Arkansas homeowners are facing potential changes to what’s allowed in their yards. New regulations aimed at improving neighborhood appearance and safety could limit common yard features many take for granted.
Before making outdoor improvements this season, check if these items might soon be against the rules in your area.
1. Towering Privacy Fences
Say goodbye to those extra-tall privacy barriers you’ve been planning. Many Arkansas counties are capping fence heights at 6 feet, with some areas restricting front yard fences to just 4 feet. The reasoning involves both aesthetics and safety concerns.
Tall fences can block emergency vehicle visibility and create blind spots for drivers at intersections. Homeowners with existing tall fences might need to modify them when these regulations take effect.
2. Unrestricted Chicken Coops
Backyard chickens have gained popularity across Arkansas, but free-range flocks might soon face stricter rules. New ordinances could require coops to be placed at least 25 feet from property lines and limit the number of birds allowed.
Noise complaints and sanitation concerns from neighbors have prompted officials to reconsider chicken-keeping practices. Urban farmers will need proper permits and might face regular inspections to ensure compliance with cleanliness standards.
3. Front Yard Vegetable Gardens
Growing tomatoes and peppers in your front yard could become a thing of the past. Several Arkansas municipalities are drafting rules that would restrict vegetable gardens to backyards and side yards only. The push comes from homeowners associations concerned about neighborhood aesthetics.
While existing gardens might be grandfathered in, new plantings could require approval. Some communities are considering compromise options like decorative edible landscaping that maintains curb appeal.
4. Overgrown Rain Gardens
Natural rain gardens help manage stormwater, but unruly ones might face new restrictions. Proposed regulations would require rain gardens to remain under 24 inches in height and maintain a manicured appearance.
While environmentally beneficial, some neighbors view these wild-looking plantings as eyesores. The compromise rules would allow rain gardens but with stricter maintenance requirements. Homeowners would need to trim plants regularly and remove debris that could attract pests.
5. Recreational Vehicles Parked On-Site
Storing your camper or boat in the driveway might soon violate local codes. Several Arkansas communities are limiting how long recreational vehicles can be parked at residences – typically no more than 72 hours for loading and unloading.
The restrictions aim to prevent permanent storage that neighbors find unsightly. Homeowners would need off-site storage solutions or specially screened areas on larger properties. Some neighborhoods are considering designated community storage areas as an alternative solution.
6. Elaborate Holiday Decorations
Those spectacular holiday light displays might face new limitations. Proposed rules would restrict decoration installation periods and establish quiet hours for displays with sound or animation. Complaints about traffic, noise, and light pollution have prompted officials to consider reasonable limits.
Holiday enthusiasts might need permits for larger displays that attract significant visitors. Some communities are exploring designated decoration zones to balance festive expression with neighborhood tranquility.
7. Unmaintained Water Features
Backyard ponds and fountains could face stricter maintenance requirements. New regulations would mandate regular cleaning and proper filtration to prevent mosquito breeding and algae growth. Water features left untended have become neighborhood nuisances in some areas.
Homeowners might need to register water features over a certain size and demonstrate proper maintenance plans. Standing water would require treatment with mosquito prevention products during peak seasons.
8. Excessive Outdoor Storage
Collecting building materials or project supplies in your yard could trigger violations. Emerging regulations aim to limit visible outdoor storage of non-landscaping items to designated, screened areas only. The rules target accumulations that neighbors consider unsightly or that could attract pests.
Homeowners would need to store project materials in garages, sheds, or behind privacy screens. Some communities are offering grace periods for cleanup before enforcement begins.
9. Non-Native Plant Species
Your exotic landscaping choices might soon face scrutiny. Several Arkansas counties are developing banned plant lists targeting invasive non-native species that threaten local ecosystems. Plants like Bradford pear trees and certain ornamental grasses would be prohibited in new landscaping.
Existing plantings might need removal within specified timeframes. To help homeowners adjust, some municipalities are offering native plant exchanges and landscaping workshops.
10. Permanent Basketball Hoops
Driveway basketball goals cemented into the ground might bounce into regulatory trouble. New ordinances could require hoops to be portable or located away from street views. Concerns about street aesthetics and potential liability have prompted these restrictions.
Permanent installations might need special permits or screening from public view. Some neighborhoods are exploring community courts as alternatives to individual home installations.