Howard County, Arkansas Building Permit Guide

Howard County’s code of ordinances leaves Article I, Building, reserved, and the county runs no building permit or inspection program. On unincorporated land the county regulates three things instead: building in special flood hazard areas under its Flood Damage Prevention Code of November 15, 2010; noise from data centers; and the standards a private road must meet before the county takes it over. Inside Nashville, the City’s Code Enforcement department handles building permits and zoning compliance.

Who handles permits in Howard County?

County offices are in the courthouse at 421 North Main Street, Nashville (870-845-7500). The Association of Arkansas Counties lists the County Judge’s office at (870) 845-7501. Quorum Court ordinances can be searched by keyword in the Arkansas County Document Search. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 populations are in brackets.

Nashville: Ordinance 971 of January 24, 2022 replaced the old Southern Building Code references in the City’s building chapter with the 2012 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code (fire, building and residential volumes) and charged the Code Enforcement Officer and the Fire Marshal with enforcing those codes inside the city limits. Ordinance 990, passed March 25, 2024, adopts the 2020 National Electrical Code and requires a City permit from the Code Enforcement Officer for any electrical job costing more than $300, or any job that disrupts a building’s electrical service. Residential inspection fees are itemized, for example $30 for a service, $10 per panel and $15 each for the rough-in and final inspections. A homeowner may do his or her own electrical work with the regular permit but no licence or bond. The Code Enforcement Officer told the council on July 27, 2026 that September 30 would be his last day, so the post may be vacant; ask City Hall. The City’s documents page also posts its zoning map, a rezoning request form and planning and zoning manual.

Flood, road and data center rules on county land

Flood hazard areas: Ordinance 2010-9 adopts the Flood Damage Prevention Code for Howard County, dated November 15, 2010, and applies it to every special flood hazard area in the county’s jurisdiction, based on FEMA’s flood study and maps dated December 3, 2010. A copy of the code is kept in the County Judge’s office. The county’s floodplain administrator enforces it and can issue cease-and-desist orders and citations; violations carry fines of up to $500 a day. FEMA lists Howard County, Dierks, Mineral Springs and Nashville as participating National Flood Insurance Program communities.

Private roads the county will adopt: under Ordinance 2023-2 of August 21, 2023, a road built by a person, developer or company can join the county road system only if it has a recorded easement at least 50 ft wide, at least 20 ft of prepared surface, culverts and ditches on each side, stabilized shoulders and at least 6 inches of compacted base. Paving is the developer’s job, the road must be open to the public without gates or cattle guards and must serve several homes or a business, and the County Judge and Road Foreman must approve it.

Data centers: Ordinance 2023-4 of June 20, 2023 applies to data centers in the unincorporated county. Sound from one may not reach 65 dBA between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., or 55 dBA overnight, at the neighbor’s property line, and the noise attenuation building plan must be filed with the County Judge and County Clerk before construction. A violation is a misdemeanor carrying a $1,000 fine per offense, double that for a repeat, and $500 for each day it continues.

New electric service and septic: a 1990 county ordinance requires electric utilities to report every new service connection to the county Health Department within a month, so the Health Department can see that the inspection and permits required by Act 402 of 1977 have been obtained. Septic permits for systems under 1,500 gallons per day go through the Arkansas Department of Health.

Steps for building outside Howard County’s cities

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

Howard County permit FAQs

Does Howard County issue building permits?

No. The building article of the county code is reserved. Nashville’s Code Enforcement department handles building permits inside that city.

Are there county rules for building in a flood zone?

Yes. Building in a special flood hazard area on county land must meet the Flood Damage Prevention Code adopted by Ordinance 2010-9, which the county’s floodplain administrator enforces; the code is kept in the County Judge’s office.

Will the county take over a road I build?

Only if it meets Ordinance 2023-2: a 50 ft recorded easement, a 20 ft prepared surface, drainage on both sides, 6 inches of compacted base and approval by the County Judge and Road Foreman.

Who do I call about building in Nashville?

City Hall, 426 N. Main St., 870-845-1432. The Code Enforcement line is (870) 845-8585, but the Code Enforcement Officer’s last day was set for September 30, 2026.

Is Howard County in the flood insurance program?

Yes, along with Dierks, Mineral Springs and Nashville. Its flood maps are dated December 3, 2010.

Official Howard County permit resources

• Howard County Code of Ordinances (Municode)
• Arkansas County Document Search (Howard County ordinances)
• Howard County Ordinance 2010-9: flood damage prevention
• Howard County Ordinance 2023-2: adopting new county roads
• Howard County Ordinance 2023-4: data center noise
• Howard County offices (State of Arkansas portal)
• City of Nashville Code Enforcement
• Nashville Ordinance 990: electrical code and fees (2024)
• Arkansas Department of Health: Onsite Wastewater
• FEMA Community Status Book: Arkansas

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