Zoning Library › Arkansas › Jonesboro, AR
Jonesboro, AR zoning: where a drive-thru restaurant is allowed
Is a drive-thru allowed in Jonesboro, AR?
A drive-thru restaurant is allowed by right (no conditional use permit, special exception or rezoning) in these zoning districts: C-3, I-1.
It needs a conditional or special use approval in: C-1, C-2, C-4.
It is not allowed in 34 districts (mostly residential; see the table).
11 districts are not confirmed yet.
Drive-thru restaurant rule by zoning district
| District | Drive-thru restaurant | What the code says | Section | Source | Read on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AG-1 | Not allowed | Residential/agricultural use table has no restaurant row Legacy map code. | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| C-1 | Conditional | Restaurant, fast-food: C (conditional use permit, art. V) in C-1 Stacking 110 ft from order station for fast-food (117-324(h)); parking 1 per 75 sf customer area; driveway spacing 117-325 (120 ft from signalized arterial intersection). | 117-139(d) use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| C-1 LUO | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 | |
| C-2 | Conditional | Restaurant, fast-food: C (conditional use permit, art. V) in C-2 Stacking 110 ft from order station for fast-food (117-324(h)); parking 1 per 75 sf customer area; driveway spacing 117-325 (120 ft from signalized arterial intersection). | 117-139(d) use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| C-2 LUO | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 | |
| C-3 | By right | Restaurant, fast-food: P in C-3 (fast-food = food may be served directly to the customer in an automobile) Stacking 110 ft from order station for fast-food (117-324(h)); parking 1 per 75 sf customer area; driveway spacing 117-325 (120 ft from signalized arterial intersection). | 117-139(d) use table; def. 117-2(b) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| C-3 LUO | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 | |
| C-3 PUD | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 | |
| C-4 | Conditional | Restaurant, fast-food: C (conditional use permit, art. V) in C-4 Stacking 110 ft from order station for fast-food (117-324(h)); parking 1 per 75 sf customer area; driveway spacing 117-325 (120 ft from signalized arterial intersection). | 117-139(d) use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| C-4 LUO | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 | |
| C-5 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 | |
| C-5 LUO | Not allowed | Base district does not allow fast-food; LU-O can only restrict further | 117-139(d); 117-140(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| CR-1 | Not allowed | Where neither "P" nor "C" appears similarly within the table, the use is not permitted. (fast-food cell blank) | 117-139(d) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| CR-1 LUO | Not allowed | Base district does not allow fast-food; LU-O can only restrict further | 117-139(d); 117-140(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| I-1 | By right | Restaurant, fast-food: P in I-1 Stacking 110 ft from order station for fast-food (117-324(h)); parking 1 per 75 sf customer area; driveway spacing 117-325 (120 ft from signalized arterial intersection). | 117-139(d) use table | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| I-1 LUO | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 | |
| I-2 | Not allowed | Where neither "P" nor "C" appears similarly within the table, the use is not permitted. (fast-food cell blank) | 117-139(d) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| I-2 LUO | Not allowed | Base district does not allow fast-food; LU-O can only restrict further | 117-139(d); 117-140(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| PD-C | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 | |
| PD-M | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 | |
| PD-M LUO | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 | |
| PD-R | Not allowed | Residential planned development Per the PD ordinance/plan; PD use table not read cleanly. | 117-169(b) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| PD-RM | Not allowed | Residential planned development Per the PD ordinance/plan; PD use table not read cleanly. | 117-169(b) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| R-1 | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| R-1A | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| R-2 | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| R-2A | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| R-2A LUO | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| R-3 | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| R-3 LUO | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| R-6 | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| R-6 LUO | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| RI-U | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| RM-6 LUO | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| RM-8 | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| RM-8 LUO | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| RM-12 | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| RM-12 LUO | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| RM-16 LUO | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| RS-1 LUO | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| RS-2 | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| RS-4 | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| RS-5 | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| RS-6 | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| RS-6 LUO | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| RS-7 | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| RS-7 LUO | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| RS-8 | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| RS-8 LUO | Not allowed | Residential use table has no restaurant row; Where neither "P" nor "C" appears simila | 117-138(c) | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
| TC-0 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | zoneomics.com | 2026-11-13 |
"By right" means permitted with site plan and building permit review only. Overlay districts, planned developments (PD/PUD) and conditions attached to a past rezoning can change the answer for a single parcel.
Official zoning map layer
To find the district for a parcel, query the jurisdiction's own GIS zoning layer: https://services9.arcgis.com/KAS2Ol4X7Ca0Dta5/arcgis/rest/services/Jonesboro_Zoning/FeatureServer/0 (district field: ZONING)
Jonesboro_Ar_Zoning (ArcGIS Online, owner PDyment, last edit 2021; no official city REST found). Newer copy by Crafton Tull (edited 2026-03): services6.arcgis.com/6TZ2wV0tqNiq5bdQ/arcgis/rest/services/Jonesboro_Zoning/FeatureServer/0 (codes with '*' variants). ' LUO' suffix = Limited Use Overlay (restrictions in the rezoning ordinance, field Ordinance). Map uses some legacy names (R-1, R-2, R-3, AG-1, C-5) not in the current use tables. Code: Ch. 117 via Zoneomics (Sec. 117-139(d) use table).
Sources
How to confirm before you buy
- Look up the parcel on the official zoning map to get its district and any overlay.
- Open the code section linked in the table and read the use table and the drive-thru standards.
- Call the planning office and ask whether a drive-thru restaurant needs anything beyond site plan review at that address.
Why this library exists
I'm Luke Smith. I find land for drive-thru brands like 7 Brew, Ellianos Coffee and Starbucks, sign the tenant, build the shop and sell it as a net lease property. Every deal starts with the same question: is the use allowed here without a rezoning? Getting that answer takes too long, so we read the codes (with AI research help), and I publish what we find with a link back to every source so you can check it yourself.
If you have a site that fits a drive-thru, or you want to learn how these deals are put together, join the free Reverse Deal Finder community on Skool, see cap rates and land prices by brand, or call 1-760-392-1525. Brokers welcome: I pay commissions.