Fort Smith, AR
Fort Smith Plumbing Permit Cost
Fort Smith plumbing permits are priced as inspection fees under Code of Ordinances Sec.
6-242(b): $5.50 per fixture outlet, $5.50 per water or sewer service, $4.00 per water heater, disposer, dishwasher or floor drain, $5.50 for a gas service with up to five outlets plus $1.50 per additional gas outlet, and $12.00 for the final inspection — all subject to a $24.00 minimum fee per permit.
How this fee is calculated
These are the components the schedule defines for this permit, as they applied on 2026-09-28. A component only applies to your project if its conditions match — read that column before assuming a figure. Want a figure for your own project? Estimate this fee with the permit fee calculator.
| Component | Formula | Applies when | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water heater, disposer, dishwasher or floor drain ($4.00 each)Permit fee | $4.00 per heater | heaters at least 1 | — |
| Final inspection ($12.00)Inspection fee | $12.00 flat fee | final inspections at least 1 | — |
| Fixture outlets ($5.50 each)Permit fee | $5.50 per fixture | Fixtures at least 1 | — |
| Gas service with up to five outlets ($5.50)Permit fee | $5.50 for the first 5 outlets, plus $1.50 for each additional outlet | outlets at least 1 | — |
| Water or sewer service ($5.50 each)Permit fee | $5.50 per connection | connections at least 1 | — |
| Minimum fee ($24.00)Other fee | the shortfall up to the $24.00 minimum on calculated permit fee | Every permit of this type | — |
A real permit fee is these components added together. The department’s final calculation is the one that applies — this is the schedule it will be based on.
A worked example
Follow the arithmetic by hand. Every line is produced by the engine from the rules above, so the total cannot drift away from the schedule behind it.
Worked example
A bathroom remodel in Fort Smith: 6 fixture outlets, 1 water heater replacement, and the final inspection.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Fixtures | 6 |
| Occupancy class | Residential |
| Type of work | Alteration |
| Number of heaters | 1 |
| Number of additional final inspections | 1 |
Example total
$49.00
An estimate, not an official fee. It is calculated from the published fee schedule as it applied on 2026-09-28. The permit office’s own calculation is the one that applies, and your project may fall under rules this schedule does not describe.
Fee schedule as of 2026-09-28Rules applied 4Rules considered 6
| Component | How it is calculated | Amount |
|---|---|---|
Water heater, disposer, dishwasher or floor drain ($4.00 each)Permit feeSec. 6-242(b)(3): each water heater, disposer, dishwasher and floor drain, $4.00.Show the working
| $4.00 per heater | $4.00 |
Fixture outlets ($5.50 each)Permit feeSec. 6-242(b)(1): each fixture outlet, $5.50.Show the working
| $5.50 per fixture | $33.00 |
Final inspection ($12.00)Inspection feeSec. 6-242(b)(6): final inspection, $12.00. Charged when the permit's final inspection is performed.Show the working
| $12.00 flat fee | $12.00 |
Minimum fee ($24.00)Other feeSec. 6-242(b)(7): minimum fee, $24.00. Charged as the shortfall when the computed fees fall below it.Show the working
| $24.00 minimum on calculated permit fee, less the $37.00 calculated | $0.00 |
| Total | $49.00 |
Fees that do not apply here
Listed so you can see what was considered and left out, rather than wondering whether something is missing. A rule can also be left out because it is not published for this permit at all, and that is stated where it matters.
- Gas service with up to five outlets ($5.50) — This fee does not apply to the inputs provided.
- Water or sewer service ($5.50 each) — This fee does not apply to the inputs provided.
Assumptions
- Calculated from 4 fee rules in effect on 2026-09-28.
- Amounts are rounded to the nearest cent, once, at the end of each component.
Sec. 6-242(b)(1): 6 fixture outlets × $5.50 = $33.00. (b)(3): 1 water heater × $4.00 = $4.00. (b)(6): final inspection $12.00. Total: $49.00 — above the $24.00 minimum, so no floor applies.
What is different in Fort Smith
Plumbing permits are issued under the supervision of a state-licensed master plumber registered with the City and bonded for $2,000. Fort Smith's inspection program is unusual in reaching beyond the city line: Ordinance 96-05 requires all plumbing in the 'transfer area' south of the city — wherever Fort Smith is the water supplier — to be inspected by a city plumbing inspector. Rough-in, slab and final inspections are required in sequence; a missed or failed inspection adds a $20.00 penalty per extra trip.
What this figure does not include
Impact fees, utility connections and other departments’ permits are the usual omissions, and in some jurisdictions they are larger than the permit fee itself.
Not included in these figures
This estimate covers the City of Fort Smith plumbing inspection fees only. It excludes:
- Fort Smith Utility Department water, sewer and gas tap, meter and connection charges.
- Building, electrical and mechanical permits for the same project.
- Gas piping registration fees — the annual $20.00–$25.00 registrations are licensing, not permit fees.
- Septic system permits from the Arkansas Department of Health.
- Backflow and grease-interceptor programs administered through the Utility Department.
What you need before applying
- State-licensed master plumber with city registration and $2,000 bondRequired
All plumbing must be supervised by a state-licensed master plumber registered with the City (annual registration $25.00) and bonded to the City for $2,000.
Common questions
How is a Fort Smith plumbing permit fee calculated?
As inspection fees per item: $5.50 for each fixture outlet, $5.50 for each water or sewer service, $4.00 for each water heater, disposer, dishwasher or floor drain, $5.50 for a gas service with up to five outlets plus $1.50 per additional outlet, and $12.00 for the final inspection. The permit minimum is $24.00.
Fort Smith Code of Ordinances Sec. 6-242(b)
What is the minimum plumbing permit fee in Fort Smith?
The minimum fee is $24.00. A permit for a single small item — a water heater at $4.00, for instance — pays the $24.00 floor.
Fort Smith Code of Ordinances Sec. 6-242(b)(7)
How much is a water heater permit in Fort Smith?
Each water heater, disposer, dishwasher and floor drain is $4.00. A water heater replacement alone pays the $24.00 permit minimum.
Fort Smith Code of Ordinances Sec. 6-242(b)(3), (7)
Who can pull a plumbing permit in Fort Smith?
Plumbing must be supervised by a master plumber licensed by the state and registered with the city plumbing inspector, with a $2,000 bond filed with the city clerk. A homeowner may perform plumbing in their own residence after appearing before the inspector.
Fort Smith Code of Ordinances Sec. 6-240
Does Fort Smith inspect plumbing outside the city limits?
Yes, in the 'transfer area'. Ordinance 96-05 requires all plumbing connected to the city water system south of Fort Smith to be inspected by a Fort Smith plumbing inspector for compliance with the Arkansas Plumbing Code. Contact the Utility Department or Building Safety to confirm whether a property is in the transfer area.
City of Fort Smith Building Safety Division (Ord. 96-05)
How much is a gas piping permit in Fort Smith?
Gas service with up to five outlets is $5.50, and each additional gas outlet is $1.50 — charged on the same inspection-fee schedule as the plumbing work.
Fort Smith Code of Ordinances Sec. 6-242(b)(4)–(5)
What happens if an inspection fails in Fort Smith?
If extra inspections or tests become necessary because the plumber was not ready or did not comply, the plumber pays a $20.00 penalty for each additional inspection or test.
Fort Smith Code of Ordinances Sec. 6-242(a)(4)
Source and verification
The documents behind every figure on this page, with the dates that make them checkable.
- Municipal codeCityPrimary source
Fort Smith Code of Ordinances Ch. 6 Art. VI, Sec. 6-242(b) — Inspection fees
Sec. 6-242(b) (Ord. 23-99; Ord. 55-02) prices plumbing inspections per fixture outlet ($5.50), water/sewer service ($5.50), appliance ($4.00), gas service ($5.50 for up to five outlets, $1.50 each additional), final inspection ($12.00) with a $24.00 minimum fee.
Verification
Last verified against the official source in Sep 2026.