Fort Smith, Van Buren building permit numbers decline in January

Building activity in the Fort Smith region took a dip as calendars rolled into 2026. Permit values in Fort Smith and Van Buren totaled $16.437 million in January, 48.9% below $32.14 million in January 2025. The January report follows a more than 6% gain in permit values in 2025.

The January permit total does not include Greenwood. The city switched to a new system and has been unable to share permit totals. The city historically contributes around 3% of total permit values.

Fort Smith issued 176 permits in January with a value of $16.301 million, down 47.1% from the $30.83 million value of 181 permits issued in January 2024. There were eight permits issued for new residential construction in January with a value of $1.155 million, down 59.6% from the $2.86 million value of seven new residential construction permits issued in the first 31 days of 2025.

Along with new single-family homes in residential construction, building activity in Fort Smith showed construction of one new duplex construction project with a value of $273,320, down 97.3% from the $9.98 million value of 28 new duplex construction projects in January of last year.

There was one new commercial construction project in January — a $5.57 million permit issued for construction at 816 S. Sixth St., the future site of the Next Step Neighborhood. The new facility will consist of 30 mini units that will have a bed, bathroom with shower, mini-fridge and place to store clothing. There will be male units, female units, and a few couple units. All units will be about 200 to 250 square feet.

January’s new commercial construction total was 52.3% less than the $11.55 million value of three new commercial projects permitted in January 2025.

Van Buren had 39 projects permitted in January with a value of $136,400, down 89.6% from the $1.31 million value of 68 projects permitted in January of last year. The city issued six permits for residential construction with a value of $126,200, an 87% decrease from the $974,000 value of eight residential projects permitted in the first month of 2025.

There were no commercial permits issued compared to one project permitted in January 2025 with a value of $31,500.

Building permit values in Fort Smith, Greenwood, and Van Buren totaled at least $282.576 million in 2025, up 4.2% compared with 2024.

Combined annual permit value totals for the three cities:
2025: $282.58 million*
2024: $271.09 million
2023: $520.64 million
2022: $480.37 million
2021: $343.28 million
2020: $265.97 million
2019: $241.74 million
2018: $231.78 million
2017: $210.84 million
2016: $211.34 million
2015: $218.89 million
(*The 2025 tally does not include December permit numbers for Greenwood.)