Bolthole Index

Grant County, Arkansas

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Grant County, Arkansas

81Index Score / 100
#4 of 75 in Arkansas

Grant County, Arkansas requires a county permit for construction and other development in floodplain areas, but we could not confirm a general residential building permit outside those areas1. Arkansas's statewide building and fire code applies even where permits or inspections are not required2. Septic permits go through the Arkansas Department of Health and the Grant County Health Unit3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for construction and other development in floodplain areas; general permits elsewhere are unconfirmed1
Building code
Arkansas's statewide building and fire code applies in Grant County4
Zoning
Listed as no countywide zoning, but current official materials do not expressly confirm that conclusion5
Septic permits
Arkansas Department of Health, working through the Grant County Health Unit3
Floodplain development
County permit required before work in a FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Area6
Owner-builder
Licensing exemption for an owner building one residence in a calendar year; other rules still apply7
RV or tiny home
Single-site occupancy is unconfirmed; qualifying paid parks with three or more spaces are state-regulated89
Well work
Use a licensed Arkansas well contractor; no separate owner-applied private-well permit was confirmed10

Who to call

Septic permits

Arkansas Department of Health Grant County Health Unit

Local contact for Arkansas Department of Health services; the statewide Onsite Wastewater program works with county Environmental Health Specialists on septic applications and site visits

870-942-3157

700 E Center St, Sheridan, AR 72150

Septic permits

Arkansas Department of Health Onsite Wastewater Program

Statewide onsite wastewater policy and permit-application review in cooperation with county Environmental Health Specialists

501-661-2171

4815 W. Markham Street, Slot 46, Little Rock, AR 72205

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 29, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Grant County, Arkansas?

Grant County requires a permit for construction, repairs, additions, digging, fences, fill and tree removal when the project is in a floodplain; the County Floodplain Administrator issues that permit1. For a project in a FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Area, obtain the Floodplain Development Permit before work begins; a Compliance Certificate is required before the development may be used or occupied6. We could not confirm a general residential building-permit requirement outside floodplain areas, so ask the County Judge's Office about the parcel and scope of work before ordering materials. Arkansas building-code requirements remain statewide minimums even where no permit or inspection is required2. The statewide source recognizes places without inspections but does not establish Grant County's inspection status11.

Who issues permits in Grant County, Arkansas?

The County Floodplain Administrator issues permits for construction and other development in Grant County floodplain areas1. We could not confirm a separate general building or inspection office for work outside floodplains, so start with the County Judge's Office for a parcel-specific answer. Septic applications are handled through the Arkansas Department of Health's Onsite Wastewater program in cooperation with the local Environmental Health Specialist, and the Grant County Health Unit is the local contact31213. A driveway built or changed on state highway right-of-way requires an Arkansas Department of Transportation permit issued through the District Engineer14. We could not confirm whether Grant County requires a driveway-access permit for county-maintained roads; ask the County Judge's Office before changing an entrance.

Does Grant County, Arkansas have zoning?

Grant County is listed as having no countywide zoning, but the county's current official ordinance and department pages do not expressly establish that unincorporated Grant County has no zoning5. Ask the County Judge's Office whether a parcel is subject to a county land-development ordinance, and ask the relevant city before relying on the county answer for land inside municipal limits. We could not confirm a county minimum dwelling size, minimum lot size, general building setback, lot-coverage limit or building-height limit for unincorporated land. Subdivision plats are not unrestricted: before an unincorporated-area plat can be recorded, the county court must accept roads for perpetual maintenance and any land dedicated for public purposes15. A nonresidential farm building has a state exemption from specified electrical licensing and code-authority requirements, but that exemption does not erase floodplain, septic, zoning or other approvals16.

How do septic permits work in Grant County?

Grant County septic systems go through the Arkansas Department of Health's Onsite Wastewater program and the local Environmental Health Specialist at the Grant County Health Unit31213. Review fees are $30 for a structure of 1,500 square feet or less, $45 through 2,000 square feet, $90 through 3,000 square feet, $120 through 4,000 square feet, $150 above 4,000 square feet, and $30 for an alteration, repair or extension17. The installer must request inspection and submit the required documents to the local health unit within five days; use cannot begin until the Authorized Agent issues the Permit for Operation18. No mapped county soil is rated free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make the site evaluation an early purchase contingency rather than assuming a standard system will work19. 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 instead of septic20.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Grant County?

We could not confirm whether Grant County allows, limits or prohibits living in one RV or tiny home on ordinary private land outside a regulated park; ask the County Judge's Office and the municipality if the parcel lies inside city limits. Arkansas treats a site with three or more paid spaces receiving placement or maintenance services as a regulated mobile-home or recreational-vehicle park21. A regulated RV park is for transient stays, typically by the night or week, and its plans require Arkansas Department of Health approval8. In that setting, a tiny house on wheels is treated as a mobile home when plumbed and inspected under the Arkansas Plumbing Code and as an RV when it is not22. RVs in a regulated park must remain movable and sit at least 15 feet from other RVs and structures23. A manufactured home installed in Arkansas must be anchored under the applicable standard24.

Building a home in Grant County: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm whether the parcel is unincorporated and ask the County Judge's Office whether permits beyond floodplain approval apply; we could not confirm a general residential permit outside floodplain areas.
  1. Check flood status before design; construction and other development in a floodplain require a permit from the County Floodplain Administrator1.
  1. Arrange the septic site evaluation early because no mapped county soil is rated free of severe limits for a conventional drain field19.
  1. Apply through the Grant County Health Unit and budget the state review fee for the building size1217.
  1. Use a licensed Arkansas well contractor if the parcel needs a private well10.
  1. Obtain ARDOT approval before working on a driveway within state highway right-of-way14.
  1. Follow Arkansas's statewide building and fire code, then complete the septic and any floodplain inspections before occupancy4186.

What should you check before buying land in Grant County?

Make septic feasibility the first contingency because 0% of mapped Grant County soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional drain field19. Check flood status and access next: development in a designated flood hazard area needs county approval, while work on state highway right-of-way needs ARDOT approval614. Confirm whether the deed describes an existing legal parcel or a proposed subdivision because an unincorporated-area plat cannot be recorded until the county court accepts roads and public-purpose dedications15. The land is heavily wooded and mostly gentle, with 86.3% forest cover and 94.7% at a slope of 15% or less, so clearing may matter more than major grading on many parcels2526. The effective property-tax rate is about 0.5%, and the median annual tax bill is about $8402728.

Watch-outs

  • A floodplain permit can expire if work does not begin within six months, and a Compliance Certificate is required before the development may be used or occupied6.
  • Grant County is listed as having no countywide zoning, but current official materials do not expressly confirm that conclusion; ask the County Judge's Office and any municipality with jurisdiction before relying on an unrestricted-use assumption5.
  • No mapped Grant County soil is rated free of severe limits for a conventional septic drain field, so obtain a site evaluation before treating a homesite as buildable19.

Sources

  1. Floodplain | Grant County, AR, quoted and re-checked
  2. Home Improvement New Application, quoted and re-checked
  3. Arkansas Department of Health - Onsite Wastewater (2026 county census)
  4. Arkansas Legislative Review Summary: 2021 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, quoted and re-checked
  5. Grant County, AR - Officials & Departments (2026 county census)
  6. Floodplain | Grant County, AR, quoted and re-checked
  7. Rules of the Residential Contractors Committee, quoted and re-checked
  8. 20 CAR § 138-101. Definitions, quoted and re-checked
  9. 20 CAR § 138-101. Definitions, quoted and re-checked
  10. Arkansas Water Well Construction Commission Rules (updated 2020), quoted and re-checked
  11. Home Improvement New Application, quoted and re-checked
  12. Arkansas Department of Health Grant County Health Unit (healthy.arkansas.gov)
  13. Arkansas Department of Health Onsite Wastewater Program (healthy.arkansas.gov)
  14. Regulations: Rules for Access Driveways to State Highways (Arkansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Act 277 of the Regular Session, quoted and re-checked
  16. 17 CAR § 210-602. Construction and exemptions, 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. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  20. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), Section 4.1, quoted and re-checked
  21. 20 CAR § 138-102. Compliance (Arkansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. 20 CAR § 138-101. Definitions (Arkansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. 20 CAR § 138-101. Definitions, quoted and re-checked
  24. 20 CAR § 911-504. Anchoring standards for new homes, used homes, quoted and re-checked
  25. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  27. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 29, 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.

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County locator

Grant County in Arkansas

81
County map
Grant County highlighted among the Arkansas counties · colored by Index score

How Grant County scores

Seclusion63100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency69100% ev.
Admin Boringness85100% ev.
Durability65100% ev.
Property Autonomy47100% ev.
Carry Cost82100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$222kTypical home
0.5%Property tax
$3,912Land / acre
54.8"Annual rain
10.6% of yrsSevere drought
27.5 / yr (+22.2)Mid-century 100°F days
17.2 daysMid-century dry spell
2.63" (+5.7%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.48×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,725Home insurance / yr
1.5% / yrInsurance growth
1.04%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
10,462People within 30 min
1,399,262People within 2 hr
35,423Radius comparison (15 mi)
29.1People / sq mi
0%Federal land
94.7%Land at 15% slope or less
0%Septic soil without severe limits
0 acWorkable land screen
86.3%Wooded land
47 tonsBiomass / forest ac
62.5°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Grant County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Grant County rules

  • Building permitLimited

    Construction and related development in Grant County floodplain areas, including residential construction within those areas.

    • A permit is required for construction, repairs, additions, digging, fences, fill, or tree removal when developing in the floodplain.
    • The permit is issued by the County’s Floodplain Administrator.
    • The county page identifies the administrator’s telephone number as 870-942-3333.
    • This source does not state that a general residential building permit is required outside floodplain areas or outside FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas.
    “Floodplain Development Permits: Extra requirements are involved when developing in the floodplain. Construction, repairs, additions, digging, fences, fill or tree removal requires a permit from the County’s Floodplain Administrator.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Construction, repairs, additions, digging, fences, fill, or tree removal in the Grant County floodplain.
      “Floodplain Development Permits: Extra requirements are involved when developing in the floodplain. Construction, repairs, additions, digging, fences, fill or tree removal requires a permit from the County’s Floodplain Administrator.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Floodplain development permit process administered by Grant County for development in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas.

    • A Floodplain Development Permit is required before beginning a project located in a FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Area.
    • The application process may require additional forms, including an Elevation Certificate for new buildings in a Special Flood Hazard Area.
    • The Floodplain Administrator reviews the submission, may request additional information, and then issues or denies the permit.
    • A Compliance Certificate must be issued before the development may be used or occupied.
    • The permit expires if no work is commenced within 6 months of issuance.
    • The permit will not be issued until any other necessary local, state, or federal permits have been obtained.
    • The applicant consents to reasonable inspections before issuance of a Certificate of Compliance.
    “The FPA reviews the submission and determines whether or not additional information is needed. If it is, the FPA will request the additional information”
  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    Grant County's official department list includes no planning or zoning office and there is no county-wide zoning ordinance; zoning controls exist only within municipalities such as Sheridan.

    Grant County, AR - Officials & Departments ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

  • Who permits septicArkansas Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Program (Grant County Health Unit)

    Septic/onsite wastewater construction and operation permits are issued statewide by the Arkansas Department of Health through the local county health unit.

    Arkansas Department of Health - Onsite Wastewater ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Arkansas rules that apply here

  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable

    Owner-builders constructing their own residence or owners acting as their own home-improvement contractor on their own property in Arkansas, including Grant County

    • The exemption concerns residential builder and home-improvement contractor licensing, not a county building-permit requirement.
    • A person acting as a residential building contractor in construction of their residence is exempt unless they build more than one residence during any calendar year.
    • The owner of a single-family residence may act as their own home-improvement contractor on their own property.
    • The source also lists exemptions for projects costing no more than $2,000, subcontractors working for properly licensed residential contractors, and contractors licensed by another Arkansas licensing agency when working within that license's scope.

    maximum residences constructed by owner-builder under first exemption: <= 1 residence per calendar year (The exemption does not apply if the person builds more than one residence during any calendar year.) · project cost exemption: <= 2000 USD (The source separately states that the exemption does not apply when construction work is divided into separate contracts of amounts less than $2,000.)

    “The following shall be exempted from the licensing requirements of this subchapter: (1) A person who acts as a residential building contractor in the construction of his or her residence unless he or she builds more than one (1) residence during any calendar year; (2) The owner of a single family residence acting as his or her own home improvement contractor on his or her own property;”
    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 adoptedPartial

    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.
    • Arkansas laws and the applicable subchapter take precedence over the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code where they exceed its requirements.
    • All project designs must comply with all Arkansas laws and the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code.
    • Other codes, rules, or standards may apply to a specific project.
    • The department and design professional are responsible for determining all applicable codes for each specific project.
    “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.”
    5 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted — The Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, including its Building Code and Residential Code volumes, applies statewide in Grant County and all other Arkansas jurisdictions.
      “The International Codes were amended and adopted, effective January 1, 2014, by the Arkansas State Police. The Arkansas Fire Prevention Code applies statewide and is the fire and building code for all jurisdictions within Arkansas.”
    • Adopted (with conditions) — The Arkansas state building-code framework applicable to residential construction in Grant County.
      “Current Applicable State Codes in Arkansas (This list contains only the most commonly requested. Other codes may be applicable to a specific project.) Code Type Contact Fire and Building Current Code 2021 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code (Includes: Fire Code, Building Code, Residential Code) (Based on IBC 2021 w\Arkansas Amendments) Arkansas State Fire Marshall”
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Building-code requirements applicable in Grant County through Arkansas's statewide building and fire code.
      “The Arkansas Fire Prevention Code applies statewide and is the fire and building code for all jurisdictions within Arkansas.”
    • 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.”
    • 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

    Inspection requirements associated with Arkansas Building Code compliance in rural and unincorporated areas, including Grant County

    • The source expressly recognizes areas where no inspections are required, but it does not identify those areas or establish Grant County's status.
    • Building-code compliance remains a statewide minimum even where inspections are not required.
    “Arkansas Building Codes are mandatory statewide minimums. They apply statewide even in areas when no permit or inspections are required.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • 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.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Temporary camping in a Grant County recreational-vehicle park regulated under Arkansas Department of Health rules.

    • The regulated RV park has three or more spaces.
    • The spaces are for transient dwelling purposes, typically by night or week, commonly associated with travel to, at, or near an attraction.
    • Plans must be approved by the Arkansas Department of Health.
    • If placement or maintenance services, or both, are provided for a fee, the parcel must comply with 20 CAR Part 138.
    • Park construction, alteration, repair, or extension requires prior Department of Health approval.
    • The rule history states Ark. R. 2026-95, effective August 15, 2026.

    minimum spaces: >= 3 spaces (The definition applies to an RV park for transient dwelling purposes.) · typical temporary stay: night or week

    “three (3) or more spaces are occupied or intended for occupancy by recreational vehicles for transient dwelling purposes, typically by night or week”
  • 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 — Occupancy of tiny houses on wheels in a qualifying Arkansas mobile-home or recreational-vehicle park in Grant County.
      “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”
    • 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;”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Onsite wastewater systems constructed, altered, repaired, or extended in Grant County, Arkansas.

    • The installer must notify the Authorized Agent or Designated Representative when installation is ready for inspection.
    • The property owner or occupant must provide reasonable access.
    • The installer must submit required documentation to the local health unit within five days.
    • After inspection approval, the Authorized Agent issues the Permit for Operation; the system cannot be used before issuance.

    installer documentation submission deadline: 5 days

    “Such system has been inspected and approved”
  • 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”
  • Well permitLimited

    Construction, alteration, or repair of water wells and installation or repair of pumping equipment in Grant County, Arkansas.

    • Water wells subject to the rules must be constructed by persons holding a valid Arkansas license unless an Act 641 exemption applies.
    • A registered and certified person must be within a two-hour drive during construction, alteration, or repair.
    • The rules identify contractor licenses, registration certificates, and rig permits; the reviewed official rule did not state a separate owner-applied well construction permit.
    • Written Commission permission is required before developing a well in certain geographic locations where safe potable water can be obtained only through a deviation from the rules.

    registration supervision travel radius: <= 2 hours drive · rig permit fee: 145 USD · driller registration certificate fee: 125 USD · pump installer registration certificate fee: 125 USD

    “Water wells subject to these rules and shall be constructed only by persons having a valid license”
    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)

    Premises in Grant County, Arkansas, where a sanitary sewer is available within the specified distance and connection can be made without crossing another person's property.

    • Connection to a sanitary sewer is required when the sewer is within 300 feet from the point where the sewer exits a building on the property owner's property, is available to the premises, and connection can be made without crossing another person's property.
    • When the connection rule applies, privies, onsite wastewater systems, and other receptacles for human excreta may not be constructed, maintained, or used on the premises.
    • Plumbing must comply with the Arkansas State Plumbing Code.

    sewer distance from building exit point: <= 300 feet (sewer must also be available and connection must not require crossing another person's property)

    “connected to a sanitary sewer when within 300 feet [...] and available to said premises when connection can be made without crossing another person's property.”
    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.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Available — Construction, installation, maintenance, repair, or renovation of a nonresidential farm building or structure in Grant County, Arkansas, as to the specified state licensing requirements.
      “(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; [...] (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;”
    • 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)

    Subdivision plats presented for recording in Grant County, including unincorporated areas.

    • For a plat in the unincorporated area, the county court must accept roads for perpetual maintenance and any dedication of land for public purposes before the plat may be presented for recording.
    • Following adoption by the county court of a subdivision, setback, or entry-control ordinance, the plat may not be presented for recording without county planning-board approval.
    • Act 277 was approved March 13, 2023.
    • Act 314 was approved March 18, 2025.
    • Grant County identifies its Circuit/County Clerk as the ex-officio county recorder; the county page lists a $15 first-page recording fee and $5 for each subsequent page for plats and other listed recordable instruments.
    • Municipal subdivision requirements may apply within incorporated municipalities under separate municipal authority.

    recording fee, first page: 15 USD (For plats and other listed recordable instruments under A.C.A. 21-6-403(a)(1)(A).) · recording fee, each subsequent page: 5 USD (For plats and other listed recordable instruments under A.C.A. 21-6-403(a)(1)(A).)

    “A plat in the unincorporated area of the county shall not be presented for recording without the county court's acceptance of: (A) Roads for perpetual maintenance; and (B) Any dedication of land for public purposes.”
    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)

    Individual onsite wastewater permit-review fees applicable in Grant County through the Arkansas Department of Health.

    • A fee is levied for review of each permit.
    • The fee must be paid before issuance of Part 1 of the permit application.
    • There is no refund due to failure to proceed under the permit application.
    • For individual systems, the 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; $150 for structures more than 4,000 square feet; and $30 for alteration, repair, or extension.
    • Auxiliary areas, including garages, carports, and porches, are excluded from residential square-footage calculations.

    permit review fee for structure 1500 sq ft or less: 30 USD · permit review fee for structure more than 1500 and up to 2000 sq ft: 45 USD · permit review fee for structure more than 2000 and up to 3000 sq ft: 90 USD · permit review fee for structure more than 3000 and up to 4000 sq ft: 120 USD · permit review fee for structure more than 4000 sq ft: 150 USD · permit review fee for alteration, repair, or extension: 30 USD

    “A fee shall be levied for the review of each permit.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • 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.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Occupancy of three or more recreational-vehicle spaces for transient dwelling purposes in a Grant County RV park.
      “Recreational vehicles shall be separated from each other and from other structures by at least fifteen feet (15’).”
    • Limited — Installation and occupancy-related placement of manufactured homes in Grant County, including qualifying mobile-home parks.
      “Anchoring is a mandatory requirement for any manufactured home installed in the State of Arkansas.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Local zoning — Local zoning within Grant County, including incorporated municipalities and unincorporated areas.
  • Zoning districts — Countywide zoning-district publication for Grant County, Arkansas, including the distinction between unincorporated county land and incorporated municipalities.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area or minimum dwelling size for residential dwellings in unincorporated Grant County, Arkansas.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for residential property in unincorporated Grant County, Arkansas.
  • Setbacks — Building or land-use setbacks in unincorporated Grant County, Arkansas.
5 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • 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 Grant County, Arkansas

Is Grant County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Grant County scores 81/100 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 Grant County, Arkansas?

Grant County requires a building permit only in limited cases (such as floodplains or specific zones), and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Arkansas Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Program (Grant County Health Unit). 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 Grant County?

Living in an RV on your own land in Grant 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 Grant County, Arkansas?

Land in Grant County runs about $3,912 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Grant County?

Grant County gets about 54.8" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 10.6% of years.

How remote is Grant County?

A representative private-land location has about 10,462 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,399,262 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 Grant County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Grant compares in Arkansas

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