Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Smackover, Arkansas

Smackover’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Residential and commercial construction inside Smackover city limits

  • Permit application is returned to city hall; the page lists a 2026 Building Permit Minimum Requirements PDF that was not opened, so any exemptions in it are unverified.

  “they are responsible for permitting all construction and conducting inspections of all construction-related permits as well as issuance of certificates of occupancy, fire prevention, and special events.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction covered by a city building permit inside Smackover city limits

  • Page names the department's inspection duty; inspection stages and fees are not stated on the page.

  “the building permits and inspections department is responsible for: conducting building construction inspections issuing building permits issuing certificate of occupancy permits reviewing building plans”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Smackover city limits (Union County, Arkansas) - city zoning ordinances and Unified Development Code administered by the city's Planning & Zoning Commission

  • Zone R-1 standards are cited to the city's Unified Development Code (UDC); the UDC text itself was not opened.
  • County identity (Union County) comes from non-official sources; the city's own page lists 807 Broadway, Smackover, AR 71762.

  “the planning & zoning commission reviews proposed amendments to zoning ordinances, site plans and plat applications, and also makes recommendations to the council regarding the current and future development of city of smackover.”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Zoning districts of Smackover city

  • Only Zone R-1 is identified in the sheet read. The planning page links a zoning map that was not opened, so other districts (including any agricultural or rural-residential district) are not listed.

  “city of smackover, arkansas — minimum requirements for residential structures — zone r-1”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Residential dwelling structures in Zone R-1 inside Smackover city limits

  • Dimensions stated on the sheet are cited to the UDC.
  • Other districts were not identified.

  minimum dwelling floor area: >= 630 square feet · minimum dimensions: 14 feet by 45 feet

  “must be arfpc, armhc. and/or hud approved structures dwelling must be a minimum of 630 square feet”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family residential lots in Zone R-1 inside Smackover city limits

  • Minimum lot width also applies under the UDC.
  • Other districts (including any agricultural or rural-residential district) were not identified.

  minimum lot area: >= 6250 square feet · minimum lot width: >= 50 feet

  “lot area minimum area 6,250 square feet — udc minimum lot width 50 feet”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal residential structures in Zone R-1 inside Smackover city limits

  • Setbacks are cited to the UDC on the sheet.

  front setback: >= 25 feet · side setback: >= 10 feet · rear setback: >= 20 feet

  “udc setbacks — udc o front of property - 25 feet o sides of property - 10 feet o rear of property - 20 feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Accessory structures (open carports and storage buildings) on R-1 lots inside Smackover city limits

    “open carports -5 feet side yard (building permit required)”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes placed on residential lots in Zone R-1 inside Smackover city limits

  • Home must be ARFPC, ARMHC and/or HUD approved.
  • Home must be set up and anchored according to the manufacturer's instructions as recognized by ARMHC.
  • Perimeter foundation enclosure or underpinning required of brick, concrete, masonry, vinyl, minimum 26 gauge pre-painted metal, composite, or weather-resistant face; no galvanized tin, lattice, open skirts, or wood.
  • Two off-street parking spaces, 9 feet by 20 feet, with asphalt, bituminous, concrete or sealed surface.
  • Apparatus of transportation (axles, hitches, wheels) must be removed.

  maximum age of structure: <= 10 years (must present dealer purchase order or title with bill of sale)

  “must present copy of dealer purchase order or title with bill of sale of arfpc, armhc, and/or hud approved structure — must not be over 10 years in age”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Plat applications for land divisions inside Smackover city limits

  • Subdivision standards themselves were not opened; the page states only that the commission reviews plat applications.

  “the planning & zoning commission reviews proposed amendments to zoning ordinances, site plans and plat applications”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit application process inside Smackover city limits

  • Application form is printed, completed and returned to city hall; city staff contact by phone or email is offered for questions.

  “take a moment to read all required information provided. then print and fill out the building permit application form and return to city hall.”

Rules another office applies inside Smackover

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

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  Onsite wastewater (septic) systems on land inside Smackover city limits (Union County, Arkansas)

  • Statewide Arkansas Department of Health onsite wastewater program; the program works with the local health unit's environmental specialists to review permits.
  • No Smackover city septic ordinance was found.

  “the arkansas department of health’s onsite wastewater program sets statewide policies and provides assistance to environmental health specialists in each of the local health units.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Smackover or Union County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a home inside Smackover city limits
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Smackover city limits - which building code the city adopts
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage in Smackover city limits
• Building height — Maximum building height in Smackover city limits
• Living in an RV — Occupancy of an RV on private land inside Smackover city limits

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.