Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Pulaski County, AR Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

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

Key Facts

Permit needed
Only inside special flood hazard areas
Filling fee
$25/lot or $50/acre
Fill surcharge
$0.01 per cubic yard
Issuing office
County planning and development dept.
Outside flood zones
No county grading permit required

Summary

Filling, grading, or altering drainage in a Pulaski County flood hazard area requires a floodplain development permit before work starts.

City-specific rules exist: Little Rock has its own erosion control rules that differ from Pulaski County's county-level regulations. If you live in Little Rock, check the city-specific page instead.

Application for floodplain development permit shall be presented to the county department of planning and development on forms furnished by them and must include a permit fee as follows: (1)Filling. Twenty-five ($25.00) dollars per lot or fifty ($50.00) dollars an acre if lot is over one (1) acre plus one ($0.01) cent per cubic yard of fill. (2)Buildings. Two ($0.02) cents per square foot of ground floor area. These fees may be waived on application submitted by other governmental units or agencies thereof. This application will include, but not limited to, plans in duplicate drawn to scale showing the location, dimensions, and elevations of proposed landscape and earthwork, alterations, existing and proposed structures, including the placement of manufactured homes, and the location of the foregoing in relation to areas of special flood hazard. Additionally, the following information is required: a.Elevation in relation to mean sea level of the lowest floor (including basement) of all proposed structures. b.Elevation in relation to mean sea level to which any nonresidential structure shall be flood proofed. c.A certificate from a registered professional engineer or architect that the nonresidential flood proofed structure shall meet the flood-proofing criteria of section 7-52(2). d.Description of the extent to which any watercourse or natural drainage will be altered or relocated as a result of proposed development.

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 20).

Full Breakdown

Pulaski County only regulates grading and drainage alteration where the work falls inside a designated special flood hazard area. The county department of planning and development requires a floodplain development permit for filling, grading, excavating, or drainage improvements there, charging $25 per lot (or $50 per acre on lots over an acre) plus a penny per cubic yard of fill. Applicants must describe how any watercourse or natural drainage will be altered or relocated. Outside mapped flood hazard areas, the county has no general grading or drainage permit. Arkansas counties lack broad zoning authority over unincorporated land.

Violations & Fines

Developing, filling, or altering drainage in a special flood hazard area without a permit is enforced by the floodplain administrator, who can issue cease-and-desist orders, issue citations, and refer non-compliant properties to FEMA for denial of flood insurance; violating the chapter is a misdemeanor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to grade or fill land in Pulaski County?
Only if the land is in a mapped special flood hazard area: then a floodplain development permit and fee are required before grading, filling, or excavating.
What happens if I alter drainage in a flood zone without a permit?
The floodplain administrator can issue cease-and-desist orders and citations, and violating the chapter is a misdemeanor.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Pulaski County

All Pulaski County rules

Compare Pulaski County to another location·View the Arkansas environmental rules overview

Get notified when Erosion Control in Pulaski County, AR changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.

Erosion Control in Cities Across Pulaski County