Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Pleasant Plains, Arkansas

Rules another office applies inside Town of Pleasant Plains

Town of Pleasant Plains does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  Onsite wastewater (septic) systems on land inside Pleasant Plains town limits. The Arkansas Department of Health rule applies statewide, so it reaches the town because no municipal septic rule was found. Scope is recorded as state statewide because the schema does not allow a state rule to be scoped to a municipality.

  • Authority is the Arkansas Department of Health or its authorized agent.
  • Where a city or county has an authorized agent, that agent acts for the department; where none is designated, applications go to the department.
  • Whether a county or town environmental health office is the authorized agent for Pleasant Plains town was not confirmed.

  “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.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Onsite wastewater (septic) systems on land inside Pleasant Plains town limits, under the state rule that applies there

  • A valid construction permit must be obtained before construction, alteration, repair or extension of an onsite wastewater system.
  • A plan review fee is paid before part 1 of the application is issued (see permit_fees claim).
  • Construction must begin within one year of permit issuance or the permit must be re-validated.
  • Permit may be deemed invalid if site or soil conditions change.

  “it shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, association, municipality, or governmental agency to begin construction, alteration, repair, or extension of any onsite wastewater system, owned by any other person, firm, corporation, association, municipality or governmental agency until the owner first obtains a valid permit for construction issued by the department or its authorized agent.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Onsite wastewater (septic) systems on land inside Pleasant Plains town limits, under the state rule that applies there

  • The system must be inspected and approved by the department or its authorized agent before operation begins.
  • The owner must first obtain a permit for operation.
  • The permit holder or installer must notify the authorized agent at least 24 hours before starting work (Section 4.7).

  “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.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New or existing premises inside Pleasant Plains town limits, under the state rule that applies there

  • Connection to a sanitary sewer is required only when a sewer is within 300 feet of the point where the sewer exits a building on the owner's property.
  • The sewer must also be available to the premises, meaning connection can be made without crossing another person's property.
  • Whether a public sanitary sewer serves Pleasant Plains town land was not confirmed; no municipal water or sewer rule was found, so water connection is not established.

  sewer connection distance: <= 300 feet (measured from the point where the sewer exits a building on the property owner's property; applies only when sewer is available without crossing another person's property)

  “all premises shall be connected to a sanitary sewer when within 300 feet from the point where the sewer exits a building on the property owner’s property and available to said premises when connection can be made without crossing another person's property.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  ADH onsite wastewater (septic) plan review fee for land inside Pleasant Plains town limits. This is a septic fee only, not a town building or zoning fee.

  • Fee is paid before part 1 of the application is issued and is not refunded if the applicant does not proceed.
  • Fee is for plan review of an individual onsite system.
  • Fee for structures more than 1,500 and up to 2,000 sq. ft. is $45; up to 3,000 sq. ft. is $90; up to 4,000 sq. ft. is $120; over 4,000 sq. ft. is $150 (Section 4.9.1.2 to 4.9.1.5).
  • Auxiliary areas such as garages and porches are excluded from square footage for residential fee calculation (Section 4.9.2).

  plan review fee, structure up to 1,500 sq. ft.: 30 USD (per individual onsite wastewater permit application; alteration/repair of an individual system is also $30 (Section 4.9.1.6))

  “for structures one thousand five hundred square feet (1,500 sq. ft.) or less, the fee to review a permit application is thirty dollars ($30.00);”

• Permit processPartial

  ADH onsite wastewater (septic) permit process for land inside Pleasant Plains town limits. Covers septic systems only, not town building or zoning permits.

  • Part I is a construction permit, completed by a designated representative and approved by the department or its authorized agent before construction begins.
  • A separate operation permit is issued after inspection and approval (Section 4.6).
  • Installation requires 24 hours' notice to the authorized agent before work starts (Section 4.7).

  “part i of the permit is the permit for construction. part i of the permit application form shall be completed by a designated representative and approved by the department or its authorized agent prior to initiating construction.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Pleasant Plains or Independence County directly.

• Building permit — Whether a building permit is required for residential construction inside Pleasant Plains town limits
• Owner-builder exemption — Whether owner-builders may build inside Pleasant Plains town limits without a licensed contractor
• Building code adopted — Whether Pleasant Plains town has adopted a building or residential code for construction inside its limits
• Inspections — Whether building inspections are required for construction inside Pleasant Plains town limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Whether a certificate of occupancy is required for new homes inside Pleasant Plains town limits

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.