Ashley County, Arkansas Building Permit Guide

No Ashley County building department or county building permit appears in the published sources; building permits in the county come from the cities. Crossett’s building official requires permits for most projects, down to fences and moved-in accessory buildings, and Hamburg’s Code Enforcement Officer issues permits at City Hall with flat fees from $20 to $1,000 by project cost. Outside the towns, septic systems need Department of Health approval, and the county takes part in the federal flood insurance program.

Who handles building permits in Ashley County?

The courthouse is at 205 E. Jefferson Street in Hamburg, and the County Judge’s office answers at (870) 853-2000, according to the Association of Arkansas Counties directory. For rules that apply to unincorporated land, ask the Judge’s office.

Crossett’s municipal code makes it unlawful to construct, alter, repair, remove or demolish a building without a written application and permit from the Building Official, with a scale plot diagram of the work. Interior work inside a one- or two-family home that does not change the outside walls, foundation or shape of the building is exempt. Appeals go to the city’s Board of Adjustments and Appeals, and a pool deeper than 15 inches must be fenced under Ordinance 2003-21.

Crossett’s Title 11 sets electrical, plumbing and gas permit fees of $15 per inspection for work valued at $1,000 or less, and $15 per inspection plus $5 for each additional $1,000 or fraction above that; no separate plumbing fee is charged when a building permit that includes the plumbing has been paid, and an extra plumbing trip caused by the plumber’s negligence costs $5. Moving a house takes a $25 permit and a $2,000 surety bond. Plans for nursing homes, hospitals and convalescent homes, schools for more than 50 people, residential buildings sleeping 50 or more, and assembly buildings for more than 100 are reviewed for $200 to $400 per set. The posted code lists no general building permit fee; ask the building official.

Hamburg building permit fees

Hamburg prints its building permit fees on the application form (updated April 7, 2021). The fee is a flat amount set by the projected cost of construction and must be paid before the permit is issued.

A $180,000 house falls in the $100,001 to $500,000 band, so its building permit is $250. Plumbing, electrical and heating and air permits are separate, each with its own charge. The application must include a scale plan, in duplicate, showing the lot dimensions, the building size and location and the property lines. Placing a manufactured home in Hamburg takes a written request, a home built after 1984 with at least 500 square feet of living space and a sewer connection, a $100 publication fee for the newspaper notice, and approval by the City Planning Committee.

Flood maps and septic systems in Ashley County

Flood maps: FEMA’s Community Status Book lists Ashley County as a participating National Flood Insurance Program community, with its current flood map dated April 18, 2011. Crossett, Hamburg, Montrose, Portland and Wilmot also participate; Fountain Hill and Parkdale are in the not-participating section. Ask the County Judge’s office about the floodplain rules before building on county land in a mapped flood area.

Septic systems: the Arkansas Department of Health’s environmental specialists review permit applications for onsite wastewater systems under 1,500 gallons per day.

Planning a build in Ashley County

Arkansas building code

Arkansas’s building code is the 2021 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, adopted by the State Fire Marshal and in force statewide since 1 January 2023; building permits are issued locally where a city or county runs a permit program, and the plumbing, gas, mechanical, energy and electrical codes are adopted by separate state agencies. The Arkansas codes

Ashley County permit FAQs

Does Ashley County issue building permits?

No county building permit appears in the published sources; ask the County Judge’s office at (870) 853-2000 about unincorporated land. Crossett and Hamburg both require permits inside their limits.

Do I need a permit for a fence in Crossett?

Yes. Crossett says most projects need a building permit, including fences and moving in accessory buildings. Call the building official at 870-364-4830.

How much is a building permit in Hamburg?

A flat fee by projected cost: $20 for $500 to $2,000, rising to $250 for $100,001 to $500,000 and $1,000 above $1 million.

Does a Hamburg building permit cover the wiring and plumbing?

No. Plumbing, electrical and heating and air permits are separate, each with its own charge.

Is Ashley County in the flood insurance program?

Yes, with a current flood map dated April 18, 2011. Fountain Hill and Parkdale are listed as not participating.

Who approves a septic system in rural Ashley County?

The Arkansas Department of Health, which reviews onsite systems under 1,500 gallons per day.

Official Ashley County permit resources

• City of Crossett Ordinance FAQ (building permits)
• Crossett Municipal Code, Title 11 Buildings and Construction (PDF)
• City of Hamburg: Building Permits and Inspections
• City of Hamburg Application for Building Permit, with fees (PDF)
• City of Hamburg: manufactured home requirements
• Association of Arkansas Counties: Ashley County directory
• Arkansas Department of Health: Onsite Wastewater
• FEMA Community Status Book: Arkansas

Simplify Ashley County permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Arkansas. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Ashley County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.