Environmental Rules in Fort Smith, AR (2026)
4 verified environmental rules for Fort Smith, Arkansas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Fort Smith requires written approval from the Department of Engineering before any storm drainage facility, pipe, channel, ditch, or enclosed structure, is built, altered, or reconstructed in city subdivisions or public rights-of-way.
Fort Smith Stormwater Facility Approval
Some RestrictionsFort Smith City Code § 27-506-1
No storm drainage facility, whether an enclosed structure, pipe, or an open channel, ditch or stream, shall be constructed, altered, or reconstructed within a subdivision, planned development, or a developed area, within a public right-of-way or easement, or discharge into, upon, or under a public right-of-way or easement, or a subdivision or planned development or developed area within the pla...
Erosion Control
Fort Smith requires a grading permit before altering one acre or more of land, or grading within 15 feet of a utility line, and mandates positive drainage, six inches of fall in ten feet, away from every building foundation.
Fort Smith Requires Grading Permits for Large Sites
Some RestrictionsFort Smith City Code § 11-84(b)
No person shall conduct any grading that would alter an area one acre or more in size, or which would occur over or within 15 feet of an existing utility line, without first obtaining a grading permit from the city.
Flood Zones
Fort Smith bars any development, building, filling, grading, or land alteration, inside a mapped floodplain or floodway without first obtaining a development permit from the city's floodplain administrator.
Fort Smith Requires Floodplain Development Permits
Significant RestrictionsFort Smith City Code § 11-38
No owner or possessor of real property shall cause or allow to be caused any development in any floodplain or floodway area without first applying for and obtaining a development permit in conformance with the provisions of this article. No person or entity shall work on any such development for which the required development permit has not been obtained. The development permit shall be applied...
Flood Elevation Requirements
In special flood hazard areas, Fort Smith requires new and substantially improved residential structures to elevate their lowest floor at least one foot above the base flood elevation, certified by a licensed engineer, architect or surveyor.
Fort Smith Requires One-Foot Flood Freeboard
Some RestrictionsFort Smith City Code § 11-62(1)
New construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure shall have the lowest floor (including basement), elevated to one foot or more above the base flood elevation. A registered professional engineer, architect, or land surveyor shall submit a certification to the floodplain administrator that the standard of this subsection is satisfied.
Looking for Sebastian County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Fort Smith city rules.
Environmental Rules in Sebastian County →