Little Rock, AR · Pulaski County
Little Rock 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.
Little Rock Fee Estimate
Fee Estimate
Permit valuation may differ from your construction budget when the city applies its own valuation method.
Estimate · Little Rock, AR
$1,151.65
Estimated fees for the inputs shown. Conditional items are listed but not added.
- Building permit fee$1,095.00
$420.00 for first $100,000.00 + 225 × $3.00 per additional $1,000.00
- 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)
- Certificate of occupancy$30.90
Flat fee $30.90
Certificate of occupancy: $30.90 new residential, $61.80 new commercial building or addition.
Not included in this estimate
Plan review fee; 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: $3,285.00Permit 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?
Common Project Values
Estimated Little Rock 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 $570.00
$626.65
Starter home
$225,000 · 1,600 sq ft
Permit fee $795.00
$851.65
Standard home
$325,000 · 2,200 sq ft
Permit fee $1,095.00
$1,151.65
Family home
$450,000 · 2,800 sq ft
Permit fee $1,470.00
$1,526.65
Large home
$650,000 · 3,800 sq ft
Permit fee $1,995.00
$2,051.65
Custom home
$1,000,000 · 5,500 sq ft
Permit fee $2,870.00
$2,926.65
| Project size | Valuation | Area | Permit fee | Other fees | Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small home | $150,000 | 1,200 sq ft | $570.00 | $56.65 | $626.65 |
| Starter home | $225,000 | 1,600 sq ft | $795.00 | $56.65 | $851.65 |
| Standard home | $325,000 | 2,200 sq ft | $1,095.00 | $56.65 | $1,151.65 |
| Family home | $450,000 | 2,800 sq ft | $1,470.00 | $56.65 | $1,526.65 |
| Large home | $650,000 | 3,800 sq ft | $1,995.00 | $56.65 | $2,051.65 |
| Custom home | $1,000,000 | 5,500 sq ft | $2,870.00 | $56.65 | $2,926.65 |
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 →
New Single-Family Home: $325,000, 2,200 sq ft. Trade permits excluded.
- Little Rock$1,151.65Valuation tiers
$420.00 for first $100,000.00 + 225 × $3.00 per additional $1,000.00
- North Little Rock$440.00Sq ft + valuation
2,200 sq ft × $0.20 = $440.00
- Conway$275.00Sq ft + valuation
2,200 sq ft × $0.11 = $242.00; minimum $250.00 applies
- Bryant$308.00Square footage
2,200 sq ft × $0.14 = $308.00
- Benton$220.00Square footagelowest
2,200 sq ft × $0.10 = $220.00
- Maumelle$418.00Sq ft + valuation
2,200 sq ft × $0.19 = $418.00
- Sherwood$352.00Square footage
2,200 sq ft × $0.16 = $352.00
- CabotUnavailableNot published
Cabot calculates building fees at plan review and does not publish its fee schedule. Call the permit office for a quote.
| City | Fee basis | Why it differs | Permit fee | Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little RockPulaski County | Valuation tiers | $420.00 for first $100,000.00 + 225 × $3.00 per additional $1,000.00 | $1,095.00 | $1,151.65 |
| North Little RockPulaski County | Sq ft + valuation | 2,200 sq ft × $0.20 = $440.00 | $440.00 | $440.00 |
| ConwayFaulkner County | Sq ft + valuation | 2,200 sq ft × $0.11 = $242.00; minimum $250.00 applies | $250.00 | $275.00 |
| BryantSaline County | Square footage | 2,200 sq ft × $0.14 = $308.00 | $308.00 | $308.00 |
| BentonSaline County | Square footage | 2,200 sq ft × $0.10 = $220.00 | $220.00 | $220.00lowest |
| MaumellePulaski County | Sq ft + valuation | 2,200 sq ft × $0.19 = $418.00 | $418.00 | $418.00 |
| SherwoodPulaski County | Square footage | 2,200 sq ft × $0.16 = $352.00 | $352.00 | $352.00 |
| CabotLonoke County | Not published | Cabot calculates building fees at plan review and does not publish its fee schedule. Call the permit office for a quote. | Unavailable | Unavailable |
Little Rock Submittal Checklist
Required and conditional documents for this project type. Confirm this requirement with the city.
Little Rock permit application
Submit through Little Rock Planning & Development, Building Codes Division. Include the project address, parcel number, owner, contractor and declared valuation.
Permit portal ↗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.
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.
Energy code compliance
REScheck or equivalent showing compliance with the Arkansas Energy Code for the dwelling envelope.
Arkansas energy code status ↗Central Arkansas Water availability and tap letter
Confirm water and sewer availability and tap or meter fees with Central Arkansas Water. Tap and impact fees are not part of the building permit estimate.
Central Arkansas Water ↗ADEQ construction stormwater permit
ConditionalSites 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 ↗Floodplain development permit
ConditionalRequired 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 ↗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 ↗Trade permits from licensed trades
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are pulled separately by Arkansas-licensed master electricians, plumbers and HVACR contractors.
Permit office
Little Rock Planning & Development, Building Codes Division
- 723 W. Markham St., Little Rock, AR 72201
- (501) 371-4832
- Online permit portal · Department website
Confirm hours and submittal format with the city before you go.
Inspection Roadmap
- 1
Footing
After trenches are dug and steel is placed, before concrete
- 2
Foundation / slab
After under-slab plumbing, vapor barrier and steel, before the pour
- 3
Rough-in: plumbing, electrical, mechanical
After rough trade work, before walls are covered
- 4
Framing
After rough-ins pass, before insulation
- 5
Insulation / energy
After insulation, before drywall
- 6
Trade finals
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical finals
- 7
Building final
After all trade finals pass
- 8
Certificate of occupancy
Issued after the building final; required before move-in
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a new single-family home permit cost in Little Rock, Arkansas?
Under Little Rock Code § 8-31, a $325,000 (2,200 sq ft) new single-family home in Little Rock, AR has estimated permit fees of $1,151.65. This includes a $1,095.00 building permit fee, $25.75 in administrative fees and a $30.90 certificate of occupancy. Trade permits are billed separately.
Does Little Rock, AR calculate building permits by square footage or project valuation?
Little Rock calculates building permits by project valuation, not square footage. Work valued at $5,000 or less needs no building fee; above that, a base fee covers the first portion of value and a rate is added for each additional $1,000 or fraction. Valuation comes from the contract or the ICC Building Valuation Data table.
How long does commercial plan review take in Little Rock, AR and what does it cost?
Plan review costs 50% of the building permit fee (minimum $56.65) for commercial projects. 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 Little Rock?
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 Little Rock.
Sources and Assumptions
- Schedule
- Little Rock Code § 8-31
- Source reviewed on
- October 20, 2026
- Data status
- Some components are confirmed; unconfirmed components are marked Unavailable instead of estimated.
- Little Rock Code § 8-31, as amended by Ord. 22,703 (eff. Jan. 1, 2026)reviewed 2026-10-20
- Little Rock Ord. 22,204 (2022 fee schedule, last published valuation table)reviewed 2026-10-20
- A.C.A. § 6-55-106 (Act 474 of 1999)reviewed 2026-10-20
- Ord. 22,703 (eff. Jan. 1, 2026) rewrote § 8-31(c) without a building valuation table; its other fees rose about 3%. Building fees here use the last published table (Ord. 22,204, 2022) until the city confirms the current one.
- Residential fees in Targeted Neighborhood Enhancement Areas (Central High, Downtown, Philander Smith) are reduced 75%, not below the minimum. Not applied here.
PermitBasis is an independent planning resource. The issuing authority determines final fees and requirements.