On county land, Izard County’s permit is a flood permit. Under Ordinance 07-3 and its Flood Damage Prevention Code of July 10, 2007, any development in a special flood hazard area needs a floodplain development permit from the county’s Office of Emergency Management, whose director serves as the County Floodplain Administrator (870-368-4113). New homes there must sit at least 2 ft above the base flood elevation. The county publishes no general building permit or inspection program; Horseshoe Bend runs its own Building and Zoning office and Melbourne’s City Hall lists a permits officer.
Who issues permits in Izard County?
The County Judge’s office (PO Box 327, Melbourne; 870-368-4328) is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. Floodplain permits go through the Office of Emergency Management at the same address (870-368-4113). Populations below are Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates; Horseshoe Bend also reaches into Sharp and Fulton counties.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Place | Who permits building work |
|---|---|
| Horseshoe Bend (2,603 in Izard) | City of Horseshoe Bend Building and Zoning: Building Inspector, 704 Commerce Street; 870-670-5113; 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. weekdays |
| Calico Rock (2,003) | The published sources do not say; ask City Hall |
| Melbourne (1,892), county seat | City of Melbourne: City Hall lists a staff member for permits and a Planning/Zoning Commission; PO Box 800, 870-368-4215 |
| Oxford (615) | The published sources do not say; ask the city |
| Mount Pleasant (383) | The published sources do not say; ask the town |
| Franklin (198) | The published sources do not say; ask the town |
| Pineville (164) | The published sources do not say; ask the town |
| Guion (72) | The published sources do not say; ask the town |
| Unincorporated Izard County | No county building permit; floodplain development permit from the County Floodplain Administrator in flood hazard areas |
Izard County flood rules
Izard County takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA lists its current map as dated December 1, 2007, issued by letter with A, C and X zones only, so its mapped flood areas are Zone A, without published base flood elevations. The flood code applies to every special flood hazard area under the county’s jurisdiction:
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →- Permit first: building, adding on, clearing, filling, grading, mining, dredging or drilling in a flood hazard area needs a floodplain development permit before work starts. The county also posts a shorter Minor Project application for work with no building that disturbs 5 acres or less and places no more than 300 cubic yards of fill in the floodplain.
- Find the flood level: in Zone A, the applicant must establish a base flood elevation before construction, from a source or method the Floodplain Administrator approves. The county’s NFIP page links a FEMA tool for estimating it.
- Elevation: a new home’s lowest floor must be at least 2 ft above the base flood elevation, shown on an Elevation Certificate by an Arkansas-licensed engineer, surveyor or architect. Commercial, industrial and other nonresidential buildings must be elevated at least 2 ft or floodproofed.
- No basements in any special flood hazard area, and no development in a regulatory floodway unless an engineer’s no-rise certificate is filed or FEMA’s map-revision requirements are met; manufactured homes may not go in a floodway at all.
- Penalties: the Floodplain Administrator may issue cease and desist orders and citations, and fines reach $500 a day.
Calico Rock, Guion, Horseshoe Bend, Melbourne and Mount Pleasant also take part in the flood program; Oxford, Franklin and Pineville are not listed.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Septic and roads: septic systems on county land are permitted by the Arkansas Department of Health. The County Road Department, on 9 Spur on Timber Lane, works 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday (870-368-7712).
Steps for building in Izard County
In Horseshoe Bend, apply to Building and Zoning; in Melbourne, to City Hall; elsewhere, ask the town.
Look the site up on FEMA’s map, or ask the Floodplain Administrator whether it lies in a flood hazard area.
If it does, file the floodplain development permit application with the Office of Emergency Management before any site work.
Have the base flood elevation established and the lowest floor certified at least 2 ft above it.
Without sewer, apply to the Arkansas Department of Health for the onsite system permit.
Rather not deal with the Izard 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
Izard County permit FAQs
Does Izard County issue building permits?
No general building permit is published for county land. The county does require a floodplain development permit for any development in a special flood hazard area.
Who issues floodplain permits in Izard County?
The Office of Emergency Management, whose director is the County Floodplain Administrator: PO Box 327, Melbourne (870-368-4113).
How high must a new house be in an Izard County flood zone?
The lowest floor must be at least 2 ft above the base flood elevation, documented on an Elevation Certificate. Basements are not allowed.
Who issues building permits in Horseshoe Bend?
The City’s Building and Zoning office and Building Inspector, 704 Commerce Street (870-670-5113).
Who permits septic systems in Izard County?
The Arkansas Department of Health.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Official Izard County permit resources
- Izard County National Flood Insurance Program page and permit applications
- Izard County Ordinance 07-3, flood damage prevention program
- Flood Damage Prevention Code for Izard County (July 10, 2007)
- Izard County Office of Emergency Management
- Izard County Judge
- Izard County Road & Bridge
- City of Horseshoe Bend Building and Zoning
- City of Melbourne city government
- 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 Izard County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.