Bolthole Index

Pulaski County, Arkansas

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in North Little Rock, Arkansas

Inside North Little Rock, Arkansas, nearly all construction work needs a building permit from the city Planning Department, and owner-builders still need one12. The city sets its own zoning3. Septic permits come from the Arkansas Department of Health or its authorized agent, not from city planning staff4. For land outside city limits, see Pulaski County.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the city Planning Department for nearly all work; painting and floor covering are excepted1
Zoning
Yes; the city divides its land into zoning districts under its own ordinance3
Building code
City code adopts the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, National Electrical Code and Arkansas Plumbing Code5
Owner-builder
Allowed without a contractor license, but a building permit is still required2
Septic
Permits for construction and operation through the Arkansas Department of Health or its authorized agent46
Sewer connection
State rule requires connecting to a sanitary sewer within 300 feet when available without crossing another owner's land7
RV and tiny home living
Not confirmed; ask the city zoning officer8
Property tax (Pulaski County)
Effective rate 0.8%; median bill $1,562 a year910

Who to call

Planning & zoning

North Little Rock Planning Department

Building permits, zoning, plan review and inspections inside North Little Rock city limits; also lists the contact for curb cut, stormwater and excavation permits and for floodplain information

501-975-8835

700 W 29th Street, North Little Rock, AR 72114

Septic permits

Arkansas Department of Health - Environmental Health (Onsite Wastewater Program)

Statewide septic (onsite wastewater) program; works with the local Environmental Specialist on construction and operation permits

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

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 16, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in North Little Rock means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in North Little Rock, Arkansas?

Yes. North Little Rock requires a permit from its Planning Department to install, repair, remodel, replace or perform any work in the city, with painting and floor coverings excepted1. Each separate structure in a multi-structure project needs its own building permit1. Owner-performed repairs or remodeling costing less than $3,500 on a one- or two-family home still need a permit, but with no charge1.

Building your own house does not get you out of the permit. The city lets a property owner act as the residential building contractor on their own personal residence without a contractor license, bond or business license, provided the owner builds no more than one residence per calendar year, but the exemption does not remove the building-permit requirement2. Fees are set out in Chapter 4 of the city's municipal code11.

Who issues building permits in North Little Rock, and how do you reach them?

The North Little Rock Planning Department issues building permits inside city limits1. Reach it at 501-975-8835 at the City Services building, 700 W 29th Street, North Little Rock, AR 721148. The same page lists a separate number for curb cut, stormwater and excavation permits (501-371-8339) and one for floodplain information (501-371-8334)8.

A permit generally expires one year after issuance, and it becomes invalid if work does not start within 180 days or stops for 180 days12. The city's code adopts the 2021 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, the 2020 National Electrical Code and the 2018 Arkansas Plumbing Code, among others, so plans are reviewed against those5.

Does North Little Rock have zoning?

Yes. North Little Rock divides the city into zoning districts and regulates the location, height, bulk, number of stories and size of buildings, open space, lot coverage, density and land uses within them3. District boundaries are shown on the North Little Rock Official Zoning Map, so the first step on any lot is to look up its district3.

We could not confirm the city's rules for accessory dwelling units, tiny homes or living in an RV on a lot. Ask the city's zoning officer through the Planning Department at 501-975-8835 before you buy or park anything for living space8. Lot size and setbacks differ by district, so get them from the lot's district rather than a general rule.

How do septic permits work in North Little Rock?

Septic permits are a state matter. In Arkansas, the Arkansas Department of Health or its authorized agent issues a permit for construction and a separate permit for operation of an onsite wastewater system, and construction may not begin until the construction permit is issued6. The plan-review fee depends on the home's size and runs from $30 to $15013. After installation the system must be inspected, and it cannot be used until the operation permit is issued14.

In a city, public sewer often settles the question. A state rule requires connecting to a sanitary sewer when one is within 300 feet of where the sewer leaves the building and is available without crossing another person's property7. We could not confirm whether North Little Rock adds its own septic or off-grid sanitation rules; ask the Planning Department and the Arkansas Department of Health15.

Soils matter on the edge of town. Only about 13.5% of Pulaski County soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system16.

Building a home in North Little Rock: the steps, in order

  1. Look up the lot's zoning district on the North Little Rock Official Zoning Map and confirm a house is allowed there3.
  2. Ask the Planning Department whether public sewer reaches the lot; if sewer is within 300 feet and available, state rules require connecting7. If not, apply to the Arkansas Department of Health or its authorized agent for the septic construction permit6.
  3. Apply to the Planning Department for a building permit; an owner-builder still needs one2.
  4. If the lot fronts a state highway, get a driveway permit from the Arkansas Department of Transportation district engineer before work in the right-of-way17. For a city street, ask about curb cut permits at 501-371-83398.
  5. Build to the adopted codes and request inspections through the Planning Department5.
  6. Get the septic system inspected and the operation permit issued before anyone uses it14.

What stays with Pulaski County, and what to check before you buy in North Little Rock?

North Little Rock's rules apply inside city limits only; unincorporated land is covered on the Pulaski County page. Septic is administered by the Arkansas Department of Health or its authorized agent for every address in Pulaski County, city or not4.

Before buying, confirm the lot's zoning district, whether sewer is available, and flood status through the floodplain contact at 501-371-83348. County-level numbers: Pulaski County's effective property tax rate is 0.8%, with a median bill of $1,562 a year910.

Watch-outs

  • The published fee schedule and permit rules in the city's Chapter 4 are amended through March 2023, so confirm current fees with the Planning Department before budgeting11.
  • We could not confirm whether North Little Rock requires a certificate of occupancy; ask the Planning Department at 501-975-88358.
  • We could not confirm the city's rules for accessory dwellings, tiny homes or RV living on a lot, or for private wells; ask the city zoning officer and the Arkansas Department of Health8.
  • A state highway driveway needs an Arkansas Department of Transportation permit even when the city issues your building permit17.

Sources

  1. North Little Rock Municipal Code Chapter 4: Buildings and Building Regulations (North Little Rock), quoted and re-checked
  2. North Little Rock Municipal Code Chapter 4: Buildings and Building Regulations (North Little Rock), quoted and re-checked
  3. City of North Little Rock Zoning Ordinance (North Little Rock), quoted and re-checked
  4. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), quoted and re-checked
  5. North Little Rock Municipal Code Chapter 4: Buildings and Building Regulations (North Little Rock), quoted and re-checked
  6. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), quoted and re-checked
  7. codeofarrules.arkansas.gov (Arkansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. North Little Rock Planning Department (nlr.ar.gov)
  9. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  10. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  11. North Little Rock Municipal Code Chapter 4: Buildings and Building Regulations (North Little Rock), quoted and re-checked
  12. North Little Rock Municipal Code Chapter 4: Buildings and Building Regulations (North Little Rock), quoted and re-checked
  13. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024) (Arkansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), quoted and re-checked
  15. Arkansas Department of Health - Environmental Health (Onsite Wastewater Program) (healthy.arkansas.gov)
  16. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  17. Regulations: Rules for Access Driveways to State Highways (Arkansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 16, 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.

Answers from the rulebook for North Little Rock

North Little Rock’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Installation, repair, remodeling, replacement, or other work in North Little Rock city.

    • Painting, interior or exterior, and floor covering are excepted.
    • Surface-water-flow or vegetation-buffer alterations require a land alteration permit from the City Engineer.
    • Sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, and kitchen suppression systems require Fire Marshal permits.
    • Each separate structure in a project involving more than one structure or parcel requires a separate building permit.
    • A no-charge permit is still required for owner-performed repairs/remodeling costing less than $3,500 on one- or two-family dwellings.

    owner repair/remodel threshold: < 3500 USD (A permit is required, but no charge applies.)

    “It shall be unlawful for any person to install, repair, remodel, replace or perform any work in the City without a permit from the Planning Department, except: (1) Painting, interior or exterior (2) Any floor covering”
  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Property owners constructing, repairing, remodeling, or adding to their own personal residence in North Little Rock city.

    • For construction of a personal residence, the owner may not construct more than one residence per calendar year.
    • The owner does not need to submit proof of a residential building contractor license, bond, or business license.
    • The exemption does not eliminate the requirement to obtain a building permit.

    maximum personal residences constructed: <= 1 per calendar year

    “Any property owner who acts as a residential building contractor for the purpose of constructing their own personal residence may be issued a residential building permit, provided that the property owner does not construct more than one residence per calendar year. The property owner does not need to submit proof of a residential building contractor's license, a bond or a business license.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction within North Little Rock city.

    • The city code lists the adopted Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, National Electrical Code, Arkansas Plumbing Code, Arkansas Fuel Gas Code, International Mechanical Code, ADA standards, ANSI standards, North Little Rock Electric Department Construction Standards, and state electrical administrative rules.
    “(A) 2021 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code (B) 2020 National Electrical Code (C) 2018 Arkansas Plumbing Code (D) 2018 Arkansas Fuel Gas Code (E) 2021 International Mechanical Code (F) 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act (G) American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 117 Standards (H) North Little Rock Electric Department Construction Standards (I) Administrative Rules of the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners State of Arkansas”
  • Local zoningPresent

    All lands within the corporate limits of North Little Rock city.

    • The ordinance states that district boundaries are shown on the North Little Rock Official Zoning Map.
    “Specifically, these regulations divide the City into Zoning Districts, which may also be referred to as zones or districts. Within these Zoning Districts, this Ordinance regulates the location, height, bulk, number of stories, and size of buildings; open space; lot coverage; density and distribution of population; and the uses of land, buildings, and structures.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    North Little Rock building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and development permits.

    • The code contains general, reinspection, minimum, surcharge, commercial, residential, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, application, and development-fee sections.
    • The published Chapter 4 PDF is amended through March 14, 2023.
    “the following are hereby established as permit fee schedules for building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and other related work in the city:”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit processing inside North Little Rock city through the Planning Department.

    • Permits generally expire one year from issuance.
    • Work must commence within 180 days or the permit becomes invalid after a 180-day suspension or abandonment.
    • A one-time 30-, 60-, or 90-day extension may be available for good satisfactory reason beyond the permittee's control, with a $30 fee per 30-day period.
    • An expired permit may be renewed within 30 days for six months at one-half the new-permit fee if plans and specifications are unchanged.

    extension fee: 30 USD per 30-day period · permit commencement deadline: <= 180 days (Permit becomes invalid if work does not commence within 180 days.)

    “All permits, unless otherwise noted, issued by the Planning Department shall expire one year from the date of issuance. Every permit issued shall become invalid unless the work authorized by such permit is commenced within 180 days after its issuance or if the work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned for a period of 180 days after the time the work is commenced.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask North Little Rock or Pulaski County directly.

  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate-of-occupancy requirements for buildings inside North Little Rock city.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside North Little Rock city.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside North Little Rock city.
  • Who permits septic — Onsite wastewater systems inside North Little Rock city.
  • Septic permit — Septic-system permits inside North Little Rock city.
6 more unanswered
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that North Little Rock publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Pulaski County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Pulaski County: county rules, score and offices