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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Permit required
Before any plumbing/gas work begins
Bond required
$10,000 bond to the city
Minimum permit fee
$50 for plumbing work
No-permit penalty
3x the permit fee owed
Code adopted
2018 Arkansas Plumbing Code

Summary

Little Rock requires a city permit before any plumbing or gas piping work, issued under the adopted 2018 Arkansas Plumbing Code.

It shall be unlawful for a person or persons to install plumbing work, and/or gas piping to include underground services in all buildings new or existing or to make any changes on the existing plumbing, and/or gas piping system in all buildings private or public, rural or urban, where such buildings and/or underground services are located within the inspection jurisdiction of the city without first obtaining a permit for same from the city.

View official code

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

Under Sec. 8-509 of the Little Rock code, it is unlawful to install or alter plumbing or gas piping in any new or existing building within the city's inspection jurisdiction without first obtaining a permit from the city. Applicants must submit the job address, contractor company info, the responsible master plumber or gas fitter's state license number, a current city privilege license, and a $10,000 bond. The city has adopted the 2018 Arkansas Plumbing Code by reference (Sec. 8-2) as the governing technical standard, administered by the planning and development department's plumbing and gas inspectors (Sec. 8-500).

Violations & Fines

Working without a permit triggers a fee equal to three times the unpaid permit fee, plus the general Code penalty of up to a $1,000 fine (or $500/day for continuing violations) under Sec. 1-9.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every plumbing repair need a permit in Little Rock?
No. Minor items like rodding a sewer line, a temporary leak clamp, or swapping a fixture trap or clothes washer without rough-in are exempted under Sec. 8-509(c).
Can a homeowner pull their own plumbing permit?
Yes, for a single-family home they own and occupy, per Sec. 8-510, but not for rental or commercial property, and they must handle the physical work themselves.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Little Rock

All Little Rock rules

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