Benton County, AR Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Arterial road setback
- 65 ft from centerline
- Collector road setback
- 55 ft from centerline
- Local road setback
- 50 ft from centerline
- Alternate minimum
- 25 ft from property line
- Variance authority
- County planning board
Summary
Benton County bars any manmade structure from within 50 to 65 feet of a road's centerline, with the exact distance set by whether the road is arterial, collector, or local.
No manmade structure shall be constructed within the following minimum setback areas: (1)Arterial roads. 65 feet measured from the centerline of the fronting road or 25 feet from the fronting property line, whichever is greater. (2)Collector roads. 55 feet measured from the centerline of the fronting road or 25 feet from the fronting property line, whichever is greater. (3)Local roads. 50 feet measured from the centerline of the fronting road or 25 feet from the fronting property line, whichever is greater. (b)Existing subdivisions which have been approved by the county prior to the effective date of the ordinance from which this section derives with a lesser setback than required in this section shall be permitted to observe the setback as shown on the recorded plat. (Code 1993, § 54-58; Ord. No. 86-27, art. II, 11-13-1986; Ord. No. 04-09, §§ 1, 2, 4-8-2004)
Full Breakdown
Under Article III of Chapter 54 (Planning and Development), no structure may be built within a set distance of the road: 65 feet from centerline (or 25 feet from the property line, whichever is greater) on arterial roads, 55 feet on collector roads, and 50 feet on local roads. Subdivisions platted before the 1986 ordinance keep the setback shown on their recorded plat. The county planning board can grant a variance for undue hardship unique to the property, and violations are misdemeanors enforced through the county judge's office starting 30 days after written notice, with each day counted as a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
Building inside the setback is a misdemeanor under Sec. 54-57, penalized under Sec. 1-9, with each day of continued violation counted as a separate offense starting 30 days after written notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this setback apply inside Bentonville or Rogers?
What if my lot was platted before this rule existed?
Can I get a variance from the setback?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Benton County
Compare Benton County to another location·View the Arkansas building setbacks & zoning overview
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