Bolthole Index

Searcy County, Arkansas

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

77Index Score / 100
#24 of 75 in Arkansas

Unincorporated Searcy County, Arkansas appears not to require a general residential building permit, but confirm the parcel with the County Judge's Office because the county does not publish a permit process12. Arkansas building-code minimums still apply where no permit or inspection is required3. Septic construction and operation require state health permits unless a specific exemption applies4.

At a glance

Building permit
No general residential permit appears required in unincorporated Searcy County; confirm the parcel with the County Judge's Office12
Building code
Arkansas building-code minimums apply statewide, including places without permits or inspections3
Zoning
A targeted county ordinance covers rehabilitative institutes and halfway houses; no comprehensive countywide zoning map was confirmed5
Septic permits
Permit for Construction before work and Permit for Operation before use4
RV and tiny-home parks
State health rules apply to fee-based parks with three or more RV, tiny-home-on-wheels or mobile-home spaces67
Owner-builder
State contractor licensing exemption for a person building their own residence, limited to one residence in a calendar year8
Septic soils
Only 8.1% of county soils lack severe limits for a conventional drain field9

Who to call

Building permits

Searcy County Judge's Office

County ordinances, county roads and general questions about building, land use and access where no dedicated permit office is published

(870) 448-3554

P.O. Box 1370, Marshall, AR 72650

Also useful

Searcy County Clerk's Office

Quorum Court ordinances, resolutions and meeting minutes; recorded property documents

(870) 448-3807

P.O. Box 998, Marshall, AR 72650

Septic permits

Searcy County Local Health Unit (Arkansas Department of Health)

Local contact for onsite-wastewater permit records and the Onsite Environmental Specialist

(870) 448-3374

742 Airport Road, Marshall, AR 72650

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 28, 2026.

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

A general residential building permit appears not to be required in unincorporated Searcy County, but the county does not publish a permit ordinance confirming that answer1. The county's official site does not publish a building-department page or residential permit process, so call the Searcy County Judge's Office before ordering plans or starting work2. Arkansas building-code minimums apply statewide even where no permit or inspection is required3. In practical terms, the absence of a county application does not make code compliance optional3. Arkansas counties and other local jurisdictions may enforce the statewide fire-prevention code and may adopt more stringent individual provisions through the state approval framework10.

Who handles building permits in Searcy County?

Searcy County does not publish a dedicated building or planning office on its official site, so the Searcy County Judge's Office is the practical first call for current county requirements and county-road questions2. The County Judge administers ordinances enacted by the Quorum Court and operates the county road system2. For the text of a county ordinance, resolution or meeting record, contact the Searcy County Clerk's Office, which maintains Quorum Court ordinances, resolutions and minutes11. Septic questions belong with the Searcy County Local Health Unit rather than the courthouse12. A driveway connecting to an Arkansas state highway requires an Arkansas Department of Transportation permit before work begins on the highway right-of-way13.

Does Searcy County have zoning?

Searcy County has a targeted land-use ordinance for rehabilitative institutes and halfway houses, not a documented comprehensive zoning map or district schedule5. A covered facility needs county authorization or a certificate of operation, and the county may restrict its location, population, residential density and supervision after studying effects on public health and safety in the township or area5. That narrow ordinance does not establish general residential minimum lot size, building height, lot coverage or setbacks for every unincorporated parcel5. We could not confirm general countywide zoning districts or municipal zoning rules, so ask the County Judge's Office about the parcel and the County Clerk for any later ordinance211.

How do septic permits work in Searcy County?

A Searcy County onsite wastewater system needs a Permit for Construction before construction, alteration, repair or extension and a Permit for Operation before use4. Permit-review fees run from $30 to $150 according to structure size, while alteration, repair or extension review costs $304. The installer must notify the authorized reviewer when work is ready, submit required documents within five days, and wait for inspection approval before the operating permit is issued14. Only 8.1% of Searcy County soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make the soil evaluation an early contingency in a land purchase9. When a sanitary sewer is available within 300 feet of the building's sewer exit without crossing another person's property, connection to that sewer is required15. Start with the Searcy County Local Health Unit in Marshall12.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Searcy County?

We could not confirm a Searcy County rule that generally allows or prohibits living in a single RV or tiny home on private unincorporated land; ask the County Judge's Office before relying on long-term occupancy2. Arkansas does regulate fee-based parks when three or more spaces are occupied or intended for RVs, tiny houses on wheels or mobile homes6. A tiny house on wheels is treated as a mobile home under that park rule when it is plumbed and inspected under the Arkansas Plumbing Code, and as an RV when it is not7. Those park rules do not answer the single-unit private-land question6. Plumbing and wastewater remain separate issues: an onsite system still needs the applicable construction and operating permits4.

Building a home in Searcy County: steps in order

  1. Call the Searcy County Judge's Office to confirm the current county permit, road-access and land-use requirements for the parcel2.
  1. Ask the County Clerk whether later Quorum Court ordinances affect the tract or proposed use11.
  1. Arrange the septic soil evaluation early because only 8.1% of county soils lack severe limits for a conventional drain field9.
  1. Obtain the Permit for Construction before septic work begins, then secure inspection approval and the Permit for Operation before use414.
  1. Design the home to Arkansas's statewide building-code minimums even if the county confirms that no local permit or inspection applies3.
  1. Obtain a state access permit before work on a driveway connecting to an Arkansas state highway13.
  1. An owner building their own residence can use the state contractor-licensing exemption for no more than one residence in a calendar year, but the exemption does not waive other applicable rules8.

What should you check before buying land in Searcy County?

Put septic suitability, legal access and water at the front of due diligence. Only 8.1% of Searcy County soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so a buildable-looking tract may need a different system design9. The county is 73.1% forested and 55.3% of its land has a slope of 15% or less, making clearing, grade and driveway layout parcel-specific cost questions1617. We could not confirm a county floodplain-development process or a separate private domestic-well construction permit, so ask the County Judge's Office who handles floodplain review and ask the health unit about water and wastewater coordination212. If the tract is in a subdivision using onsite wastewater, Arkansas Department of Health approval is required before construction begins on a lot18. The effective property-tax rate is about 0.5%, with a median annual bill near $5171920.

Watch-outs

  • A general residential building permit appears not to be required in unincorporated Searcy County, but the county's official site does not publish a permit or inspection process; confirm the current answer with the County Judge's Office before work begins12.
  • Searcy County's documented zoning control is narrow and applies to rehabilitative institutes and halfway houses; it should not be described as either comprehensive countywide zoning or proof that every other land use is unrestricted5.
  • A state highway driveway requires an Arkansas Department of Transportation permit before work begins on the highway right-of-way13.

Sources

  1. Arkansas.gov - Searcy County (county offices) (2026 county census)
  2. Searcy County Judge's Office (searcyco.org)
  3. Arkansas Home Improvement Application and Test Information, quoted and re-checked
  4. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), quoted and re-checked
  5. Searcy County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 13: Urban/Rural Development, quoted and re-checked
  6. 20 CAR § 138-102. Compliance (Arkansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. 20 CAR § 138-101. Definitions (Arkansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Arkansas Residential Contractors Licensing Law, quoted and re-checked
  9. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  10. 2021 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code (Arkansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Searcy County Clerk's Office (searcyco.org)
  12. Searcy County Local Health Unit (Arkansas Department of Health) (healthy.arkansas.gov)
  13. Regulations: Rules for Access Driveways to State Highways (Arkansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), quoted and re-checked
  15. 14 CAR § 21-301. Generally (Arkansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  17. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  18. 14 CAR § 21-405. Subdivisions, quoted and re-checked
  19. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 28, 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

Searcy County in Arkansas

77
County map
Searcy County highlighted among the Arkansas counties · colored by Index score

How Searcy County scores

Seclusion83100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency58100% ev.
Admin Boringness85100% ev.
Durability48100% ev.
Property Autonomy47100% ev.
Carry Cost86100% 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 →

$193kTypical home
0.5%Property tax
$2,700Land / acre
49.8"Annual rain
9.7% of yrsSevere drought
15.5 / yr (+12.3)Mid-century 100°F days
16.5 daysMid-century dry spell
2.48" (+6.5%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.56×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,703Home insurance / yr
1% / yrInsurance growth
0.49%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
5,091People within 30 min
1,074,444People within 2 hr
10,454Radius comparison (15 mi)
11.7People / sq mi
12.4%Federal land
55.3%Land at 15% slope or less
8.1%Septic soil without severe limits
33,721 acWorkable land screen
73.1%Wooded land
39.5 tonsBiomass / forest ac
57.8°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Searcy County

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

Searcy County rules

  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    County zoning authority and land-use controls in Searcy County, with the documented ordinance applying specifically to rehabilitative institutes and halfway houses.

    • The ordinance does not establish a general countywide zoning map or comprehensive district schedule in the cited Chapter 13 material.
    • For covered facilities, an authorization or certificate of operation is required before establishment or operation.
    • The certificate may contain restrictions concerning location, population, residential density, and supervisory operation.
    • Issuance is discretionary and follows a study or investigation addressing public health and safety and the effect on the specific township or area.
    “facilities to be established or operated within Searcy County, Arkansas”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    County-administered zoning control for rehabilitative institutes and halfway houses in Searcy County.

    • This is a targeted county ordinance, not evidence that every local municipality or incorporated area follows county zoning.
    • A certificate of operation is required for establishment or operation of covered facilities.
    • The certificate follows a study of effects on public health and safety in the specific township or area.
    “a certificate of operation shall be necessary and shall only be issued after a study”
  • Who permits septicArkansas Department of Health (ADH) - Onsite Wastewater program (via Searcy County Health Unit)

    Septic/onsite wastewater permits are issued under Arkansas Department of Health rules; homeowners contact the county health unit's Onsite Environmental Specialist.

    Arkansas Department of Health - Onsite Wastewater FAQs ↗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.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Owner-builders performing residential building-contractor or home-improvement-contractor work in Searcy County, under Arkansas residential contractor licensing law.

    • The exemption concerns state residential contractor licensing requirements and does not establish an exemption from any local building permit, inspection, certificate-of-occupancy, or other applicable code requirement.
    • A person acting as a residential building contractor in construction of their own residence is exempt unless they build more than one residence during a calendar year.
    • The owner of a single-family residence acting as their own home-improvement contractor on their own property is exempt.
    • A separate exemption applies when project cost does not exceed $2,000, but it does not apply when work is divided into separate contracts of less than $2,000.

    maximum residences built under own-residence exemption: <= 1 residences per calendar year (The exemption does not apply if the person builds more than one residence during any calendar year.) · project cost exemption threshold: <= 2000 USD (The exemption does not apply when construction work necessary to complete the project 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;”
    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 adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Arkansas building-code requirements applicable in Searcy County, including rural and unincorporated areas.

    • The official Arkansas Labor Department material states that the statewide code applies even where no permit or inspections are required.
    • The material states that Arkansas was under the 2012 Edition at the time of the document; the Arkansas Legislative Council summary describes the 2021 edition as proposed with an anticipated effective date of January 1, 2023.
    • Local jurisdictions may not adopt less restrictive provisions; the legislative summary states that more stringent individual provisions require State Fire Marshal approval.

    code edition stated in source: 2012 Edition · document effective date: 1/2025 (This is the handbook/document effective date, not necessarily the code adoption date.)

    “Arkansas Building Codes are mandatory statewide minimums. They apply statewide even in areas when no permit or inspections are required. The Arkansas Building Code is adopted by the State Fire Marshal’s office. It is a part of the Fire Prevention Code. The Code applies Statewide, even in rural and unincorporated areas.”
    3 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.”
    • Partial — 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.”
    • 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;”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction, alteration, repair, extension, or operation of onsite wastewater systems in Searcy County.

    • A valid Permit for Construction must be obtained before construction, alteration, repair, or extension.
    • A Permit for Operation must be obtained before operation.
    • Emergency repairs may begin without prior permit only if a permit is obtained within ten working days after repairs are made.
    • A permit shall be refused where public sewer systems are reasonably available or economically feasible, subject to Section 3.4.
    • Individual permit-review fees range from $30 to $150 based on structure size; alteration, repair, or extension review is $30.
    • Construction must begin within one year of issuance or the permit must be revalidated.

    permit-review fee for structure 1500 square feet or less: 30 USD · permit-review fee for structure over 1500 and up to 2000 square feet: 45 USD · permit-review fee for structure over 2000 and up to 3000 square feet: 90 USD · permit-review fee for structure over 3000 and up to 4000 square feet: 120 USD · permit-review fee for structure over 4000 square feet: 150 USD · permit-review fee for alteration, repair, or extension: 30 USD · construction commencement deadline after permit issuance: 1 year (Permit must be revalidated if construction has not begun.)

    “owner first obtains a valid Permit for Construction”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Installation inspection for onsite wastewater systems in Searcy County.

    • The installer must notify the Authorized Agent or Designated Representative when the installation is ready for inspection.
    • The owner or occupant must provide reasonable access for inspection.
    • The installer must submit required documentation to the local health unit within five days.
    • After inspection approval, the Authorized Agent issues the Permit for Operation; the system cannot be used before that permit is issued.
    • Inspection may be made by the Authorized Agent or, with approval, by the Designated Representative.

    installer documentation submission deadline: 5 days

    “After approval of the inspection [...] issue a Permit for Operation.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Off-grid sewage collection, treatment, disposal, or holding systems in Searcy County.

    • Individual sewage disposal or treatment systems must be planned, designed, and constructed under the Arkansas onsite wastewater rules.
    • Discharges from sewage disposal or treatment facilities are prohibited unless specifically permitted by the Department or the Division of Environmental Quality.
    • Off-property discharges must be disinfected, meet current discharge standards, and require an NPDES permit.
    • Use of wells or cisterns for sewage disposal is prohibited.
    • Holding-tank contents may be disposed of only into a public sewage treatment facility.

    minimum separation from domestic water well: >= 100 feet (Greater distances may be required where local conditions demand.) · minimum separation from water-supply lake high-water mark or intake: >= 300 feet (Greater distances may be required where local conditions demand.)

    “Discharges from sewage disposal or treatment facilities are prohibited unless specifically permitted”
    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

    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.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Homes and businesses in Searcy County where the sewer exits the building within 300 feet of access to a public sewer on the owner's property or an adjacent street or alley.

    • Connection to public sewer is required only when the stated 300-foot access condition is met.
    • Plumbing fixtures must comply with the Arkansas Plumbing Code.

    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.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Available (with conditions) — Construction, installation, maintenance, repair, or renovation of a nonresidential farm building or structure in Searcy County, Arkansas.
      “The licensing requirements of Arkansas Code § 17-28-101 et seq. shall not apply to the following: [...] The construction [...] of any nonresidential farm building or structure;”
    • 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 [...]”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Subdivisions in Arkansas, including unincorporated Searcy County, when onsite wastewater systems are used
      “until final approval of the submission for utilization of onsite wastewater systems within the subdivision has been made by the Department of Health.”
  • 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%”
  • 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.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Temporary only (with conditions) — RV occupancy at Arkansas state-park campsites, including any applicable state park located in or serving Searcy County.
      “Campers may not occupy campsites within the same park in excess of fourteen (14) days within a thirty-day period.”
    • Limited — Recreational-vehicle occupancy in Arkansas recreational vehicle parks or combined mobile-home/recreational-vehicle parks operating three or more fee-based spaces.
      “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:”

Still unanswered

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

  • Zoning districts — Published countywide zoning districts or zoning-district maps in Searcy County.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for residential dwellings in unincorporated Searcy County
  • Minimum lot size — General land-use minimum lot size for parcels or residential lots in unincorporated Searcy County
  • Setbacks — Building and use setbacks in unincorporated Searcy County
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage limits in unincorporated Searcy County
5 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Camping on your land
  • Manufactured homes
  • 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 Searcy County, Arkansas

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

Searcy County scores 77/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and low administrative friction for a quiet rural property.

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

Searcy County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) - Onsite Wastewater program (via Searcy County Health Unit). 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 Searcy County?

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

Land in Searcy County runs about $2,700 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Searcy County?

Searcy County gets about 49.8" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 9.7% of years.

How remote is Searcy County?

A representative private-land location has about 5,091 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,074,444 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 Searcy County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Searcy compares in Arkansas

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