Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Coal Hill, Arkansas

Coal Hill’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Coal Hill city limits.

  • The city publishes both Planning and Zoning Regulations and a Zoning ordinance; district-specific controls require the operative documents.

  “An ordinance is a law passed by a your City of Coal Hill government. Ordinances for the City of Coal Hill may be found below. (if available)”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Applicants seeking a residential or commercial building permit inside Coal Hill city limits.

  • Read all required information.
  • Print and complete the building-permit application form.
  • Return the form to City Hall.

  “Take a moment to read all required information provided. Then print and fill out the building permit application form and return to city hall. Should you have any additional questions, please feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We will be happy to help you.”

Rules another office applies inside Coal Hill

Coal Hill 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 systems serving property inside Coal Hill city limits.

  • The Arkansas Department of Health or its Authorized Agent approves the application before construction of a building or residence.

  “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.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New onsite wastewater systems for domestic wastewater at property inside Coal Hill city limits.

  • A completed application and detailed Appendix F plans/specifications must be submitted and approved by ADH or its Authorized Agent before construction of a building or residence.
  • The rule addresses wastes of a domestic nature containing a predominance of human excreta and excludes industrial wastes.

  “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.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Operation of onsite wastewater systems inside Coal Hill city limits.

  • The system must be inspected and approved by ADH 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 sanitationLimited

  Human-waste sanitation at premises inside Coal Hill city limits.

  • Where a sanitary sewer is within 300 feet from the sewer exit point and available without crossing another person's property, the premises must connect to it.
  • At those premises, privies, onsite wastewater systems, and other receptacles for human excreta may not be constructed, maintained, or used.

  sanitary-sewer distance: <= 300 feet (The sewer must be available and connection possible 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. No privies, onsite wastewater systems or other receptacles for human excreta shall be constructed, maintained, or used on the premises. Plumbing shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the ARKANSAS STATE PLUMBING CODE (see Ark. Code Ann. §§ 17-38-101 et. seq.)”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Premises inside Coal Hill city limits where a sanitary sewer is available.

  • Connection is required when the sewer is within 300 feet measured from where the sewer exits a building on the owner's property.
  • Connection must be possible without crossing another person's property.
  • No privy, onsite wastewater system, or other receptacle for human excreta may be constructed, maintained, or used on those premises.
  • Plumbing must be installed and maintained under the Arkansas State Plumbing Code.

  sanitary-sewer distance: <= 300 feet (Measured from the point where the sewer exits a building on the property owner's property; sewer must be available and connection possible 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. No privies, onsite wastewater systems or other receptacles for human excreta shall be constructed, maintained, or used on the premises. Plumbing shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the ARKANSAS STATE PLUMBING CODE (see Ark. Code Ann. §§ 17-38-101 et. seq.)”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Individual onsite-wastewater permit applications for structures of 1,500 square feet or less inside Coal Hill city limits.

  • This published fee applies to structures of 1,500 square feet or less.

  onsite wastewater permit-application review fee: 30 USD (For structures 1,500 square feet or less.)

  “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);”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Coal Hill or Johnson County directly.

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Coal Hill city limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Coal Hill city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Coal Hill city limits.
• Inspections — Residential construction inside Coal Hill city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Coal Hill city limits.

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