Polk County, AR Building Permits, Zoning & Septic Rules

Unincorporated Polk County, Arkansas does not require a general building permit for a home, barn or shed, and the county has no countywide zoning ordinance¹². The one exception is flood-prone land: Polk County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, so a floodplain development permit is required for construction inside a mapped Special Flood Hazard Area¹. Septic systems still need a permit statewide, issued through the Arkansas Department of Health rather than a county office³.

At a glance

Building permit: Not required outside a mapped flood zone; required inside one¹
Zoning: No countywide zoning; only incorporated cities like Mena zone²
Septic permit: Required statewide; issued by the Arkansas Department of Health³
Owner-builder exemption: Yes, from state contractor licensing, capped at one residence a year (not a permit waiver)⁴⁵
Driveway onto a state highway: Needs an ARDOT access permit before construction⁶
Private domestic well: No state permit requirement found; the state rule covers public/semi-public wells only⁷
Property tax: About 0.4% effective rate; median bill about $541/year⁸⁹

Who to call

Also useful

Polk County Courthouse (general county line)

General courthouse line reaching the Polk County Judge's office and other elected offices in Mena; the number to call for anything the county's website does not otherwise cover, including floodplain status and road access

479-394-8123

507 Church Street, Mena, AR 71953

Property records

Polk County Assessor

Values land and buildings in Polk County for property tax assessment

479-394-8157

507 Church Ave, Mena, AR 71953

Online permits →

Also useful

Polk County Collector

Bills and collects Polk County property taxes

479-394-8110

507 Church Avenue, Mena, AR 71953

Online permits →

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 Polk County, Arkansas?

Unincorporated Polk County, Arkansas does not require a general building permit for a house, barn or shed outside a mapped flood zone¹. Polk County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, so a floodplain development permit is required only for construction within a mapped Special Flood Hazard Area; ordinary buildable land outside the floodplain needs no county permit¹. Cities inside the county, including Mena, run their own permitting, and those city rules never apply once you are outside city limits in unincorporated Polk County¹. Arkansas law lets a county adopt its own building-permit program if it chooses to, and the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, including its residential-code volume, applies statewide as a construction standard even where no local permit or inspection exists, so meeting code is still expected even though nobody is checking it here¹⁰¹.

Who handles permits and county business in Polk County, and how do you reach them?

Polk County has no building, planning or zoning department, so most land-use questions in unincorporated Polk County go through the courthouse in Mena instead¹¹. The general courthouse line reaches the Polk County Judge's office and other elected offices at 507 Church Street, Mena, AR 71953, phone 479-394-8123¹¹. The Polk County Assessor's office, which values land and buildings for property tax, is at 507 Church Ave, Mena, AR 71953, phone 479-394-8157¹². The Polk County Collector's office, which bills and collects that property tax, is at 507 Church Avenue, Mena, AR 71953, phone 479-394-8110¹³.

Does Polk County have zoning?

Polk County has no countywide zoning ordinance for unincorporated land². Zoning here is handled city by city instead: incorporated cities such as Mena set their own zoning and building rules inside city limits, and those city rules stop at the city line². No official Polk County source confirms zoning districts, minimum lot size, setbacks, lot coverage or building height for unincorporated land, so treat these as unconfirmed rather than absent². Check with the Polk County Judge's office, and with any nearby city if your land sits close to its boundary, before you plan a build¹¹.

How do septic permits work in Polk County, Arkansas?

Every onsite wastewater (septic) system in Arkansas needs a permit from the Arkansas Department of Health, issued through the county's Environmental Health Specialist, and Polk County follows this same statewide process rather than running its own separate septic office³. If a home sits within 300 feet of an available sanitary sewer line and the connection would not cross another person's property, state rule requires connecting to that sewer instead of using a septic system¹⁴. Soils are a real constraint here: only about 4.2% of Polk County's land is rated free of severe limits for a conventional septic drain field, one of the tougher shares in this part of the state, so budget for a site evaluation and plan on an engineered or alternative system on most tracts¹⁵. Contact the Arkansas Department of Health's Onsite Wastewater Program before you buy if your plans depend on a specific septic design³.

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

Whether you can live full-time in an RV or tiny home on your own unincorporated Polk County land is not confirmed by an official county rule either way². The only state rule found regulates licensed recreational-vehicle parks with three or more spaces rented for transient stays; it does not address a single RV placed on your own private land, so do not read it as the county's answer to full-time RV or tiny-home living¹⁶. Polk County has no countywide zoning ordinance, so there is no published zoning restriction on where you place a home, but the absence of a rule is not the same as an official yes². Confirm your specific plan with the Polk County Judge's office, and with the relevant city office if you are near Mena or another city, before you commit¹¹.

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

Confirm your parcel is outside a mapped Special Flood Hazard Area; if it is inside one, contact the county about a floodplain development permit before you build¹.
If your driveway will connect to a state highway, apply to the Arkansas Department of Transportation for an access driveway permit before construction begins⁶.
Contact the Arkansas Department of Health's Onsite Wastewater Program to start your septic permit and site evaluation early, since only about 4.2% of Polk County's soils are free of severe drain-field limits³¹⁵.
If you plan to act as your own contractor, remember Arkansas exempts an owner building their own residence from contractor licensing, capped at one residence per calendar year, and separately exempts an owner acting as their own home-improvement contractor; this is a licensing exemption, not proof that no permit applies⁵.
Check with the Polk County Courthouse at 507 Church Street, Mena, AR 71953 about anything the county's website does not cover, including floodplain status and road access¹¹.
If your land is inside or near Mena or another incorporated city, check that city's zoning and building department separately, since city rules can reach close to unincorporated land².
Budget for property tax: Polk County's effective rate runs about 0.4%, with a median bill around $541 a year⁸⁹.

What to check before you buy land in Polk County, Arkansas

Water is generous here compared to much of the region: Polk County averages about 57.9 inches of precipitation a year, and only about 11.9% of recent years have brought severe drought¹⁷¹⁸. Septic soils are the opposite story: just 4.2% of the county's land is rated free of severe limits for a conventional drain field, and about 80.4% of the county is wooded, so plan on clearing and likely an engineered system on most wooded, sloped tracts¹⁵¹⁹. Terrain is mixed: about 56% of Polk County is gentle land at 15% slope or less, and federal land, mostly national forest, covers roughly 37.8% of the county, which limits which parcels are even in private hands²⁰²¹. Flood risk connects directly to your permit question: Polk County's participation in the National Flood Insurance Program means a floodplain development permit is required only if your specific parcel sits in a mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, so check FEMA's flood map for your parcel before assuming no permit applies¹. Property taxes run low, with an effective rate around 0.4% and a median bill near $541 a year, and the county's farmland has recently valued around $3,901 an acre⁸⁹²².

Watch-outs

Zoning, minimum lot size, setbacks and RV/tiny-home rules for unincorporated Polk County are not confirmed by any official county source; call the Polk County Courthouse before you rely on the absence of a published rule²¹¹.
A floodplain development permit is required only within a mapped Special Flood Hazard Area; check your specific parcel against FEMA's flood map rather than assuming Polk County's general no-permit rule covers your land¹.
Confirm any RV or tiny-home plan with the county before committing: the only state rule found addresses licensed RV parks of three or more spaces, not a single RV on your own land¹⁶.

Sources

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.

How Polk County scores

Seclusion85100% ev.

Self-Sufficiency63100% ev.

Admin Boringness85100% ev.

Durability49100% ev.

Property Autonomy47100% ev.

Carry Cost84100% 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 →

$196kTypical home

0.4%Property tax

$3,901Land / acre

57.9"Annual rain

11.9% of yrsSevere drought

15.7 / yr (+13.1)Mid-century 100°F days

18.1 daysMid-century dry spell

3" (+6.2%)Mid-century 1-day rain

1.43×Wildfire change factor

100%Forward climate coverage

$1,523Home insurance / yr

1% / yrInsurance growth

0.37%Nonrenewal rate

county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis

4,608People within 30 min

470,946People within 2 hr

14,265Radius comparison (15 mi)

22.7People / sq mi

37.8%Federal land

56%Land at 15% slope or less

4.2%Septic soil without severe limits

22,565 acWorkable land screen

80.4%Wooded land

42.4 tonsBiomass / forest ac

59.9°FAvg temp

Answers from the rulebook for Polk County

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

Polk County rules

County-wide zoningAbsent
Zoning in Polk County is administered at the city level; there is no countywide zoning ordinance for unincorporated land.
Association of Arkansas Counties - Polk County ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked
Who permits septicArkansas Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Program
Onsite wastewater/septic permits statewide are issued by the Arkansas Department of Health through its county Environmental Health Specialists.
Arkansas Department of Health - Onsite Wastewater ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

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.”
Home Improvement Contractor License Application ↗Re-checked Sep 8, 2026
Owner-builder exemptionConditional
An owner acting as the residential building contractor for the owner’s residence, or as the owner’s own home-improvement contractor on the owner’s property, in Polk County and elsewhere in Arkansas.
- The exemption is from Arkansas residential contractor licensing requirements, not a determination that any local building permit is unnecessary.
- A person acting as a residential building contractor in construction of their residence is exempt unless they build more than one residence during any calendar year.
- The owner of a single-family residence acting as their own home-improvement contractor on their own property is exempt.
- Projects costing $2,000 or less are exempt, but the exemption does not apply when construction necessary to complete the project is divided into separate contracts of amounts less than $2,000.
- Subcontractors of a contractor licensed by the Residential Contractors Committee are exempt.
- A person or entity licensed by another Arkansas licensing agency, board, or commission is exempt when performing work within the scope of that license.
maximum residences built by owner as residential building contractor: <= 1 residences per calendar year (Exemption does not apply if the person builds more than one residence during any calendar year.) · project cost exemption threshold: <= 2000 USD (Does not apply when work is divided into separate contracts of amounts less than $2,000.)
“The following shall be exempted from the licensing requirements of this subchapter: (1) 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 during any calendar year; (2) The owner of a single family residence acting as his or her own home improvement contractor on his or her own property;”
Arkansas Residential Contractors Committee Rules ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
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;”
  Arkansas Residential Contractors Committee Rules and Statutes ↗Re-checked Sep 8, 2026
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.”
22 CAR § 111-407. Building codes adopted ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
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.”
  2021 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code ↗Re-checked Sep 8, 2026
- 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.”
  22 CAR § 111-407. Building codes adopted ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
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.”
Home Improvement Contractor License Application ↗Re-checked Sep 8, 2026
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.”
6 CAR § 31-425. Charter school facilities ↗Re-checked Sep 9, 2026
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.”
  DBA Project Closeout Guide ↗Re-checked Sep 8, 2026
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.”
20 CAR § 138-102. Compliance ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
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”
20 CAR § 138-102. Compliance ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
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;”
  20 CAR § 138-101. Definitions ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
Off-grid sanitationAllowed (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 may be used.
- The devices must be evaluated by an ANSI-approved laboratory under NSF Standard 41.
- Wastewater other than urine and feces must be renovated or disposed of under Sections 8 or 9 of the rule.
- Stabilized compost must be buried onsite or deposited in an approved sanitary landfill.
- The system remains subject to applicable onsite wastewater permitting and approval requirements.
“Only pre-manufactured composting or incinerating toilets authorized by the Department”
Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024) ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
Well permitLimited
Wells serving public and semi-public water systems in Arkansas.
- Written approval from the Arkansas Department of Health is required before construction begins.
- If the well's public or semi-public status is uncertain, the well contractor must obtain a written determination from the Department of Health before construction.
- This claim does not establish a general construction-permit requirement for private domestic wells.
“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.”
17 CAR § 11-607. Public and semi-public wells ↗Re-checked Sep 9, 2026
Mandatory utility hookupSewer (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.
- When the stated distance and availability conditions are met, connection to the sanitary sewer is required.
- Privies, onsite wastewater systems, and other receptacles for human excreta may not be constructed, maintained, or used on the premises under that condition.
sewer distance from building sewer-exit point: <= 300 feet (sewer must be 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.”
14 CAR § 21-301. Generally ↗Re-checked Sep 8, 2026
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.”
Farm Utility Exemption Notice and Agricultural, Aquaculture and Horticulture Utility Exemption Application ↗Re-checked Sep 9, 2026
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;”
  17 CAR § 210-602. Construction and exemptions ↗Re-checked Sep 9, 2026
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 [...]”
15 CAR § 281-301. Publication of results ↗Re-checked Sep 8, 2026
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.”
Regulations: Rules for Access Driveways to State Highways ↗Re-checked Sep 9, 2026
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.”
22 CAR § 111-705. Permits ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
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%”
22 CAR § 111-212. Design services fee schedule ↗Re-checked Sep 9, 2026
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”
22 CAR § 111-705. Permits ↗Re-checked Sep 9, 2026
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.”
22 CAR § 50-108. Camping rules, fee collection, registration, and reservations ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
2 more reviewed findings on this topic
- Limited — Occupancy of three or more recreational-vehicle spaces as a recreational vehicle park, including transient RV dwelling use in Arkansas, including Polk 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;”
  20 CAR § 138-101. Definitions ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
- Limited — Temporary camping or transient dwelling in Arkansas recreational vehicle parks, including Polk 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;”
  20 CAR § 138-101. Definitions ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026

Still unanswered

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

Local zoning — Aggregate local zoning controls within Polk County, including incorporated municipalities and unincorporated areas.
Zoning districts — Publication or administration of countywide zoning districts in Polk County, Arkansas, including unincorporated areas.
Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in unincorporated Polk County, Arkansas.
Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for residential or other land development in unincorporated Polk County, Arkansas.
Setbacks — Building and land-use setbacks in unincorporated Polk County, Arkansas.

4 more unanswered

Lot coverage
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 Polk County, Arkansas

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

Polk County scores 80/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and deep seclusion — about 4,608 people within a 30-minute drive.

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

Polk 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 Program. 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 Polk County?

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

Land in Polk County runs about $3,901 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Polk County?

Polk County gets about 57.9" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 11.9% of years.

How remote is Polk County?

A representative private-land location has about 4,608 people within a 30-minute drive and 470,946 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.

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

At a glance

Who to call

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

Who handles permits and county business in Polk County, and how do you reach them?

Does Polk County have zoning?

How do septic permits work in Polk County, Arkansas?

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

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

What to check before you buy land in Polk County, Arkansas

Watch-outs

Sources

Polk County in Arkansas

How Polk County scores

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Parcel due diligence

Answers from the rulebook for Polk County

Polk County rules

Arkansas rules that apply here

Still unanswered

Living off-grid in Polk County, Arkansas

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

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

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

How much does land cost in Polk County, Arkansas?

What is the water situation in Polk County?

How remote is Polk County?

How Polk compares in Arkansas