Pulaski County, AR Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (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.
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.
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?
What happens if I alter drainage in a flood zone without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pulaski County
Compare Pulaski County to another location·View the Arkansas environmental rules overview
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