Central Arkansas · 8 cities · 6 project types
Know your permit costs before you bid.
Itemized building permit fee estimates, city-specific submittal checklists, and links to the ordinance behind every number. Little Rock prices by valuation. Conway and Bryant price by square footage. PermitBasis does the math for each.
Fee Estimate
Permit valuation may differ from your construction budget when the city applies its own valuation method.
Estimate · Little Rock, AR
$1,955.75
Estimated fees for the inputs shown. Conditional items are listed but not added.
- Building permit fee$1,170.00
$420.00 for first $100,000.00 + 250 × $3.00 per additional $1,000.00
- Plan review fee$585.00
50% of $1,170.00 building fee
- Data processing fee$25.75
Flat fee $25.75 per application
Little Rock Code § 8-31, as amended by Ord. 22,703 (eff. Jan. 1, 2026)
- Arkansas Act 474 surcharge$175.00
350 × $0.50 per $1,000
A.C.A. § 6-55-106: $0.50 per $1,000 on nonresidential permits, max $1,000 per project.
Not included in this estimate
Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical); utility tap and impact fees, re-inspection fees, and other agency approvals.
Cost of working without a permit in Little Rock: $3,510.00Permit fees are multiplied by 3× when work starts before the permit is issued.
Need sealed MEP drawings, permit expediting, or 3 bids from ACLB-licensed contractors in Little Rock?
Central Arkansas permit fee matrix
Estimated fees at each project type's benchmark size. Trade permits excluded. Select a figure for the itemized worksheet. * partial: a fee component isn't published. n/a: the city doesn't publish this schedule.
- Little RockValuation
- North Little RockSq ft + valuation
- ConwaySq ft + valuation
- BryantSq ft
- BentonSq ft
- MaumelleSq ft + valuation
- SherwoodSq ft
- CabotNot published
| City | Basis | Commercial Remodel$350,000 | New Commercial$750,000 | New Single-Family$325,000 | Residential Addition$90,000 | Roof / Structural$150,000 | Mechanical / HVAC$50,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | Valuation | $1,956 | $3,830 | $1,152 | $416 | $956 | $374 |
| North Little Rock | Sq ft + valuation | $1,550 | $3,156 | $440 | $120 | $700 | $285 |
| Conway | Sq ft + valuation | $550 | $2,080 | $275 | $91 | $250 | $65 |
| Bryant | Sq ft | n/a | $3,075 | $308 | $100 | n/a | $70 |
| Benton | Sq ft | $1,145 | $2,065 | $220 | $60 | n/a | n/a |
| Maumelle | Sq ft + valuation | $1,315 | $2,655 | $418 | $114 | $1,590 | $750 |
| Sherwood | Sq ft | n/a | n/a | $352 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Cabot | Not published | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Why the same project costs different amounts
Valuation tiers
Little Rock and other valuation cities charge a base fee plus a rate for each additional $1,000 of project value. A high-finish tenant remodel costs more than a plain one of the same size.
Square footage
Conway, Bryant and Benton charge a rate per square foot under roof for new buildings and additions. Finish level doesn't change the fee; floor area does.
Add-ons
Plan review, administrative fees, certificates of occupancy and trade permits are layered on top. Each city stacks them differently, and PermitBasis lists every one.
City guides
- Little RockPulaski CountyLittle Rock Code § 8-31
- North Little RockPulaski CountyNLR Municipal Code ch. 4, § 1.2
- ConwayFaulkner CountyConway Code § 11.16.06 (Ord. O-25-03)
- BryantSaline CountyBryant Permits & Fees schedule (Ord. 2019-26, as amended)
- BentonSaline CountyBenton Ord. 58 of 2023 (as amended by Ord. 44 of 2026)
- MaumellePulaski CountyMaumelle Code App. C, §§ C-46 – C-53
- SherwoodPulaski CountySherwood Code Title 11 (§ 11.04.07)
- CabotLonoke CountyCabot building permit fee schedule (not published online)
PermitBasis is an independent planning resource. The issuing authority determines final fees and requirements.