Commercial Building Permit Guidelines
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General Information
- Building permits are required for new construction, addition, accessory, and alteration/remodel/repair projects.
- Commercial permit applications must be submitted via our online portal.
- Certain commercial projects must be reviewed and approved by the Planning Department before building permit application(s) will be accepted. Please review the Planning Department’s Development Review Scope for more details.
- Projects involving changes to structures/lots in a historic or design overlay district must be reviewed and approved by the Historic District Commission (HDC), which is coordinated via the Planning Department.
- Commercial Building Permit Review may take 2-3 weeks to be completed. Review does not begin until all required documents/revisions are received.
- Separate permits are required for Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Gas.
- Upon issuance, the building permit should be displayed at the job site or readily accessible.
- Impact Fees are charged for new construction projects and, in some cases, projects involving use changes. Fees are to be paid before the final inspection. Please view the Impact Fee Schedule on the Permits webpage.
- A commercial license is for projects that cost $50,000 or more, including, but not limited to, labor and materials (Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board).
- A Certificate of Occupancy must be issued before the building can be occupied.
- A Temporary Certificate of Occupancy may be applied for.
Permit Application and Plan Review Procedure
- A complete building permit application must be submitted to initiate the review process. You will be notified via email and/or the online portal of any missing information or documents.
- Plans submitted for new buildings and additions shall be drawn to scale, complete, legible, and include the following:
Site plan
Floor plan(s)
Footing and foundation plan(s)
Elevations
Wall sections, cross sections, and details
Electrical and plumbing risers, diagrams, and details*
Mechanical plans and details*
Plans submitted for alterations/remodels/repairs should clearly depict the scope of work.
Floor plans should depict the existing state and the proposed changes.
Plans are required to be stamped, signed, and dated by a licensed design professional when:
The building or addition is 5,000sf+ in area
The building exceeds 2 stories
The building is intended for educational, institutional, or assembly occupation
The total construction cost is $100,000+
Plans shall comply with the adopted codes at time of submission. Please see our Current Building Codes document.
The Plan Review process is a joint review with the Permits and Inspections Department, Chief Fire Marshal, and Conway Corporation. The building permit will not be issued without approval from the necessary parties.
A plan review document will be provided to identify any recognizable code deficiencies and/or general comments/questions. This document will require a response to adequately address or correct the issues before the permit can be issued.
Effort is made to be as thorough as possible; however, the review is never to be considered as being all inclusive of every code deficiency. The issuance of the permit shall not be construed to be a permit for, or an approval of, any violation of the provisions of the codes or ordinances of the City of Conway.
Plumbing work requires approval from the Arkansas Department of Health prior to issuance of the building permit.
Once all approvals are received, the permit invoice will be issued via email. Payments may be made via the online portal, in-person via check or credit card, or via mailed check.
No work shall be performed until the permit is issued. If desired, a grading permit may be requested from the Conway Transportation Department.
Job Site Requirements
- Sign with the job site address, contractor name, and telephone number
- Displayed/readily accessible building permit
- Portable toilet
- Trash container for blowable debris
- Erosion control
- Approved plans
Requesting Inspections
- Inspections can be requested via phone call, email, or the online portal.
- If you have trouble scheduling your inspection online, please call our office for assistance.
- Inspections are scheduled for the next business day.
- Work should be ready for inspection before the inspection is requested.
- Inspection statuses can be checked via the Civic Access Portal.