Last Updated 07/20/2026
The City of Fort Smith has enacted a Stormwater Ordinance in order to establish minimum stormwater management requirements and controls to protect and safeguard the general health, safety, and welfare of the public residing in watersheds within this jurisdiction. The City of Fort Smith is the permitting authority for all land disturbing activities and requires the land owner to maintain all on-site stormwater control facilities and all open space areas (e.g. parks or “green” areas) required by the approved stormwater control plan. The City of Fort Smith will only provide construction permits to projects that establish a plan to manage stormwater runoff occurring during the construction process. The City of Fort Smith, under the NPDES program, also has the authority to inspect properties for noncompliance and can issue a notice of violation (NOV) for any deficiency or infraction onsite. Property owners are responsible for the maintenance of any stormwater facilities or practices located on the property. The City of Fort Smith has the authority to inspect stormwater facilities and practices in order to ascertain that they are properly maintained and functioning.
Excerpt from Municipal Code
Sec. 27-506. – Stormwater Management.
Purpose: The purpose of this section is to establish stormwater management level of service standards and criteria for conventional and engineered stormwater management systems.
27-506-1 Applicability. No storm drainage facility, whether an enclosed structure, pipe, or an open channel, ditch or stream, shall be constructed, altered, or reconstructed within a subdivision, planned development, or a developed area, within a public right-of-way or easement, or discharge into, upon, or under a public right-of-way or easement, or a subdivision or planned development or developed area within the planning jurisdiction of the City of Fort Smith, without first obtaining written approval from the department of engineering.
27-506-2 General design requirements. Stormwater management systems shall comply with the City of Fort Smith Storm Drainage Standards.
(Ord. No. 70-11, § 2, 9-6-11)
27-506-3 Erosion control. Erosion control measures shall be provided which are consistent with the requirements of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ).
View State Page
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need city approval before building or altering a drainage facility in Fort Smith?
Yes, and the requirement is broad. Any storm drainage facility, whether an enclosed structure, pipe, open channel, ditch, or stream, requires written approval from the Department of Engineering before it can be constructed, altered, or reconstructed. That applies within subdivisions, planned developments, developed areas, and anywhere discharging into or under a public right-of-way or easement within the city’s planning jurisdiction.
What design standards does my stormwater system need to meet in Fort Smith?
The City of Fort Smith Storm Drainage Standards. Any stormwater management system built in the city has to comply with those standards, which sit alongside the approval requirement in the municipal code rather than replacing it. A design that meets the letter of the ordinance still has to satisfy the technical standards document as well.
Does Fort Smith have its own erosion control requirements, or does it defer to the state?
Fort Smith’s ordinance ties its erosion control requirement directly to the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, requiring erosion control measures consistent with ADEQ standards. In practice, that means compliance with the state’s construction stormwater permit program, specifically permit ARR150000, is the erosion control benchmark your project needs to meet locally.
Who enforces stormwater compliance on private property in Fort Smith?
The city, as the permitting authority for land-disturbing activity within its jurisdiction. Fort Smith can inspect properties for noncompliance and issue a notice of violation for any deficiency found, and property owners remain responsible for maintaining any stormwater facilities or practices on their land regardless of who’s generating the runoff.
Does having an ADEQ construction stormwater permit satisfy Fort Smith's requirements?
It covers the erosion control piece specifically, since the city’s ordinance points directly to ADEQ standards there. It doesn’t replace the separate requirement to get written Department of Engineering approval before building or altering a drainage facility, so both pieces need to be in place rather than one substituting for the other.
How can AQUALIS help my property stay compliant with Fort Smith's stormwater ordinance?
AQUALIS helps Fort Smith property owners secure Department of Engineering approval for drainage facility work, design systems that meet the city’s Storm Drainage Standards, and maintain ADEQ-compliant erosion control measures under permit ARR150000.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Regulations change frequently — AQUALIS makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of this content, and any reliance on it is at your own risk. Consult a qualified professional or your local regulatory authority to confirm requirements applicable to your specific property.
