In 1972, the Washington County Quorum Court, under the authority granted by the State of Arkansas, formed the Washington County Planning Board.

Purpose of the Planning Board

The primary responsibility of the Planning Board is to promote public interest in planning, prepare plans, ordinances, and receive and make recommendations on public and private proposals regarding development and land planning matters for the consideration of the Quorum Court. If the recommended ordinances are adopted by the Quorum Court, the Planning Board is responsible for administering them. The Planning Board, therefore, reviews land development proposals in the county to ensure they comply with the requirements specified in the adopted ordinances (AR Code § 14-17-205).

The function of the Zoning Board of Adjustment (AR Code § 14-17-209) is as follows:

1. Hear requests for variances where strict enforcement would cause undue hardship due to circumstances unique to the individual property under consideration, and grant such variances. The Board may impose conditions in the granting of a variance to ensure compliance and to protect adjacent property.
2. Hear appeals from decisions of the Planning/Zoning Official in respect to the enforcement and application; and may affirm or reverse, in whole or in part, said decision.

Membership on the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment 

The Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment consist of six (6) voting members and a chairman. All are appointed by the County Judge and confirmed by the Quorum Court. The Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Adjustment shall be composed of the same members. The seven (7) members are county residents.

• Current Board Members 
• By-laws [PDF]
• Explanation of the Rules of Conduct [PDF]
• Ordinance 2009-33 [PDF]
  Amending Washington County Code 11-206 pertaining to Appeals to the Quorum Court from Zoning Decisions
• Ordinance 2009-43 [PDF]
  Clarifying Ordinance 2009-33 and amending such
• Ordinance 2009-67 [PDF]
  Amending Ordinance 2009-43 authorizing the Zoning Board of Adjustment to reconsider conditions if no appeal has been filed; and amending other matters concerning appeals

Meetings of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment

The Planning Board and Zoning Board o f Adjustment meet at 5:00 p.m. on Thursdays, scheduled to facilitate a five-week review cycle, excluding holidays. The Quorum Court Room, in the new Courthouse, located at 280 N. College; is open to the public during the scheduled time to accommodate up to 70 members of the public. Developments to be placed on the meeting agenda must be submitted to the Planning Office on appropriate submittal days. A schedule of the submittal dates is available online and may be obtained from the Planning Office. 

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