Building Safety in Fort Smith, AR (2026)
3 verified building safety rules for Fort Smith, Arkansas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Building Permits
Fort Smith requires a building permit before you enlarge, alter, repair, or change the occupancy of any building, per the city's own amendment to the adopted building code's application section.
Fort Smith Renovation Permit Requirement
Some RestrictionsFort Smith City Code § 6-27(1) (amending Building Code § 105.1)
Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any parking lot, signs, electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems, the installation of which is regulated by the adopted codes, or to cause any such work to be preformed,...
Electrical Permits
Fort Smith bans installing or altering electrical wiring in any building without a permit issued to a registered electrical contractor, though an owner-occupant may wire their own single-family home with a permit.
Fort Smith Electrical Permit Rule
Some RestrictionsFort Smith City Code § 6-71
(a)No electric wiring shall be installed, altered, or changes made in existing wiring in or on any building without a permit first being issued to a registered electrical contractor or to such other person as may be by law entitled or permitted to install, alter or change electrical wiring.(b)A homeowner may perform work regulated by the electrical code in a single-family dwelling that is owned...
Plumbing Permits
Fort Smith adopts the 2018 state plumbing and fuel gas codes and requires plumbing work to be done by a state-licensed, city-registered master plumber under an automatic permit, or by the homeowner with a permit.
Fort Smith Plumbing Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsFort Smith City Code § 6-240
Plumbing in accordance with the above licensing and registration requirements shall be permitted under an automatic permit issued to the supervising master plumber. The homeowner performing his own plumbing shall be required to obtain his permit in advance by appearing in person before the plumbing inspector who shall inquire into the knowledge and capability of the home owner, and issue approp...
Looking for Sebastian County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Fort Smith city rules.
Building Safety in Sebastian County →