Union County, AR Building Permits, Zoning & Septic

Unincorporated Union County, Arkansas does not require a building permit or business license for construction outside El Dorado city limits, according to official county economic-development guidance¹. That source also tells builders in unincorporated areas to contact the Arkansas State Fire Marshal's Office about compliance with the statewide Fire Prevention Code, which applies even where no local permit is issued². The county has no planning or zoning department, and septic permits run through the Arkansas Department of Health's Onsite Wastewater program via the local Union County Health Unit³⁴.

At a glance

Building permit: Not required outside El Dorado city limits¹
Zoning: No county planning/zoning office found; unconfirmed for unincorporated land³
Septic permitting authority: Arkansas Dept. of Health Onsite Wastewater program (Union County Health Unit)⁴
Owner-builder exemption: Yes, for your own residence, up to 1 per calendar year⁵⁶
Statewide building code: Arkansas Fire Prevention Code (2021 ed.) applies even without a local permit⁷
Nonresidential farm buildings: Exempt from state electrical-contractor licensing rules⁸
Typical home value: $127,395⁹
Private domestic well: No separate state Health Department construction approval stated; well-construction rules still apply¹⁰

Who to call

Also useful

Union County Judge

County administration, quorum-court ordinances, and operation of the county road system for Union County

(870) 864-1900

101 North Washington, Suite 101, El Dorado, Arkansas 71730-5661

Roads & driveways

Union County Highway Department

County road maintenance and access onto county roads

(870) 864-1906

Septic permits

Union County Health Unit

Local point of contact for septic (onsite wastewater) permit questions and water testing in Union County

(870) 863-5101

Septic permits

Arkansas Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Program

Sets statewide onsite wastewater (septic) policy and reviews permit applications in cooperation with each county health department's Environmental Health Specialist

501-6612171

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 September 29, 2026.

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

If you are building outside El Dorado city limits, in unincorporated Union County, you do not need a building permit or a business license, according to official El Dorado economic-development guidance¹². That does not mean construction is unregulated: the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, 2021 Edition, applies statewide as a compliance standard even where no local permit program exists, and it is administered by the Arkansas State Fire Marshal's Office⁷. The same county-cited source that says no permit is required also directs builders in unincorporated areas to contact the state fire marshal's office about Fire Prevention Code compliance, so treat that call as the real first step even though you will not file a local building-permit application².

Who handles building and zoning matters in Union County, and how do you reach them?

Union County has no dedicated building or planning-and-zoning department: the county's own office directory lists Assessor, Tax Collector, County Clerk, Treasurer, Circuit Clerk, County Judge, Sheriff, Health Unit and Highway Department, but no planning, zoning or building office³. The Union County Judge is the county's chief executive, administers ordinances passed by the quorum court, and operates the county road system, at 101 North Washington, Suite 101, El Dorado, Arkansas 71730-5661, phone (870) 864-1900¹¹. For county-road maintenance and access questions specifically, the Union County Highway Department can be reached at (870) 864-1906¹².

Does Union County have zoning?

No official source reviewed for this guide confirms whether Union County has enacted countywide zoning for unincorporated land, and the county's own office directory lists no planning or zoning department, which is the basis for treating unincorporated Union County as unzoned in this guide³. That absence of a listed office is not the same as an official statement that no zoning exists, so confirm with the County Judge's office, which administers quorum-court ordinances, before you assume a project needs no zoning review¹¹. No minimum lot size, setback, or building-height rule for unincorporated Union County was found in official sources either, so do not treat the lack of a published number as proof none exists¹¹. If you plan to subdivide or plat land, Arkansas law requires the plat to be filed with the State Surveyor's office after any city or county recording requirements, and for a subdivision using septic systems, no construction can begin on a lot until the Arkansas Department of Health approves the subdivision's onsite wastewater plan¹³¹⁴.

How do septic and well permits work in Union County?

Septic permits in Union County go through the Arkansas Department of Health's Onsite Wastewater program, which sets statewide policy and reviews permit applications together with the county health department's Environmental Health Specialist for systems under 5,000 gallons per day of subsurface flow or 2,000 gallons per day of surface-discharge flow¹⁵. The Union County Health Unit, phone (870) 863-5101, is the local point of contact for septic questions and water testing¹⁶. If a sanitary sewer is within 300 feet of where your building's sewer line exits and can be reached without crossing another person's property, Arkansas rules require connecting to it instead of using a septic system or privy¹⁷. A well serving a public or semi-public water system needs written Arkansas Department of Health approval before construction, and an uncertain classification requires a written department determination first¹⁰. The cited state rules do not state that an ordinary private domestic well needs separate Department of Health construction approval, but contracted well or pump work must be performed by or under a properly licensed Arkansas water-well contractor and remains subject to state construction requirements¹⁰.

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

No official source reviewed for this guide addresses RV or tiny-home occupancy on private land in unincorporated Union County, and with no confirmed countywide zoning ordinance located, there is no published rule to point to either way³. That gap in published information is not the same as confirmation that anything goes, so call the Union County Judge's office, which administers county ordinances, before you buy land planning to live in an RV or tiny home on it¹¹. If you plan to build a permanent home yourself rather than live in an RV long-term, Arkansas's owner-builder exemption lets you act as your own residential contractor for your own residence, as long as you build no more than one residence in a calendar year⁵⁶.

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

Contact the Arkansas State Fire Marshal's Office about Fire Prevention Code compliance before you start, since no local building permit is issued outside El Dorado city limits²⁷.
If you are building it yourself, confirm you qualify for Arkansas's owner-builder exemption from residential-contractor licensing, which applies as long as you build no more than one residence per calendar year⁵⁶.
Arrange water: public and semi-public wells need written Arkansas Department of Health approval before construction, while the cited rules do not state that an ordinary private domestic well needs separate department construction approval; contracted well and pump work still must be performed by or under a properly licensed Arkansas water-well contractor¹⁰.
If you will use a septic system, get Arkansas Department of Health onsite-wastewater approval, in cooperation with the Union County Health Unit, before building it, especially if the lot is part of a platted subdivision¹⁵¹⁴.
If your driveway will connect to a state highway rather than a county road, get an Arkansas Department of Transportation access driveway permit before starting work¹⁸.
Check with the Union County Judge's office about any applicable county ordinances before you build, since the county's zoning, setback, and lot-size rules are not fully published online¹¹.

What to check before you buy land in Union County

Union County is heavily wooded, at 90.2% forest cover, and nearly all gentle terrain, with 96.3% of land at 15% slope or less, which is good for building sites but means clearing costs on a wooded lot¹⁹²⁰. Soils are a real constraint for septic: only about 3.5% of the county's soils have no severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so budget for a percolation test and likely an engineered system before you count on standard septic²¹. Annual precipitation runs high at 55.1 inches, and the county still sees severe drought in about 17.1% of years, both worth weighing for a well or pond²²²³. About 5.4% of the county is federal land, and population density is low at 36 people per square mile, with the nearest city of 100,000 or more about 87 miles away²⁴²⁵²⁶. Farmland runs about $2,912 an acre, the typical home value is $127,395, and the effective property tax rate is a low 0.6%, for a median tax bill around $661 a year²⁷⁹²⁸²⁹. A typical home insurance premium runs about $1,757 a year³⁰. Before you close, ask the Union County Judge's office whether any ordinance touches your parcel and have the Union County Health Unit review septic feasibility¹¹¹⁶. For a private domestic well, choose a properly licensed Arkansas water-well contractor and evaluate yield and siting even though the cited state rules do not state that a separate Department of Health construction approval is required¹⁰.

Watch-outs

Whether Union County has adopted countywide zoning was not confirmed by any official source reviewed; the 'no zoning' finding here rests on the county's own office directory listing no planning or zoning department, not on a located ordinance³.
Minimum lot size, setbacks, and building height for unincorporated Union County were not found in any official source; ask the County Judge's office before assuming none exist¹¹.
Public and semi-public wells need written Arkansas Department of Health approval before construction, but the cited rules do not state that an ordinary private domestic well needs separate department construction approval; state construction and contractor-licensing requirements still apply¹⁰.

Sources

Written September 29, 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 Union County scores

Seclusion69100% ev.

Self-Sufficiency54100% ev.

Admin Boringness89100% ev.

Durability66100% 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 →

$127kTypical home

0.6%Property tax

$2,912Land / acre

55.1"Annual rain

17.1% of yrsSevere drought

23.2 / yr (+19.1)Mid-century 100°F days

19 daysMid-century dry spell

2.83" (+6.6%)Mid-century 1-day rain

1.48×Wildfire change factor

100%Forward climate coverage

$1,757Home insurance / yr

0% / yrInsurance growth

0.73%Nonrenewal rate

county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis

29,536People within 30 min

780,932People within 2 hr

31,069Radius comparison (15 mi)

36People / sq mi

5.4%Federal land

96.3%Land at 15% slope or less

3.5%Septic soil without severe limits

20,258 acWorkable land screen

90.2%Wooded land

46.9 tonsBiomass / forest ac

63.7°FAvg temp

Answers from the rulebook for Union County

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

Union County rules

Permit processPartial
Building-related work outside El Dorado city limits in unincorporated Union County.
- The source states that no building permit or business license is required outside El Dorado city limits.
- The state fire marshal’s office should be contacted in unincorporated areas concerning compliance with the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code.
- This source is official City of El Dorado guidance, not a Union County ordinance or county department page.
“If you are looking to build outside El Dorado city limits, you do not have to have a building permit nor a business license. The state fire marshal’s office should be contacted in unincorporated areas concerning compliance with the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code.”
Codes, Permits & Ordinances - El Dorado, Arkansas ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
County-wide zoningAbsent
Union County's official offices listing includes no planning or zoning department, and county guidance references no zoning outside municipal limits.
Union County Arkansas - Official Site ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked
Who permits septicArkansas Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater program (Union County Health Unit)
Onsite/septic permits are issued by the Arkansas Department of Health's Onsite Wastewater program through the local Union County Health Unit.
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 exemptionAvailable
A person acting as residential building contractor for construction of that person's own residence, including in Union County.
- The exemption is from the residential-contractor licensing requirements.
- The person loses this exemption if he or she builds more than one residence during any calendar year.
- “Own residence” means the personal residence, principal place of abode, domicile, or a residence constructed for occupancy of the property owner.
maximum residences built: <= 1 residence per calendar year (The exemption does not apply when the person builds more than one residence during a calendar year.)
“A person [...] in the construction of his or her residence unless he or she builds more than one (1) residence during any calendar year;”
Arkansas Residential Contractors Licensing Law ↗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
Water wells in Union County, including ordinary private domestic wells and public or semi-public wells.
- Arkansas requires written Department of Health approval before construction for wells serving public or semi-public water systems.
- If the well contractor is uncertain whether a well is public or semi-public, the contractor must obtain a written Department of Health determination before construction.
- Well construction or pump installation by contract must be performed by or under an Arkansas Water Well Contractor License holder, who must hold the proper licenses, certificates, and permits for the type of construction.
- The cited state rules do not state that an ordinary private domestic well requires a separate Department of Health construction approval; domestic-well construction and pump-installation requirements still apply.
“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.”
Title 17, Arkansas Water Well Construction Rules ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
2 more reviewed findings on this topic
- Limited — Public and semi-public water-system wells in Union County.
  “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 11, 2026
- Limited — Wells serving public and semi-public water systems in Arkansas.
  “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
2 more reviewed findings on this topic
- Conditional — Construction, installation, maintenance, repair, or renovation of a nonresidential farm building or structure in Union County, Arkansas, with respect to the cited Arkansas electrical-contractor licensing requirements.
  “The licensing requirements of Arkansas Code § 17-28-101 et seq. shall not apply to the following: [...] The construction, installation, maintenance, repair, or renovation of any nonresidential farm building or structure;”
  17 CAR § 210-602. Construction and exemptions ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
- 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 and subdivision development in Union County, including unincorporated areas, to the extent covered by Arkansas statewide survey and onsite-wastewater rules.
- Subdivision plats are filed with the State Surveyor’s office after any recording requirements with city or county government.
- For subdivisions using onsite wastewater systems, construction of any type may not begin on a lot until the Arkansas Department of Health gives final approval of the submission for utilization of onsite wastewater systems within the subdivision.
- The 14 CAR § 21-405 rule includes soil-mapping, soil-depth, absorption-area, and local-health-unit submission requirements.
- The reviewed sources did not establish a separate Union County subdivision ordinance or county-specific approval process.
“Construction of any type shall not begin upon any lot in the subdivision until final approval of the submission for utilization of onsite wastewater systems within the subdivision has been made by the Department of Health.”
14 CAR § 21-405. Subdivisions ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Regulated (with conditions) — Subdivision plats that are boundary surveys creating parcels in Arkansas.
  “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
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

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 across Union County, including incorporated municipalities and unincorporated areas; this claim does not attribute municipal ordinances to the county.
Zoning districts — Zoning-district publication for unincorporated Union County.
Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for residential dwellings in unincorporated Union County, Arkansas.
Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for parcels or residential lots in unincorporated Union County, Arkansas.
Setbacks — Building setbacks in unincorporated Union 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.

Water rights & wells in Union County

Whether a new home can legally get its own water here — the sub-state groundwater regime, from Arkansas’s water agency.

Actively managed

This basin is under active state management — new water use is scrutinized, though a domestic well is usually still allowed.

Household wellExempt — no permit or water right

Critical Groundwater Area designation in Arkansas is explicitly NON-regulatory — no water right or permit is required to drill or use a well, even inside a critical area. A new landowner can drill a household well anywhere.

Limit: non-domestic users >=50,000 gpd register; domestic exempt

Arkansas Dept of Agriculture — Water-Use Registration / Critical Groundwater Areas ↗

South Arkansas (Sparta) Critical Ground Water Area
State's first CGWA (1996) over the Sparta aquifer (>360 ft of decline near El Dorado). NON-regulatory conservation designation — domestic wells never barred; Union County use was voluntarily cut and the aquifer is recovering.
USGS WRI 99-4075 (Sparta Aquifer CGWAs) ↗

Regulated-riparian state (large uses permitted). Groundwater rules change and basin boundaries follow the aquifer, not the county line — confirm current well and appropriation rules with the Arkansas state water agency before you buy or drill.Groundwater governance as of Jul 2026, cited to each administering agency.

Living off-grid in Union County, Arkansas

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

Union County scores 78/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and manageable long-term carry cost.

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

Union 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 (Union 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 Union County?

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

Land in Union County runs about $2,912 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Union County?

Union County gets about 55.1" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 17.1% of years. On water rights, Union County lies in the South Arkansas (Sparta) Critical Ground Water Area — State's first CGWA (1996) over the Sparta aquifer (>360 ft of decline near El Dorado). NON-regulatory conservation designation — domestic wells never barred; Union County use was voluntarily cut and the aquifer is recovering..

How remote is Union County?

A representative private-land location has about 29,536 people within a 30-minute drive and 780,932 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 Union County, Arkansas

At a glance

Who to call

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

Who handles building and zoning matters in Union County, and how do you reach them?

Does Union County have zoning?

How do septic and well permits work in Union County?

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

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

What to check before you buy land in Union County

Watch-outs

Sources

Union County in Arkansas

How Union County scores

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Parcel due diligence

Answers from the rulebook for Union County

Union County rules

Arkansas rules that apply here

Still unanswered

Water rights & wells in Union County

Living off-grid in Union County, Arkansas

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

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

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

How much does land cost in Union County, Arkansas?

What is the water situation in Union County?

How remote is Union County?

How Union compares in Arkansas