What do these permits involve in Washington County?

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Conditional Use Permit (unincorporated Washington County)

A business at a site in unincorporated Washington County, Arkansas, other than an agricultural or single-family residential use, needs a Conditional Use Permit. Ordinance 2025-044, The Freedom and Property Preservation Zoning Act of Washington County (adopted 8-21-2025) declares under §5 'E) CONDITIONAL USES' that "All other proposed uses in said zones, other than those specifically permitted therein, are hereby declared to be conditional uses". Under §5 'I) CONDITIONAL USE--MAJORITY VOTE', a conditional use "may only be allowed upon a majority vote of the entire Board membership and must be ratified by the Quorum Court, sitting in its legislative capacity, by ordinance"; the CUP packet says ratification "usually takes place at the next regularly scheduled Quorum Court meeting (the third Thursday of each month, unless otherwise scheduled)". The $300.00 fee is printed both in the Washington County Planning fee schedule (official fee page and PDF, "Effective January 1, 2026") ("Conditional Use Permit Request $300.00") and in the county's CUP application packet updated 01/01/2026 ("CUP Review Fee ($300, check or exact cash)"); the packet adds that the applicant is responsible for "all certified letter mailing fees and engineering fees associated with the CUP project". The fee page states: "This fee schedule is intended for information purposes only. The information may not be complete and is subject to change." Under Ordinance 2025-044 §5 'M) FEES' (1), Planning Office fees are established and modified by the Planning Board, and "A list of approved fees can be accessed at the office of the Planning Administrator." The packet asks for a detailed site plan, traffic and drainage statements and answers on hours, employees, outdoor music, lighting, signage and customers. Under the ordinance, substantial work or construction under an approved development plan "must be commenced within one (1) year (12 month period from the Planning Board's date of approval), or the approval shall terminate", and approved plans "shall run with the property". Under §5 'K) TIME LIMITS FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMITTEES', a permittee with no land-development approval to obtain must meet all conditions within 18 months of the grant; where land-development approval is needed, that application is due within 12 months; the Planning Director may grant up to two 90-day extensions, and a non-complying permit "shall expire and be null and void". A Board decision may be appealed on the county's Notice of Appeal form, which states "There is no fee to file the form."

Large Scale Development plan review (sites of 1 acre or more, unincorporated Washington County)

Ordinance 2025-044 treats a lot or parcel equal to or larger than one acre, developed as a single improvement, as a Large Scale Development, and the county's LSD packet states that "The County has jurisdiction over large scale developments in the unincorporated areas of Washington County, except as otherwise provided by law." A business building on such a site submits concept, preliminary and final plans to the Planning Board. The fees are printed both in the Washington County Planning fee schedule (official fee page and PDF, "Effective January 1, 2026") and in the county's Large Scale Development packet updated 01/01/2026 (step "2. Pay plat review fee"): Concept Plat $100.00, Preliminary LSD Plan $500.00, Final LSD Plan $500.00, and $750.00 each for the Preliminary and Final High-Intensity LSD Plan. The fee page states: "This fee schedule is intended for information purposes only. The information may not be complete and is subject to change." Under Ordinance 2025-044 §5 'M) FEES' (1), Planning Office fees are established and modified by the Planning Board, and "A list of approved fees can be accessed at the office of the Planning Administrator." The packet lists minimum requirements enforced by the County Fire Marshal (ingress and egress, water supply and fire flow, hydrant spacing, access roads), and its plat carries a "COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL APPROVAL" block; Code of Ordinances §940.00 states that all plats for land development in Washington County shall require the approval and signature of the County Fire Marshal. For projects inside ADEQ-designated urbanized areas outside city limits, the packet states that the county will require an approved Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, grading plans if applicable, erosion control plans and an "Associated review fee"; that review fee amount is not published in the packet or on the fee page. If the site is also in a city Planning Area, the packet says "the City Planning must have previously approved the plat." The packet states: "The development may become operational only after the final plan is signed and filed and two file stamped copies are returned to the Planning Office."

Variance (Washington County Zoning Board of Adjustment)

A business that needs relief from a standard of the county zoning ordinance, such as a setback, at a site in unincorporated Washington County asks the Planning Board, sitting as the Zoning Board of Adjustment, for a variance. Under Ordinance 2025-044, The Freedom and Property Preservation Zoning Act of Washington County (adopted 8-21-2025), §5 'K) VARIANCES', the Board may grant a variance where strict enforcement would cause undue hardship due to circumstances unique to the property, and "a variance may only be allowed upon a three-fourths (¾) majority of the entire Board membership". The ordinance also states that no conditional use authorized by the Planning Board shall be subsequently considered in connection with a variance request. The $200.00 fee is printed both in the Washington County Planning fee schedule (official fee page and PDF, "Effective January 1, 2026") ("Variance Request $200.00") and on the county's Variance application form updated 06/24/2026 ("Fees ($200)"), which also lists "Payment of any applicable Engineering fees". The fee page states: "This fee schedule is intended for information purposes only. The information may not be complete and is subject to change." Under Ordinance 2025-044 §5 'M) FEES' (1), Planning Office fees are established and modified by the Planning Board, and "A list of approved fees can be accessed at the office of the Planning Administrator."

Floodplain Development Permit (Special Flood Hazard Areas, unincorporated Washington County)

Article 2 Section C of the Flood Damage Prevention Code for Washington County, AR, dated 01/25/2024 and adopted by Ordinance 2024-003, states: "A Floodplain Development Permit is required for all structural development, placement of manufactured structures, clearing, grading, mining, drilling, dredging, placement of fill, excavating, watercourse alteration, drainage improvements, roadway or bridge construction, individual water or sewer installations or any other development in a Special Flood Hazard Area to ensure conformance with the provisions of this Code." A business building or grading on a site in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area therefore applies before work starts. Article 2 Section A provides: "The Washington County Judge, or the designee of Washington County Judge, is hereby appointed the Floodplain Administrator." The county's building information sheet states that "The Washington County Planning office serves as the Floodplain Administration office for the county", and the county's planning ordinances page says "All development in a floodplain requires a Floodplain Development Permit." The county's permit application form states: "The development may not be used or occupied until a Certificate of Compliance is issued." Decisions may be appealed to the Washington County Planning Board, the designated Appeal Board. No permit fee is published in the Planning fee schedule effective January 1, 2026, on the application form or in the ordinance; ask the Planning Office at (479) 444-1724.

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
Conditional Use Permit (unincorporated Washington County)only if it applies to you	Washington County Planning Office, Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment	$300 per Conditional Use Permit request, plus the applicant's certified-letter mailing fees and engineering fees for the project	runs with the property once used; terminates if substantial work does not start within 1 year of Planning Board approval, and expires if conditions are not met within the ordinance's 18-month or 12-month time limits (up to two 90-day extensions)	2026-10-19
Large Scale Development plan review (sites of 1 acre or more, unincorporated Washington County)only if it applies to you	Washington County Planning Office, Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment	LSD Concept Plat $100.00; Preliminary LSD Plan $500.00; Final LSD Plan $500.00; High-Intensity/Industrial LSD: Preliminary LSD Plan $750.00, Final LSD Plan $750.00.	an approved land development permit not activated within 12 months of approval is null and void; all conditions are to be met within 18 months, with up to two 90-day extensions	2026-10-19
Variance (Washington County Zoning Board of Adjustment)only if it applies to you	Washington County Planning Office, Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment	$200 per variance request, plus any applicable engineering fees	per request	2026-10-19
Floodplain Development Permit (Special Flood Hazard Areas, unincorporated Washington County)only if it applies to you	Washington County Planning Office, Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment	No permit fee is published in the Planning fee schedule effective January 1, 2026, on the Floodplain Development Permit Application Form or in the Ordinance 2024-003 text; contact the Planning Office at (479) 444-1724 for any current charge.	per development; the development may not be used or occupied until a Certificate of Compliance is issued	2026-10-19

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