Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Lamar, Arkansas

Rules another office applies inside Lamar

Lamar 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, including systems serving premises inside Lamar city limits.

  • The Arkansas Department of Health may act through an Authorized Agent.
  • Where an Authorized Agent has not been designated for a city or county, applications must be made to the Department.

  “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.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Premises inside Lamar city limits where a sanitary sewer is within the stated distance and available for connection.

  • The sanitary sewer must be within 300 feet from the point where the sewer exits a building on the owner's property.
  • Connection must be possible without crossing another person's property.
  • When this condition applies, onsite wastewater systems and privies may not be constructed, maintained, or used.

  sanitary sewer distance: <= 300 feet (Measured from the point where the sewer exits a building on the property owner's property; connection must be 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. No privies, onsite wastewater systems or other receptacles for human excreta shall be constructed, maintained, or used on the premises.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision plans inside Lamar city limits that propose onsite wastewater systems for any lots or tracts.

  • This state review requirement applies only to subdivision plans proposed to use standard onsite wastewater systems for all or part of their lots or tracts.
  • Plans must be submitted to the Arkansas Department of Health for review and approval of the overall onsite-wastewater plan.

  “All subdivision plans, which are proposed to utilize standard onsite wastewater systems as a method of wastewater treatment for all or part of the lots or tracts in said subdivision, shall be submitted to the Arkansas Department of Health for review and approval of the overall plan for the utilization of onsite wastewater systems.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential building construction inside Lamar city limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Lamar city limits.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Lamar city limits.
• Inspections — Residential building inspections inside Lamar city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Lamar 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.