AR Code § 14-56-204 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 3 - Municipal Government|Chapter 56 - Municipal Building and Zoning Regulations — Planning|Subchapter 2 - Building Regulations|§ 14-56-204. Municipal regulation of residential building design elements prohibited — Findings — Exceptions — Definitions

 (a) The General Assembly finds that:  (1) The Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq., decisions of the United States Supreme Court, and other provisions of federal law establish the principles and standards in this section;  (2) It is difficult and expensive for citizens to readily access fundamental property rights protection in federal court; and  (3) This section is necessary to ensure property rights protection is accessible and to ensure state law is consistent with federal law.    (b) A municipality shall not regulate residential building design elements.  (c)  (1) As used in this section, “residential building design elements” means:  (A) Exterior building color;  (B) Type or style of exterior cladding material;  (C) Style or materials of roof structures, roof pitches, or porches;  (D) Exterior nonstructural architectural ornamentation;  (E) Location, design, placement, or architectural styling of windows and doors, including garage doors and garage structures;  (F) The number and types of rooms;  (G) The interior layout of rooms; and  (H) The minimum square footage of a structure.    (2) As used in this section, “residential building design elements” does not include:  (A) The height, bulk, orientation, or location of a structure on a lot; or  (B) Buffering or screening used to:  (i) Minimize visual impacts;  (ii) Mitigate the impacts of light and noise; or  (iii) Protect the privacy of neighbors.        (d) This section does not apply to:  (1) A structure located in an area designated as a local historic district under applicable state law;  (2) A structure located in an area designated as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places;  (3) A structure designated as a local, state, or national historic landmark;  (4) A regulation created by a valid private covenant or other contractual agreement among property owners relating to residential building design elements, including without limitation a cooperative contractual agreement between a property owner and a municipality;  (5) A regulation directly and substantially related to the requirements of applicable state or federal building or safety codes;  (6) A regulation applied to manufactured housing in a manner consistent with applicable law;  (7) A regulation adopted as a condition for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program;  (8) A central business improvement district under the Central Business Improvement District Act, § 14-184-101 et seq.;  (9) A multifamily residential structure or other nonsingle-family dwelling;  (10) The application of a municipal policy, regulation, or ordinance affecting residential building design elements on an existing property on or before February 28, 2019, but not as to any other property thereafter;  (11) A municipal policy, regulation, or ordinance derived from the municipality's police power and directly related to an established immediate public health or safety hazard;  (12) A valid exercise of express statutory authority to regulate residential building design elements under § 14-95-101 et seq. concerning urban service districts; or  (13) A policy or regulation of an overlay district, if before the policy or regulation is implemented:  (A) Notice is provided to property owners of an overlay district under § 14-56-422;  (B) A petition to support the policy or regulation is attached with signatures of a majority of property owners in the proposed overlay district; and  (C) The overlay district makes a determination that the policy or regulation complies with the Private Property Protection Act, § 18-15-1701 et seq.