Clay County’s government lists the County Judge, clerks, collector, assessor and emergency management, but no building, planning or floodplain office, and no county permit ordinance. Building permits in Clay County come from the three larger cities: Piggott’s Planning & Zoning Department, Corning’s administrative official and Rector’s Code Enforcement Officer. For rural land, the county offices to know are the County Judge ((870) 598-2667) and the Office of Emergency Management, with septic permits from the Department of Health.
Who issues building permits in Clay County?
The county courthouse is at 151 South 2nd Ave., Piggott, open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, and the county clerk, circuit clerk and collector also keep offices in Corning. The table groups each incorporated place by who handles permits; populations are Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates.
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Get a free quote →| Place | Who permits building work |
|---|---|
| Piggott (3,508), county seat | City Planning & Zoning Department, 194 W Court Street; (870) 598-3791. A permit is required for every newly erected structure in city limits; $2 per $1,000 of construction cost |
| Corning (3,065), county seat | City of Corning: its zoning code (the posted copy is marked adopted June 2018, with the day and ordinance number left blank) has an administrative official designated by the Mayor issue building permits and certificates of occupancy; City Hall, 308 SW 2nd Street, 870-857-6716 |
| Rector (1,789) | City of Rector: permits approved by the Code Enforcement Officer; City Hall, 118 E 4th St., 870-595-3035. $50 minimum, plus $2 for each $1,000 of cost above $10,000 (Ordinance 573) |
| St. Francis (211), Pollard (186), Greenway (171), Knobel (143), McDougal (127), Peach Orchard (103), Success (96), Nimmons (64), Datto (62) | The published sources do not say; ask the town hall |
| Unincorporated Clay County | No county building permit is published; septic permits through the Department of Health |
Permit rules in Piggott, Corning and Rector
Piggott: the permit fee is $2 per $1,000 of construction cost, and the application works out that cost from the floor area under Ordinance 254: $50 per square foot for space served by utilities and $30 for space without. A 2,000 sq ft house with utilities is therefore costed at $100,000 and pays a $200 permit fee; non-residential work also carries a surcharge of 0.000475 times the construction cost. The application needs a scaled site plan, proof of ownership and, for an agent, a signed approval letter. A lot in a FEMA flood zone also needs a Floodplain Development Permit from the Natural Resources Conservation Office, 188 E Main Street ((870) 598-3110). Permits run 12 months and can be extended by 6 months for a $25 fee. The Planning & Zoning Commission meets at City Hall at noon on the third Monday. A residential fence needs its own permit with a site plan: front-yard fences may be no taller than 4 feet, no fence may exceed 8 feet, fences must stand at least 5 feet from utility structures, and the permit is void if work does not start within 6 months or stops for 6 months.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Corning: a building permit application needs a scaled plot plan in two copies showing the building, its setbacks and parking. The permit expires if work has not started within 6 months or is not finished within 2 years, and utilities may not be connected until the administrative official issues a Certificate of Occupancy. Fees follow a schedule set by the City Council; ask City Hall for the current amounts.
Rector: the application form says applications can be picked up at the Rector Water Department, and the Code Enforcement Officer approves them. Under Ordinance 328 a permit lapses if work has not begun within 90 days, unless it is renewed for a fee set by the Council. Ordinance 573 sets the permit at a $50 minimum, rising by $2 for each $1,000 of construction cost above $10,000; the ordinance’s own example puts a $120,000 house at $270. Placing a manufactured home outside a mobile home park first needs a Certificate of Zoning Compliance and Foundation Permit, with the HUD label number, installer licence, plot plan and Health Department approval. The City’s January 2026 Manufactured Home Checklist also asks for a completed building permit application and, for a home in an R-1 or R-2 zone, the written approval of every owner of abutting land (including across a street), with a statement explaining any neighbor who will not sign; comments come back within 30 business days of a complete submittal. A tile (driveway culvert) installation permit is reviewed by the street superintendent.
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →Flood insurance and septic: FEMA lists Clay County and all twelve of its towns as participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, with the county’s current flood map dated August 3, 2016. Septic systems on rural land are permitted through the Department of Health’s local Environmental Health Specialists.
Steps for building in Clay County
Piggott, Corning and Rector permit inside their limits; for the smaller towns, call the town hall.
In Piggott, a flood-zone lot needs the Floodplain Development Permit before the building permit.
Rural lots without sewer need a Department of Health onsite wastewater permit.
Rather not deal with the Clay County building department?
Get a free quote →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
Clay County permit FAQs
Does Clay County issue building permits?
The county publishes no building permit program. Piggott, Corning and Rector issue permits inside their city limits.
How much is a building permit in Piggott?
$2 per $1,000 of construction cost, with cost figured at $50 per square foot for space with utilities; a 2,000 sq ft house pays $200.
How much is a building permit in Rector?
At least $50, plus $2 for each $1,000 above $10,000; a $120,000 house pays $270 under Ordinance 573.
Do I need a flood permit in Piggott?
Yes, if the lot is in a FEMA flood zone: apply to the Natural Resources Conservation Office at 188 E Main Street, (870) 598-3110.
Who permits septic systems in Clay County?
The Arkansas Department of Health, through its local Environmental Health Specialists.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Official Clay County permit resources
- Clay County Judge’s Office
- Clay County Office of Emergency Management
- Clay County cities and towns
- City of Piggott administration and Planning & Zoning
- City of Piggott building permit application
- City of Corning Zoning Code (2018)
- City of Rector permits and ordinances
- City of Rector Ordinance 573, building permit fees
- Arkansas Department of Health: Onsite Wastewater
- FEMA Community Status Book: Arkansas
Inspections are where schedules slip.
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More Arkansas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Clay County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.