Fort Smith, AR Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit trigger
- 1 acre or more disturbed
- Also triggers
- Grading within 15 ft of utility
- Drainage
- 6 inches fall per 10 feet
- Standing water
- Prohibited on graded sites
Summary
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.
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.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 11-84(b) requires a grading permit before anyone alters an area one acre or larger, or grades within 15 feet of an existing utility line; applications must include a grading plan and an erosion and sediment control plan. Smaller sites under an acre skip the permit but still must meet the minimum standards of §§ 11-83, 11-85 and parts of 11-86. Under § 11-86(e), every graded site must drain away from buildings toward the street or drainageway, with at least six inches of fall in ten feet from building foundations, and standing water is prohibited.
Violations & Fines
Grading without the required permit triggers a stop-work order under § 11-90(e) and enforcement under § 11-90(f); general Code violations are fined up to $500.00 per day under § 1-9.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Fort Smith require a grading permit?
What drainage slope does Fort Smith require away from a house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Smith
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