Little Rock, AR Outdoor Cooking: Outdoor Kitchen Permits (2026)

Little Rock does not have a dedicated 'outdoor kitchen' ordinance, but the components that make up a typical outdoor kitchen each fall under permitting rules in Chapter 8 (building code) and Chapter 12 (fire code) of the city code. A freestanding portable grill placed on a patio requires no permit. By contrast, an outdoor kitchen with one or more of the following triggers permits: a built-in gas line (plumbing/gas permit, inspected for leaks per Arkansas Fuel Gas Code), a hard-plumbed sink with potable water and drain (plumbing permit), 120V or 240V electrical service for refrigerators, lights, or appliances (electrical permit), or a roofed pavilion or pergola over a certain size (building permit, governed by zoning setbacks and lot coverage limits in Chapter 36). Outdoor kitchens are accessory uses to a primary residence and must be located in the rear or side yard subject to the zoning district's accessory structure setback rules. The Arkansas Fire Prevention Code (IFC §308) clearance rules continue to apply to the cooking appliance itself. Applicants file through Little Rock Planning and Development at 723 W. Markham St., or use the city's online permit portal. The Fire Marshal reviews any LP-gas storage greater than residential quantities.