Forrest City, Arkansas Building Permit Guide

Every new building and remodel in Forrest City needs permits for the building, electrical, plumbing, HVAC and gas work, all issued and inspected by the City’s Code Enforcement office at 225 North Washington Street ((870) 633-1315). The building permit fee follows a cost-based table in the City Code, and the first inspection on a site is free.

Who handles building permits in Forrest City?

Code Enforcement inspects all new construction and remodels in the city, issues the permits and, where necessary, starts condemnation of nuisance structures. Under the City Code the building inspector, appointed by the mayor with council approval, issues permits and makes inspections, and also acts as the plumbing inspector. The Fire Department’s chief enforces the fire code.

Which Forrest City projects need permits?

The Code Enforcement page states that all construction, new or remodel, needs permits for the building, electrical, plumbing, HVAC and gas inspections. The City Code adds separate permits for:

Moving a structure takes a written application at least 24 hours before the move, liability insurance and a surety bond, and a route approved by the police and fire chiefs; a police escort leads the move.

Forrest City permit fees

Building permit fees are in section 6-17 of the City Code, last amended by Ordinance 1703 in January 2000. The fee is based on the cost of the building or structure:

The printed table skips the $5,000–$9,999.99 range and does not say whether a per-thousand rate applies to the whole cost or only to the part within the band. The first inspection on a site is free; every later inspection costs $10 for residential, $20 for commercial and $30 for industrial permits. Section 6-17 then adds that “the fees are increased by thirty (30) percent from the 1979 permit fee schedule, set out herein,” without saying whether the printed amounts already include that increase, so ask Code Enforcement which figure it charges.

In spring 2024 the City Council discussed raising code enforcement permit and inspection fees to match nearby cities; the council minutes posted through September 2025 record new parks, civic center and commercial garbage rates, but no new building permit fees.

Electrical, plumbing, HVAC and gas in Forrest City

Code Enforcement issues all four trade permits and lists the codes it uses: the 2018 Arkansas Plumbing Code, the 2021 Arkansas Mechanical Code (based on the 2021 International Mechanical Code) and the 2020 National Electrical Code with Arkansas amendments.

• Electrical fees (sec. 8-5): service or feeder $2 up to 100 A, $3 for 101–230 A, $6 for 231–400 A, $8 for 401–600 A, $16 for 601–800 A and $32 for 801–1,600 A; circuits $1 at 110 V, $2 at 220 V and $3 three-phase; special circuits such as welders or X-ray units $5. Sections 8-5 and 8-6 end with the same sentence about a 30% increase over the 1979 schedule, again without saying whether the printed amounts include it.
• Wiring rules: commercial buildings, churches, schools, hotels and other commercial-use buildings must be wired in approved conduit; all other buildings are to be wired with approved nonmetallic cable. Knob-and-tube wiring is not permitted.
• Electrician licences: a firm or person holding a state electrician’s licence can work in the city without a separate city licence but still pays the City’s fee: $50 a year for a master and $30 for a journeyman electrician.
• Plumbing and gas: the building inspector serves as plumbing inspector; plumbing and gas permit fees have their own schedules in the City Code.

What to bring to Code Enforcement

Applications are made at the Code Enforcement office in City Hall. Plan to bring:

• The property address, a description of the work and its total cost, which sets the building permit fee
• For a commercial or multifamily demolition, liability insurance and a surety bond or demolition surety agreement approved by the building inspector
• For a demolition of a building over two stories, over 5,000 sq ft or attached to another building, a plan and complete demolition schedule; attached buildings may also need a structural engineer’s certification
• For a house move, the date and time, the current and new locations, the building’s size and materials, and the proposed route

How to get a permit in Forrest City

Forrest City inspections

Code Enforcement inspects all new construction and remodels. Electrical work needs a rough-in inspection by the electrical inspector before it is covered. Only the first inspection on a site is free; repeat visits are charged by permit class. Demolitions get an initial inspection after the utilities are disconnected and secured and a final inspection after the debris is gone.

The Fire Department’s chief enforces the fire code and can approve modifications to it in writing. City Code also requires smoke detectors in every existing apartment, duplex, townhouse, rental dwelling and hotel room, and a working carbon monoxide detector in every day care facility.

Local details that matter in Forrest City

Flood rules: Chapter 9½ of the City Code adopts a flood damage prevention code built to the federal standard in 44 CFR 60.3(d), most recently amended by Ordinance 1865 in 2011. A violation can be fined up to $100 for each day it continues. FEMA lists Forrest City among the communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program.

Code editions: the online Code of Ordinances, codified through July 2014, still names older editions (the 2008 National Electrical Code and the 2007 fire code). The Code Enforcement page gives the editions in use today, led by the 2021 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code.

Commercial zone rule: the fire chapter allows only one roof structure and one ceiling in the C-1 zone, and the fire code’s limits on storing explosives, aboveground Class I liquids and bulk LP gas apply across the whole city.

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

Frequently asked questions about Forrest City permits

Who issues building permits in Forrest City?

The City’s Code Enforcement office at City Hall, 225 North Washington Street, (870) 633-1315.

Do I need a permit to remodel?

Yes. The City requires permits for building, electrical, plumbing, HVAC and gas work on all construction, including remodels.

How much is a building permit in Forrest City?

It depends on the cost of the work. The City Code table charges $1 for a $100–$249.99 job, $2.00 per thousand for work of $25,000–$99,999.99 and $1.50 per thousand from $100,000, before any 30% increase the Code mentions. The first inspection is free and later ones cost $10 for residential work.

How much does a demolition permit cost?

$25 for each building, with insurance and a surety bond for commercial or multifamily structures.

Do electricians need a city licence?

Not if they hold a state electrician’s licence, but they pay the City’s annual fee: $50 for a master and $30 for a journeyman.

When is City Hall open for permits?

Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Official Forrest City permit resources

• Forrest City Code Enforcement and codes in use
• Forrest City zoning code and zoning map
• Forrest City department contacts and hours
• City Code Chapter 6, buildings and permit fees
• City Code Chapter 8, electrical permits and fees
• City Code Chapter 9½, flood damage prevention
• Forrest City City Council minutes

Simplify Forrest City 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 Forrest City permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.