Marion County runs a Development and Occupancy Permit for new building on county land. The Assessor’s Office in the courthouse at Yellville (870-449-4113) tells you the cost, you pay the Treasurer $100 for the Development Permit and possibly another $100 for an Occupancy Permit, the E-911 office assigns the address, and you book inspections with the County Inspector. Yellville, Flippin and Bull Shoals issue building permits inside their own limits.
Who issues building permits in Marion County?
The county offices are in the Marion County Courthouse, 300 E. Old Main St., Yellville, open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. The Assessor’s Office handles the county’s permit paperwork, the Treasurer takes the payment and the County Inspector inspects the work. Flippin’s own permit page sends owners outside its limits to the Assessor’s Office. Populations below are the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Place | Who permits building work |
|---|---|
| Bull Shoals (1,888) | City of Bull Shoals: applications at City Hall, 706 C.S. Woods Blvd; 870-445-4775. A permit is needed for new construction or remodeling that changes a building’s outside dimensions; new homes and residential additions (including multifamily and manufactured homes) $0.51 and new commercial buildings and additions $0.76 per sq ft |
| Flippin (1,290) | City of Flippin building official, City Hall, 203 N 1st St.; (870) 453-8300. Ordinance 341 (August 16, 2022) charges new construction by total cost ($15 for the first $1,000 plus $2.50 per extra $1,000 up to $50,000, lower rates above), residential additions and repairs $0.25 per sq ft, small commercial buildings $0.35 per sq ft, ready-made sheds $20, fences over 7 ft or carports $40 and demolition $100; the City’s web page still shows older $0.10 and $0.20 rates |
| Yellville (1,095) | City of Yellville: its Zoning Code says the City issues building permits inside the city limits once the Administrative Official approves them, with a plot plan in two copies. City Hall, 112 Hwy 62 East; (870) 449-6581 |
| Summit (526) | The published sources do not say; ask the city |
| Pyatt (192) | The published sources do not say; ask the town |
| Unincorporated Marion County | County Development Permit through the Assessor’s Office; County Inspector |
The county’s land development ordinance applies to the unincorporated land of Marion County; inside a town, that town’s rules apply.
Marion County permit fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Development Permit | $100, paid to the County Treasurer |
| Occupancy Permit, where required | An additional $100 |
| Preliminary subdivision plat | $50 |
| Final plat or re-plat | $50 plus $10 for each lot |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →The Assessor’s Office confirms which permits a project needs before you pay. Keep the Treasurer’s receipt: the 911 office needs a copy to issue the address, and the Assessor needs it again to finish the permit. Plat fees go to the Planning Board chairman or secretary, who deposits them with the Treasurer.
How to get a Marion County Development Permit
Ask what the permits will cost (870-449-4113), then pay at the Treasurer’s Office: $100 for the Development Permit and possibly $100 for an Occupancy Permit.
Take or e-mail the receipt and the Address Application to the Addressing Office, 491 Hwy 62 W (870-449-7567); it takes 3 to 5 business days.
Give the energy provider the new address to get an account number.
Return the receipt, 911 address letter and completed application to the Assessor; the permit number is assigned and Entergy and the County Inspector are notified.
Call the County Inspector (870-715-2544) with the permit number, with the address posted and plumbing and electrical left uncovered.
The application asks whether the job is new construction or a mobile home, whether the land is being bought on land contract, the estimated value, the school and fire districts, bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage, basement and foundation type, and whether the home will be a primary residence or second home. The Development Permit lasts six months from payment, cannot be transferred, and becomes void if work stops for six months.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Subdivisions, addresses, septic and roads in Marion County
Planning Board: the seven-member board, appointed by the County Judge, administers Ordinance 2012-17, the Standards and Regulations for the Development and Subdivision of Land, last amended June 8, 2021, and gives the quorum court a quarterly report. The ordinance requires building permits and approval of the water supply and sewage disposal, from the county or state health officer, the County Inspector or a person the Planning Board designates, for every new dwelling.
911 addresses: every new structure must get its address from the E-911 Addressing & Mapping Office, which also takes an online address request and a private road application for naming new roads. Each address covers one home per driveway; the new driveway must be marked before the request, and moving it later means a new address.
Septic systems: the permit instructions list the Marion County Health Unit for septic systems at (870) 449-4259; onsite systems are permitted by the Arkansas Department of Health.
County roads: the Road Department (PO Box 545, Yellville) answers on 870-449-6021 Monday to Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and on 870-449-6231 on Fridays.
Flood insurance: FEMA’s Community Status Book lists Marion County in its section of communities not in the National Flood Insurance Program. Bull Shoals, Flippin and Yellville participate; Summit and Pyatt are not listed.
Rather not deal with the Marion 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
Marion County permit FAQs
Do I need a permit to build in unincorporated Marion County?
Yes for a new home: the county’s land development ordinance requires a building permit for every new dwelling, and the county’s Development Permit is arranged through the Assessor’s Office (870-449-4113).
How much is a Marion County Development Permit?
$100, paid at the Treasurer’s Office, plus a possible $100 Occupancy Permit. It is valid for six months.
Who inspects new homes in Marion County?
The County Inspector. Call 870-715-2544 with your permit number and leave plumbing and electrical uncovered.
How long does a 911 address take?
Three to five business days after the Addressing Office receives the application and the permit receipt.
Who issues permits in Yellville, Flippin and Bull Shoals?
Each city, at its City Hall: Yellville (870) 449-6581, Flippin (870) 453-8300 and Bull Shoals 870-445-4775.
What does a subdivision plat cost in Marion County?
A preliminary plat is $50; a final plat or re-plat is $50 plus $10 per lot.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Official Marion County permit resources
- Marion County Emergency Management and E-911 addressing
- Marion County Development and Occupancy Permit application and instructions (2024)
- Marion County online 911 address request
- Marion County Ordinance 2012-17, development and subdivision of land (amended 2021)
- Marion County Quorum Court agendas and ordinances
- Marion County Road Department
- City of Yellville government and ordinances
- City of Flippin Ordinance 341, building permits and fees (2022)
- City of Bull Shoals taxes and permits
- Arkansas Department of Health: Onsite Wastewater
- FEMA Community Status Book: Arkansas
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Simplify Marion 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.
Ready to break ground in Marion County sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Marion County permits while your crew stays on the job.
More Arkansas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Marion County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.