Commercial Permits

Commercial projects in unincorporated Benton County typically start with the applicant attending a Developmental Review Committee Meeting. These meetings are usually held every other Wednesday at 10 a.m. and may be attended via Zoom or in person at the County Administration Building. For more information or to be added to the agenda, please contact the Planning Office at 479-464-6166 or planning@bentoncountyar.gov.

Once you are ready to apply for your permit, we request that a commercial application and all supporting documents be submitted to our office. Once your submission has been reviewed and approved, the building permit will be issued and construction can begin. The information below is just a quick overview of what to expect during the process:

Permit Submittal/Plan Reviews 

A commercial application will need to be completed, along with plans and all other relevant documents. This can be emailed to permits@bentoncountyar.gov. Please note that incomplete submissions will not be accepted. Plans will need to be submitted by plan sets – architectural, structural, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, life safety, etc., cover sheet and plans must meet requirements outlined in AFPC 2021, Vol II, Section 107.2.12. For projects involving multiple structures, it is necessary to submit individual applications for each structure. The application will be reviewed and submittals verified. The typical review time is ten business days on all submittals, and we do not offer expedited reviews. Once the Building, Planning, and Fire plan reviews have been completed, an approval email will be sent to the applicant along with a payment link. Once the fees are paid, your permit will be issued.

The following requirements must be met prior to submitting your commercial application:

• Planning Board Approval (if applicable)
• Arkansas Department of Health Plumbing Approval Letter (if applicable)
• Arkansas Department of Health Plumbing approved septic permit (if applicable)

The below documents must be submitted with your application:

• Building Plans (in accordance with A.C.A. § 17-15-302, projects valued over $250,000 must have stamped plans. Please reference AFPC 2021, Vol II, Section 107.1 for additional requirements.)
• Site Plan
• Septic Approval
• State Plumbing Letter and Approved Plumbing Plans
• Manual N
• Contractor License
• Planning Board Approval

For commercial remodels, the following documents will also be required:

• Asbestos Report (for structures built prior to 2000)
• Detailed Scope of Work
• Estimated Project Cost (including all labor and materials)

Permits

Once the building permit has been approved and issued, separate applications will need to be submitted for the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing portions of the project. Each application will need to be submitted by the contractor performing the work.

Inspections

Inspections can be scheduled on the portal, by text at 475-522-1003, or by email at permits@bentoncountyar.gov. You may also call the office and leave a detailed message at 479-271-1003 x 1. All inspections must be set up using one of those options and not by calling the inspectors directly. Inspections are conducted Monday-Friday and may be done as early as 6 AM. All requests for inspections must be made 24 hours in advance. Requests for inspections the following day must be submitted by 4:30 PM. The timing of inspections is influenced by weather, staff availability, and other unanticipated events. AM/PM requests are not guaranteed. Since inspectors are unable to return later in the day, please ensure that the inspection is ready on the day of the request. If the project is not ready for inspection when the inspector arrives on site, you may be charged a re-inspection fee.

Completion Process

All new commercial buildings, additions, and remodels (if applicable) must have a passed Planning Commercial Final Inspection from the Benton County Planning Department before requesting a final building inspection. All final building and fire inspections must be approved prior to moving ANY furniture and/or product into the location. Once all final inspections have passed, a Certificate of Occupancy will be released for the project.

Please contact our office by emailing permits@bentoncountyar.gov with any questions.