White County, AR Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

to reduce flood losses. It applies to all Special Flood Hazard Areas identified in the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for White County, Arkansas, and Incorporated Areas, dated May 2, 2012, with an effective Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) of the same date. The Quorum Court found that floodplain development, including structural building, placement of manufactured homes, clearing, grading, mining, drilling, dredging, fill placement, excavation, and individual water or sewer installations, can raise flood elevations and worsen flooding for other landowners, so it restricts or prohibits such activity in Special Flood Hazard Areas and requires flood protection at initial construction, after substantial improvement, or after substantial damage.

Rather than write technical building standards into this ordinance, the Quorum Court adopted by reference a separate Flood Damage Prevention Code for White County, Arkansas, dated February 21, 2012, covering definitions, administration, and flood hazard reduction provisions; a copy is filed with the White County Clerk for public inspection. Constructing, locating, substantially altering, or changing the use of any structure or land after the ordinance's effective date requires full compliance with both this Ordinance and the adopted Code. Any conflict between this program and an easement, covenant, or deed restriction is resolved in favor of whichever imposes the more stringent restriction, and every provision is treated as a minimum requirement construed in favor of the county.