Off-grid site report
Garland County, AR
34.4562, -93.0615 · 499 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Garland County, AR, not legal advice and not a guarantee. Rules change, and the deciding facts on any specific parcel (setbacks, perc results, overlay districts, deed restrictions, road frontage) live at the county or town office, not in any database. Before you buy land or build, confirm the current rules directly with the local zoning and health offices - the sources on this page tell you exactly who to call.
The local rulesGarland County, AR
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyGarland County has not adopted a countywide zoning/subdivision ordinance for unincorporated land, per public quorum-court reporting; this could change, so confirm current status with the county. Inside incorporated towns like Hot Springs, standard municipal zoning applies. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance on tiny homes or RV residency was found; given the lack of confirmed countywide zoning/subdivision standards, this is not confirmed and should be checked directly with the county.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyThe Arkansas State Fire Marshal's Office sets the state baseline, and Garland County's Code of Ordinances includes a buildings chapter, but specific permit requirements for unincorporated land were not confirmed from available sources. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedThe Arkansas Department of Health regulates onsite wastewater statewide, including Garland County; a single residence on ten or more acres with the system over 200 feet from any property line is exempt from the permit requirement, though design standards still apply. Surface-discharge systems require a minimum three-acre lot and are barred from subdivisions or built-up areas. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedGreywater falls under the same ADH onsite wastewater program as septic statewide; no Garland County-specific variance was found. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Garland County ordinance restricting rainwater collection was found in official sources.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells follow Arkansas Department of Health statewide well construction standards; no Garland County-specific ordinance was found. Contact the county health unit's Onsite Environmental Specialist for property-specific guidance. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Garland County ordinance requiring connection to electric, gas, or municipal water/sewer was found, but sewage disposal must still meet ADH permitting or exemption criteria regardless of grid status.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.0 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,346 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 57 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 3,132 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 22 to Nov 13
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs - 0.9 mi
- Fire station
Hot Springs Fire Department Station 6 - 1.2 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 0.4 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 0.1 mi
From OpenStreetMap. Road miles will be longer, often much longer in hill country.
Plan this spot
These open with this location's real numbers already filled in (ZIP 71913).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Garland County, AR?The rules above are the jurisdiction. The land check runs the parcel itself: flood zone, soils and septic suitability, wetlands, slope, access, climate, and these verdicts, from a parcel number or coordinates.
Check a parcel →Share or save this report:New report
Sources: US Census Bureau geocoder; NLR PVWatts v8 (solar); NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 climate normals (nearest station) or Open-Meteo (ZIP-centroid) for weather; Open-Elevation; OpenStreetMap contributors. Public data retrieved Aug 22, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.
New here, or not sure where this fits? Start here walks through the whole thing in order.