City building department · Arkansas
Rogers building department
Permits, inspections, and official contacts for Rogers Community Risk Reduction and Planning.
Verified Checked against 5 official sources
Contacts & online services
- Phone
- (479) 621-1100
- Office
- 113 North 4th Street, Rogers, AR 72756
Get directions (opens in a new tab) - Serves
- Rogers · Benton County
- Online services
- Applications · Permit search · Inspections
Check your address first. Rogers Community Risk Reduction and Planning handles building permits for property inside Rogers city limits. Property outside city limits is usually served by Benton County or another municipality, even when the mailing address says Rogers.
On this page
Rogers has no stand-alone building department. Building plan review, permits, and inspections are handled by the Community Risk Reduction Division (CRRD) of the Rogers Fire Department. The division took over the former Rogers Building Inspections Department in July 2015, so builders get fire and building review from one office. CRRD is at 113 N. 4th St. Permitting hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Deputy Fire Chief also serves as Fire Marshal and Building Official.
Rogers has no jurisdiction outside city limits. Property in unincorporated Benton County is permitted by Benton County Building Safety at (479) 271-1003.
What CRRD reviews
The division reviews plans before it issues permits and sub-permits for:
- New commercial buildings and new homes
- Commercial and residential additions and remodels
- Decks, storage buildings, and storm shelters
- Demolition
- Raising or moving a structure
- Tents
CRRD also does fire and life-safety inspections of existing commercial buildings, fire investigations, and fire-safety education.
When a permit is required
| Needs a permit | No permit |
|---|---|
| New buildings and structures, and additions | Painting |
| Interior remodels that include structural changes, and structural repairs | Tiling |
| Storm shelters, decks, covered patios, storage buildings, carports | Carpeting |
| Fences over 7 ft tall | Replacing cabinets |
| Swimming pools | |
| Demolition | |
| Cell towers | |
| Tents over 400 sq ft | |
| Plumbing, electrical, and mechanical work |
If you’re not sure, the city asks you to call CRRD at (479) 621-1100 before you start.
Work can’t start without a permit. The only exception is an emergency after hours or on a weekend, and you must get the permit the next business day. Unpermitted work can draw a stop-work order or notice of code violation. A penalty fee under city ordinance is added when the permit is issued.
Applying
Apply in person at 113 N. 4th St. or online through the city’s Cityworks permitting portal. The portal replaced the older CityView portal. It handles building, sign, and large-scale development permits, lot splits, business licenses, and mobile vendor permits. You can upload plans, schedule and cancel inspections, and pay online by eCheck or credit card. American Express isn’t accepted, and service fees apply.
Your portal account email must match the email the city has on file, or your permits won’t show up. Contractor and architect firms with several staff should set up one shared group email for the account. For portal help, call City Hall at (479) 621-1117.
Residential submittals
| Project | Required |
|---|---|
| New construction or addition | Site plan and a full plan set (elevations, floor plans, electrical) |
| Remodel | Before-and-after floor plans of the whole house, with rooms labeled, door and window sizes, smoke detectors, and any added or moved electrical or plumbing |
A site plan shows the whole property: lot dimensions, all existing structures, the proposed work, and its distance to each property line. The city doesn’t locate property lines, so hire a surveyor if you need them marked. Call Arkansas One Call at 1-800-482-8998 before you dig.
Owner-builders
If you own the property and it’s your main residence, you can do your own building, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical work. You still pull the permits and pass inspections, and you have to do the work yourself. Anyone you hire must pull their own permit. As the permit holder, you’re responsible for all work under the permit.
Inspections
Schedule inspections through the portal or by calling (479) 621-1100. Inspections run 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Framing, gas or electric service, and final inspections need 24 hours’ notice, including requests made online.
A permit is valid for 6 months as long as work keeps getting inspected. It becomes void if work doesn’t start within 6 months of issuance, or if work stops for 6 months. The building official may grant extensions. Otherwise you must re-permit and pay the fees again.
Certificate of occupancy for businesses
Every business in Rogers needs a business license. A new business, a move to a new location, or a change of ownership triggers a $25 certificate of occupancy inspection. The steps:
- Apply for the business license on the portal. The city then sends a Zoning Review (Use Permit) to Community Development.
- Once zoning approves, call CRRD to pay the $25 and schedule the inspection, with at least 24 hours’ notice.
- Before the inspection, have furniture set up and merchandise at least 80% stocked.
- After a fire inspector approves the CO, pay for the license.
Additional requirements by project type:
- New commercial buildings and additions: Pass all final building inspections and any fire sprinkler/alarm finals before you move furniture or stock in. Large/small scale development final acceptance must also be approved.
- Remodels and tenant finish-outs: Pass all finals before you move in.
- Restaurants: Provide the Health Department approval before the CO inspection is scheduled.
- Home-based businesses: Get a home occupation permit from Community Development.
Planning a project?
These guides explain the national model-code rules most departments start from. Rogers Community Risk Reduction and Planning decides what applies in Rogers, so use them to prepare your questions.
Nearby building departments
Not the right office? If your property is outside Rogers city limits, one of these may handle it.