Bolthole Index

Madison County, Arkansas

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

80Index Score / 100
#7 of 75 in Arkansas

Unincorporated Madison County, Arkansas requires no building permit and has no countywide zoning ordinance12. The Arkansas Fire Prevention Code's building and residential standards still apply statewide as a compliance minimum even where the county issues no permit and runs no inspection program3. Septic systems go through the Arkansas Department of Health rather than the county4. Zoning exists only inside incorporated cities such as Huntsville, not on unincorporated land2.

At a glance

Building permit
Not required in unincorporated Madison County1
Zoning
No countywide zoning; only incorporated cities like Huntsville zone2
Septic
Permitted by the Arkansas Department of Health, not the county4
Owner-builder
Exempt from residential-builder licensing on your own home, capped at 1 residence per calendar year5
Statewide building code
Arkansas Fire Prevention Code (2021 ed.) applies as a minimum even with no local permit3
State highway driveway
Access onto a state highway needs an ARDOT driveway permit6

Who to call

Also useful

Madison County Clerk

General county records at the courthouse; the main point of contact since Madison County has no separate building or zoning department

(479) 738-2747

201 West Main Street, PO Box 37, Huntsville, AR 72740

Septic permits

Arkansas Department of Health, Environmental Health (Onsite Wastewater)

Reviews and issues onsite wastewater (septic) construction and operation permits for Madison County through its local environmental specialist

501-661-2171

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

Online permits →

Roads & driveways

Madison County Road and Bridge Department

County-road and driveway-access questions in Madison County

Floodplain permits

Emergency 911 Addressing Office & Flood Plain Office

Addressing and floodplain determinations for Madison County

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 24, 2026.

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

No. Madison County's official departments listing has no building-permit, planning or inspection office, and unincorporated Madison County does not require a building permit for a home1. That is not the same as no rules at all: the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, including the Arkansas Residential Code, applies statewide as a construction-quality minimum even in counties that issue no local permit and run no inspection program3. In practice this means you design and build to that statewide code even though nobody in Madison County will inspect the work or sign off on it.

Who do you call with building or zoning questions in Madison County?

Madison County has no dedicated building, planning or zoning office to call12. For county government questions with no specific department, the Madison County Clerk's office at the courthouse in Huntsville is the general point of contact7. Madison County also runs a Road and Bridge Department for county-road matters and a combined addressing and floodplain office for addressing and floodplain questions; both are reached through the county's main line at the courthouse89.

Does Madison County have zoning?

Unincorporated Madison County has no countywide zoning ordinance2. Zoning in the county exists only inside incorporated cities such as Huntsville; land outside city limits is not subject to a city zoning map2. We could not find an official Madison County statement addressing minimum home size, setbacks, lot coverage or building height for unincorporated land, so treat those as unconfirmed rather than absent and check with the County Clerk's office before you plan close to a property line7.

How do septic permits work in Madison County?

Septic systems in Madison County are permitted by the Arkansas Department of Health's onsite wastewater program, not by the county4. The Department of Health or its authorized agent reviews and approves every individual sewage disposal system application10. Applications go through a local environmental specialist working with the statewide program office11. Review fees are tiered by house size: $30 for a structure up to 1,500 square feet, $45 up to 2,000 square feet, $90 up to 3,000 square feet, $120 up to 4,000 square feet, and $150 above that, with a separate $30 fee to alter or repair an existing system12. Only about 8.1% of Madison County's soils lack severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field13, so budget for a site and soil evaluation early and expect many parcels to need an alternative or engineered system rather than a standard drain field.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Madison County?

Madison County has no countywide zoning ordinance to enforce a residential-use restriction against an RV or tiny home on unincorporated land2, but we could not confirm any county or state rule that specifically addresses long-term RV or tiny-home living on a private unincorporated parcel, so do not treat this as settled. Arkansas's recreational-vehicle-park rules govern commercial RV parks with three or more spaces for transient stays and do not answer whether you can live in your own RV on your own land14. Confirm current practice with the Madison County Clerk's office before you set up long-term RV or tiny-home living while you build7.

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

  1. Confirm your parcel is outside Huntsville or another incorporated city limit, since only cities in Madison County zone land2.
  2. Design and build to the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code and Residential Code as your quality standard, since Madison County issues no local building permit and runs no inspection program13.
  3. Apply for your septic construction permit through the Arkansas Department of Health's onsite wastewater program before you build; expect a $30 to $150 review fee depending on house size41211.
  4. If your driveway will connect to a state highway, get an access driveway permit from the Arkansas Department of Transportation before you build it6.
  5. For a driveway or culvert onto a county road, check with Madison County's Road and Bridge Department8.
  6. If you're acting as your own contractor, remember the owner-builder exemption from residential-builder licensing only holds if you build one residence per calendar year or fewer5.

What to check before you buy land in Madison County

Soils: only 8.1% of Madison County's land lacks severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field13, while 56.3% of the county sits at 15% slope or less15, so a flat-looking lot can still need an engineered septic system. Water: the state onsite-wastewater rule requires at least 100 feet between a septic system and a domestic water well16; private domestic wells are not shown to need a Department of Health construction permit the way public and semi-public wells do17. Flood: Madison County's addressing and floodplain office handles floodplain questions for the county9. Access: a driveway onto a state highway needs its own Arkansas Department of Transportation permit, separate from anything the county requires6. Taxes: Madison County's effective property tax rate runs about 0.4%, with a median annual property tax bill near $7021819.

Watch-outs

  • Madison County has no official statement on minimum dwelling size, setbacks, lot coverage or building height for unincorporated land; treat these as unconfirmed and check with the County Clerk's office, not as unregulated7.
  • Long-term RV and tiny-home living on unincorporated land is not addressed by any rule we could confirm; the state's RV-park rules cover commercial parks, not living in your own RV on your own land14.

Sources

  1. Madison County, Arkansas - Official Website (offices/departments) (2026 county census)
  2. Madison County, Arkansas - Official Website (offices/departments) (2026 county census)
  3. 2021 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code (Arkansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  4. Arkansas Department of Health - Onsite Wastewater (2026 county census)
  5. State of Arkansas Home Improvement New Application, quoted and re-checked
  6. Regulations: Rules for Access Driveways to State Highways (Arkansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Madison County Clerk (madisoncountyar.gov)
  8. Madison County Road and Bridge Department (madisoncountyar.gov)
  9. Emergency 911 Addressing Office & Flood Plain Office (madisoncountyar.gov)
  10. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), quoted and re-checked
  11. Arkansas Department of Health, Environmental Health (Onsite Wastewater) (healthy.arkansas.gov)
  12. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), quoted and re-checked
  13. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  14. 20 CAR § 138-101. Definitions, quoted and re-checked
  15. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  16. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), quoted and re-checked
  17. 20 CAR § 140-107. Ground water supplies, quoted and re-checked
  18. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  19. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 24, 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

Madison County in Arkansas

80
County map
Madison County highlighted among the Arkansas counties · colored by Index score

How Madison County scores

Seclusion85100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency63100% ev.
Admin Boringness85100% ev.
Durability52100% ev.
Property Autonomy47100% ev.
Carry Cost79100% 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 →

$278kTypical home
0.4%Property tax
$4,232Land / acre
49.8"Annual rain
9.4% of yrsSevere drought
8.8 / yr (+7.4)Mid-century 100°F days
18 daysMid-century dry spell
2.44" (+4.2%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.54×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,757Home insurance / yr
0.9% / yrInsurance growth
0.73%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
978People within 30 min
1,060,675People within 2 hr
16,378Radius comparison (15 mi)
21.3People / sq mi
9.1%Federal land
56.3%Land at 15% slope or less
8.1%Septic soil without severe limits
43,305 acWorkable land screen
70.3%Wooded land
44.9 tonsBiomass / forest ac
57°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Madison County

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

Madison County rules

Arkansas rules that apply here

  • Building permitLimited

    Construction subject to the Arkansas Building Code statewide minimums, including rural and unincorporated areas.

    • Arkansas Building Code requirements apply statewide even where no permit is required.
    • The source does not establish a universal statewide building-permit requirement; applicable permit requirements may depend on the responsible local or other code authority.
    “They apply statewide even in areas when no permit or inspections are required.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Residential-builder and home-improvement contractor licensing for owner-builders in Madison County and elsewhere in Arkansas; this claim does not establish exemption from any building, trade, health, or septic permit.

    • An owner acting as the contractor in construction of his or her residence is exempt from residential-builder licensing unless he or she builds more than one residence during any calendar year.
    • An owner acting as his or her own home-improvement contractor on his or her own property is exempt from the residential builder and home improvement licensing requirements.
    • The source also lists exemptions for subcontractors working for properly licensed contractors and contractors licensed by other licensing agencies or boards when performing work within the scope of that license.
    • Arkansas Building Codes remain mandatory statewide minimums even where no permit or inspections are required.

    maximum residences built by owner as contractor per calendar year: <= 1 residence (The source states the owner is not exempt if he or she builds more than one residence during any calendar year.)

    “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”
    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.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • 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

    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.”
  • 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”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • 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

    Onsite wastewater systems in Madison County, Arkansas, under Arkansas statewide rules.

    • The Arkansas Department of Health or its Authorized Agent approves onsite wastewater permit applications.
    • If an Authorized Agent has not been designated for the county, applications must be made to the Department.
    “Arkansas Department of Health or its Authorized Agent”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Alternative or off-grid sanitation in Madison County, including septic systems and other sewage-treatment or disposal devices.

    • Sewage must be deposited in sanitary sewers, sewage-treatment facilities, septic-tank systems, or other systems or devices adequate for the people served.
    • Individual sewage systems require plans submitted to and approved by the Department of Health or its Authorized Agent.
    • Discharges are prohibited unless specifically permitted by the Department or Division of Environmental Quality.
    • Off-property discharges require disinfection, current discharge standards, and an NPDES permit.
    • When public sewer is available within 300 feet under the stated access conditions, privies and onsite wastewater systems may not be constructed, maintained, or used.

    minimum separation from domestic water well: >= 100 feet (Greater distances may be required where local conditions demand.) · minimum separation from water-supply lake or intake: >= 300 feet (The stated distances apply only where ideal conditions are present; greater distances may be required.)

    “All sewage must be deposited in sanitary sewers, sewage treatment facilities, septic tank systems”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Allowed (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”
  • Well permitLimited

    Public water wells, including community and noncommunity public water wells, in Madison County.

    • The proposed well location must be approved in writing by the Department before construction.
    • Public water wells must be constructed according to the latest AWWA Standard A100 and approved by the Department.
    • A copy of the well construction log must be filed with the Department.
    • The cited rule does not establish a permit requirement for every private domestic well.
    “All public water wells, whether community or noncommunity, shall be constructed [...] and approved by the department.”
    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 Madison County where public sewer access is within the stated distance.

    • Connection is required when the sewer exits the building within 300 feet of access to public sewer on the owner's property or an adjacent street or alley.
    • The rule concerns public sewer access; it does not establish a countywide requirement where public sewer is unavailable.

    distance from building sewer exit to public sewer access: <= 300 feet (Access must be on the owner's property or an adjacent street or alley.)

    “Connection to a public sewer system is required of all homes and businesses”
    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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • 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 that are boundary surveys creating parcels in Arkansas.

    • The plat must be filed with the State Surveyor's office after any recording requirements imposed by city or county government.
    • Filing is not required, but may be submitted, for survey plats of subdivided property located in a municipality where the property has previously been surveyed and a plat filed.

    plat distribution deadline: 30 days after completion

    “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%”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Arkansas Department of Health review fees for onsite wastewater permit applications applicable to property in Madison County.
      “the fee to review a permit application is thirty dollars ($30.00);”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Arkansas state department development projects located within a hundred-year floodplain or a Building Authority Division-designated flood hazard area.

    • The application is submitted on a Design Review Section-approved form.
    • The application must identify the site, development type, base flood elevation, lowest-floor elevation, attachments, and applicant contact and signature information.
    • Supporting materials may include FEMA maps, other regulatory permits, elevation certificates, no-rise certification, flood-proofing certification, utility or onsite-waste-disposal certification, and watercourse-alteration notification.
    • The Design Review Section reviews and approves or disapproves the application; additional information may be requested.
    • If approved, the floodplain administrator issues a design-phase development permit; the permit must be posted during construction, followed by compliance review before final acceptance.

    permit application timing: before development of covered property · appeal or review completion point: prior to final acceptance

    “the department shall submit an application for a development permit”
  • 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
    • Allowed (with conditions) — Temporary camping in an approved recreational vehicle park in Madison County.
      ““Recreational vehicle park” means a parcel of land, for which plans have been approved by the Department of Health, where three (3) or more spaces are occupied or intended for occupancy by recreational vehicles for transient dwelling purposes, typically by night or week, commonly associated with travel to, at, or near an attraction;”

Still unanswered

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

  • Zoning districts — Publication and applicability of zoning districts in Madison County, including unincorporated areas.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in unincorporated Madison County, Arkansas.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum land-use lot size in unincorporated Madison County, Arkansas.
  • Setbacks — General building or land-use setbacks in unincorporated Madison County, Arkansas.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage limits in unincorporated Madison County, Arkansas.
3 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • 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 Madison County, Arkansas

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

Madison County scores 80/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and sparse surroundings — about 978 people within a 30-minute drive.

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

Madison 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). 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 Madison County?

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

Land in Madison County runs about $4,232 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Madison County?

Madison County gets about 49.8" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 9.4% of years.

How remote is Madison County?

A representative private-land location has about 978 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,060,675 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 Madison County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Madison compares in Arkansas

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