The Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates list ten incorporated places in Lonoke County: Cabot (27,711), Ward (7,258), Lonoke (4,299), Austin (4,017), England (2,409), Carlisle (1,982), Humnoke (220), Keo (202), Allport (90) and Coy (90). The unincorporated balance had 28,386 people, more than any single city.
This guide covers the building offices of Cabot, Ward, the City of Lonoke and Austin, and driveways onto state highways. No official Lonoke County government website was found, so ask the county directly about floodplain, addressing, county roads or any rules for unincorporated land. Ward’s fee schedule could not be read, so ask Ward for fees.
What requires a permit in Lonoke County?
In Cabot, commercial and residential projects need permits before electrical, plumbing, mechanical or structural work starts. Permits are required for all decks, and work in or next to the public right-of-way, or affecting trees or stormwater facilities, also needs permits. Homeowners may do most repairs themselves but still need the permit.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →The City of Lonoke requires permits for signs, storage buildings, fences, additions, remodels and all new construction, residential or commercial. Austin requires building permits inside city limits for all new permanent or portable structures that add a roof line. Ward requires separate permits for electrical, plumbing and HVAC.
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 Lonoke County?
| Place | Office | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Cabot | Planning & Zoning (Cabot Planning & Environmental), 1 City Plaza, Suite A, Cabot, AR 72023 | 501-843-4819 |
| Ward | Building Inspector Gary Meadows, 405 Hickory, Ward, AR 72176 | (501) 843-7686 Ext. 133 |
| City of Lonoke | Administration Office (Community Development), 107 W. Second St., Lonoke, AR 72086 | 501-676-4300 ext. 2 |
| Austin | Office Manager, Austin City Hall, 3181 Hwy 367 N., Austin, AR 72007 | (501) 941-2648; 8 am to 5 pm Monday thru Friday |
| State highway driveways | ArDOT District 6 Permit Officer, 8900 Mabelvale Pike, Little Rock | (501) 569-2266 |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Cabot permits and planning review
Cabot’s Planning staff review all development permit applications, including Significant Development Permits for projects over 5,000 sq. ft. in floor area. The city recommends checking the zoning map in its GIS before applying.
An Erosion Control Compliance Certification must be completed before any permit is issued. A site on an Access Management Street or highway, such as Hwy 321, must show this on the site plan. The building permit becomes void if work does not start within 6 months or stops for 6 months.
Ward, Lonoke and Austin
Ward
The city Building Inspector reviews plans and performs inspections. The building/demolition permit application for work inside city limits asks for a certified plot plan, and the permit is void if work does not start within 6 months.
City of Lonoke
Building permits are applied for at the Administration Office. The city publishes separate residential, commercial, accessory building, fence and sign permit applications, and its Unified Development Code was updated 6/15/2026.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Austin
Permits come from the Office Manager at Austin City Hall, open 8 am to 5 pm Monday thru Friday.
How to get a permit in Lonoke County
Cabot, Ward, Lonoke and Austin issue permits inside their own limits.
Check the zoning map in the city GIS and complete the Erosion Control Compliance Certification.
Attach a certified plot plan and file separate electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits.
A driveway onto a state highway needs an ArDOT access driveway permit from District 6.
Cabot and Ward permits are void if work does not start within 6 months.
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
Rather not deal with the Lonoke County building department?
Get a free quote →Inspections in Lonoke County
In Ward, a certificate of occupancy is issued only after all plumbing and HVAC inspections are signed off by a city inspector. In Austin, all new-construction or remodel HVAC and plumbing work must be inspected; the Public Works division does these inspections, requested through the Office Manager at City Hall.
Official Lonoke County permitting resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
- Cabot Planning and Zoning
- Cabot residential permits
- Cabot commercial permits
- Ward building inspection
- City of Lonoke Community Development
- Austin permits and inspections
- ArDOT District 6
- ArDOT access driveway permits
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for a deck in Cabot?
Yes. Cabot requires permits from Planning and Zoning for all decks.
Can a Cabot homeowner do their own repairs?
Homeowners may do most repairs themselves, but they still need the permit.
Who inspects plumbing and HVAC in Austin?
The Public Works division, requested through the Office Manager at City Hall.
Simplify Lonoke County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →- Confirm which city office, if any, issues the building permit for the parcel
- Prepare the city zoning, building and trade applications and any ArDOT driveway permit
- Track plan review, fees and each inspection with the issuing office
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.
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More Arkansas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Lonoke County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.