Environmental Rules in Arkansas (2026)
40 rules on the books across Arkansas, 13 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Stormwater Management
Requirements for managing rainwater runoff on your property, including retention basins, permeable surfaces, and drainage plans.
Arkansas: statewide
StatewideHeavy RestrictionsArkansas regulates stormwater discharges through the Department of Energy and Environment Division of Environmental…
Read full rule →Benton County
Some RestrictionsSite work in unincorporated Benton County triggers a stormwater review: Sec. 38-1 has the planning office check every…
Read full rule →Fort Smith
Some RestrictionsFort Smith requires written approval from the Department of Engineering before any storm drainage facility, pipe…
Read full rule →Garland County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Garland County, no storm drainage facility, including pipes, channels or streams, can be built…
Read full rule →Jonesboro
Some RestrictionsJonesboro requires a Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) reviewed by the city engineer before anyone develops…
Read full rule →Little Rock
Some RestrictionsLittle Rock requires a city grading permit before major land disturbance, with drainage and erosion controls mandatory…
Read full rule →Pulaski County
Some RestrictionsPulaski County adopted an official Stormwater Management Policy by ordinance in 2007, governing drainage and runoff…
Read full rule →Sebastian County
Some RestrictionsSebastian County requires a floodplain development permit before any grading, filling, dredging, drainage improvement…
Read full rule →Springdale
Some RestrictionsSpringdale governs stormwater drainage design under a citywide Drainage Criteria Manual adopted by ordinance and…
Read full rule →Washington County
Some RestrictionsAny construction disturbing one acre or more in Washington County needs coverage under Arkansas DEQ's construction…
Read full rule →Erosion Control
Rules to prevent soil erosion during construction and landscaping, including required sediment barriers and ground cover standards.
Garland County
Significant RestrictionsConstruction sites in unincorporated Garland County disturbing one acre or more, or any commercial site regardless of…
Read full rule →Benton County
Some RestrictionsAny construction site in unincorporated Benton County that disturbs an acre or more of soil, including a single lot…
Read full rule →Fort Smith
Some RestrictionsFort Smith requires a grading permit before altering one acre or more of land, or grading within 15 feet of a utility…
Read full rule →Jonesboro
Some RestrictionsJonesboro requires a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan and grading permit before disturbing one acre or more of land…
Read full rule →Little Rock
Some RestrictionsLittle Rock requires a grading permit before clearing, filling, cutting, or construction disturbing land, and mandates…
Read full rule →Pulaski County
Some RestrictionsFilling, grading, or altering drainage in a Pulaski County flood hazard area requires a floodplain development permit…
Read full rule →Springdale
Some RestrictionsSpringdale requires an approved development plan before the city will issue a grading permit or building permit for…
Read full rule →Washington County
Some RestrictionsConstruction sites in Washington County must control erosion and sediment under Arkansas DEQ permit ARR150000 once one…
Read full rule →Coastal Development
Building restrictions near coastlines, including setbacks from the water, dune protection rules, and coastal commission permits.
Flood Zones
Building requirements for properties in FEMA flood zones, including elevation standards, flood insurance mandates, and construction limits.
Arkansas: statewide
StatewideHeavy RestrictionsArkansas participates in the National Flood Insurance Program through the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission. State…
Read full rule →Benton County
Significant RestrictionsAny construction or land alteration in a Benton County special flood hazard area needs a development permit before work…
Read full rule →Fort Smith
Significant RestrictionsFort Smith bars any development, building, filling, grading, or land alteration, inside a mapped floodplain or floodway…
Read full rule →Garland County
Significant RestrictionsGarland County adopted a Flood Damage Prevention Code covering every special flood hazard area on FEMA's Garland County…
Read full rule →Little Rock
Significant RestrictionsAny grading, fill, construction or utility work in a Little Rock special flood hazard area needs a floodplain…
Read full rule →Pulaski County
Significant RestrictionsPulaski County requires a floodplain development permit for any construction, fill, or land alteration in a special…
Read full rule →Sebastian County
Significant RestrictionsAny structural work, fill, grading, drilling, or utility installation in a special flood hazard area in unincorporated…
Read full rule →Springdale
Significant RestrictionsSpringdale adopts a Flood Damage Prevention Code by reference and regulates all development in FEMA special flood…
Read full rule →Craighead County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Craighead County, all development is governed by a flood damage prevention regulatory code the Quorum…
Read full rule →Faulkner County
Some RestrictionsFaulkner County requires full compliance with its Flood Damage Prevention Code before anyone builds, alters or changes…
Read full rule →Jonesboro
Some RestrictionsJonesboro adopts FEMA's flood insurance study and rate maps, effective September 26, 2024, to define its special flood…
Read full rule →Saline County
Some RestrictionsSaline County's Quorum Court adopted the Flood Damage Prevention Code by ordinance to regulate development inside…
Read full rule →Washington County
Some RestrictionsWashington County regulates development in Special Flood Hazard Areas under its Flood Damage Prevention Program. The…
Read full rule →Vehicle Idling Restrictions
Limits on how long heavy-duty vehicles, buses, and passenger cars may idle, including bans near schools and residential areas.
Flood Elevation Requirements
FEMA NFIP minimum base flood elevation (BFE) construction standards for properties in mapped flood zones, including freeboard requirements above BFE.
Sebastian County
Significant RestrictionsNew residential structures in Sebastian County's AE or A1-30 flood zones must have their lowest floor built one foot…
Read full rule →Benton County
Some RestrictionsNew and substantially improved buildings in Benton County's mapped flood hazard zones must have their lowest floor at…
Read full rule →Craighead County
Some RestrictionsFor subdivision development in unincorporated Craighead County, § 1200.00(16) bars any plat with lots or building sites…
Read full rule →Fort Smith
Some RestrictionsIn special flood hazard areas, Fort Smith requires new and substantially improved residential structures to elevate…
Read full rule →Jonesboro
Some RestrictionsAny lot in a local or FEMA-mapped special flood hazard area must show the effective base flood elevation on the record…
Read full rule →Little Rock
Some RestrictionsNew and substantially improved residential structures in Little Rock's AE and A1-30 flood zones must sit at least one…
Read full rule →Pulaski County
Some RestrictionsPulaski County requires new or substantially improved homes in a mapped flood hazard area to elevate the lowest floor…
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