Building permits for property inside Benton’s city limits come from the City’s Community Development Department, which also issues the electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits and inspects the work. Under Ordinance 44 of 2026, in force since October 1, 2026, a new house costs $0.10 per square foot under roof for the building permit, with each trade permit charged at the same rate.
What needs a permit in Benton?
The City’s fee ordinance and permit forms cover these jobs inside the city limits:
Homes
- New houses and manufactured home installations
- Additions and remodels
- Accessory buildings, swimming pools and fences
- Retaining walls and slopes steeper than 3:1
- Plumbing, electrical, HVAC and gas, water and sewer service lines
- Demolition and moving a house
Commercial
- New buildings, additions, remodels and accessory buildings
- Site plans, parking lots and curb cuts
- Signs and temporary tents
- Fuel tanks and fuel pumps
- Grading and land alteration
- Excavation and street cuts in a public right-of-way
Repairing or replacing an existing fence or retaining wall still needs a permit and a drawing of the work. The City’s fence and retaining wall forms say a repair carries no fee, but Ordinance 44 of 2026, which took effect later, sets a $25 fence permit fee without a repair exception, so ask Community Development which applies. A Grading & Land Alteration permit is needed before clearing trees or brush beyond the limits printed on that form, placing fill or regrading a lot.
Who issues construction permits in Benton?
Community Development runs planning, zoning, building permits, inspections and code enforcement for the City. It processes permits for new homes and commercial buildings, structural additions and trade work, and its building inspectors carry out the site inspections. Jason Lyon is the Community Development Director.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | 410 River Street, Benton, AR 72015 |
| Phone | 501-776-5938 |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. |
| Applications | Email the completed form to permits@bentonar.gov |
| Stormwater questions | 501-776-5990 |
| Fire Department | 220 S. Main St., 501-776-5960 |
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Some older City forms still show the former 114 South East Street address. Land outside the city limits is unincorporated Saline County, which the City’s permit office does not cover.
Benton permit applications
Every application is a fillable PDF on the City’s Building Permits and Applications page: download it, fill it in, save it and email it to permits@bentonar.gov. The City publishes separate forms for:
- Residential Building Package (updated February 26, 2026), with the plot plan, the stormwater pollution prevention plan for small sites, and the fence and retaining wall sheets.
- Remodel, Accessory Building and Swimming Pool requests for existing homes.
- Commercial Building Permit Application with Checklist and a separate Commercial Remodel Permit.
- Demolition (updated February 2026), House Moving, Sign (revised July 29, 2025) and Utility Construction applications.
- Grading Permit, Retaining Wall and Fence applications.
- Floodplain Development Permit (May 30, 2021) and a Flood Plain Acknowledgement.
Ordinance 44 of 2026 bars the City from issuing any permit unless the holder has a current City of Benton Business Privilege License or Contractor’s License, or is exempt. Work of $50,000 or more also needs proof of a state commercial contractor’s licence before a permit can be issued.
Benton permit fees
The City Council passed Ordinance 44 of 2026 on August 24, 2026, and its schedule took effect on October 1, 2026, replacing the fee ordinances of 1958 and 1974. Square-foot fees are measured under roof (or on the remodeled or added area).
| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| New house or manufactured home | $0.10 per sq ft under roof, $30 minimum (footing, framing and final inspections included) |
| Residential remodel or addition | $0.10 per sq ft of remodeled or added area, $30 minimum |
| Accessory building over 200 sq ft | $0.10 per sq ft under roof |
| Commercial new building, remodel, addition or accessory building | $0.12 per sq ft |
| Commercial plan review | $75 up to $150,000 valuation; $100 to $200,000; $150 to $250,000; $250 above |
| Commercial site plan review | $100 under 1 acre, rising to $500 over 20 acres |
| Residential stormwater surcharge | $0.01 per sq ft under roof |
| Commercial stormwater surcharge | $0.01 per sq ft of the whole site affected |
| Sign / demolition / swimming pool / fence | $75 / $50 / $37.25 / $25 |
| Re-inspection | $35 |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Example: a new 2,000 sq ft house pays $200 for the building permit, $200 each for the plumbing, electrical and HVAC permits and a $20 stormwater surcharge, or $820 in all, before the separate gas, water and sewer service inspections and any utility charges.
Nonresidential projects also pay the state construction surcharge of $0.50 per $1,000 of construction cost, capped at $1,000. Rezoning and conditional use applications cost $60 each and a variance $20. Knowingly understating square footage or valuation, or starting work without a permit, can bring a fine of up to $1,000 for a first offense on top of the full permit fee.
Electrical, plumbing, gas and HVAC permits in Benton
Community Development issues the trade permits under the same ordinance. The number of inspections included is set for each permit:
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Plumbing (3 inspections) | $0.10 per sq ft under roof |
| Electrical (2 inspections) | $0.10 per sq ft under roof |
| HVAC | $0.10 per sq ft under roof |
| Remodel electrical only (added outlets or lamp holders) | $2.50 per device |
| Gas / water / sewer service inspection | $30 / $30 / $75 |
| Temporary meter or temporary pole | $25 each |
| Meter change-out, manufactured home meter loop, RPZ or sprinkler service | $37.50 each |
| Additional inspection | $30 |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →The residential application lists the codes Benton builds to: the 2021 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code with the 2021 IRC and IBC, the 2021 Mechanical Code, the 2020 National Electrical Code and the 2018 Arkansas Plumbing Code. Commercial jobs with plumbing or food service need Arkansas Department of Health approval, and sprinkler systems go to the Benton Fire Marshal. Benton Utilities decides where a commercial electric meter goes.
What to submit
New house
- Residential application with builder, lot and address, foundation type, square footage under roof and value
- House plans (required with every residential permit since March 1, 2026)
- Plot plan showing front, side and rear setbacks, existing and proposed utility and drainage easements, fences, retaining walls and 5 ft sidewalks (or the words “no sidewalks”)
- Stormwater pollution prevention plan for sites under 1 acre
- Floodplain Development Permit application when the lot is in a mapped flood zone
Commercial
- 10 hard copies of the construction drawings
- Site plan stamped by an Arkansas professional engineer
- Drawings sealed by an Arkansas architect or engineer for assembly, educational or institutional buildings, buildings of three or more stories and buildings of 5,000 sq ft or more
- Plumbing and electrical riser diagrams, load calculations and seismic zone note
- Department of Health approval, stormwater plan and notice, RPZ and Knox Box
- City privilege licence for the contractor
A plot plan may be drawn by an Arkansas surveyor or engineer or by hand. Community Development and Benton Utilities review it within 3 to 7 business days, and setbacks are measured from the nearest point of the wall, not the footing or overhang. Once approved, the house cannot be moved on the lot without a revised plot plan. The commercial remodel form gives a maximum of seven working days to process plans.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →How to get a Benton permit
Check the parcel, its zoning and any flood zone on the City’s zoning map before drawing plans.
Pick the residential package, remodel, commercial, demolition or other application from the Building Permits and Applications page.
Show setbacks, easements, sidewalks, fences and retaining walls, and attach the house plans or commercial drawing set.
Send the saved form and attachments to permits@bentonar.gov; commercial projects also deliver the paper sets and are placed on the Development Review Committee agenda.
If a department such as Benton Utilities does not sign off the plot plan, contact that department directly to fix the problem.
Pay at Community Development once the plot plan is approved; the permit lapses if work does not start within 180 days.
Inspections in Benton
Community Development (501-776-5938) carries out the inspections. The building permit for a house includes three visits (footing, framing and final); the plumbing permit includes three and the electrical permit two. Extra inspections cost $30, and a failed inspection that has to be repeated costs $35.
Before construction starts, a portable toilet and properly installed silt fencing must be on the site. A retaining wall needs a final inspection and a certificate of compliance once it is finished. The building official can grant written extensions of up to 180 days at a time when a justified request is made.
Local rules that affect Benton projects
Flood zones: any development in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area needs a Floodplain Development Permit under the Flood Damage Prevention Code (Ordinance 17 of 2012), using the flood maps dated June 5, 2020. A new home in an AE zone must have its lowest floor at least 2 feet above the base flood elevation, shown on an Elevation Certificate; basements are prohibited in the flood hazard area. Nonresidential buildings may be elevated 2 feet or floodproofed to 3 feet above the base flood level. Benton participates in the National Flood Insurance Program.
Historic district: projects in the Benton Historic District need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic District Commission before any permit is issued. The commission meets on the first Thursday of the month when it has items, and an item needs 21 days’ notice.
Fences and retaining walls: front-yard fences may be no taller than 3 feet, fences must stand at least 5 feet from a street or right-of-way, and no fence may exceed 6 feet without an exception. Retaining walls over 4 feet need an engineer’s design and must sit at least 5 feet from side and rear lot lines.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Demolition: before a demolition permit is issued, the owner buys a $75 sewer demolition permit from Benton Utilities at 1501 Citizen’s Way, caps the sewer line and calls 501-776-5930 for the inspection; water and electric service are removed before the City approves the demolition.
Planning approvals: the Planning and Zoning Commission meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. The 2017 zoning ordinance ties its reach to the state territorial jurisdiction statute, which Act 314 of 2025 repealed.
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
Benton permit FAQs
Who issues building permits in Benton?
The City of Benton Community Development Department at 410 River Street issues building, plumbing, electrical and HVAC permits for property inside the city limits.
How much is a building permit for a new house in Benton?
Since October 1, 2026 the building permit costs $0.10 per square foot under roof, with a $30 minimum, and includes the footing, framing and final inspections. Plumbing, electrical and HVAC permits are each another $0.10 per square foot.
How do I apply?
Download the application from the City’s Building Permits and Applications page, fill it in, save it and email it with your plans to permits@bentonar.gov.
Do I need a permit to replace a fence in Benton?
Yes. Repairing or replacing a fence needs a permit and a drawing of the work. Ordinance 44 of 2026 sets the fence permit fee at $25; the City’s older fence form says repairs carry no fee, so confirm with Community Development.
How long does plot plan review take?
Community Development and Benton Utilities review a residential plot plan within 3 to 7 business days.
How high must a house be built in a Benton flood zone?
The lowest floor of a new home in an AE flood zone must be at least 2 feet above the base flood elevation, documented on an Elevation Certificate.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Official Benton construction and permitting resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
- Benton Community Development Department
- Benton building permits and applications
- Benton residential building permit package (February 2026)
- Benton commercial building permit application and checklist
- Benton demolition permit application (February 2026)
- Benton floodplain development permit application
- Benton Ordinance 44 of 2026, permit and inspection fees
- Benton Historic District Commission
- Benton Planning and Zoning Commission
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More Arkansas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Benton permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.