Magnolia, Arkansas Building Permit Guide

In Magnolia, building permits come from the City Inspector at 201 East North Street ((870) 234-6767 or (870) 904-0689), whose office also inspects electrical and plumbing work and tests gas lines. Every building permit application needs two scaled copies of a plot plan, and a new or structurally altered building cannot be used, or connected to permanent utility service, until it has a certificate of occupancy.

Who issues building permits in Magnolia?

The Office of the City Inspector handles building permits for new homes, commercial buildings and renovations, electrical and plumbing inspections and gas tests, and acts as the link to the Magnolia Planning Commission for residents and developers. David Nelson is the City Inspector. Under the Zoning Code, the Administrative Official designated by the Mayor approves building permits and certificates of occupancy, issues zoning approvals and keeps the records of permits issued or denied.

The Zoning Code applies within Magnolia’s corporate limits, and the City issues building permits for new construction or renovation inside those limits.

Magnolia permits and approvals

Routine commercial projects outside those categories do not need Planning Commission approval, although the Administrative Official may require it in unique cases before issuing a building permit.

Permit fees in Magnolia

Under both the Zoning Code and the Subdivision and Development Code, permit and development fees are set by a schedule adopted by the City Council rather than written into the codes. An appeal of a Planning Commission decision to the City Council is filed with the Administrative Official within 30 days, together with an appeal fee.

Electrical, plumbing and gas work in Magnolia

The City Inspector’s office inspects electrical and plumbing installations and repairs and runs gas tests to find leaks before gas systems are put into use. The City lists the codes it enforces for this work as the 2020 National Electrical Code with the Arkansas amendments of August 1, 2022, and the 2018 Arkansas Plumbing Code and Arkansas Fuel Gas Code.

What to submit

• Plot plan: two copies, drawn to scale, showing the size and location of the building, its setbacks from the property lines and the proposed off-street parking, plus anything else the Administrative Official needs. The application and plot plan stay on file with the City.
• Site plan (larger projects): developments that need Planning Commission review follow the site plan rules of the Subdivision and Development Code.
• Sign permits: the sign permit form for each sign.
• Lot status: no building permit is issued for a lot divided or sold in violation of the City’s regulations.

How to get a permit in Magnolia

Magnolia inspections

The City Inspector’s office carries out the electrical and plumbing inspections and gas tests and inspects buildings, structures and land use for compliance with the Zoning Code. No building that has been built or structurally altered may be used, occupied or changed in use until the Administrative Official issues a certificate of occupancy. Public and private utilities may not connect permanent service to such a building without proof that the certificate has been issued, and a certificate can be revoked if the building or land no longer meets its conditions.

Local details that matter in Magnolia

Building codes: the Zoning Code requires all construction to meet the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code or other applicable state and city codes. The City Inspector’s page lists the International Building Code 2006 among the codes Magnolia enforces, alongside the 2020 NEC and the 2018 Arkansas plumbing and fuel gas codes.

Flood areas: no new building of any kind is allowed in a regulatory floodway, and building elsewhere in the floodplain must meet the City’s Flood Damage Prevention Code. Magnolia takes part in FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program; its current flood map is dated October 17, 2006.

Jackson Street Overlay District: along the corridor between downtown and Southern Arkansas University, the overlay standards apply to development other than single-family homes and duplexes. They are triggered by a new building of more than 1,000 sq ft or an addition of more than one-third of the existing building, and exterior changes worth more than $10,000 that need a building permit must meet the overlay’s façade requirements.

Land outside the city: the posted Subdivision and Development Code still describes a planning area boundary outside Magnolia, but Arkansas Act 314 of 2025 repealed the state law that let cities exercise planning and subdivision jurisdiction over unincorporated land. The City’s zoning, subdivision rules and building permits apply inside its corporate limits.

Annexed land: land annexed into Magnolia is zoned R-1 unless the annexing ordinance says otherwise.

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

Frequently asked questions about Magnolia permits

Who issues building permits in Magnolia?

The City Inspector, 201 E. North St., (870) 234-6767 or (870) 904-0689.

What do I need to apply for a building permit?

The application and two scaled copies of a plot plan showing the building, setbacks and off-street parking.

How long is a Magnolia building permit good for?

It expires if construction has not started within six months or is not finished within two years.

Can I get power and water before the final inspection?

Not permanent service. Utilities may not connect permanent service to a new or structurally altered building until it has a certificate of occupancy.

Can I build in the floodplain in Magnolia?

Not in the regulatory floodway. Elsewhere in the floodplain, construction must meet the City’s Flood Damage Prevention Code.

Do I need a separate permit for a sign?

Yes. The Zoning Code requires a separate permit for each sign.

Official Magnolia permit resources

• Magnolia City Inspector
• Contact the Magnolia City Inspector
• Magnolia Zoning Code
• Magnolia Subdivision and Development Code
• Magnolia zoning map (2020)
• Magnolia water and wastewater contacts
• Magnolia City Council agendas

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