Frequently Asked Questions

One to two cubic yards will fill a full sized (empty) pickup bed. Smaller trucks or short beds, may only hold 1/2 cubic yard. For more information, contact us at 479-271-5954.

Trucks or trailers that are 108 inches tall or less can be loaded. For more information, contact us at 479-271-5954.

North of Tiger Boulevard at 2000 North West A Street. We are on the east side of the road at the top of the hill. For more information, contact us at 479-271-5954.

Welcome to Bentonville! Visit the Your Home page for resources like signing up for utilities, license your pet and more.

Visit our City Council page to get contact information for our members.

Start your career with the City of Bentonville by visiting our Human Resources Employment page.

Downtown Parking Dashboard

The award recognizes Bentonville property owners who enhance the integrity of the city’s historic properties. This is achieved by appropriate additions and/or exterior renovations to existing structures and compatible new construction.
 
"Historic" is defined as a structure that is approximately 50 years old or older, and embodies distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction. A structure may also be designated as significant for its association with events or individuals that are important on a local, regional, national, or global level. In order for a structure to be designated as significant, it must retain a high level of historic integrity. A structure may also be significant if it is listed in or is eligible to be listed in the Arkansas Register of Historic Places or the National Register of Historic Places.

Bentonville’s history is important. Ongoing efforts to protect our city’s historic assets sustain the feeling of a rich community history that forms the heart of Bentonville. To recognize the accomplishments of those who have taken a committed role in the preservation of Bentonville’s historic integrity, the city created the historic preservation award.

Evaluation criteria are based on four categories:

• Consistent property maintenance in terms of preservation or repair
• Additions and/or exterior renovations that are especially suitable or compatible  to existing structures
• New construction that is compatible in terms of harmony, context, setting, and historic character
• Overall appearance

Any citizen, organization, business or agency may submit a nomination for property within the Bentonville city limits. You may nominate your own property or nominate someone else by filling out the application (PDF). All entries must be received by Wednesday, May 31, 2017.

Winning applications will be selected by a five member panel consisting of one City Council member, one Planning Commission member, two city staff, and a member at large.

Winners are honored by the Mayor at the second regular City Council meeting in May to coincide with National Historic Preservation Month. The winner is presented with a decorative yard sign designating their property as a winner. A photograph of the winner and property will be placed in the city’s newsletter, the “Bentonville Focus”.

The Staff Attorney acts as in-house counsel and provides legal guidance and support for elected city officials, city departments, and boards and commissions in conducting City business. The office represents the City before judicial and administrative agencies in civil litigation proceedings; and prosecutes all traffic and misdemeanor violations occurring within the limits of the city of Bentonville. Felony criminal matters in the City of Bentonville are handled by the Benton County Prosecutor's Office. 

You can expect an arraignment, plea discovery and if needed a trial. For more information, visit our Ticket or Citation page.

No. The Staff Attorney's office advises the City, which has the status of a municipal corporation. The Staff Attorney and Legal Department personnel are ethically prohibited from providing legal advice to individuals regarding private legal matters. These matters must be handled by attorneys retained by the individuals. You may search for attorneys who are members of the Arkansas Bar Association.

The Bentonville City Code and City Ordinances can be found online through through the City of Bentonville’s Website.

Under the Government Tab, click on the Code of Ordinances, next select the Bentonville Municipal Code Link.

No. You should follow the options provided on the ticket. 

No. Cases are not assigned to the City Prosecutor's Office until after your first appearance. You should appear at your first appearance, or arraignment hearing, before the City Prosecutor will speak with you.

Discovery will be available upon request after your second court appearance, termed a Plea Discovery Appearance.  This documentation will be either be mailed or emailed out by our office.  In addition, the City of Bentonville Prosecutor’s office maintains an open file policy.

If you have an attorney, discovery will be provided to your attorney, free of charge, prior to the Plea Discovery date. If you are not represented by an attorney and would like to request a copy of the discovery, please make a written request to the Bentonville City Prosecutor’s Office at:

1000 SW 14th St.
Bentonville, AR 72712

You can also access your pending case(s) information and most current court dates by going to Home | Bentonville, AR Record Search (municipalrecordsearch.com).  Select the Search Cases tab at the top, there you will be able to search by your name and date of birth in order to access your pending case(s).

Depending on the violation(s) on the citation as well as your driving record, the Judge and Prosecutor may be willing to put your charge under advisement.

Yes, as long as the citation is not marked as Must Appear and payment is made prior to the court date.  All payments can be made through Bentonville District Court.  Please contact their office at 479-271-3120 for further.

You can also resolve eligible traffic citations without appearing in court online at Bentonville District Court - Municipal Online Services (municipalonlinepayments.com)  Please visit the website for further information.

Please contact the Legal Department at 479-271-5956 and give a description of the crime involved, including the location and approximate date of the incident. The Legal Department Staff will determine the status of your case for you.

You should contact the City's Case Coordinator at 479-271-5956 and she will work with you, the City Prosecutor and the Bentonville District Court to obtain restitution.

The prosecutor and investigator assigned to the case will need to know about the request, but whether or not the charges will be dropped is within the prosecutor’s discretion.

Many people get confused because both offices are located in Bentonville. The City of Bentonville takes complaints and prosecutes misdemeanor cases that are committed within the Bentonville City Limits. 

The Benton County Prosecutor’s office takes complaints and prosecutes on felony level cases. The County Prosecutor’s Office also handles misdemeanors which occur in Benton County (outside of a city). In addition, the county prosecutes juveniles and felony domestic violence cases. The Benton County Prosecutor’s Office may be reached at 479-271-1030.

No. Bentonville District Court hears misdemeanor and traffic cases prosecuted by the Benton County Prosecutor’s Office as well as the Bentonville City Prosecutor’s Office. As a general rule, if your citation was issued by a Bentonville Police Officer, it will be handled by the Bentonville City Prosecutor.

If your citation was issued outside the Bentonville City limits by a Benton County Deputy or Arkansas State Trooper, then it will generally be handled by the Benton County Prosecutor. 

We do have resources available for victims of domestic violence.  For more information, please contact us at 479-271-5956 and request to speak to the domestic violence officer.

*If your vehicle was towed following an arrest in the City of Bentonville, it was impounded by Bentonville Towing. Bentonville Towing is currently contracted for law enforcement towing services for the city. If there is no hold, your vehicle can be picked up at their facility located at:

302 SW Regional Airport Blvd, Bentonville, AR 72712 (479) 273-3743

Be prepared to show proof of ownership and pay any associated fees. 

*If your vehicle was illegally parked or a safety hazard on the public roadway, please contact the Bentonville Police Department non-emergency number (479) 271-3170 to confirm if your vehicle was towed by our department. 

*If you were parked on private property and your vehicle was towed, this was more than likely by the property owner and you will need to contact them to find out what towing service has your vehicle. 

*If you were involved in an accident and your vehicle needs to be towed, the officer on scene will ask you your preference on a tow service. If no preference is given, the Bentonville Police Department will contact Bentonville Towing. 

To pay a fine or ticket, please visit:
Bentonville District Court
2706 S. Walton Blvd.
Bentonville, AR 72712 If you receive a citation for a traffic or criminal incident it is important that you take note of the date, time and address of the Court to which the officer has cited you.  This information is contained toward the top of your copy of the citation.

While certain citations may be resolved before your Court date, some cannot.  If your citation has "Must Appear" written on it, then you must appear at Court on the given date and time.  Additionally, you may receive a "Court Event Notice" in the mail that tells you that you "Must Appear" at Court on the given date and time.

For information regarding your citation you can go to JusticeWeb. Choose the "Reports" icon at the top, left corner.  Next click on the "Bond Forfeit- Citation Search".  You will be prompted to input your citation number.  This report will tell you whether a citation can be paid before your court date and, if so, how much the citation will cost.

Should you wish to pay the citation and not appear in Court, your payment must be received before your designated Court date. Payment can be made at Bentonville District Court during regular business hours, sent through the mail or made online.

Yes, we fingerprint citizens on Tuesday’s between 08:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 

We charge a fee of $10 per person for fingerprint cards. Please bring fingerprint cards with you provided by your employer, organization, or entity requesting the fingerprints. If one needs fingerprint cards, one can print standard FBI fingerprint cards from the FBI website, please follow their website’s printing instructions.

For additional information, please review the Arkansas State Police link below for fingerprinting requirements.  

Fingerprinting Information and Services - Arkansas Department of Public Safety (link)

Accidents are available at the police department or access accident reports online. To order an accident report online, the requester must know the report number (available when the report is taken at the scene), the report date, and/or the last name of a person involved in the accident. 

In order to partially reimburses county and municipal law enforcement agencies for the cost of making copies of motor vehicle accident reports and copies of records of traffic violations, there shall be charged a fee of ten dollars ($10.00) for each copy of a basic accident report and a fee of one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) per page for each copy of a supplemental report.    (Arkansas Code 27-53-210)

Case reports are available in person at the police station and cost $0.10 per page. Please note that case reports are not available when in an open investigation status.

Please contact the Police Department's Operations Division and speak with Lieutenant James Boothman for any public safety concerns and notifications for special events. 

For road closure request and some special events, you will need to fill out a Traffic Safety Application describing the event, an illustration or photo, and reason to be presented to the Traffic, Signage and Safety Committee.  The Traffic, Signage and Safety Committee was established to designate, place, and maintain traffic-control devices and regulate traffic for the City of Bentonville. All signage, traffic calming, temporary street closures and any other traffic control issues are address by this Committee.

This committee meets the first Monday of each month at 2:00 pm. Traffic Safety Application Form must be completed and turned into the Transportation Department ten (10) business days in advance of the meeting, to be placed on the Meeting's Agenda. Any question concerning Traffic, Signage and Safety Committee, please contact Transportation Department at (479) 271-3131.

https://www.bentonvillear.com/1406/Traffic-Signage-and-Safety-Committee

 A Traffic Light is located at a road intersection with a red, yellow, and green light that facilitates traffic flow. A Street Light is the light that illuminates an area of space for safety reasons.

Use bentonville311.com to report the issue. This will allow you to track your request as progress is made and keep your concern in a database for City accountability. 

You may also can contact the Traffic Signal Shop at 479-271-3165, but we asks that you utilize bentonville311.com for fastest response. 

Use bentonville311.com to report the issue. This will allow you to track your request as progress is made and keep your concern in a database for City accountability. 

You may also can contact the Electric at 479-271-3135, but we asks that you utilize bentonville311.com for fastest response

The painted markings indicate the approximate locations of utility lines. When this occurs some form of maintenance is planned for that area.

Please call the police dispatch number at 479-271-3170 and they will dispatch an animal control officer out.

The Street Department road priorities during snow removal are the arterial roads followed by the collector streets and then the local roads. To view these roads please look at the master street plan for the classifications of streets. This is a very slow process due to the amount of equipment and employee manpower. 

Typically it takes 24 to 48 hours to cover the entire City with at least one pass from one of the plow trucks depending on the amount of snow and ice accumulations.

As of the 2010 Census, the population was 35,301.

There are 260.66 linear miles of city maintained streets.

You can apply at:

City of Bentonville Department of Human Resources
117 W Central
2nd Floor
Bentonville, AR  72712
Phone: 479-271-5929 or 479-271-3191

You can get a map from the City of Bentonville Mapping Department. They can be contacted at 479-271-6826

You can go to the City of Bentonville Planning Department page and get the application and information concerning adopting a street or call 479-271-6826.

Weather conditions can be found from the Arkansas Highways website.

View the Arkansas State Highway website, or contact one of the offices:

Arkansas State Highway District 9 Office
P.O. Box 610
Harrison, AR 72602-0610
Phone: 870-743-2100

Arkansas State Resident Engineer's Office
3700 Highway 112
Bentonville, AR 72712
Phone: 479-273-7634

Arkansas State Highway & Transportation Main Office
P.O. Box 2261
Little Rock, AR 72203-2261
Phone: 501-569-2000

Unless specifically exempted, all businesses with a physical location in the Bentonville city limits must register online, per Bentonville Municipal Code, including the following:

• Businesses, institutions, corporations, LLCs, LLPs, partnerships, and sole proprietorships.

• Non-profit associations/corporations. (Must register but are exempt from fees.)

• Individuals operating a business.

• Type B Home Occupations.

  • NOTE: Type A Home Occupations are EXEMPT and DO NOT need to register, regardless of corporate structure. For example, if you operate a Type A Home Occupation as a corporation or LLC, you are exempt. See question below for this and other exemptions.

  • Click here  to determine if your home occupation is a Type A or Type B. If you are still unsure, please contact Planning at 479-271-3122 or planning@bentonvillear.com)

• Other non-governmental entities in any trade, service or occupation that operate out of a physical address within the Bentonville city limits.

If you have questions about whether or not your business is required to register, please contact us at 479-271-3126 or businessregistry@bentonvillear.com. 

The following are EXEMPT and do not have to register.

• Persons under eighteen years of age.

• Persons engaged in fundraising drives or enterprises for the public benefit such as schools or city government.

• Temporary businesses associated with festivals and special events.

• All Type A Home Occupations, regardless of corporate structure. For example, if you operate a Type A Home Occupation as a corporation or LLC, you are exempt. 

  • NOTE: Type B Home Occupations DO need to register. 

  • Click here  to determine if your home-occupation is a Type A or Type B. If you are still unsure, please contact Planning at 479-271-3122 or planning@bentonvillear.com)

• Short-term rentals.

• Religious entities that do not perform business-related functions, such as childcare or education.

• Entities conducting business in Bentonville but do not have a physical location in Bentonville city limits.

If you have questions about whether or not your business is required to register, please contact us at 479-271-3126 or businessregistry@bentonvillear.com. 

It’s simple! 

Steps:

1. Click the Register Your Business button. This will link you eTrakit.

2. Create an account. You will need to create a public account with a username and password.  Click here for instructions on setting up an account. You may use your existing name and password if you already use eTrakit.

3. On the eTrakit home page, go to bottom right under Business Registry and click Apply for New License. (Note this is not a license, but is the name of the module used within the eTrakit system.) 

4. Complete Form. Fill out the form completely with accurate information. Items marked with an * are required. 

5. When finished, click Submit.

6. To print certificate: At top of screen, click Dashboard , click on the License No. (starts with "BR"). Scroll down  and click the License2 tab. When the license appears, right click to print. If you do not have a printer contact us at businessregistry@bentonvillear.com or call 479-271-3126 and we will print one for you.

Questions about the business registry:

479-271-3126 or businessregistry@bentonvillar.com 

Questions about setting up an account in eTrakit:

479-271-3108

1.   Go to website: https://bent.csqrcloud.com/community-etrakit/        or search “Bentonville eTrakit” in your web browser. 

2.   Click on the Setup an Account link (top of screen). 

3.   Complete the form. Items with * are required.  Enter and        confirm a password following the password rules and        choose a security question and answer.

4.   Click Create Account at bottom.

5.   Click Forgot Password at top. 

6.   Click Public Registered. 

7.    Enter username and click Reset Password. 

8.   Check your email and follow instructions.

9.   Click Save and Login. 

10. Once your password has been set, click Continue. 

11.  You will be redirected to the eTrakit homepage. 

12.   To begin registration, under Business Registry click Apply for New License. (Note this is not a license, but is the module used within the eTrakit system.)

Click here for illustrated instructions. 

The online form asks for the following information:

• Business name, phone number and address.

• Primary contact name, title, phone number and email address.

• Emergency contact phone number (indicate whether the number can received texts).

• Mailing address (if different from the physical address).

• Type of business (drop down list by NAICS codes).

• Type of ownership (corporation, sole proprietorship, limited liability, partnership, nonprofit).

• Number of full and part time employees.

• Whether the business is existing or new.

• Whether the business is going into an existing structure or if there will be an addition or new construction.

• If the business wishes to be displayed on Business Registry Map.

No. This is a registry only. There is no review and approval process to be added to the registry. It is only registering contact information and general information about your business for economic development, safety, and planning purposes. It also serves as a first step to opening a business so the city can assist and support.

Yes. All businesses with a physical location in and doing business in Bentonville, existing or new, must register, per Bentonville Municipal Code Article 18-IV.

No. Only one registration is required per owner. We ask that each business and location be listed on the registration form. 

It depends. A home occupation is defined as “A nonresidential use carried on within a dwelling, which is clearly subordinate to the residential use and which does not outwardly change the residential character of the use, lot or structure.” Home occupations fall into two categories: Type A & Type B. Type A do not have to register, but Type B do have to register. 

Click here  to determine if your home-occupation is a Type A or Type B. If you are still unsure, please contact Planning at 479-271-3122 or planning@bentonvillear.com.

Not at this time. City Council is in the process of discussing whether a short-term rental will be required to register, However, at this time, short-term rentals do not have to register.

Yes. There is also a separate Outdoor Vendor Permit required. See details here

No. There are no registration or renewal fees.

No. An inspection is not required to register. However, some businesses do require the Fire Department to conduct safety inspections. The Fire Department will schedule those with you as needed, but it is not part of the registration process. 

Important Notice: Businesses that register in 2024 are not required to renew for 2025.

Yes. The registration must be renewed annually to ensure the city maintains up-to-date information. Renewals are required between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 each year. The annual renewal fee is $15.00

Existing businesses should have registered by December 31, 2024 for the initial program year. New businesses must register within sixty (60) days of beginning operations in the City of Bentonville.

Please email businessregistry@bentonvillear.com and provide the name of the business and what information should be corrected. Our staff will update the information for you. 

If you choose, we will add your business information to the city’s GIS Business Registry Map. View the map here.The benefits also include providing information to the fire and police department to make it easier and quicker for them to respond to emergencies. Our staff is happy to assist with guiding you through development processes for new construction or additions, sign permits, and other permits that may be required. Please contact us at 479-271-3126 or businessregistry@bentonvillear.com.

Please notify the city that the business is closed. Provide us with the business name and address and we will remove it from the registry. Contact us at 479-271-3126 or businessregistry@bentonvillear.com.

Registration is not transferable to a new owner. Please notify the city that you have sold your business. Provide us with the business name and address and we will remove it from the registry. The new owner will need to register the business with current information. Please contact us at 479-271-3126 or businessregistry@bentonvillear.com. 

Bentonville staff is happy to help you with any questions and direct you to the correct department. Please contact us at 479-271-3126 or businessregistry@bentonvillear.com

1. Click Apply Here on the homepage.
2. Then fill out the E-Bike Buyer Registration Form.
   1. Please note that your address must be in the City of Bentonville in order to qualify. 
   2. You must enter your annual household income in order to be considered for an income qualified application. You will be asked to provide supporting documentation if you are selected for an income qualified voucher.
3. Then click Submit.

To be eligible to participate in the City of Bentonville E-Bike Rebate Program, residents must be:

• A resident of the City of Bentonville
• 18 years of age or older

Rebates are awarded by random selection. Those interested in receiving an E-Bike will need to register during this time frame. After the pre-Application period has closed the system will randomly select a preset number of applicants to complete their application.

Income eligibility is determined by income and household size and is limited to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level. 

All proof of income documents must be dated within one year of application. Applicants must submit one of the following from the list of approved documents below:

• First page of your 2024 Federal tax form 1040 (Line 11 – Adjusted Gross Income is used)
  or
• Proof of enrollment in any one of the following programs:
  • Arkansas Low-Income-Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)
  • Arkansas Weather Assistance Program (WAP)
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  • Arkansas Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA)
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Medicaid

The application process is a two-step process.

Step 1: Pre-Application - During this step applicants provide basic information and select the rebate and e-bike type they are applying for.

• Applicants must use this portal to apply for a rebate.
• Applicants must create a login, register, and confirm their email address.
• The registration period will be open for (pre app dates)
• Applicants select the E-Bike Rebate Program and determine:
  • If they are applying for an Income Qualified or General Resident rebate, and
  • What type of e-bike they want: Standard E-Bike, E-Cargo Bike or an Adaptive E-Bike. 
• Applicants then answer a few demographic questions, confirm their information, and acknowledge the program’s Terms and Conditions.
• After the pre-Application period has closed the system will randomly select a preselected number of applicants to complete their application.
   

NOTE: You will not be able to change the application type (income level or E-Bike type) once the registration period has closed. Please make sure you review the income requirements and select the right E-Bike type for you. 

Step 2: Final Application: If selected applicants must then provide qualifying documentation of residency within the City of Bentonville and, if applicable, income qualification. 

• Selected applicants will receive an email invitation to complete their application.
• Applicants will have 96 hours to complete and supply qualifying documents to verify their eligibility.
• Applicants who successfully complete their application will be awarded a rebate that is good for 60 days.
• Upon receipt of the rebate, residents must redeem the at the time of E-Bike purchase at an approved participating bike shop.

You can email us at BentonvilleEBikes@aptim.com or call us at 888-267-5809.
Our regular office hours are Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm CST.

E-Bikes must be purchased new from a participating E-Bike retailer in Bentonville. 

Yes, you must be a resident of the City of Bentonville. If you are randomly selected for an application, you will be required to provide proof of a physical current address within the City of Bentonville.

If you receive and redeem your rebate, you will not be eligible for additional rebates. If you apply but are not selected, you will automatically be enrolled in the next drawing that calendar year.

Rebate recipients may redeem a rebate for the purchase of an E-Bike that meets the following criteria:

Standard E-Bike Eligibility
 

• The following classes of E-Bikes including Electric Mountain Bikes:
  • Class 1: an electrical assisted bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 mph.
  • Class 2: an electrical assisted bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance regardless of whether the rider is pedaling but ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 mph.
  • Class 3: an electrical assisted bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 28 mph.
• Has two or three wheels and fully operable pedals.
• Electric motor is 750 watts or less; may not be gasoline powered.

No minimum purchase price or maximum purchase price.

E-Cargo Bike Eligibility
 

E-Cargo bicycles must meet all the criteria above and have an extended frame designed to carry additional people or cargo. E-cargo bikes must meet all the following criteria:
 

• Designed to carry one or more passengers in addition to the rider OR designed to carry heavier or bulkier loads than a traditional bicycle can carry
• Has an extended frame (long tail, long john, Bakfiet, or box bike)
• Extended frame has a published cargo load carrying capacity of at least 100 lbs.
• No minimum purchase price or maximum purchase price.
   

Adaptive E-Bike Eligibility 
 

• Adaptive e-bikes are electric bicycles that make cycling and riding a bike easier for the rider based on their individual and specific mobility needs and are for individuals unable to ride a standard E-Bike.
• Adaptive E-Bikes are Standard, or Cargo E-Bikes designed or modified to meet the physical needs or abilities of the operator or a passenger. 
• Examples of Adaptive E-Bikes include but are not limited to: 
  • Recumbent E-Bikes and e-trikes. 
  • Supine or prone e-trikes or e-handcycles. 
  • Electric Handcycles. 
  • Tandem E-Bikes that allow a rider who cannot operate an E-Bike alone to ride with another person. 
• Bike must be manufactured with a battery and motor as part of bike, no aftermarket electrification kits are allowed.

*All e-bikes must be chain or belt driven with a useable pedal.

Rebate amounts depend on the income tier and e-bike type you choose.
 

• Income Qualified Standard E-Bike: $1,200
• Income Qualified E-Cargo Bike & Adaptive E-Bike: $1,600
• General Resident Standard E-Bike: $800
• General Resident E-Cargo Bike & Adaptive E-Bike: $1,200
• Safety Equipment Incentive: $100 (for income qualified applicants only)

For income qualified applicants, the safety equipment incentive can be used to purchase a lock(s) and or a helmet(s).

All rebates are good for 60 days from the day they are awarded. If they are not used within 60 days, they automatically expire.

Every applicant who is randomly selected to receive a rebate must provide proof of a physical City of Bentonville address. All documents must be dated within one year of application. Acceptable proof of address documents include:
 

• Current valid Arkansas Driver’s License or ID listing an address within The City of Bentonville
• Computer-generated bill (utility, credit card, doctor, hospital, etc.)
• Printed bank statement
• Pre-printed pay stub (from a period within the last 3 months)
• First-class mail (from a government agency or court)
• Current homeowner's, renter's, or motor vehicle insurance policy
• Mortgage, lease, or rental contract
• Transcript or report card from an accredited school
• Motor vehicle registration
• USPS Change of Address Form CNL107
• DD Form 214

Income eligibility is determined by income and household size and is limited to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level. 

All proof of income documents must be dated within one year of application. Applicants must submit one of the following from the list of approved documents below:

• First page of your 2023 or 2024 Federal tax form 1040 (Line 11 – Adjusted Gross Income is used)
  or
• Proof of enrollment in any one of the following programs:
  • Arkansas Low-Income-Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)
  • Arkansas Weather Assistance Program (WAP)
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  • Arkansas Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA)
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Medicaid

• Be on time.  If you arrive late and the Judge has left the Bench, your court date will be re-scheduled and you will have a charge of Failure to Appear to answer for on your new court date.
• Make childcare arrangements in advance.  The Court does not provide childcare.  Noisy children will be removed from the courtroom.  It is best to make arrangements for childcare so that you can have your full attention on the Judge and your case.
• Dress appropriately keeping in mind that this is a professional setting.   Shirts and shoes are required. Inappropriate attire such as muscle shirts, tank tops, halter tops, shirts with spaghetti straps, shirts that show your midriff, shorts, cut-off jeans, pants that fall below the hip, micro-mini skirts, pants with holes or flip-flop shoes may not be worn in the courtroom. Hats must be taken off before entering the courtroom.
• Cell phones should be TURNED OFF before entering the courtroom. Should your phone make noise during a court session, you may be asked to turn it in the Bailiff during the time you are in court.
• Do not come to court intoxicated.  Should the Judge determine that you have come to court intoxicated, your court date will be re-scheduled and you may be committed to the Benton County  Jail for a period of time.

If you miss your court date you should come to our office the next business day before noon.  You will need to sign for a new court date and will also have to answer  for the additional charge of Failure to Appear on the original court date. If you do not come to our office the next business day following your missed court date, a warrant may issue for your arrest.

If you would like the Public Defender as your attorney you will have to ask the Judge at your first court appearance. The Judge will review your case, and if he/she determines you might qualify for the Public Defender, will have you complete an Affidavit of Indigence.  After reviewing the Affidavit, the Judge will decide whether to appoint the Public Defender to represent you.  

Yes. Weapons, firearms and knives of any kind are strictly prohibited and subject to confiscation. Food, drinks and chewing gum are also prohibited. Bags and large purses should not be brought inside and people will be asked to take them back to their car, when that is an option.

We accept cash, checks, money orders and credit or debit cards.  When paying with cash, exact change is required.  Temporary checks will not be accepted.  

Payments can be made at our office during regular business hours, through the mail or online. If sending payment through the mail, please do not send cash.  Credit or debit card payments are subject to a 7% convenience fee when paying on online or a 3.5% convenience fee when paying at our office. (This fee is charged by the processing company and does not benefit the court).

Case dispositions are entered on a docket sheet. Copies of your docket can be obtained at our office during regular business hours.  There is a minimal copying charge of 25 cents/page.  In the alternative, some case dispositions can be obtained online through JusticeWeb (cases from May 2013 and forward). Click the “Report” icon in the top banner. This will give you various report options. Choose the “Name Search” report.  Enter the requested information and you will have the ability to print out your docket.

Yes. Filing fees are $65 for a Small Claims case and $80 for a Civil case plus there is a $2.50 fee for each Summons issued. You also will have to pay a fee to have your complaint served on the other party. The fee varies, but you may serve the other party by Certified Mail, through the Sheriff's office or by employing a private process server. The Court Clerk cannot tell you which method of service is "best".  It is a personal choice, the clerk can simply tell you your options.

Small Claims cases involve claims for amounts of $5,000 or less. Civil cases include claims for amount of $25,000 or less. Civil cases also can involve attorneys. If you file a Civil case but do not hire an attorney, you are held to the standard of an attorney when pursuing your case. Further clarification can be found in the Small Claims Handbook as to things that may disqualify you from filing a Small Claims case.

You can obtain a Complaint form online or at our courthouse, 2706 S. Walton, Bentonville, Arkansas. This form is the same for a Small Claims or Civil case.

Yes. The fees are due at the time of filing. Payment should be made in the form of check or Money Order.  

Please refer to the Small Claims Handbook for questions about the proper Court in which to file.

Yes. You will have to provide a good address for the Defendant at the time of filing. Without a good address for the Defendant it will be difficult, if not impossible, to serve the paperwork as required by Arkansas law.

The clerk cannot give you legal advice, nor tell you if you have the grounds on which to file a claim. The clerk can explain the options you have when filing a case.

You can file a Small Claims case, which allows each person to represent his/herself. Attorneys are not allowed in Small Claims cases, per Arkansas law.

No. The Court has recently launched a new mediation program.  Mediation is offered at no charge to the parties. If both parties agree to mediation, a licensed mediator will listen to both sides and try to help them come to a mutually acceptable agreement which is fully enforceable. For additional information please read the Mediation information sheet.

The initial cost of a sewer tap is $125.00.  There could be other fees such as:  Street Cuts, Sidewalk Cuts, Curb Cuts - these are calculated by the Street Department.  The Water Utilities Department will need to go to the site and assess the job first.

The account number is the Customer ID hyphen Location ID with no additional characters or spaces before or after.

Our physical address for Utility Billing is 1000 SW 14th Street.

After you have service for twelve months, you can choose to sign-up for the City’s Average Billing Program.

Your bill is based off of consumption during the indicated billing period. Please review each service for increases in consumption. Call our office at 479-271-3100 for additional information.

The electric portion of your utility bill includes a line item for the Power Cost Adjustment (PCA). The PCA changes monthly, it is important to understand it is not due to a change in your electric rates, but due to the changing costs of the fuel used to generate the electricity you use that is charged by the Utility’s power provider. These costs are passed through to the customer and the utility does not make additional revenue from the PCA.

An estimated portion of the fuel cost is included in the electric rates, however as the costs to produce and supply energy, primarily driven by the variability in the cost of fuel, the PCA ensures the full cost is to provide electricity is recovered. Fuel costs for the various power plants that service Bentonville include, coal, lignite and natural gas which can increase or decrease with the market.

No, utilities across the nation have a PCA to account for the variability in the costs. It may have different names like energy charge, fuel cost adjustment, wholesale power cost adjustment, etc. but they all are intended to accomplish the same result.

We have a number of energy saving tips on our website at: http://www.bentonvillear.com/252/Tips.

Extensions may be requested once every three months by calling 479-271-3100. Payments scheduled online for a future date will not act as an extension or prevent a disconnection.

Should you need a cart repaired or to report your cart missing, please contact Republic Services directly at 479-855-4226.

Call Republic Services directly at 479-855-4226 to schedule the collection. You can have one large item a week collected.

View and pay your bill at www.invoicecloud.com/bentonvillear.

You will need your account number and last name. Please note your first bill must generate before registration can take place. Click here for registration instructions.

Any amount past due is subject for disconnection eleven calendar days after the original due date. The due date on the current bill only applies to the Total Current Charges.

Payments made after 8:00 a.m. on the day of disconnection may not stop a disconnection from taking place. If disconnection takes place, additional fees will be required to reconnect service. For more information, to stop a disconnection, or to reconnect service, please call 479-271-3100.

TextPower is a text messaging service that provides BEUD customers with real-time information about electric outages.  This can include estimated restore time, number of customers affected, and any known cause of the outage.

No need to sign up! On April 27^th, any electric customers with a mobile phone number as the primary contact on their account will be auto-enrolled and will receive the welcome message from 1-800-286-1262.

You can verify or change the phone number on your account by visiting the online account portal. After logging in, navigate to “My Profile”, then “Update Account info”, and save changes to your phone number. You can also call 479-271-3100 option 1 to speak with a customer service representative to update your number.

You will only receive text messages when your account is affected by a power outage.

No, you will not receive messages from 1-800-286-1262 that are not related to a power outage.

No, this service is provided by the City of Bentonville, however standard data and text messaging rates from your phone carrier will apply.

Yes, the 1-800 number can be dialed to reach our automated outage entry system or a live operator.  The number can now receive text messages from customers.  Save this number in your phone contacts and you will always be ready to report an outage via whichever method you choose.

The system will ONLY recognize the following inputs:

• OUT – reports power is out at the address associated with your phone number
• STATUS – replies with known information about your address and any power outages
• HELP – Provides a list of valid inputs and description of service.

A BEUD representative can add additional phone numbers to receive text messages by contacting us at 479-271-3135 Option 2, 7:30 AM-4:00 PM, Monday-Friday.  All phones linked to the account will receive updates from the system.  Please have your 11 digit account number available when calling BEUD.

Simply reply to the welcome message with the word “QUIT”.  You will receive a confirmation message that your phone will no longer receive messages about electric outages.

The system will auto assign numbers to each address during auto-enrollment.  When you text the word "out", the system will respond that you have more than one account tied to your phone and will list all the addresses and a corresponding number.  Respond with "Out" followed by a space and the corresponding number to report an outage (Ex. "Out 2" or "Out 4").

Contact BEUD from 7:30 AM-4:00 PM, Monday-Friday at 479-271-3135 Option 2.  A representative can assist you with adding your phone number to your family members account.  Please have the 11 digit account number of your family member available when calling BEUD.

Text the keyword “COB” to 1-800-286-1262 to re-enroll.

You will need to speak to a customer service representative to cancel the outage.  call 479-271-3135 option 2 between 7:30AM - 4:00 PM, Monday-Friday.  For all other days and times, call the after-hours outage number at 1-800-286-1262.

Yes, if your account is affected by a known device outage (such as a transformer, fuse or substation outage).  If there is an outage that is only affecting your house, you must report the outage yourself in order to receive updates on the outage.

The power may be out only in your home our business, which may not actually be caused by a problem in the BEUD electric system.   You will only receive a text message about an outage you did not report if a BEUD dispatcher has verified an outage in our outage system.

No, you can only use text reporting for accounts that are associated with your mobile phone number.

First, check your breaker panel and make sure no breakers are tripped.  Also, check your main breaker.  The main breaker may be located inside the house in your breaker panel, or it may be outside by the meter.  If you have checked all the breakers and the power is still not on, reply to the restoration message with OUT, or call 1-800-286-1262 to report the outage via phone.

No, do not report this type of problem via text message.  If you see a downed power line or other potentially hazardous condition involving electrical equipment, call us at 1-800-286-1262 to speak to a live operator, or call 911.  While you wait for BEUD crews to arrive, stay away from the line and keep others away from the area as the ground or surrounding objects such as fences may become energized.

If you have reported a power outage during or after a storm, it is likely that there are multiple outage reports being entered in our system.  If you haven’t gotten an estimated restore time or cause message yet, it is because BEUD dispatchers are still working to dispatch and assess all of the outages.

Restoration times are estimates based on the information we have about the outage.  We can make good estimates on how long it typically takes to restore different types of outages based on historical data, but each outage time will vary based on individual circumstances.

No, the estimated restore times are based on historical data and feedback from the crews in the field.  This is to give our customers an idea of when their power will be restored to help you plan and await restoration.  However, the actual restoration time may be longer or shorter than the estimate.

Questions regarding all solicitations must be submitted in written communication only, via e-mail or mail, to the City of Bentonville Purchasing Office, by emailing purchasing@bentonvillear.com.

If you are interested in learning more about working with the City as a vendor, and would like to schedule a 30-minute Vendor Introduction Meeting, please email purchasing@bentonvillear.com. 

Please reference the appropriate solicitation for the specific requirements to submit your Bid/RFP/RFQ. All submissions must be delivered in a sealed envelope, clearly labeled with the submitting company's or individual's name, address and phone number and the solicitation number (IFB, RFQ or RFP number).

Submissions may be hand-delivered or mailed to the City of Bentonville Purchasing Office: 2nd Floor 1000 SW 14th Street Bentonville, AR 72712

Procurement for goods or services in excess of $42,921.00 are handled by formal bids (IFB) or requests for proposals ("RFP"). Invitation for Bids ("IFB") are awarded to the lowest, most responsible and responsive bidder meeting the City's specifications. 

Requests for Proposals are reviewed and scored according to the evaluation criteria stated in the RFP, and awarded to the company best meeting the overall needs of the City. A Service that has not been declared a professional service by state law or City ordinance may be evaluated for procurement through a Request for Proposals solicitation.

For procurement of professional services, when use of the Statement of Qualification's List is not deemed practical, a Request for Qualifications shall be issued. No pricing information is included in a Request for Qualifications. A Professional Service is defined as a service that has been declared in Arkansas State Law (§14-58-303) as such, or has been declared a professional service by a 2/3 vote from the City Council.

Potential Bidders may sign up using the City of Bentonville Purchasing Department's new bid portal, Beacon Bid City of Bentonville. City of Bentonville utilizes Beacon to share solicitations with interested bidders. To view specifications, or receive updates from City of Bentonville, please register as a planholder on Beacon by filling out the information on the form. Upon completion, you will receive an email with the link to download attachments. Please note that accurate information is required in order to receive any updates.

Beacon is free for planholders and you do not need an account with Beacon in order to receive updates.

Bid unit prices shall include all costs, including but not limited to: tax, all labor, products material, equipment, disposal fees, transportation, staging, mobilization, overhead, profit, insurance, shipping and handling and all other costs to the City of Bentonville, Arkansas to cover the finished work and/or delivered products. 

The City of Bentonville is NOT exempt from sales tax. The City of Bentonville Sales Tax is 9.5%.

Yes. Water will be temporarily shut off during the service line installation step. You’ll be notified in advance, either by door hanger or direct contact from the crew.

Restoration is handled by a separate crew and typically takes place 1–2 weeks after installation. If your yard was disturbed, it is already on the restoration list. If it’s been more than 3 weeks, contact Bentonville Water Utilities to confirm your address status.

No. All work takes place outside. You don’t need to be home during any part of the replacement process.

Our crews aim to minimize disruption and document all impacted areas. If something was missed or not restored properly, contact the Water Utilities Department, we’ll ensure the issue is addressed.

Cloudy water is normal after a temporary shutoff. Simply run cold water from an outside faucet or a bathtub for several minutes to flush your line. The water remains safe to use.

Yes. This project is one of several infrastructure investments made possible by the recent rate adjustment. Funds are being used to repair confirmed system leaks and strengthen long-term service reliability.

Most properties will see utility marking, boring, service line replacement, and restoration take place over a span of 2–3 weeks. Each step is completed by a different crew and may occur on separate days.

Bentonville Water Utilities has used advanced detection tools to locate thousands of underground leaks, many in residential service lines. This project is a focused effort to repair known issues and reduce costly water loss.

Wastewater Development Fee is a one-time charge assessed on new development or redevelopment projects to fund capital projects which increase the capacity of the City’s wastewater infrastructure to allow new development and continued growth of the city. 

In simple terms, the fee helps ensure that growth pays for growth, rather than shifting the cost of new infrastructure onto existing residents and ratepayers.

These fees directly fund growth-driven capital improvements such as treatment plant expansions, interceptor upgrades (Collection lines equal to or greater than 12 inches), and major lift stations. 

The fee does not fund routine maintenance, repairs, or like-for-like replacement of existing infrastructure.

No.

The Wastewater Development Fee is a one-time charge on new development and does not increase monthly water or sewer bills for existing customers.

By using this fee to fund capacity improvements, the City avoids shifting the cost of growth onto current residents and ratepayers.

Bentonville’s rapid growth is exceeding the capacity of the existing wastewater system, and new development is being delayed because of that. Timely investment and improvements are needed to maintain service standards and allow the City to grow. The fee ensures that new growth pays its fair and proportional share of the wastewater system improvements due to the increased demand. This helps the city avoid shifting the cost to existing residents and ratepayers. 

Funds will be used exclusively to repay debt, including interest, associated with costs incurred by the City to expand the capacity of the wastewater system sewer interceptors, including planning, engineering, acquisition, and construction of capital improvements. 

Developers, builders, and property owners undertaking new construction, reconstruction, or changes in use that cause an increase in flow to the wastewater system. 

The Wastewater Development Fee will be collected prior to a scheduled City Pre-Construction meeting for Preliminary Plats and Large Scale Development projects, or prior to permit issuance for all other permit types. The City will have substantial investment into the Capital Projects to allow development to get to this point and start construction. Collecting the fee at this time prevents the City from carrying unnecessary interest.  

The fee is based on projected wastewater demand created by the development, expressed in terms of Equivalent Residential Units (ERU). The current recommendation for the initial fee is $7,867 per ERU. 

Residential  

All residential dwelling units will be equal to one ERU. This applies to each unit in all residential development types throughout the city.  

Commercial  

Commercial developments will be converted to ERU’s based on their projected design flow and charged accordingly.. Commercial customers can consult the Bentonville Water Utilities Sewer Capacity Study Guidelines for detailed methodology.  

Example #1: 84 Lot Preliminary Plat  

Net ERU’s = Proposed ERUs (84) – Existing ERUs (0) = 84 ERU’s 

Wastewater Development Fee = Net ERUs (84) x $7867/ERU = $660,828 

Example #2: 61 Unit Townhome Development 

Net ERUs = Proposed ERUs (61) – Existing ERUs (6) = 55 ERUs 

Wastewater Development Fee = Net ERUs (55) x $7867/ERU = $432,685 

Example #3: Restaurant with 120 seats 

Average Daily Flow from ADH Appendix B =  

120 seats x 40 gpd/seat + 30 employee-shifts x 15 gpd/employee/shift = 5250 gpd 

Commercial Development ERUs = 5250 gpd / 264 gpd/ERU = 19.89 ERUs 

Net ERU’s = Proposed ERUs (19.89) – Existing ERUs (0) = 19.89 ERUs 

Wastewater Development Fee = Net ERUs (19.89) x $7867/ERU = $156,474.63 

Utility bonds and loans are commonly used to fund major wastewater infrastructure projects. These obligations are typically repaid through utility rates, meaning existing customers pay the cost through higher monthly bills.

Another option would be General Obligation Bonds, which would require an increase in sales tax.

The Wastewater Development Fee provides a way to fund needed capacity improvements without increasing utility rates or sales taxes, while ensuring that costs are allocated proportionally to new development.

Each residential unit in the City of Bentonville will be one (1) ERU. This method of fee calculation is consistent with the sizing requirements that the City of Bentonville must follow for the interceptor design. The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) requires all sewer studies and design flow calculations to assess 2.64 people per household for all residential unit types. City Staff have previously proposed using different population values for single family versus multifamily housing, but the data was not accepted by ADH.  

The timeline for development to occur in a particular basin is dependent on the approval of the development fee ordinance and the Revenue Bond Line of Credit ordinance. If these ordinances are approved by our City Council, BWU will move forward with design, construction, and contract execution 

Once a capital project has been approved by all reviewing agencies and is under construction, private development, dependent on the capacity provided by those upgrades, can begin to move forward. This will allow private development a parallel path to start construction alongside the sewer interceptor upgrades in an effort to minimize time to market. Once available, a detailed construction schedule will be provided.  Please visit the capital update page for information updated weekly.  

Bentonville Water Utilities provides an up-to-date status of all current capital projects on their website under the “Capital Improvements” link. This document will be updated frequently as projects progress through design and construction. Questions on project status can always be directed to the BWU capital team by emailing BWUCapital@bentonvillear.com or calling 479-271-3140. Or visiting the Capital update.  

The Memorandum of Understanding will be made available prior to the ordinance going into effect. The general understanding of the agreement is that the developer understands the risk of moving forward with construction prior to the interceptor construction being complete. It will further state that no domestic water meters will be set or installed until there is an appropriate means of wastewater disposal.  

In some cases, yes. The capital improvements identified and proposed to be financed and constructed with this plan are only on the interceptor lines (12-inch and larger). The cost of smaller collection mains outside of this scope was not accounted for in the development of the proposed fee. Developers will remain responsible for determining capacity from their point of connection to the interceptor lines and completing the upgrades required to serve their development, if any. 

The Planned Facility/Growth Approach (Section 5.3, page 8 of UFS Wastewater Development Fee Report) – developers pay for what is deemed their proportional share. If the developer pays this fee, they would not need to also do the incremental cost pricing approach. 

The only infrastructure costs that were included in the proposed fee are the major sewer interceptor lines 12” and larger, for which we have studied. The smaller distribution lines were not included in our sewer study. Including the smaller line portions that will ultimately connect new development to the interceptor lines would increase this fee.  

The City of Bentonville does not intend to suspend current impact fees.  

The interceptor lines identified in the Capital Improvement Plan and financed with the fee are being replaced or constructed due to the lack of capacity or service availability, according to the growth strategies outlined in the Plan Bentonville’s Future Land Use Plan. 

The City of Bentonville will only use Development Fees for the costs associated with increasing capacity of the Interceptor Mains identified in the Capital Plan. The like-for-like replacement cost has been removed from the overall project cost, and only development fee eligible (upsize) cost was used to calculate the fee. The cost breakdown is further explained in Section 7.1 Interceptor Improvements within UFS’s Wastewater Development Fee Report.