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PermitBasis

Benton, AR · Saline County

Benton New Single-Family Home Permit Fees and Submittal Checklist

A new detached one- or two-family dwelling, measured by area under roof including garage and porches.

01

Benton Fee Estimate

Fee Estimate

$

Permit valuation may differ from your construction budget when the city applies its own valuation method.

sq ft

Estimate · Benton, AR

$220.00

Estimated fees for the inputs shown. Conditional items are listed but not added.

Not included in this estimate

Plan review fee; Certificate of occupancy; Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical); utility tap and impact fees, re-inspection fees, and other agency approvals.

Cost of working without a permit in Benton: $660.00Permit 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 Benton?

Sources and Assumptions

Schedule
Benton Ord. 58 of 2023 (as amended by Ord. 44 of 2026)
Source reviewed on
October 20, 2026
Assumes
Residential occupancy; $325,000 valuation and 2,200 sq ft as entered.

PermitBasis is an independent planning resource. The issuing authority determines final fees and requirements.

02

Common Project Values

Estimated Benton fees for new single-family home projects at six standard sizes, computed with the same rules as the calculator. Trade permits excluded.

  • Small home

    $150,000 · 1,200 sq ft

    Permit fee $120.00

    $120.00

  • Starter home

    $225,000 · 1,600 sq ft

    Permit fee $160.00

    $160.00

  • Standard home

    $325,000 · 2,200 sq ft

    Permit fee $220.00

    $220.00

  • Family home

    $450,000 · 2,800 sq ft

    Permit fee $280.00

    $280.00

  • Large home

    $650,000 · 3,800 sq ft

    Permit fee $380.00

    $380.00

  • Custom home

    $1,000,000 · 5,500 sq ft

    Permit fee $550.00

    $550.00

03

Central Arkansas Cost Comparison

The same project priced in all eight cities. Valuation-based cities (fee grows with project cost) and square-footage cities (fee grows with floor area) can differ widely for the same building. Full comparison →

04

Benton Submittal Checklist

Required and conditional documents for this project type. Confirm this requirement with the city.

Submittal Checklist0 of 9 ready
  1. Benton permit application

    Submit through Benton Community Development. Include the project address, parcel number, owner, contractor and declared valuation.

    Permit portal ↗
  2. Construction drawings

    Floor plan, foundation plan, wall section and elevations. Plans for one- and two-family dwellings generally do not require an architect's seal.

  3. Site plan or survey

    Property lines, setbacks, easements, building footprint, driveways and drainage. New commercial sites usually go through planning or site plan review first.

  4. Energy code compliance

    REScheck or equivalent showing compliance with the Arkansas Energy Code for the dwelling envelope.

    Arkansas energy code status ↗
  5. Benton Utilities availability and tap letter

    Confirm water and sewer availability and tap or meter fees with Benton Utilities. Tap and impact fees are not part of the building permit estimate.

    Benton Utilities ↗
  6. ADEQ construction stormwater permit

    Conditional

    Sites that disturb one acre or more need coverage under the ADEQ construction stormwater general permit and a stormwater pollution prevention plan.

    Applies when: One acre or more of land disturbance

    ADEQ stormwater ↗
  7. Floodplain development permit

    Conditional

    Required when any part of the work is in a FEMA special flood hazard area. Check the parcel on the FEMA map before design is final.

    Applies when: Parcel is in a mapped floodplain

    FEMA flood map ↗
  8. Arkansas contractor license verification

    Residential projects over $2,000 need an ACLB residential builder or home improvement license, unless the owner is building their own home.

    ACLB license lookup ↗
  9. Trade permits from licensed trades

    Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are pulled separately by Arkansas-licensed master electricians, plumbers and HVACR contractors.

Permit office

Benton Community Development

Confirm hours and submittal format with the city before you go.

Inspection Roadmap

  1. 1

    Footing

    After trenches are dug and steel is placed, before concrete

  2. 2

    Foundation / slab

    After under-slab plumbing, vapor barrier and steel, before the pour

  3. 3

    Rough-in: plumbing, electrical, mechanical

    After rough trade work, before walls are covered

  4. 4

    Framing

    After rough-ins pass, before insulation

  5. 5

    Insulation / energy

    After insulation, before drywall

  6. 6

    Trade finals

    Electrical, plumbing and mechanical finals

  7. 7

    Building final

    After all trade finals pass

  8. 8

    Certificate of occupancy

    Issued after the building final; required before move-in

05

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a new single-family home permit cost in Benton, Arkansas?

Under Benton Ord. 58 of 2023 (as amended by Ord. 44 of 2026), a $325,000 (2,200 sq ft) new single-family home in Benton, AR has estimated permit fees of $220.00. This includes a $220.00 building permit fee. Trade permits are billed separately.

Does Benton, AR calculate building permits by square footage or project valuation?

Benton prices building permits by square footage, not valuation: $0.10 per sq ft under roof for residential and $0.12 for commercial, with remodels and additions charged on the remodeled area and a $30 minimum. Plumbing, electrical and HVAC permits are each $0.10 per sq ft. Commercial plan review is a flat fee by project value starting at $100,000.

How long does commercial plan review take in Benton, AR and what does it cost?

Commercial plan review is a flat fee by project value: up to $150,000.00: $75.00; up to $200,000.00: $100.00; up to $250,000.00: $150.00; over $250,000.00: $250.00. No plan review fee at or below $99,999.00. The city does not publish a plan review turnaround time; ask the permit desk for the current queue when you submit.

Do I need an Arkansas commercial contractor license to pull a permit in Benton?

Yes, for commercial work of $50,000 or more. Under A.C.A. § 17-25-101, any project other than a single-family residence costing $50,000 or more in labor and materials requires an Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board commercial license, and the building official must see proof of license before issuing the permit. Residential builders and remodelers need an ACLB residential license for jobs over $2,000. Splitting a contract to stay under a threshold is not allowed. Licensed electricians, plumbers and HVACR contractors pull their own trade permits in Benton.

06

Sources and Assumptions

Schedule
Benton Ord. 58 of 2023 (as amended by Ord. 44 of 2026)
Source reviewed on
October 20, 2026
Data status
Some components are confirmed; unconfirmed components are marked Unavailable instead of estimated.
  • Ord. 44 of 2026 (effective Oct. 1, 2026) set a $30 minimum for new construction and remodels and a fee of at least 3× the permit fee for unpermitted work. Its full text was not yet posted when reviewed; rates shown are from Ord. 58 of 2023.
  • Also charged: a $0.01 per sq ft stormwater surcharge on building permits, and a commercial site plan review fee based on acreage (new in Ord. 44). Not included in estimates.

PermitBasis is an independent planning resource. The issuing authority determines final fees and requirements.