Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Vandervoort, Arkansas

Rules another office applies inside Town of Vandervoort

Town of Vandervoort does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  Onsite wastewater (septic) systems on land inside Vandervoort town, Polk County, AR. The Arkansas Department of Health rule applies statewide; it is administered through the Department or its county authorized agent. The county authorized agent for Polk County was not verified.

  • Where no authorized agent is designated for a city or county, applications go to the Department (rule 4.8).
  • Construction may not begin until a permit is issued (rule 4.5).

  “in the event that an authorized agent has not been designated for a city or county, applications for onsite wastewater systems shall be made to the department.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Onsite wastewater (septic) system on land inside Vandervoort town, Polk County, AR, under the statewide Arkansas Department of Health rule

  • Permit for construction must be obtained before construction, alteration, repair or extension begins.
  • Permit application is submitted to the Department or its authorized agent and must be approved before construction of a building or residence.
  • A construction permit is valid for one year from approval (rule 2.67).

  “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”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Onsite wastewater (septic) system on land inside Vandervoort town, Polk County, AR, under the statewide Arkansas Department of Health rule

  • System must be inspected and approved before operation begins.
  • Owner must first obtain a permit for operation.

  “it shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, association, municipality or governmental agency to begin operation of any onsite wastewater system until such system has been inspected and approved by the department or its authorized agent and the owner has first obtained a permit for operation issued by the department or its authorized agent.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Off-grid sanitation on premises inside Vandervoort town under the statewide ADH rule

  • Privies and onsite systems are barred where the sewer-connection rule (within 300 feet) applies.
  • Otherwise an onsite wastewater system may be built only after a construction permit is issued (rule 4.5).

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

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New home on premises inside Vandervoort town. Sewer connection requirement under the statewide ADH rule. Whether a public sewer or water system is available in Vandervoort town was not verified.

  • Applies only when a sanitary sewer is within 300 feet of the point where the sewer exits a building on the property.
  • Applies only when connection can be made without crossing another person's property (rule 4.1).

  sanitary sewer connection distance: <= 300 feet (Measured from the point where the sewer exits a building on the property; connection must be possible without crossing another person's property.)

  “all premises shall be connected to a sanitary sewer when within 300 feet from the point where the sewer exits a building on the property owner's property and available to said premises when connection can be made without crossing another person's property.”

• Subdividing landLimited

  Onsite wastewater systems on lots in subdivisions or platted or unplatted tracts inside Vandervoort town. Town subdivision regulation was not verified.

  • Systems must follow the ADH general sanitation and onsite wastewater rules (rule 4.4).

  “onsite wastewater systems in subdivisions or in platted or unplatted lots or tracts of land as provided in act 402 of 1977 (a.c.a. 14-236-101, et seq.), shall be planned, designed and constructed in accordance with the rules pertaining to general sanitation and the rules pertaining to onsite wastewater systems of the arkansas department of health.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Septic (onsite wastewater) plan review fee only, inside Vandervoort town under the statewide ADH rule. Town building or zoning permit fees are not verified.

  • Fee is paid before issuance of Part 1 of the permit application (rule 4.9).
  • Fee is payable to the Department; no refund for failure to proceed.

  septic plan review fee, structures 1,500 sq ft or less: 30 USD (Higher fees apply for larger structures (1,500 to 4,000+ sq ft, $45 to $150); alteration, repair or extension of a sewage system is $30.)

  “the review fee shall be paid before the issuance of part 1 of the permit application.”

• Permit processPartial

  Septic (onsite wastewater) permit process only, inside Vandervoort town under the statewide Arkansas Department of Health rule. The town's own permit process for buildings is not verified.

  • Installer must notify the authorized agent at least 24 hours before work begins (rule 4.7).
  • Construction permit validity is one year from approval (rule 2.67).

  “a permit for construction is valid for a period of one year from the date of approval.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Vandervoort or Polk County directly.

• Building permit — Building permits for new homes inside Vandervoort town
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permits inside Vandervoort town
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption inside Vandervoort town
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Vandervoort town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Vandervoort town

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.