Hot Spring County government runs no building permit or inspection office. On county land, its Department of Emergency Management handles 911 addressing and posts the county’s flood damage prevention ordinance. Building permits come from the cities: Malvern’s Building Department issues permits and reviews plans inside the city, while Rockport requires permits only for commercial construction.
Who handles building permits in Hot Spring County?
The courthouse is at 210 Locust Street in Malvern ((501) 332-2263). The County Judge ((501) 332-2261) runs the county roads and carries out the Quorum Court’s ordinances. The Quorum Court meets at 5:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month in the courthouse’s large courtroom, with committee meetings on the second Monday, and the County Clerk keeps its ordinances and minutes.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Place (2025 population) | Who permits building work |
|---|---|
| Malvern (11,144) | Building Department, 712 W. Moline St.; 501-332-3638. Plan review, preconstruction meetings and online building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing applications; a house is $0.05 per square foot under roof, $40 minimum |
| Rockport (709) | No permit for residential work. Commercial buildings need a permit under Ordinance 2025-2; City Hall, 1472 Military Rd., (501) 332-8700 |
| Midway (375), Donaldson (282), Perla (253), Friendship (167) | The published sources do not say; ask the town hall |
| Unincorporated Hot Spring County | No county building permit; flood ordinance applies in mapped flood areas; 911 address from the DEM addressing line |
Rockport commercial permit fees
Rockport’s Ordinance 2025-2, adopted June 17, 2025, applies building codes to commercial businesses and sets the permit fee by building type and floor area. It adopts the 2012 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code (fire and building volumes), the 2014 National Electrical Code, the 2010 Arkansas Mechanical Code, the 2006 Arkansas Plumbing and Fuel Gas Codes and the 2011 Arkansas Energy Code.
| Building type | Fee per square foot |
|---|---|
| Factory or high hazard | $0.32 |
| Business | $0.29 |
| Assembly | $0.18 |
| Hospital | $0.41 |
| Institutional | $0.32 |
| Warehouse | $0.14 |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Example: a 5,000-square-foot warehouse is 5,000 × $0.14 = $700. Hot Spring County charges no building permit fee; Malvern’s fees are in its municipal code.
Rockport’s Ordinance 2025-4, passed July 15, 2025, sets sewer tap fees of $750 for a new home and $400 for an existing home, and $1,500, $3,000, $5,000 or $7,000 for small, medium, large and extra-large businesses. The customer pays all costs of tapping into the sewer line and of the lines to the building.
Flood rules, addressing and septic systems
Flood damage prevention: the county’s Department of Emergency Management posts the county’s Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance (No. 11-3, passed by the Quorum Court on February 8, 2011, with an emergency clause). It regulates building, placing manufactured homes, clearing, grading, filling, excavating and individual water or sewer installations in special flood hazard areas. The flood code it adopts, dated February 8, 2011, is on file in the offices of the County Judge and the County Assessor, and the Floodplain Administrator enforces it. Violations are misdemeanors, with fines of up to $500 a day for each violation plus court costs. FEMA lists Hot Spring County as participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, with its current map dated March 3, 2011. Donaldson, Malvern and Rockport participate; Friendship, Midway and Perla are in the not-participating section.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →911 addressing: the Department of Emergency Management, 215 East Highland Avenue, Malvern, shares its phone line with Hot Spring County 911, the only 911 answering point in the county. Call (501) 332-4911 and press 1 for addressing.
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 Hot Spring County
Malvern permits inside its limits; Rockport permits commercial work only; the other four towns should be asked directly; outside them is county land.
In a mapped flood hazard area, the county flood ordinance applies to building, fill and grading.
Without sewer, apply to the Department of Health before construction.
Dial (501) 332-4911, option 1, once the building location is set.
Malvern takes online applications and payments; Rockport commercial permits go through City Hall.
Rather not deal with the Hot Spring 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
Hot Spring County permit FAQs
Does Hot Spring County issue building permits?
No. The county has no building office. Malvern permits work inside its limits, and Rockport permits commercial construction.
Do I need a permit to build a house in Rockport?
No. Rockport states that it does not require permits for residential work. Commercial buildings need a permit under Ordinance 2025-2.
How much is a commercial permit in Rockport?
From $0.14 per square foot for a warehouse to $0.41 for a hospital; a business building is $0.29 per square foot.
Who issues building permits in Malvern?
The Building Department at 712 W. Moline St., 501-332-3638. A house is $0.05 per square foot under roof, with a $40 minimum.
How do I get an address for a new house in the county?
Call Hot Spring County 911 at (501) 332-4911 and choose option 1 for addressing.
Is Hot Spring County in the flood insurance program?
Yes, with a current flood map dated March 3, 2011. Friendship, Midway and Perla are listed as not participating.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Official Hot Spring County permit resources
- Hot Spring County Judge
- Hot Spring County Department of Emergency Management: contact and addressing
- Hot Spring County Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance (PDF)
- City of Malvern Building Department
- City of Malvern permit applications
- City of Rockport: Building Permits and Inspections
- Rockport Ordinance 2025-2, commercial building codes and permit fees (PDF)
- 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 Hot Spring County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.