Kansas building code

Codes in force in Kansas

Each code family with the edition and the date it took effect, as the adopting agency or statute states them.

Scope, amendments and transition rules

International Building Code (IBC): International building code (IBC), international code council, 2006 edition

Scope

Statewide; applies everywhere¹

Applies to

Fire prevention code rules on exits and fire equipment do not apply to one- and two-family dwellings¹

Local amendments allowed?

Uniform statewide; a municipality may not enact anything inconsistent, but keeps zoning, fire district and fireworks powers¹

Amendments

K.A.R. 22-1-3³

International Fire Code (IFC): International fire code (IFC), international code council, 2006 edition

Scope

Statewide; applies everywhere¹

Applies to

Fire prevention code rules on exits and fire equipment do not apply to one- and two-family dwellings¹

Local amendments allowed?

Uniform statewide; a municipality may not enact anything inconsistent, but keeps zoning, fire district and fireworks powers¹

Amendments

K.A.R. 22-1-3³

Next edition (not yet in force)

2024 edition of the International Fire Code, Kansas Edition (proposed amendment to K.A.R. 22-1-3; not adopted as of November 5, 2026)⁷

National Electrical Code (NEC): National electric code. NFPA standard no. 70, 2008 edition

Scope

Statewide; applies everywhere¹

Applies to

Fire prevention code rules on exits and fire equipment do not apply to one- and two-family dwellings¹

Local amendments allowed?

Uniform statewide; a municipality may not enact anything inconsistent, but keeps zoning, fire district and fireworks powers¹

Amendments

K.A.R. 22-1-3³

Energy code, commercial: International Energy Conservation Code 2006 (IECC 2006)

Applies to

New commercial and industrial structures⁴

Local amendments allowed?

Yes⁴

International Residential Code (IRC): The 2018 edition of the international residential code (IRC)

Scope

Adopted locally⁸

Applies to

New single-family homes under 2,500 sq ft of livable floor area, each on its own lot¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes¹

International Building Code (IBC): International Building Code (IBC), 2018 Edition

Scope

State buildings only⁶

Applies to

Projects on State of Kansas owned property⁹

International Fire Code (IFC): International Building Fire Code (IFC), 2018 Edition

Scope

State buildings only⁶

Applies to

Projects on State of Kansas owned property⁹

International Residential Code (IRC): International Residential Code (IRC), 2018 Edition

Scope

State buildings only⁶

Applies to

Projects on State of Kansas owned property⁹

International Existing Building Code (IEBC)

Scope

State buildings only⁶

Applies to

Projects on State of Kansas owned property⁹

International Mechanical Code (IMC)

Scope

State buildings only⁶

Applies to

Projects on State of Kansas owned property⁹

International Plumbing Code (IPC)

Scope

State buildings only⁶

Applies to

Projects on State of Kansas owned property⁹

International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)

Scope

State buildings only⁶

Applies to

Projects on State of Kansas owned property⁹

Energy code, commercial: International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), 2018 Edition or ASHRAE 90.1-2013

Scope

State buildings only⁶

Applies to

Projects on State of Kansas owned property⁹

National Electrical Code (NEC): NFPA 70, 2023 Edition, National Electric Code

Scope

State buildings only⁶

Applies to

Projects on State of Kansas owned property⁹

How Kansas adopts building codes

K.S.A. 12-3009, 12-3012, 12-751, 12-1510, 12-1527, 12-1543, 19-124; K.S.A. 31-133, 31-134; K.A.R. 22-1-3; K.S.A. 66-1227; K.S.A. 12-778 (Supp.)

• Adopted locally. Any city is hereby authorized and empowered to incorporate in an ordinance by reference, in the manner hereinafter provided, any standard or model code or ordinance, regulation having the effect of law of a state officer, board or other agency, or statute, or portions thereof on any subject on which a city may legislate, which standard or model code or ordinance or state regulation is available in book or pamphlet form…⁸
• A later model edition does not change an adopted code until the local ordinance is changed. The amendment of any standard or model code or ordinance or the publication of any new and revised such code or ordinance by the agency, organization, or group sponsoring the same shall in no wise affect the incorporating ordinance or the code or ordinance but such ordinance and the code or ordinance as incorporated shall continue in effect until the incorporating ordinance is repealed or a later standard or model code or ordinance is incorporated by reference.¹⁰
• City ordinances adopting a code by reference must carry a penalty. All such incorporating ordinances shall include a penal section or sections within the limits authorized by law to be provided for the violation of the ordinances of the city…¹¹
• A city may enforce building codes outside its limits with its zoning or subdivision rules. (b) In conjunction with subdivision or zoning regulations, the governing body of any city may adopt and enforce building codes outside the city limits.¹²
• Plumbing codes are set by each city or county. …adopt and enforce such plumbing codes, standards and regulations as the board of county commissioners or governing body of the city deem appropriate…¹³
• Electrical codes are set by each city or county. …adopt and enforce such electrical codes, standards and regulations as the board of county commissioners or governing body of the city deem appropriate…¹⁴
• HVAC codes are set by each city or county. …adopt and enforce such heating, ventilation and air conditioning codes, standards and regulations as the board of county commissioners or governing body of the city deem appropriate…¹⁵
• Counties may run building inspection and permitting from a dedicated fund. (a) The board of county commissioners of any county may provide, by adoption of a resolution, for a code inspection and enforcement fund to finance the operations, equipment and capital needs for authorized functions of such department, including, but not limited to, building, construction, land, water and gas application, inspection, testing and permitting.¹⁶
• Kansas Fire Prevention Code includes the 2006 IBC by reference. International building code (IBC), international code council, 2006 edition, including the appendices but excluding the references in chapter 35 to NFPA 13, 13D, 13R, 14, 30, 72, 101, and 110…³
• Flood plain: city building codes must meet federal flood insurance minimums. The governing body of any city located in an area designated as a flood plain shall not authorize, pursuant to its building codes, the construction, reconstruction or renovation of any building, facility or structure which does not comply with the minimum requirements of the national flood insurance act of 1968, as amended, (42 U.S.C. §§ 4001 et seq.) or any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.¹⁷
• Flood plain: county building codes must meet federal flood insurance minimums. The board of county commissioners of any county located in an area designated as a flood plain shall not authorize, pursuant to its building codes, the construction, reconstruction or renovation of any building, facility or structure which does not comply with the minimum requirements of the national flood insurance act of 1968, as amended, (42 U.S.C. §§ 4001 et seq.) or any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.¹⁸

Applies to

Fire prevention code rules on exits and fire equipment do not apply to one- and two-family dwellings¹

Can local rules be stricter?

Yes¹⁴

What local governments may change

K.S.A. 31-134(b); 12-16,219; 12-778 (Supp.); 12-16,138; 12-1509; 12-16,233 (Supp.)

• Uniform statewide; a municipality may not enact anything inconsistent, but keeps zoning, fire district and fireworks powers. Such rules and regulations shall have uniform force and effect throughout the state. No municipality shall enact or enforce any ordinance, resolution or rule or regulation inconsistent therewith, except that nothing in this act shall be construed to impair the power of any municipality to regulate the use of land by zoning or fire district regulations or to prohibit or regulate the sale, handling, use or storage of fireworks within its boundaries.¹
• Cities and counties may not require sprinklers in one- and two-family homes. (b) No municipality shall adopt or enforce any ordinance, order, code, standard or rule requiring the installation of a multi-purpose residential fire protection sprinkler system or any other fire sprinkler protection system in any residential structure.¹⁹
• Conflicting local rules are void for qualifying new homes under 2,500 sq ft. (b) Any part of any building code, ordinance, resolution, regulation or rule of any political subdivision that violates this section shall be null and void as applied to such property.¹
• Single-car garages must be allowed on qualifying new homes. …construction of single-car garages…¹
• Minimum lot size of 3,000 sq ft must be allowed for qualifying new homes. …a minimum residential lot size of 3,000 square feet subject to any reasonable setback requirements that avoid unwarranted hardship yet protect the public welfare and safety.¹
• Land zoned for any residential use inside a city also counts as zoned for single-family. (c) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, all land within the corporate limits of a city that is zoned for any type of residential use shall be considered zoned for single-family residential use in addition to any other zoning adopted by the city for such land.¹
• No periodic interior inspection licensing without occupant consent; construction inspections remain allowed. This subsection shall not prohibit a city or county from conducting plan reviews, periodic construction inspections or final occupancy inspections as required by building permits.²⁰
• Local code may not otherwise limit qualifying battery-charged security fences. …prohibits or imposes conditions upon the installation, operation, placement, servicing or maintenance of a battery-charged security fence.¹

For permits, exemptions and owner-builder rules, see Kansas building permits. To compare editions across states, see the code adoption map.