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

Rules another office applies inside Town of Griffithville

Town of Griffithville 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 (septic) wastewater systems for homes inside Griffithville town limits, administered by the Arkansas Department of Health through its authorized agent under the statewide ADH rules. Applies inside Griffithville town because no town or county septic program was located.

  • The ADH program page says the state program works with environmental health specialists in local health units; the White County local health unit office was not identified.
  • Systems of 1,500 gallons per day or more are reviewed by ADEQ, not ADH (see the ADH program page).
  • Whether a town or county is designated as an authorized agent under rule 4.8 was not verified for Griffithville town.

  design flow threshold for ADH review: < 1500 gpd (systems of 1,500 gpd and larger are reviewed by ADEQ)

  “authorized agent. the environmental health specialist assigned to the county, or business unit by the department.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Any new onsite (septic) wastewater system serving a home inside Griffithville town limits; permit issued by ADH or its authorized agent, not by the town.

  • Construction may not begin until a valid construction permit is issued.
  • Permit application and plans must be approved before construction of the building or residence.
  • Permit fee applies (see permit-fees-septic).
  • Installer must give the authorized agent at least 24 hours notice before work begins (rule 4.7).

  “until the owner first obtains a valid permit for construction issued by the department or its authorized agent.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Off-grid sanitation on a premises in Griffithville town. Privies and onsite systems are restricted by ADH rules.

  • Under rule 4.1, privies and other receptacles for human excreta are barred on premises where the sewer requirement applies.
  • Onsite systems otherwise need an ADH construction permit and operating permit before use.

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

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Homes inside Griffithville town limits that are within 300 feet of an available sanitary sewer. Whether the town operates a sewer system was not verified.

  • Applies when the sewer exits a building within 300 feet of the premises and connection can be made without crossing another person's property.
  • No water-utility connection rule was found for the town.

  distance to available sanitary sewer: <= 300 feet (connection cannot be made without crossing another person's property)

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

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  ADH plan-review fee for individual onsite (septic) wastewater permits in Griffithville town. No town building-permit fee was found.

  • Structures over 1,500 sq ft up to 2,000 sq ft: $45; 2,000 to 3,000 sq ft: $90; 3,000 to 4,000 sq ft: $120; over 4,000 sq ft: $150.
  • Alteration, repair or extension of an individual sewage disposal system: $30.
  • Auxiliary areas such as garages, carports and porches are not counted in square footage.

  structure size threshold: <= 1500 sq ft · plan review fee: 30 USD (larger structures and repairs carry higher or different fees per rule 4.9.1)

  “4.9.1.1 for structures one thousand five hundred square feet (1,500 sq. ft.) or less, the fee to review a permit application is thirty dollars ($30.00);”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for residential construction inside Griffithville town
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for Griffithville town permits
• Building code adopted — Building code adopted by Griffithville town
• Inspections — Building inspections for residential construction inside Griffithville town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Griffithville town

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.