Texarkana, Arkansas and Texarkana, Texas are separate cities, and the rules below are those of the Arkansas city. There, the Public Works Department oversees construction permits and certificates of occupancy through its Code Enforcement Division ((870) 779-4977) and reviews building permits for zoning through its Planning Division. A new house is charged $0.30 per square foot of heated or cooled space.
Who issues building permits in Texarkana, Arkansas?
Public Works has ten divisions, including Planning, Code Enforcement and Engineering. The Code Enforcement Division oversees permits for construction, signs and certain business activities, issues certificates of occupancy and monitors new construction and renovations for compliance with building standards. The Planning Division reviews and approves development proposals, building permits and special use requests for zoning compliance, and also handles historic preservation. Tracie Lee is the Interim Public Works Director. The City Code assigns permits and inspections to the building official and the City’s inspection department.
| Office | Contact |
|---|---|
| Code Enforcement Division (permits, certificates of occupancy) | (870) 779-4977 or (870) 779-4971 |
| Planning Division (zoning, historic preservation) | (870) 779-4974 |
| Interim Public Works Director | 870-779-4975 |
| City Hall | 216 Walnut Street, Texarkana, AR 71854; (870) 779-4991 |
The City’s building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical codes are controlling within the corporate limits of Texarkana, Arkansas.
Texarkana, Arkansas permit types
Building and site
- New houses and residential remodels
- Nonresidential buildings and alterations
- Swimming pools
- Fences
- Curb cuts and driveway approaches
- Demolition
- Signs
- Floodplain development permits
Trades
- Electrical, including temporary service poles
- Plumbing and gas
- Lawn irrigation systems
- Heating, ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration and boilers
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Electrical work needs no permit for minor repairs costing $10 or less, replacing lamps or plugging portable equipment into existing receptacles. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit may have the nonresidential building permit fee waived for work valued under $2,000 that needs no licensed contractor or inspection.
Texarkana, Arkansas permit fees
Building permit fees are set in Section 12-34 of the City Code (Ordinances 16-2017 and 37-2022). New houses and residential remodels over $15,000 are charged by area; nonresidential work and smaller residential remodels and repairs are charged by valuation. State surcharges are not included.
| Valuation or project | Fee |
|---|---|
| New house, or residential remodel over $15,000 | $0.30 per sq ft heated or cooled |
| Up to $2,000 | $35 |
| $2,001 to $15,000 | $35 plus $8 per additional $1,000 |
| $15,001 to $50,000 | $139 plus $7 per additional $1,000 |
| $50,001 to $100,000 | $384 plus $6 per additional $1,000 |
| $100,001 to $500,000 | $684 plus $5 per additional $1,000 |
| $500,001 to $2,000,000 | $2,684 plus $4 per additional $1,000 |
| More than $2,000,000 | $8,684 for the first $2,000,000, plus 0.002% over $2,000,000 |
| Swimming pool | Valuation schedule, $200 minimum |
| Fence | $25 |
| Curb cut or driveway approach | $25 |
| Demolition, residential | $50 for 60 days; $100 per 30-day renewal |
| Demolition, nonresidential | $250 for 60 days; $100 per 30-day renewal |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →For example, a commercial alteration valued at $200,000 pays $684 plus 100 × $5, a $1,184 building permit. A new 2,000 sq ft house pays $600 for the building permit. A demolition permit also needs a bond or cashier’s check for the estimated cost of the demolition. Public Works charges $60 to assign an address to a property that has never had one.
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits
New construction pays a basic fee of $0.05 per square foot for each trade (electrical, plumbing and mechanical), in addition to the item fees below; for a 2,000 sq ft house that is $100 per trade before items.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Electrical rough-in, first four circuits | $21 minimum |
| Electrical, next 16 circuits / each circuit after | $2.10 / $1.40 |
| Service entrance replacement, up to 600 A | $21 |
| Temporary service pole | $50 |
| Plumbing work other than new construction | $25 basic fee |
| Plumbing fixture / water heater / sewer tap | $5.60 / $8.40 / $18 |
| First four gas outlets / each additional | $14 / $2.80 |
| Residential irrigation system | $50 |
| HVAC system, first $1,000 of valuation | $28, plus $6.50 per additional $1,000 |
| Re-inspection (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) | $25 |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Licences and insurance: anyone doing electrical work needs the licence for that work from the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners, and the building official issues electrical permits only to licensed electricians, though a householder may do electrical work in their own residence. Plumbing permits go to those authorized to do plumbing, or to an owner who does the work personally in the single-family home they own and live in. Before any permit is issued, roofing and siding contractors must have a certificate for at least $300,000 of general liability insurance on file with the inspection department, building and remodeling contractors at least $500,000, and every contractor must show workers’ compensation coverage. The plumbing code bans polybutylene pipe and type M copper.
What to have ready
- Area or valuation: the heated or cooled square footage for a new house or large remodel, or the valuation for other work.
- Insurance: the contractor’s general liability certificate and proof of workers’ compensation.
- Electrical plans: the plans and specifications needed to show the installation complies.
- Flood zone sites: the floodplain development permit application, which may need plans in duplicate showing locations, dimensions and elevations, and an elevation certificate for a new house.
- Historic districts: the certificate of appropriateness, which must be issued before the building permit.
How to get a permit in Texarkana, Arkansas
Make sure the property is in Texarkana, Arkansas, not Texarkana, Texas.
Ask the Planning Division about zoning, and whether the lot is in a special flood hazard area or one of the historic districts.
In a historic district, apply to the city planner in Public Works; the review can run alongside the building permit review.
Apply through Public Works with the square footage or valuation and the contractor’s insurance certificates.
The licensed electrician, plumber and HVAC contractor each take out their own permits.
Request each inspection before work is covered and receive the certificate of occupancy from Code Enforcement.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Texarkana, Arkansas inspections
For electrical work, the installer notifies the building official when work is complete, and the official is to inspect within 48 hours, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, or as soon as practical. Wiring that will be hidden may not be covered until it has been inspected or 48 hours, not counting weekends and holidays, have passed since notice, and on large jobs inspections are made as work proceeds. An approved installation receives a certificate of approval, and the power company is notified that service may be connected. The plumbing inspector may enter buildings for inspections between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., and an extra plumbing, electrical or mechanical trip caused by the installer costs $25.
Local details that matter in Texarkana, Arkansas
Codes in force: the City Code adopts the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code and the Arkansas Mechanical Code in their current editions as adopted by the state, the Arkansas Energy Code for new construction, the latest Arkansas Plumbing Code and the latest edition of the National Electrical Code.
Floodplain: the Public Works Director is the floodplain administrator. A floodplain development permit is needed for building, manufactured homes, clearing, grading, fill and any other development in a special flood hazard area. New houses in zone AE must have the top of the lowest floor at least 2 ft above the base flood elevation, documented on an elevation certificate, and new nonresidential buildings there must be elevated 2 ft or floodproofed to 3 ft above it. A floodplain verification letter costs $25. Texarkana takes part in FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program and its Community Rating System at class 9.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Historic districts: the City Code describes the Smith Burke, Original City, Quality Hill and Beech Street historic districts, and the fee schedule refers to seven districts. Any exterior change, demolition, new building or sign there needs a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic District Commission before the building permit is issued. The filing fee is $100, and an approved sign application pays $50 more. Owners within 300 ft are notified 15 days before the hearing, the hearing is held within 60 days of the application, and the commission decides within 30 days of a complete application. The city planner and building official can approve minor exterior alterations such as fences, gutters and color changes within five working days. A certificate lapses if work has not started within six months.
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 Texarkana, Arkansas permits
Who issues building permits in Texarkana, Arkansas?
The Public Works Department: its Code Enforcement Division ((870) 779-4977) oversees permits and certificates of occupancy, and its Planning Division ((870) 779-4974) reviews building permits for zoning.
Do these rules apply in Texarkana, Texas?
No. They are the rules of the City of Texarkana, Arkansas; Texarkana, Texas is a separate city.
How much is a building permit for a new house?
$0.30 per square foot of heated or cooled space, so $600 for 2,000 sq ft, plus $0.05 per square foot for each of the electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits and their item fees.
Can a homeowner do their own plumbing or wiring?
Yes, for their own home: a householder may do electrical work in their own residence, and an owner may get a plumbing permit for the single-family home they own and live in if they do the work themselves.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How high must a new house be built in a flood zone?
In zone AE, the top of the lowest floor must be at least 2 ft above the base flood elevation, shown on an elevation certificate.
Do I need approval for work in a historic district?
Yes. A $100 certificate of appropriateness from the Historic District Commission must be issued before the building permit.
Official Texarkana, Arkansas permit resources
- Texarkana Code Enforcement Division
- Texarkana Planning and Zoning Division
- Texarkana Code Chapter 12, building and trade permits and fees
- Texarkana Code Chapter 22, flood damage prevention
- Texarkana Code Chapter 32, Historic District Commission
- Texarkana Board of Directors agendas and packets (CivicClerk)
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More Arkansas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Texarkana permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.