Crawford County, Arkansas Building Permit Guide

Crawford County’s own website shows road permits from the County Judge and the Road Department, not a county building permit office. The Census Bureau lists nine incorporated places in the county: Alma, Cedarville, Chester, Dyer, Kibler, Mountainburg, Mulberry, Rudy and Van Buren. By its 2025 estimates the most populous are Van Buren (24556), Alma (6071), Mulberry (1635) and Cedarville (1458), and 26286 people live in the unincorporated balance.

This guide covers the county road permits, the septic permit route and the offices of Van Buren, Alma, Mulberry and Cedarville. No county building permit page was found for unincorporated land, so ask the county before building there.

What requires a permit in Crawford County?

Inside Van Buren, Alma and Mulberry the city building office issues building permits; Alma requires the permit to be bought before work starts. Cedarville’s Planning & Inspections page states that the city has no building permits at present. On county roads, any driveway or other entrance needs a permit from the County Judge first.

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

Who handles permitting in Crawford County?

Building offices in Van Buren, Alma and Mulberry

Van Buren

The Building Department’s Building Official is David Martin, who also takes the city’s floodplain questions. The city posts a development permit form and its Flood Damage Prevention Code, Ordinance No. 42-2023.

Alma

Building permits are bought at the City Planning Office before work starts. Properties in the floodplain must follow Alma ordinance 2017-12, and floodplain questions go to the Planning Department at 479.632.0441.

Mulberry

Building permits are handled at the Municipal Complex on N Main Street, which closes at 1:00 pm on Fridays.

Crawford County road permits

The Road Department issues driveway, road bore, road cut and heavy haul permits. New public roads, subdivision streets and private road developments need county permits and fees. For a driveway, the Road Department sets the culvert size, with an 18-inch minimum pipe at the owner’s expense; a private one-family driveway pays no inspection fee.

Summer hours are Monday to Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and winter hours Monday to Friday 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Fees are paid by check, money order or cashier’s check payable to Crawford County Road Department.

Crawford County permit costs and fees

• Van Buren: new houses are valued for permit fees at a minimum of $140 per square foot up to 1,800 square feet, rising to $200 per square foot for 3,501 square feet and larger. Larger residential jobs pay $2 for each $1,000 of valuation ($60 minimum), larger nonresidential jobs $3 per $1,000 ($70 minimum), and every project also pays a $25.00 erosion control permit.
• Alma (Permit Fees 2023): commercial plan review is $50 per submittal; inspection fees are listed under inspections below.

How to get a permit in Crawford County

A building permit carries a validity period set by the local building office; confirm the expiry on phased or delayed work before it passes. Permit validity in Arkansas

Inspections in Crawford County

Alma’s 2023 schedule charges for inspections by count: a new home needs 3 inspections at $35 each, and a remodel or addition needs 2 at $35 each.

Septic permits in Crawford County

Septic (onsite wastewater) permit applications are reviewed by the Arkansas Department of Health with the local Environmental Specialist. The Crawford County Local Health Unit is in Van Buren.

Official Crawford County permitting resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Van Buren Building Department
• Van Buren building fee schedule
• Van Buren floodplain management
• Alma permits
• Mulberry administrative office
• Cedarville planning and inspections
• Crawford County Judge and Road Department
• Arkansas Department of Health onsite wastewater

Frequently asked questions

Does Crawford County issue building permits?

No county building permit office appears on the county’s website; its permits found there are road permits. Van Buren, Alma and Mulberry issue building permits inside their limits.

Does Cedarville require a building permit?

Cedarville’s Planning & Inspections page states that the city has no building permits at present.

What size culvert does a Crawford County driveway need?

The Road Department sets the size, with an 18-inch minimum pipe at the owner’s expense.

Simplify Crawford County permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Confirm which city office, if any, issues the building permit for the parcel
• Line up the county road, stormwater or addressing approvals and the Department of Health septic application
• Prepare the city application and track it through review and inspections

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 Crawford County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.