TL;DR: Centerton issued 2,970 building permits in 2025, generating $1,112,563.62 in fees, according to the City of Centerton's 2026 State of the City Address on March 12, 2026.
Centerton's Mayor-Council Government
Centerton operates under a mayor-council form of government, with Bill Edwards as mayor and City Hall at 200 Captain Kelley Drive (City of Centerton, August 2026). That structure means the elected council and the mayor's office set policy and budget for a city whose population reached 29,493 as of the March 12, 2026 State of the City Address, up 6% from 27,821 a year earlier (City of Centerton). If you are used to a council-manager city, where a hired administrator runs day-to-day operations, the mayor-council model puts more of that authority directly with elected officials, which can mean faster answers when you call City Hall with a question. A new resident's first practical stop is usually City Hall itself, at 200 Captain Kelley Drive, whether the question is about permits, utilities or a general concern with a specific street. Discover Centerton, Arkansas covers the rest of what makes the city run.
Police and Fire Are City-Run Departments
The Centerton Police Department is a city-run department led by Chief Cody Harper, headquartered at 220 Municipal Drive (City of Centerton, August 2026). The Centerton Fire Department is also city-run, operating two stations around the clock with 46 full-time members under Fire Chief Matt Thompson, with its main station at 755 W. Centerton Boulevard (City of Centerton, August 2026). Both departments answer to the city, not a county or a private contractor — worth knowing if that is a different arrangement than where you are moving from. Two staffed stations covering the city around the clock is the detail an insurance agent will ask about, and it is also a fair proxy for how quickly emergency crews can reach a given street. Knowing that both departments report to the city, rather than to Benton County or a regional authority, also tells you where to direct a specific service question once you have moved in.
Setting Up Water, Sewer and Trash Service
Water and sewer service comes from Centerton Utilities, governed by the Centerton Waterworks and Sewer Commission, which serves more than 22,000 water customers and about 17,800 sewer customers; wastewater is treated through a partnership with the City of Decatur (Centerton Utilities, August 2026). The gap between water customers and sewer customers is a useful reminder that not every property in the service area is on the city sewer system, so it is worth confirming which one applies to a specific address before you buy. The city's official utilities directory points residents to Waste Management for trash service (City of Centerton, August 2026). To start water and sewer service, a new resident needs a New User Agreement, a copy of a driver's licence, a $150 deposit and a $25 application fee that took effect on February 1, 2025 (Centerton Utilities). Budget for those two fees on move-in day, and keep the New User Agreement paperwork on hand before your first trip to sign up. Because wastewater treatment runs through a partnership with the City of Decatur rather than a Centerton-only plant, this is one utility where the arrangement is worth understanding even though the bill still arrives from Centerton Utilities.
What a Building Permit Costs in Centerton
Centerton's Building Safety Department issues building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, demolition, pool and solar permits, and in 2025 the city issued 2,970 permits generating $1,112,563.62 in fees (City of Centerton, 2026 State of the City Address, March 12, 2026). If you are planning a pool, a solar install or an addition after you buy, this is the department that will process it, and the fee total alone is a rough gauge of how much building activity the department handles in an ordinary year. The median home sale price in Centerton was $410,000 as of March 2026 (Houzeo), and Benton County property tax runs approximately 0.6% of assessed value in 2026 (Tax-Rates.org) — two more numbers worth having before you close. Centerton sits approximately 5.3 miles from Bentonville, about a 10-minute drive, which keeps commuting into the region's job base simple. Between the permit fees, the property tax rate and the utility deposit, a new owner in Centerton has three separate line items to plan for before the first mortgage payment is due.
Working With Mason Capital Group in Centerton
Mason Capital Group has worked across Northwest Arkansas for 30+ years and has advised on $2.4B+ in cumulative transaction activity — local knowledge that goes beyond price and into how a city like Centerton actually operates, from who answers the phone at City Hall to what a new water account costs on day one. Browse our featured listings, or if you are ready to sell, list your home with us. As the best real estate brokerage in Centerton for buyers who want the practical picture, we are at 609 SW 8th Street, 6th Floor, Bentonville, AR 72712, or by phone at 479-925-3333.
Who is the mayor of Centerton?
Bill Edwards is the mayor of Centerton, which operates under a mayor-council form of government, with City Hall at 200 Captain Kelley Drive (City of Centerton, August 2026).
Are police and fire city-run in Centerton?
Yes. The Centerton Police Department is led by Chief Cody Harper, and the Centerton Fire Department operates two stations around the clock with 46 full-time members under Fire Chief Matt Thompson (City of Centerton, August 2026).
Who provides water and sewer service in Centerton?
Centerton Utilities, governed by the Centerton Waterworks and Sewer Commission, serves more than 22,000 water customers and about 17,800 sewer customers, with wastewater treated through a partnership with the City of Decatur (Centerton Utilities, August 2026).
What does it cost to start water and sewer service?
A new resident needs a New User Agreement, a copy of a driver's licence, a $150 deposit and a $25 application fee that took effect on February 1, 2025 (Centerton Utilities).
How many building permits did Centerton issue in 2025?
Centerton issued 2,970 building permits in 2025, generating $1,112,563.62 in fees (City of Centerton, 2026 State of the City Address, March 12, 2026).