Little Rock, AR Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)
Key Facts
- Building stages
- Footing, framing, final
- Trade stages
- Rough-in then final each trade
- Re-inspection fee
- $46.35 per extra trip
- Overdue-CO fine
- Up to $257.50 per day
Summary
Little Rock's building codes division inspects permitted work in defined stages before it can be closed out: footing, framing and final for building work, with parallel rough/final checks for electrical, plumbing and mechanical trades.
The permit fee shall be assessed based on the stage of approval of inspections. The fee assessment shall be prorated in accordance with the number of remaining inspections. Inspections consist of the following: Building: Footing, framing, final.
Electrical: Pipe-in wall, rough, final.
Plumbing: Slab, rough, final.
Mechanical: Duct work, rough, final.
6.Permit refunds issued in accordance with finance department guidelines.v.Temporary certificate of occupancy ninety (90) days.1.Commercial. sixty-one and 80/100 dollars ($61.80). Single buildings, apartments, motels, hotels and multi-tenant occupancies when permitted under same contractor or owner shall be assessed as follows: sixty-one and 80/100 dollars ($61.80) for the first five (5) units and five and 15/100 dollars ($5.15) for each additional unit. A one-time extension of thirty (30) days may be granted if applicant can show just cause for temporary certificate of occupancy to be extended. Applicant shall pay extension fee of eighty-two and 40/100 dollars ($82.40) for each extension request.
2.Residential. Fifty-one dollars and 50/100 dollars ($51.50).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 83).
Full Breakdown
The city's permit fee rules spell out the inspection sequence that every building permit passes through: for building work it's footing, framing, then final; electrical is pipe-in-wall, rough, then final; plumbing is slab, rough, then final; mechanical is duct work, rough, then final. If a contractor is swapped mid-job, the remaining permit fee is prorated against how many of these inspections are still outstanding. A re-inspection fee of $46.35 applies whenever an inspector makes an extra trip because work wasn't ready, the site was locked out, or the location was unclear.
Violations & Fines
Re-inspection fee of $46.35 per additional trip caused by rejected work, lockouts, or incomplete info. Occupying a structure without a valid certificate of occupancy after a temporary CO expires can draw a citation to Little Rock District Court and fines up to $257.50 per day, plus possible utility disconnection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What building inspections does Little Rock require?
What happens if an inspector shows up and the work isn't ready?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Little Rock
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