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

Sec. 8-146 sets the baseline: no person may install or perform electrical work without a permit issued by the permit and records office (subsection (a)), and the permit must be secured by the master electrician in charge, or an authorized representative, before work starts (subsection (b)). Subsection (c) carves out a narrow exception for building contractors, who may pull permits and request inspections on temporary power centers used during construction of one- and two-family dwellings, with the actual temporary meter work still done by a licensed electrical contractor. Subsection (d) requires the application to list the exact street address, the requested inspection date, the master electrician's name, and a complete description of the work.

Sec. 8-147 limits who can hold that permit: only persons licensed under the electrical article, or an employer whose permanent employee is a licensed journeyman electrician, unless the property owner is doing work on their own home and can show they hold a current State of Arkansas Master or Journeyman Electrician's license along with proof of ownership and residency.

Inspections are staged. Under Sec. 8-148, wiring cannot be concealed until the electrical inspector has had 48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) to inspect it after notice, and every joint must carry an approved connection and pigtail before a job counts as roughed in. Sec. 8-149 requires a final inspection notice before current is used, and Sec. 8-150 makes it unlawful for any utility to energize a new structure without the inspector's clearance. Sec. 8-153 penalizes unpermitted work with a fee three times the original permit cost, and no further permits issue until it's paid. Sec. 8-154 requires a $10,000.00 surety bond to the city before any electrical permit is issued. Appeals of an inspector's decision go to the construction board of adjustments and appeals under Sec. 8-121, following the 30-day written-appeal procedure in Sec. 8-30.1.