AR SB385

Individuals must obtain a gated residential community logging permit from the Department of Agriculture before logging in a gated residential community if they cut 10 or more trees over 6 inches in diameter per acre within 6 months on 3 or more acres within 2,000 feet of a residential dwelling.

Applicants must certify they will follow the Arkansas Forestry Commission's Best Management Practices for Water Quality Protection.

The Department of Agriculture must conduct an inspection after logging on one acre to ensure compliance with best management practices; if non-compliant, the individual has 14 days to correct violations before a reinspection.

A permit is revoked if the individual remains non-compliant after reinspection, and no new permit may be issued until compliance is demonstrated.

The permit fee is $100 and only one permit may be issued to an individual at a time; the requirements do not apply to public utilities or municipal electric utilities.