Little Rock, AR Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Under Sec. 8-31 of the Little Rock Code, a building permit is mandatory for construction work exceeding $5,000 in combined material and labor cost, or for any work that requires an inspection, which covers virtually all elevated or structurally attached decks. The code's exemption list is narrow: short residential fences, roofs, painting, floor coverings, and small detached tool/storage sheds under 200 square feet. Decks and patios are not on that exemption list, so a raised deck tied into the house structure needs a permit even under $5,000 if it triggers an inspection. A ground-level paver or gravel patio with no structural elements and no roof is the case most likely to fall outside permitting, since it's neither an inspected structural build nor counted toward lot coverage.