Madison County, Arkansas Building Permit Guide

Madison County does not issue general building permits. Inside Huntsville, building permits come from the city through the City Clerk’s office. In the unincorporated county the county code requires a floodplain development permit from the Floodplain Administrator in mapped flood areas, a $50 County Judge’s permit before setting a used mobile home, subdivision plat review and, under Planning Board rules in effect since January 1, 2026, Planning Board review of wind turbines and solar energy systems.

What Madison County itself regulates

The County Judge runs the county roads and administers the quorum court’s ordinances, and oversees the Road & Bridge Department, Emergency Management, the E-911 Addressing Office and Flood Plain Management Office, and the solid waste center. Under the county’s flood ordinance the Madison County 9-1-1 Coordinator is the Floodplain Administrator. A county Planning Board, given rule-making power over planning and zoning by Ordinance 2025-7, drafted the 2026 wind and solar rules.

Who issues building permits in each town

The Census Bureau lists three incorporated places in Madison County (Vintage 2025 estimates in brackets).

• Huntsville (3,576) issues residential and commercial building permits. Applications are downloaded or filed online and returned to the City Clerk’s office (PO Box 549, Huntsville, AR 72740; City Hall at 208 E. War Eagle, 479-738-6607); the Planning Commission reviews them and the fee is then paid online or by check at City Hall. The city requires a permit for any framing, new foundations, and electrical or plumbing changes, but not for new windows, a new roof, siding, driveways or fences. A new home or commercial building needs a site plan and an address from the 911 addressing office, and must use licensed and insured electrical, plumbing and HVAC contractors.
• St. Paul (126) and Hindsville (95): the published sources do not show a town building permit; ask the town before building.

County permits for unincorporated land

Floodplain development permit: section 270.00 of the county code (Ordinance 2002-002) requires a development permit for any development in a special flood hazard area, with plans showing the site and elevations. New or substantially improved homes must have the lowest floor, including any basement, at or above the base flood elevation, certified by a registered engineer, architect or land surveyor; nonresidential buildings may instead be floodproofed to that level, and manufactured homes in Zone A must be elevated and anchored. Madison County takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program.

Used mobile homes: before a used mobile home is set anywhere in the unincorporated county, the owner needs a permit from the County Judge (Ordinance 2001-006). The home is first inspected for a sound roof and floor and intact windows, doors and siding, and a state inspection certificate must show it meets the plumbing, septic and wiring rules. The fee is $50, and setting a home without a permit can be fined $100 a day.

Subdivisions: the county subdivision regulations apply to all unincorporated land. Dividing a tract into three or more lots, or any division that dedicates a road or access easement, needs a plat; parcels of 5 acres or more are exempt unless a road or easement is involved, as are inheritances and family divisions. Four copies of the preliminary plat go to the County Judge’s office at least 15 days before the review committee meets.

Wind and solar: a county moratorium stopped commercial wind turbine construction through December 31, 2025. Planning Board Regulations PBR-2025-1 (wind) and PBR-2025-2 (solar), effective January 1, 2026, now require a permit reviewed by the Planning Board. A residential solar system of 4 to 15 kW pays $100, a 15 to 100 kW farm or business system $300, a 100 kW to 1 MW system $1,000 and a utility-scale system $2,000 plus $1,000 for each MW over 1 MW. Wind permits run from $100 for a turbine of up to 25 kW to $10,000 plus $5,000 for each additional 5 MW for a commercial wind facility of 5 MW or more. Ground-mounted solar systems over 15 kW must be 200 feet from public roads and non-participating property lines and 400 feet from neighboring homes; the smallest wind turbines must be 150 feet from property lines.

Data centers: Emergency Ordinance 2023-18, dated July 17, 2023, requires anyone building a data center in the unincorporated county to notify residents within half a mile and the County Judge, file a baseline noise study and a noise attenuation plan with the County Judge and County Clerk, and keep noise at the neighbor’s property line below 65 dBA from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 55 dBA overnight.

Septic systems: on-site wastewater systems are permitted by the Arkansas Department of Health.

How to start a project in Madison County

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

Madison County permitting FAQs

Does Madison County issue building permits?

No general building permit. The county requires floodplain development, used mobile home, subdivision, wind and solar permits in the unincorporated area, and Huntsville permits building inside its limits.

How do I get a building permit in Huntsville?

Download or file the city’s residential or commercial application online and return it to the City Clerk’s office; the Planning Commission reviews it, then you pay the fee. Call 479-738-6607 with questions.

Do I need a permit to put a used mobile home on rural land?

Yes. A permit from the County Judge is required first, after an inspection and a state inspection certificate; the fee is $50.

Does a home solar system need a county permit?

Yes, since January 1, 2026. A residential system of 4 to 15 kW needs a $100 permit reviewed by the Madison County Planning Board.

How high must a house be built in a Madison County flood zone?

The lowest floor, including any basement, must be at or above the base flood elevation, certified by an engineer, architect or land surveyor.

Who handles septic systems?

The Arkansas Department of Health permits on-site wastewater systems.

Official Madison County permitting resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Madison County Judge
• Madison County Code of Ordinances
• Madison County Quorum Court
• Planning Board Regulation PBR-2025-1, wind energy systems
• Planning Board Regulation PBR-2025-2, solar energy systems
• Madison County quorum court ordinance search
• City of Huntsville zoning and building permits
• Arkansas Department of Health onsite wastewater program

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