Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Stephens, Arkansas

Stephens’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction covered by the building code inside Stephens city limits

  • The fee is determined by total construction cost under the attached schedule.
  • For construction costing $10,000 or less, no fee applies unless an inspection is required, in which case the $25 inspection fee applies.

  “ARTICLE 1. That the fees for building permits required by the building code shall be determined by the total cost of construction in accordance with the following schedule.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Buildings issued a building permit under Stephens Ordinance No. 366-2024

  • A completion deposit equal to 50 percent of the building-permit fee accompanies each permit.
  • The deposit is forfeited if a certificate is not issued because the building was occupied before an approved final inspection.

  “This deposit shall be refunded upon issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for the building. If a Certificate of Occupancy is not issued for the building due to occupancy of the building prior to an approved final inspection, then the Completion Deposit shall be forfeited.”

• Permit processPartial

  Municipal building permits inside Stephens city limits

  • Each building permit issued under Article 1 carries a completion deposit equal to 50 percent of the permit fee.
  • Deposit refund depends on issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.

  “Each building permit issued under the provisions of Article 1 of this ordinance shall be accompanied by a completion deposit equal to 50 percent of the building permit fee.”

Rules another office applies inside Stephens

Stephens 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 septicMixed (with conditions)

  Onsite wastewater systems statewide, including systems serving premises inside Stephens city limits

  • The Arkansas Department of Health may act through an Authorized Agent; where no city or county Authorized Agent is designated, applications are made to the Department.

  “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

  Construction, alteration, repair, or extension of onsite wastewater systems statewide, including Stephens city limits

  • The owner must first obtain a valid Permit for Construction from the Department or its Authorized Agent.
  • Emergency repairs may be undertaken without prior notification if a permit is obtained within ten working days.

  “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

  Operation of onsite wastewater systems statewide, including Stephens city limits

  • The Department or its Authorized Agent must inspect and approve the system before a Permit for Operation is obtained.

  “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

  Off-grid sanitation using onsite wastewater systems or privies statewide, including Stephens city limits

  • Onsite systems require state approval and permits.
  • No privy, onsite wastewater system, or other receptacle for human excreta may be used where the Section 4.1 sanitary-sewer connection condition applies.

  “No privies, onsite wastewater systems or other receptacles for human excreta shall be constructed, maintained, or used on the premises.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Premises statewide, including Stephens city limits, where sanitary sewer is available

  • The sewer must be within 300 feet from the point where it exits a building on the owner's property.
  • Connection must be possible without crossing another person's property.
  • When the rule applies, no privy, onsite wastewater system, or other receptacle for human excreta may be constructed, maintained, or used on the premises.

  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 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.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision plans using standard onsite wastewater systems statewide, including subdivision land inside Stephens city limits

  • The rule applies where standard onsite wastewater systems will serve all or part of the lots or tracts.
  • The overall plan must be submitted to the Arkansas Department of Health for review and approval.

  “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 Stephens or Ouachita County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Stephens city limits
• Local zoning — Land inside Stephens city limits, Ouachita County, Arkansas
• Zoning districts — Land inside Stephens city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Stephens city limits
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Stephens 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.