Pope County, Arkansas Building Permit Guide

Pope County’s municipal page lists six cities: Atkins, Dover, Hector, London, Pottsville and Russellville. The Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates put Russellville at 29,521, Pottsville at 3,326, Atkins at 2,868, Dover at 1,385, London at 1,061 and Hector at 415; the unincorporated balance of Pope County had 26,400 people.

This guide covers the county’s 9-1-1 and road offices, Russellville’s permits and what Pottsville, Atkins and Dover post. The county website shows no building permit or floodplain page, so ask the county before building on unincorporated land.

What requires a permit in Pope County?

Russellville’s Fire, Building & Safety Division issues building permits for residential and commercial construction. The City of Atkins does not require electric permits. Dover’s website has a Building Permit page but posts no permit form there. A driveway onto a state highway needs an access driveway permit from the ArDOT district Permit Officer.

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 Pope County?

Pope County addresses and roads

New 911 addresses anywhere in Pope County are requested through the 9-1-1 Office’s online form. Most are finalized within 3 business days, but a site visit may be needed.

County road questions go to the Road Department, open Mon-Thurs 6:30 AM - 4:30 PM and closed Friday. The county posts a list of county-dedicated roads.

Russellville permits

Apply online through the EnerGov (CSS) Citizen Self Service portal, download the residential or commercial application, or call the Permitting Clerk desk. The city encourages pre-application meetings and publishes residential and commercial permit checklists.

Pottsville and Atkins

Pottsville’s city directory lists Code Enforcement separately from City Hall. The Atkins City Planning Commission meets the first Tuesday of each month.

Pope County permit costs and fees

Russellville figures residential construction cost at $95.00 per square foot for new construction or additions and $75.00 per square foot for alterations. The fee is $14.00 for the first $1,000.00, then $5.50 per additional $1,000.00 to $50,000.00, $3.00 per $1,000.00 to $100,000.00 and $1.25 per $1,000.00 above that, with a $50.00 minimum.

Commercial construction cost is figured per square foot by use, for example $186.54 for Business, $135.30 for Mercantile and $94.20 for Storage, then run through the same fee table with a $100.00 minimum.

How to get a permit in Pope County

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

Inspections in Pope County

In Russellville, schedule building or trade inspections 24 hours in advance by calling 479-968-1002 or through the EnerGov portal; an inspector can often be on site within a few hours.

Official Pope County permitting resources

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

• Russellville permitting
• Russellville codes and fees
• Pope County 9-1-1 addressing
• Pope County roads
• Pope County municipalities
• Pottsville directory
• Atkins FAQs
• Dover building permit page
• ArDOT District 8
• ArDOT access driveway permits

Frequently asked questions

How long does a Pope County 911 address take?

Most are finalized within 3 business days, but a site visit may be needed.

Does Atkins require an electric permit?

No. The City of Atkins does not require electric permits.

How do I book a Russellville inspection?

Call 479-968-1002 or use the EnerGov portal 24 hours in advance.

Simplify Pope County permitting with Alliance Permitting

• 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.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Pope County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.