Blog · October 14, 2026 · Arkansas
Using the Forrest City Zoning Map
Zoning decides what can be built where, and the answer for a lot near Palestine starts with the right map.
Main page: St. Francis County, AR GIS & Parcel Viewer (official map link, county facts and neighboring maps).
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Before you buy a lot near Palestine with a plan in mind, pull up the Forrest City zoning map early: the zoning district can make or break the plan. This Forrest City guide covers: who controls zoning for a given parcel, matching a lot to its zoning district, and what to ask the planning staff.
Which office controls the Forrest City zoning map
Within municipal limits, the local government adopts its own zoning map, so a lot in Forrest City is governed there. Past the city line, around Colt, the county may have its own zoning, or none at all; confirm with the county office. To find out which side of the line a parcel is on: check the municipal limits layer on the St. Francis County ArcGIS parcel map.
Opening the official parcel viewer
Go first to the St. Francis County ArcGIS parcel map; it maps each tax parcel in the county, Madison included. When a rural tract has no street number, zoom in from Colt and select the outline. Out toward Hughes, the parcel card typically gives the owner of record, acreage on the tax roll, a parcel ID and in many cases the last transfer.
Land on the county line
St. Francis County touches Crittenden County, Cross County, Lee County, Monroe County, and Woodruff County, and each of those keeps its own parcel map. Acreage along the edge near Hughes may be split in two county records, so open the adjacent map too. On ground around Madison, our state page lists each bordering county map across Arkansas.
Legal descriptions in Arkansas
Arkansas is laid out under the Public Land Survey System, so rural legal descriptions near Widener cite section, township and range. A standard section is about one square mile, roughly 640 acres, with 36 sections to a township, though sections near Widener can be irregular. Write down the legal description for the tract near Widener for any title or survey request.
City limits and county records
Forrest City sits in St. Francis County, Arkansas, and the county assessor maps its lots. As the county seat, Forrest City hosts the courthouse, handy when you need recorded documents. If the land is near Caldwell, the municipality handles matters such as zoning, permits and utilities for lots inside the boundary, but the county runs assessment and recording. Land beyond the town limits near Caldwell often follows county rules, not municipal ones.
Calling planning staff
When you call about land near Madison, give the parcel number and your intended use; staff can point to the right section of the ordinance. Ask whether a parcel near Widener meets current minimum size, since some older splits don't.
A word on accuracy
Acreage on the record is an assessed number; only a licensed surveyor can set the real lines on land around Caldwell. In and around Madison, records update in batches, so a deed recorded last month can take weeks to appear.
Backing up the map with records
The map is an index, not the title: recorded deeds, subdivision plats and easements for land near Caldwell are kept by the Circuit Clerk. Inherited tracts around Palestine can trace back through several deeds, and a title company is worth hiring before a purchase.
Places you'll see on the map
The town is the county seat, where most land records are kept, especially near Heth. You'll also find Madison, Caldwell, Widener, and Palestine, where town lots give way to larger tracts. About 22,101 people call St. Francis County home (Census estimate, 2023) on about 635 square miles. St. Francis County was formed in 1827, which matters when you trace an old farm's title.
Reading the district label
Look up the lot on the St. Francis County ArcGIS parcel map first, copy its parcel ID, then compare it to the zoning map from the office covering Forrest City. Closer to Hughes, short codes on the map aren't self-explanatory, so read the ordinance chapter for each; the letters vary from place to place.
What the district controls
For a building plan near Widener, look up setbacks, height and how much of the lot can be covered. For property near Caldwell, overlay districts, whether historic, floodplain or corridor, can add rules on top of the base district.
Permits after zoning
Once zoning clears a project near Colt, a building permit is a separate step; health and road departments may weigh in on land near Caldwell.
Asking for an exception
When a project near Widener falls outside the rules, staff can explain which process fits.
Questions about the Forrest City zoning map
How long does rezoning take in Forrest City?
It depends, but the governing body near Colt decides after hearings.
Who zones land just outside Forrest City?
County rules near Hughes vary.
Do I need a permit for a home business near Colt?
Good question; rules near Widener usually cover signs, traffic and employees; ask the planning office first.
How do I find the zoning for a lot in Forrest City?
Find the parcel near Madison on the St. Francis County ArcGIS parcel map, confirm whether it's inside the town limits, then ask that planning office for the district; staff can confirm by phone or email.
What's the tax parcel number used for in Forrest City?
It's the number the County Assessor uses to track a tract near Caldwell, and it's on the record panel and tax bills.
Open the official St. Francis County, AR parcel map See it in the Platbookmapper directory
Not a survey. County GIS and tax parcel maps are assessment and planning layers. They are not a substitute for a recorded plat, deed, or licensed survey, especially for fences, setbacks, or boundary disputes.