Across the Arkansas River
Demolition Little Rock: Demolition in North Little Rock
Teardowns, garage and pool removals and storm cleanup on the north bank of the river, from the old houses near Argenta to the hillside subdivisions above Park Hill.
- Little Rock and 12 nearby towns
- Written price before work starts
- Permit and utility steps explained
- Houses, pools, garages and slabs
- Lots left level and swept
Demolition Little Rock arranges demolition in North Little Rock, the Pulaski County city of about 64,600 people (2020 Census) directly across the Arkansas River from downtown Little Rock, about 8 miles from Little Rock's center point. The work here runs from century-old frame houses near Argenta to 1960s brick ranches on the ridges, and North Little Rock's building office, not Little Rock's, issues the permit.
Clearing a condemned North Little Rock house yourself typically costs $7,500 to $15,000; once the City adds it to a demolition bid, you lose the choice of contractor and the cost of its work can come back to you as a lien.
Describe the building, its size and what it is made of, and hear a typical price range before anyone drives out.
Call (501) 222-3828What brings North Little Rock owners to call
- A notice from the City about a vacant or unsafe house
- Damage left from the March 2023 tornado that was never fully repaired
- A detached garage off an alley in the older grid that has started to lean
- A pool behind a 1970s house in Lakewood or Indian Hills that nobody uses
- A teardown planned to build new on a lot near downtown
North Little Rock's own demolition program
North Little Rock runs its own effort against dilapidated structures and bids out the demolition and site clearance of condemned buildings in batches, four, five, six or nine locations at a time in recent years. Its bid documents ask contractors for a license and liability insurance, three days' notice to the utilities, and a landfill receipt for every load, attached to every invoice.
For an owner, the lesson is that the City expects a demolition done properly: utilities notified, debris taken to a permitted landfill, and paper to prove it. A private job should meet the same standard, and the condemned house demolition page explains how to get ahead of a notice.
Ridges, river bottoms and stony ground
North Little Rock is two kinds of ground. The ridges north of downtown sit on Mountainburg soils, which the USDA soil survey describes as shallow and stony on 12 to 40 percent slopes, so a basement hole or footing trench can hit rock quickly and grading takes a heavier machine. The flatter land toward the river and the east side is deeper soil that backfills easily.
Steep lots also change access. A sloping lot in Park Hill may need the machine to work from the street side, with debris loaded down the hill.
Describe the building, its size and what it is made of, and hear a typical price range before anyone drives out.
Call (501) 222-3828After the 2023 tornado
The EF3 tornado of March 31, 2023 crossed North Little Rock after leaving Little Rock, and the cleanup took months. Some damaged houses were repaired; some were patched and left. A house with old storm damage that was never fully fixed often has hidden rot in the framing, and if repair estimates keep climbing, the storm damage demolition page lays out how a teardown works with the insurance side.
Describe the building, its size and what it is made of, and hear a typical price range before anyone drives out.
Call (501) 222-3828Pools and garages in the newer neighborhoods
Lakewood, Indian Hills and the neighborhoods off McCain grew up in the 1960s and 70s with backyard pools and detached garages, and many of both are now at the end of their lives. A pool removal or a garage teardown here is usually a one to three day job with a permit from the City.
Questions people ask
How much does demolition cost in North Little Rock?
A typical house runs $7,500 to $15,000. Garages run $800 to $10,000 and most pool removals $4,000 to $12,000.
Who issues demolition permits in North Little Rock?
The City of North Little Rock's own building office, not Little Rock's. Ask it for the steps for your address.
What are the signs the City may condemn my house?
A notice of violation for a vacant, unsecured or dilapidated structure, or fire or storm damage left unrepaired.
Does North Little Rock demolish condemned houses itself?
Yes. It bids out demolition and site clearance of condemned structures in batches, which is why acting before a deadline matters.
Is the ground hard to dig in North Little Rock?
On the ridges it can be. The USDA soil survey maps shallow, stony Mountainburg soils there, so rock can show up close to the surface.
Have something that needs to come down?
A house, a garage, a pool or a slab. Call with the address and the size, and get a typical price range and the permit steps that apply to it.
Call (501) 222-3828