a general exemption from building permits or inspections.
An owner acting as the contractor in construction of the owner's residence is exempt from licensure unless the owner builds more than one residence during a calendar year.
An owner acting as the owner's own home-improvement contractor on the owner's own property is exempt from licensure.
The source also lists exemptions for subcontractors working for properly licensed contractors and contractors licensed by other agencies when working within the scope of that license.
owner-built residences per calendar year: <= 1 residence (The source states the exemption does not apply if the owner builds more than one residence during any calendar year.)
“owners are exempt from licensure when acting as the contractor [...] unless he or she builds more than one residence during any calendar year”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Available (with conditions) — Arkansas residential contractor licensing for an individual constructing the individual’s own residence or an owner of a single-family residence acting as the owner’s own home-improvement contractor on the owner’s property.
“construction of his or her residence unless he or she builds more than one (1) residence during any calendar year;”
Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)
Construction, alteration, relocation, enlargement, replacement, repair, use, occupancy, and demolition of buildings or structures in Arkansas, including Franklin County, subject to the code's residential exception and locally adopted appendices.
The Arkansas Fire Prevention Code consists of the 2021 International Fire Code, International Building Code, and International Residential Code as amended and adopted by the Arkansas State Fire Marshal.
The rules are effective January 1, 2023.
Appendices do not apply unless specifically adopted; Appendices B, C, D, E, F, G, and K are adopted by the State of Arkansas, while other appendices require local ordinance adoption.
Each district, county, municipality, or other political subdivision may adopt only the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, 2021 Edition, as the foundation for more stringent local provisions.
New structures must comply with Arkansas Fire Prevention Code Volume II; qualifying detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses may comply with Volume II or Volume III.
Construction permits required by Section 105.6 apply where interior or exterior systems or devices are installed under the residential-code provisions.
effective date: 2023-01-01
“The Arkansas Fire Prevention Code applies statewide and is the fire and building code for all jurisdictions within Arkansas.”
7 more reviewed findings on this topic
Partial — State-funded capital project designs in Arkansas, including projects located in Franklin County when the rule applies.
“The adopted building code for state projects is the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, 12 CAR pt. 15”
Adopted — Building and fire-code standards applicable across Arkansas, including Franklin County.
“The Arkansas Fire Prevention Code is used by State, County, and Municipal fire and building code officials across Arkansas to ensure the safety of individuals using and occupying all types of buildings and structures. Adopting a statewide fire and building code provides for consistency and uniformity.”
Adopted (with conditions) — Building-code requirements applicable throughout Arkansas, including Franklin County.
“The Arkansas Fire Prevention Code applies statewide and is the fire and building code for all jurisdictions within Arkansas.”
Adopted — Building-code requirements applicable in Franklin County, including rural and unincorporated areas.
“Arkansas Building Codes are mandatory statewide minimums. They apply statewide even in areas when no permit or inspections are required. The Arkansas Building Code is adopted by the State Fire Marshal’s office. It is a part of the Fire Prevention Code. The Code applies Statewide, even in rural and unincorporated areas. Arkansas is currently under the 2012 Edition of the Code.”
Adopted (with conditions) — New structures and applicable alterations, additions, changes in use, and changes in structures throughout Arkansas, under the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, including Volume II for building-code requirements and Volume III for residential-code requirements.
“Each district, county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state shall only adopt and enforce the provisions of the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, 2021 Edition. [...] The design and construction of new structures shall comply with the International Building Code Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, Volume II, and any alterations, additions, changes in use or changes in structures required by this code, which are within the scope of the International Building Code, Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, Volume II, shall be made in accordance therewith.”
Partial — State projects in Arkansas.
“The adopted building code for state projects is the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, 12 CAR pt. 15, as adopted by the Division of Arkansas State Police, State Fire Marshal’s office.”
Adopted (with conditions) — State projects in Arkansas subject to the Building Authority Division design-review rules.
“The adopted building code for state projects is the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, 12 CAR pt. 15, as adopted by the Division of Arkansas State Police, State Fire Marshal’s office. Arkansas laws and this subchapter shall have precedence over the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code where they exceed the requirements of the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code. All project designs shall comply with all Arkansas laws and the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code. Other codes, rules, or standards may be applicable to a specific project. It is the department’s and design professional’s responsibility to determine all applicable codes for each specific project.”
InspectionsLimited
Construction subject to Arkansas Building Code compliance and any applicable inspection regime.
The official statewide source expressly recognizes areas where inspections are not required.
Where an inspection is required, the applicable inspection authority and process are not specified by this statewide source.
“areas when no permit or inspections are required.”
Certificate of occupancyLimited
Open-enrollment public charter schools commencing student operations in a new or renovated facility anywhere in Arkansas.
Before commencing operations with students, the school must obtain one of three alternative approvals for the new construction or renovation.
The alternatives are: a certificate of occupancy issued by a local code official and approved by the state fire marshal; a certificate of occupancy or other approval of the state fire marshal; or a certificate of substantial completion issued by a licensed architect.
A certificate of occupancy is therefore not independently mandatory when one of the two listed alternative approvals is obtained.
“An open-enrollment public charter school shall not commence operations with students in any new or renovated facility unless the school has obtained for the new construction or renovation: (1) A certificate of occupancy issued by a local code official, approved by the state fire marshal; (2) A certificate of occupancy or other approval of the state fire marshal; or (3) A certificate of substantial completion issued by a licensed architect.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Limited — State of Arkansas construction projects administered by a state owner or agency.
“Certificates of Occupancy are not issued by any one State Agency for State projects. The responsibility therefore rests with the Owner/Agency of the project.”
Living in an RVLimited
Occupancy of recreational vehicles in Arkansas recreational-vehicle parks regulated by the Arkansas Department of Health under 20 CAR Part 138.
The rule applies when three or more spaces are occupied or intended for occupancy by recreational vehicles, tiny houses on wheels, or mobile homes and placement or maintenance services, or both, are provided for a fee, whether new or existing.
The parcel is considered a mobile home or recreational vehicle park and must comply with 20 CAR Part 138.
The owner or operator is responsible for compliance.
Waivers or exceptions are considered case by case and approval is at the Department of Health's discretion.
Construction, alteration, repair, or extension of a mobile-home or recreational-vehicle park requires prior submission and department approval.
Detailed plans must include the park layout, sewage system, water source and distribution system, buildings, parking areas, dump stations, and topographical features.
minimum spaces triggering park regulation: >= 3 spaces (Placement or maintenance services, or both, must be provided for a fee.)
“Any parcel of land in which three (3) or more spaces are occupied or intended for occupancy by recreational vehicles, tiny houses on wheels, or mobile homes, where placement or maintenance services, or both, are provided for a fee, whether new or existing, shall be: (1) Considered a mobile home or recreational vehicle park; and (2) In compliance with this part.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Limited — Recreational-vehicle occupancy in Arkansas mobile-home or recreational-vehicle parks, including any such park in Franklin County.
“Considered a mobile home or recreational vehicle park; and”
Tiny homesLimited
Occupancy of tiny houses on wheels in Arkansas parcels operating as mobile-home or recreational-vehicle parks with three or more paid spaces.
The rule expressly includes tiny houses on wheels among spaces triggering mobile-home or recreational-vehicle-park regulation.
Placement or maintenance services, or both, must be provided for a fee.
The parcel is considered a mobile home or recreational vehicle park and must comply with 20 CAR Part 138.
The owner or operator is responsible for compliance.
Waivers or exceptions are considered case by case at the discretion of the Arkansas Department of Health.
Construction, alteration, repair, or extension of the park requires prior submission and Department approval.
Detailed plans and specifications must include the park layout, sewage system, water source and distribution system, buildings, parking areas, dump stations, and topographical features.
The rule does not establish a general statewide authorization or prohibition for a single tiny house on wheels outside a qualifying park.
minimum qualifying spaces: >= 3 spaces (the spaces must be occupied or intended for occupancy by recreational vehicles, tiny houses on wheels, or mobile homes)
“three (3) or more spaces are occupied or intended for occupancy by recreational vehicles, tiny houses on wheels, or mobile homes”
2 more reviewed findings on this topic
Limited — Tiny houses on wheels placed in Arkansas mobile-home or recreational-vehicle parks, including any such park in Franklin County.
“shall be considered a: (A) Mobile home, if plumbed and inspected”
Limited — Occupancy of tiny houses on wheels in Arkansas mobile-home or recreational-vehicle parks regulated by the Arkansas Department of Health under 20 CAR Part 138.
““Tiny house on wheels” means a structure intended as a habitable dwelling for one (1) or more individuals which, for the purposes of this part, shall be considered a: (A) Mobile home, if plumbed and inspected in accordance with the 2018 Arkansas Plumbing Code, 17 CAR pt. 65; or (B) Recreational vehicle, if not plumbed and inspected in accordance with the 2018 Arkansas Plumbing Code;”
Who permits septicState (with conditions)
Onsite wastewater and septic-system permitting in Franklin County under Arkansas's statewide onsite-wastewater program.
The Environmental Health Specialist assigned to the county or business unit acts as the Department's Authorized Agent.
The Designated Representative submits the completed Individual Onsite Wastewater System Permit Application with detailed plans, product specifications, and required fees to the appropriate local health unit.
The Franklin County local health unit is listed at 509 N 29th St, Ozark, Arkansas 72949, telephone 479-667-2555.
The cited rule is the 2024 Arkansas Department of Health onsite-wastewater rule.
“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.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
State (with conditions) — Onsite wastewater systems in Franklin County, including systems on subdivisions and platted or unplatted lots or tracts.
“For those cities or counties with authorized agents, the authorized agent shall be the authorized agent of the department. In the event that an authorized agent has not been designated for a city or county, applications for onsite wastewater systems shall be made to the department.”
Septic permitRequired
Construction, installation, or modification of onsite wastewater systems in Franklin County, Arkansas.
A completed permit application and detailed plans and specifications must be submitted to and approved by the Arkansas Department of Health or its Authorized Agent before construction of a building or residence.
Permits for construction and operation must be obtained before construction, installation, or modification of the onsite wastewater system.
A permit may be refused where public sewer is reasonably available or economically feasible, where issuance conflicts with other applicable laws or rules, or where issuance conflicts with the public policy declared in Act 402 of 1977.
Construction must begin within one year of permit issuance or the permit must be revalidated by the original submitting Designated Representative or the Department's Authorized Agent.
The permit review fee is $30 for structures of 1,500 square feet or less; $45 for structures more than 1,500 and up to 2,000 square feet; $90 for structures more than 2,000 and up to 3,000 square feet; $120 for structures more than 3,000 and up to 4,000 square feet; and $150 for structures more than 4,000 square feet.
permit review fee for structure 1,500 square feet or less: 30 USD · permit review fee for structure more than 1,500 and up to 2,000 square feet: 45 USD · permit review fee for structure more than 2,000 and up to 3,000 square feet: 90 USD · permit review fee for structure more than 3,000 and up to 4,000 square feet: 120 USD · permit review fee for structure more than 4,000 square feet: 150 USD · construction start deadline after permit issuance: 1 year (Permit must be revalidated if construction does not begin within one year.)
“Permits for construction and operation of onsite wastewater systems shall be obtained in accordance with this part prior to the construction, installation, or modification of the onsite wastewater system.”
Septic inspectionRequired
Operation of onsite wastewater systems in Franklin County.
The system must be inspected and approved by the Department of Health or its authorized agent before operation.
The owner must first obtain a permit for operation.
“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.”
Off-grid sanitationAllowed (with conditions)
Use of composting or incinerating toilets as components of an Arkansas onsite wastewater system.
Only pre-manufactured composting or incinerating toilets authorized by the Department may be used.
The devices must be evaluated by an ANSI-approved laboratory under NSF Standard 41.
Wastewater other than urine and feces must be renovated or disposed of under Sections 8 or 9 of the rule.
Stabilized compost must be buried onsite or deposited in an approved sanitary landfill.
The system remains subject to applicable onsite wastewater permitting and approval requirements.
“Only pre-manufactured composting or incinerating toilets authorized by the Department”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Limited — Privies and onsite wastewater systems used for human excreta disposal in Franklin County.
“All premises shall be connected to a sanitary sewer when within three hundred feet (300’) 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. No privies, onsite wastewater systems, or other receptacles for human excreta shall be constructed, maintained, or used on the premises.”
Well permitLimited
Construction or repair of water wells and installation or repair of pumping equipment in Franklin County.
Water-well construction and repair must comply with statewide minimum standards.
Water wells subject to the rules must be constructed only by persons holding a valid license under Act 641 of 1969 unless exempt under that Act.
Written Commission permission is required before developing a well in certain geographical locations where safe potable water may be obtained despite nonconformity.
The rules list a $145 rig permit fee, but the opened rule does not expressly state that every individual well requires a separate well permit.
rig permit fee: 145 USD
“Each rig owned and operated by a contractor shall have a separate permit per permit year. Rig permits are not transferable.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Limited — Wells serving public and semi-public water systems in Arkansas.
“Wells for public and semi-public water systems shall be located, designed, and constructed in accordance with the respective rules of the Department of Health and shall have written approval from the department prior to the start of construction. If uncertain that a well is public or semi-public, the well contractor shall obtain a written determination from the department prior to construction.”
Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)
Homes and businesses in Franklin County where a public or sanitary sewer is accessible within the stated distance.
Connection is required when the sewer exits the building within 300 feet of access to the public sewer on the owner's property or an adjacent street or alley.
Under 14 CAR § 21-301(a), the sewer must also be available and connection must be possible without crossing another person's property.
No statewide water-utility connection requirement was located.
distance from building sewer exit to available public sewer access: <= 300 feet (The sewer must be available and connection must be possible without crossing another person's property.)
“Connection to a public sewer system is required of all homes and businesses when the point where the sewer exits the building is located within three hundred feet (300’) of access to the public sewer located on the owner’s property or an adjacent street or alley (Arkansas Code § 14-235-304).”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Sewer (with conditions) — Homes and premises where a sanitary sewer is within 300 feet from the point where the sewer exits the building and available without crossing another person's property.
“All premises shall be connected to a sanitary sewer when within three hundred feet (300’) 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.”
Agricultural exemptionConditional
State and local sales-tax exemption for electricity, natural gas, and liquefied petroleum gas used by qualifying agricultural structures and qualifying aquaculture or horticulture equipment in Arkansas.
The utility must be separately metered and used only for the exempt purpose.
Multiple-use meters serving eligible and noneligible structures, facilities, or equipment do not qualify.
The farmer must obtain a certificate from the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration before the exemption is allowed and provide it to the utility supplier.
Qualifying agricultural structures include commercial poultry or livestock facilities, cattle or dairy facilities, and greenhouses used for commercial production.
Qualifying aquaculture or horticulture equipment includes specified cooling, collection, irrigation, pond-pumping, pond-aeration, and holding or sorting-tank equipment used in commercial operations.
exemption start date: 2014-01-01 · eligible utilities: electricity, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (Must be separately metered and used only for the exempt purpose) · DFA certificate: true (Required before the exemption is allowed) · water exemption for commercial poultry farming start date: 2021-10-01 (Water must be used exclusively for poultry farming and separately metered)
“Act 1441 of 2013 provides an exemption from state and local sales taxes for electricity, natural gas, and liquefied petroleum gas used by qualifying agricultural structures and qualifying aquaculture and horticulture equipment beginning January 1, 2014. The eligible utility must be separately metered and used only for the purpose of the exemption.”
3 more reviewed findings on this topic
Available (with conditions) — State licensing requirements for construction, installation, maintenance, repair, or renovation of a nonresidential farm building or structure in Franklin County and elsewhere in Arkansas.
“(a) The licensing requirements of Arkansas Code § 17-28-101 et seq. shall not apply to the following: [...] (4) The construction, installation, maintenance, repair, or renovation of any nonresidential farm building or structure;”
Available (with conditions) — Arkansas electrical-contractor licensing requirements for construction, installation, maintenance, repair, or renovation of a nonresidential farm building or structure, including in Franklin County.
“The licensing requirements of Arkansas Code § 17-28-101 et seq. shall not apply to the following: [...] (4) The construction, installation, maintenance, repair, or renovation of any nonresidential farm building or structure;”
Conditional — Construction, installation, maintenance, repair, or renovation of a nonresidential farm building or structure in Arkansas, as an exemption from the Arkansas Electrical Code Authority Act requirements.
“(b) The requirements of the Arkansas Electrical Code Authority Act, Arkansas Code § 20-31-101 et seq., shall not apply to the following: [...] (2) Any construction, installation, maintenance, repair, or renovation of any nonresidential farm building or structure;”
Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)
Residential subdivision development in Arkansas, including Franklin County, when onsite-wastewater review is required and no controlling local subdivision ordinance defines the term.
Where local ordinances exist, the rule defines subdivision by reference to parcels required by local ordinances.
In the absence of local ordinances, subdivision includes land divided or proposed to be divided for predominantly residential purposes into three or more lots or parcels, platted or unplatted, any of which contains less than three acres, as part of a uniform plan of development.
Subdivision review is subject to onsite-wastewater soil, absorption-area, and submission requirements.
Lots less than three acres must meet stated seasonal-water-table depth criteria.
Drip-dispersal designs used to determine minimum lot size require primary and secondary absorption areas to be flagged on contour and legally described; such lots must be at least 0.5 acre.
Submission is made to the local health unit using an approved review method.
lots triggering default subdivision definition: >= 3 lots or parcels (Only in the absence of local ordinances and when any lot or parcel is less than three acres.) · drip-dispersal minimum lot size: >= 0.5 acre (Only when the stated drip-dispersal criteria are met.) · brief seasonal water-table depth for lots under three acres: >= 13 inches (For undisturbed soils.) · adjusted moderate seasonal water-table depth for lots under three acres: >= 18 inches (For undisturbed soils.) · adjusted long seasonal water-table depth for lots under three acres: >= 24 inches (For undisturbed soils.)
““Subdivision” means land divided or proposed to be divided for predominantly residential purposes into such parcels as required by local ordinances. In the absence of local ordinances, subdivision means any land which is divided or proposed to be divided by a common owner or owners for predominantly residential purposes into three (3) or more lots or parcels, platted or unplatted units, any of which contains less than three (3) acres, as a part of a uniform plan of development;”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Regulated (with conditions) — Subdivision plats that are boundary surveys creating parcels in Arkansas.
“Subdivision plats [...] are to be filed with the State Surveyor’s office [...] Filing is not required [...] for survey plats [...] located in a municipality [...]”
Driveway accessRequired
Construction, reconstruction, modification, or relocation of access driveways on Arkansas State Highway right-of-way, including residential, commercial, and temporary access driveways.
No work may begin on State Highway right-of-way until the engineer issues the permit.
Applications are made to the District Engineer and include a work description, location, applicant contact information, and required drawings or deposit/bond.
An Access Management Agreement may require approval or a permit from the relevant jurisdiction; failure to provide it may be grounds for denial.
Commercial driveway permits generally require a minimum $1,000 deposit or bond per driveway, with governmental-entity waiver possible.
Temporary driveway access is limited to 120 days initially, extendable at 60-day intervals up to 240 days.
commercial driveway deposit or bond: >= 1000 USD per driveway minimum (May be waived for governmental entities.) · temporary driveway initial duration: <= 120 days maximum (May be extended at 60-day intervals up to 240 total days.) · frontage limit: 50 feet or less (Limited to one driveway.) · rural setback inside adjoining property frontage: >= 10 feet minimum (Urban minimum is 5 feet; Section 6.9 exceptions may apply.)
“A permit shall be obtained from the Department for all access driveways on State Highways.”
Building in a floodplainRequired
Development by an Arkansas state department on property within the boundaries of the hundred-year floodplain or a Building Authority Division designated flood hazard area.
The rule applies to a state department proposing the development, not generally to all private or local development statewide.
The department must submit an application on a form approved by the Design Review Section.
The application must include the application number, date, department or property owner, site address or legal description, development type, brief description, base flood elevation, lowest-floor elevation, attachment acknowledgment, and applicant contact/signature information.
Supporting attachments should include the FEMA map, copies of other regulatory permits such as Clean Water Act sections 401 and 404 permits, elevation certificates, a certification of no increase in base flood elevation or no-rise certificate, a flood-proofing certificate, certifications for water supply, sanitary sewer, and on-site waste disposal systems, and notification of watercourse alteration or relocation.
The Design Review Section reviews and approves or disapproves the application; if approved, the floodplain administrator issues a development permit for the design phase.
The permit must be posted during construction; the site is reviewed before final acceptance; and noncompliant work requires correction or may be designated a nonconforming use site.
For riverine watercourse alteration or relocation, the department must notify the division, adjacent communities, and the state NFIP Coordinator at the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission before the alteration or relocation, submit copies to the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, maintain flood-carrying capacity, and provide an engineering study of before-and-after conditions prepared by a registered professional engineer.
For structures and equipment pads under the state rule, elevation requirements vary by FEMA-map and base-flood-elevation availability: two feet above adjacent grade where no FEMA map exists; two feet above the Building Authority Division base flood elevation where no nearby FEMA base flood elevation data exists; and one foot above the accepted or mapped base flood elevation in the circumstances specified by 22 CAR § 111-708.
minimum elevation where no FEMA map exists and site is flood-prone: 2 feet above adjacent grade · minimum elevation where FEMA map exists but no base flood elevation data is provided within 500 feet: 2 feet above the Building Authority Division-established base flood elevation · minimum elevation where FEMA map exists, no site base flood elevation is provided, and a base flood elevation is available within 500 feet or from another authoritative source: 1 foot above the base flood elevation accepted by the division · minimum elevation where FEMA map provides a base flood elevation at the site: 1 foot above the elevation shown on the map in the flood insurance study, if available, or as interpolated between map elevations
“When a department proposes to develop property within the boundaries of the hundred-year floodplain or a Building Authority Division designated flood hazard area, the department shall submit an application for a development permit on a form approved by the Design Review Section.”
Permit feesPublished (with conditions)
Basic design-service fees for Arkansas state department projects governed by the Building Authority Division.
The schedule is based on total final construction cost, including adjustments by change order or negotiations.
For projects less than $50,000 or more than $50,000,000, fees may be negotiated subject to Building Authority Division approval.
Specified modifiers apply, including deductions for simple projects and additions for complex projects or projects requiring intensified observation.
basic fee for construction cost $50,001 to $75,000: 9.25 percent of total final construction cost · basic fee for construction cost $75,001 to $100,000: 9 percent of total final construction cost · basic fee for construction cost $100,001 to $200,000: 8.75 percent of total final construction cost · basic fee for construction cost $1,000,001 to $20,000,000: 6.5 percent of total final construction cost · basic fee for construction cost $42,500,001 to $50,000,000: 4 percent of total final construction cost · fee modifier for simple projects: 1 percentage points minimum deduction · fee modifier for complex projects: 1.5 percentage points maximum addition
“$50,001 to $75,000 | 9.25%”
Campground & park staysLimited
Camping at Arkansas state-park campsites.
Campsites are limited to eight persons, excluding day-use guests, and one camping unit consisting of no more than two structures.
Registration at the park office and payment of the camping fee are required before campers are considered registered.
At least one adult age eighteen or older must register for and occupy the campsite during the entire registration period, with exceptions for scout troops, camping groups, or multiple family groups when sufficient adult supervision is provided.
Registration must occur at the park office on the day of arrival, and campers must occupy the site by the time the visitor information center closes.
Campsite occupancy is limited to fourteen days within a thirty-day period in the same park.
A seven-day extension may be granted by the Park Superintendent from April through October when campgrounds are not at capacity.
Additional extensions require approval by the Director of the State Parks Division for health problems, relocation, or job reassignment; longer extensions may be granted by Park Superintendents from November through March.
Campers may not move between campsites in the same park to evade the limits, because permanent or semi-permanent residence is not permitted in a state park.
All vehicles and trailers must be parked on hard surfaces or designated sites.
State park camping areas are fee areas for registered campers only.
The rule addresses state-park campsites and does not establish a statewide rule for camping on private land or land outside state parks.
maximum persons per campsite: 8 persons (excluding day-use guests) · maximum camping units per campsite: 1 unit (the unit may consist of no more than two structures) · maximum occupancy: <= 14 days per 30-day period (seven-day extensions and other stated extensions may apply)
“Campers may not occupy campsites within the same park in excess of fourteen (14) days within a thirty-day period.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Limited — Temporary camping or transient recreational-vehicle dwelling in a park in Franklin County, including a parcel with three or more RV spaces operated for a fee.
“(a) Any parcel of land in which three (3) or more spaces are occupied or intended for occupancy by recreational vehicles, tiny houses on wheels, or mobile homes, where placement or maintenance services, or both, are provided for a fee, whether new or existing, shall be: (1) Considered a mobile home or recreational vehicle park; and (2) In compliance with this part.”
Inside cities and towns in Franklin County
Municipal rules found while researching the county. They apply inside that city or town, not to unincorporated land.
Local zoningPresent (with conditions)
Property within the City of Ozark, Franklin County, Arkansas.
The cited 2024 ordinance concerns a specific parcel and changes its zoning from R-1 to R-3.
Other parcels are subject to the City of Ozark zoning regulations and zoning map as amended.
zoning amendment: R-1 to R-3 (Specific tract identified in the ordinance)
“That the zoning regulations and map of the City of Ozark shall be amended”
Still unanswered
We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.
Zoning districts — Published countywide zoning districts, zoning maps, or zoning-district rules in Franklin County, Arkansas.
Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for residential dwellings in unincorporated Franklin County.
Minimum lot size — General land-use minimum lot size in unincorporated Franklin County; this does not determine site-specific onsite-wastewater suitability or state health requirements.
Setbacks — General building and land-use setbacks in unincorporated Franklin County.
Lot coverage — Lot-coverage limits in unincorporated Franklin County.
5 more unanswered
Building height
Camping on your land
Manufactured homes
Accessory dwellings
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.
Living off-grid in Franklin County, Arkansas
Is Franklin County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?
Franklin County scores 71/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and manageable long-term carry cost.
Do you need a building permit in Franklin County, Arkansas?
Franklin County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Arkansas Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Program. Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.
Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Franklin County?
Living in an RV on your own land in Franklin County is limited to specific cases: Statewide rule. Occupancy of recreational vehicles in Arkansas recreational-vehicle parks regulated by the Arkansas Department of Health under 20 CAR Part 138. The rule applies when three or more spaces are occupied or intended for occupancy by recreational vehicles, tiny houses on wheels, or mobile homes and placement or maintenance services, or both, are provided for a fee, whether new or existing. The parcel is considered a mobile home or recreational vehicle park and must comply with 20 CAR Part 138. A tiny home is limited to specific cases. Confirm with the county before relying on it.
How much does land cost in Franklin County, Arkansas?
Land in Franklin County runs about $3,245 per acre, based on the latest county data.
What is the water situation in Franklin County?
Franklin County gets about 52.6" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 10.7% of years.
How remote is Franklin County?
A representative private-land location has about 19,516 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,366,374 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.
Off-grid gear
Going off-grid in Franklin County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:
