Kansas building permits

Where to get a building permit in Kansas

Apply to the building department of the city, town or county where the property is (the steps).

Kansas state agencies

These offices set statewide codes or license the trades. They do not issue permits for most home projects.

Building code in Kansas

For homes, the residential code is the The 2018 edition of the international residential code (IRC)⁶, in effect since July 1, 2026⁸ (adopted locally¹⁰).

Every code family, edition and effective date is on Kansas building codes.

State rules on which work needs a permit

No statewide list of permit-exempt work found; related provisions: K.S.A. 12-1505, 12-758(b), 75-1218, 74-7038, 12-16,232 and 12-16,233 (Supp.)

• Cities with water or sewer systems may by ordinance require a permit for plumbing work, except repairing leaks. Each city in the state having a system of water supply or sewerage may by ordinance, prescribe rules and regulations for the materials, construction and inspection of all plumbing and sewerage placed in or in connection with any building in each city, and may further provide that no plumbing work shall be done, except in case of repairing leaks, without a permit first being issued therefor upon such terms and conditions as such city shall prescribe.¹¹
• Agricultural land and buildings are outside city (K.S.A. 12-715b) and county zoning, except flood plain rules. (b) Except for flood plain regulations in areas designated as a flood plain, regulations adopted by a city pursuant to K.S.A. 12-715b, and amendments thereto, or a county pursuant to this act shall not apply to the use of land for agricultural purposes, nor for the erection or maintenance of buildings thereon for such purposes so long as such land and buildings are used for agricultural purposes and not otherwise.⁶
• Code-compliant mobile homes and RVs are not subject to other local building codes, but mobile homes stay subject to zoning. If a mobile home or recreational vehicle is in compliance with the code, no agency of this state, nor any municipality or other local governmental body shall require such mobile home or recreational vehicle to comply with any building, plumbing, heating or electrical code other than the code established by this act. All mobile homes shall be subject to zoning regulations of counties and cities applicable to areas in which such homes are located.¹²
• A permit based on unsealed professional documents is invalid. A building permit issued with respect to technical submissions which does not conform to the requirements of K.S.A. 74-7001 et seq., and amendments thereto, is invalid.¹³
• No extra local permit or fee beyond any alarm-system permit or fee for qualifying battery-charged security fences on property not designated exclusively for residential use. Requires a permit or fee for the installation or use of a battery-charged security fence that is in addition to any permit or fee required by the municipality for an alarm system…⁶

Homeowners doing their own work

• Roofing registration targets business for a fee. Engages in the business of commercial or residential roofing services for a fee…¹⁴

Contractor licensing

K.S.A. 12-1509, 12-1526, 12-1540, 12-1542, 12-1557, 12-1558; K.S.A. 50-6,121 et seq.

• Contractor licensing is local. (a) Any county or city requiring the licensure of general contractors, building contractors and residential contractors practicing within the county or city may conduct examinations designated by K.S.A. 12-1556 for the purpose of determining the competency of applicants for such licensure and shall not be allowed to ask further questions not designated on such examination.¹⁵
• Residential contractor definition. (f) "residential contractor" means any person having the necessary technical knowledge to properly plan and supervise the erection, remodeling, addition, repair or improvement of one or two family dwellings.¹⁶
• Local contracting codes. …adopt and enforce such contracting codes, standards and regulations as the board of county commissioners or governing body of the city deem appropriate…¹⁷
• Plumbing licensure is local. (a) Any county or city requiring the licensure of plumbers practicing within the county or city may conduct examinations designated by K.S.A. 12-1508, and amendments thereto, for the purpose of determining the competency of applicants for such licensure and shall not be allowed to ask further questions not designated on such examination.¹⁸
• Electrician licensure is local. (a) Any county or city requiring the licensure of electricians practicing within the county or city may conduct examinations designated by K.S.A. 12-1525, and amendments thereto, for the purpose of determining the competency of applicants for such licensure and shall not be allowed to ask further questions not designated on such examination.¹⁹
• HVAC licensure is local. (a) Any county or city requiring the licensure of mechanical heating, ventilation and air conditioning contractors and master and journeyman heating, ventilation and air conditioning mechanics practicing within the county or city may conduct examinations designated by K.S.A. 12-1541, and amendments thereto, for the purpose of determining the competency of applicants for such licensure and shall not be allowed to ask further questions not designated on such examination.²⁰
• Roofers need a state registration certificate. (1) No person shall engage in the business of or act in the capacity of a roofing contractor within this state without having a valid registration certificate as required by this act.²¹
• $500,000. (C) A copy of the roofing contractor's certificate of liability insurance shall be filed with the application and shall be not less than $500,000.²²
• $500. (a) At the time of making application for a roofing contractor registration certificate pursuant to this act, the applicant shall pay to the attorney general a fee to be set by the attorney general, which shall not exceed $500 for the annual registration certificate.²³

Handyman limits

• The roofing act covers roofing done as a business for a fee; this definition states no minimum job size. Engages in the business of commercial or residential roofing services for a fee…¹⁴

Deadlines for permit decisions and inspections

K.S.A. 12-16,224 to 12-16,226 (fast-track permits act); K.S.A. 12-776(c)(2) (Supp.)

• 60 days. Except as provided by subparagraph (B), a local government shall approve or deny an application and provide written notice of such decision to the applicant within 60 days of receipt of a complete application.²⁴
• 15 days. If an application is not complete, the local government shall provide written notice to the applicant of the reason or reasons that the application is deemed not complete within 15 days of receipt of the application and provide an opportunity for the applicant to submit missing information, make required modifications or cure any other deficiency.²⁴
• Deemed approved if no notice in 60 days. (b) If a local government fails to provide written notice to an applicant of the approval or denial of an application within 60 days from the date that such application is received or deemed received by the local government pursuant to subsection (a)(1) or (2), the application shall be deemed approved by the local government.²⁴
• Weekends count; federal and state holidays do not. (e) For purposes of determining deadlines pursuant to this act, weekends shall be included. Federal or state holidays shall not be included.²⁴
• Does not apply when the applicant agrees in writing to phased permitting. (B) The requirement that the local government approve or deny an application and provide written notice of such decision to the applicant within 60 days of receipt of a complete application pursuant to the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply if an applicant agrees in writing to proceed with phased permitting.²⁴
• 30 days. (2) A complete application for a by-right housing development that demonstrates that such development meets the criteria outlined in the zoning code and land use regulations shall be deemed approved unless the application is denied within 30 days of receipt by the permitting or regulatory authority, or within 60 days for an application that requires approval of a subdivision plat pursuant to K.S.A. 12-752, and amendments thereto, or within 90 days for an application that requires approval of a subdivision plat of more than 40 single-family homes pursuant to K.S.A. 12-752, and amendments thereto.⁶

Applies to

Building permits for single-family residential improvements²⁵

Can local rules be stricter?

Yes²⁴

Private plan review and inspections

K.S.A. 12-777 (Supp.); 2026 Kan. Sess. Laws ch. 76 (SB 418) § 2

• Adopted locally. The governing body of a political subdivision may elect to be subject to this section by the adoption of an appropriate ordinance or resolution by a majority vote of the governing body.⁶
• 30 days. If a regulatory authority does not conduct a required development inspection within 30 days after receipt of a request for an inspection, the inspection may be conducted by a person…⁶
• ICC-certified inspector is an allowed third-party inspector. Certified to inspect buildings by the international code council…⁶
• Licensed professional engineer is an allowed third party. …a licensed professional engineer as defined in K.S.A. 74-7003, and amendments thereto.⁶
• 30 days. If a regulatory authority does not approve, conditionally approve or deny a development document within 30 days of receipt, any required review of the document may be performed by a person…⁶
• Owner and the person whose work is inspected may not do the inspection. Other than: (i) The owner of the land or improvement to the land that is the subject of the inspection; or (ii) a person whose work is the subject of the inspection…⁶
• No extra local fee. (c) Additional fee prohibited. A regulatory authority may not impose an additional fee related to the review of a development document or the inspection of an improvement conducted under subsection (b).⁶
• 15 days. …not later than 15 days after the date that the person completes the review or inspection, provide notice to the regulatory authority of the results of the review or inspection.⁶

Applies to

New residential construction⁶

Limits on permit fees

K.S.A. 12-1510(c), 12-1527(c), 12-1543(c), 12-1558(c), 12-16,226(a)(2); K.S.A. 12-777(c) (Supp.)

• Local inspection fees must be reasonable. …conduct such inspections and fix such reasonable fees therefor as the board of county commissioners or governing body of the city may prescribe.²⁶
• No new filing fee to resubmit after a fast-track denial. No additional filing fees shall be charged by the local government with respect to such a resubmission of an application following a denial.²⁴
• No extra fee for third-party review or inspection. (c) Additional fee prohibited. A regulatory authority may not impose an additional fee related to the review of a development document or the inspection of an improvement conducted under subsection (b).⁶
• County building-user charges may fund code inspection. Such expenses may be supported with charges assessed to building users based on a schedule of fees to be approved and transferred to such fund from any source that may be lawfully utilized for such purposes, including the county general fund.²

Selling a home with unpermitted work

K.S.A. 58-30,106(d); 58-30,113; 66-1228

• A seller's agent must disclose known material defects. A seller's or landlord's agent owes no duty or obligation to a customer, except that a licensee shall disclose to any customer all adverse material facts actually known by the licensee, including, but not limited to…²⁷
• No duty for the seller's agent to inspect. (2) A seller's or landlord's agent owes no duty to conduct an independent inspection of the property for the benefit of the customer and owes no duty to independently verify the accuracy or completeness of any statement made by the client or any qualified third party.²⁷
• Transaction broker disclosure. …disclosing to all prospective buyers or tenants all adverse material facts actually known by the transaction broker, including, but not limited to…²⁸
• New homes: energy efficiency disclosure. (a) Except as provided by subsection (b), the person building or selling a previously unoccupied new residential structure which is a single family or multifamily unit of four units or less shall disclose to the buyer or a prospective buyer, prior to the signing of the contract to purchase and prior to closing if changes have occurred or are requested, and at any other time upon request, information regarding the energy efficiency of the structure.²⁹

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.⁶
• 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.³⁰
• 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.⁶
• Single-car garages must be allowed on qualifying new homes. …construction of single-car garages…⁶
• 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.⁶
• 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.⁶
• 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.³¹
• 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.⁶

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs)

K.S.A. 12-776 (Supp.); 2026 Kan. Sess. Laws ch. 76 (SB 418) § 1

• Accessory dwelling unit definition. (1) "Accessory dwelling unit" or "ADU" means a secondary housing unit that is subordinate to the primary dwelling unit on the same lot and may include a separate kitchen, bathroom and entrance.⁶
• ADUs that meet the definition and local zoning criteria are approved by right. (1) All proposed housing developments, including single-family homes, townhouses and accessory dwelling units (ADUs), that meet the definition of a by-right housing development pursuant to subsection (b)(2) and the criteria outlined in the zoning code and land use regulations shall be approved by-right, without the need for discretionary review or approval by planning commissions, zoning boards or other regulatory bodies.⁶
• 30 days. (2) A complete application for a by-right housing development that demonstrates that such development meets the criteria outlined in the zoning code and land use regulations shall be deemed approved unless the application is denied within 30 days of receipt by the permitting or regulatory authority, or within 60 days for an application that requires approval of a subdivision plat pursuant to K.S.A. 12-752, and amendments thereto, or within 90 days for an application that requires approval of a subdivision plat of more than 40 single-family homes pursuant to K.S.A. 12-752, and amendments thereto.⁶
• Not by right in a national register district or under historic review. …are not located within a district listed on the national register of historic places or otherwise subject to historic preservation review under applicable state, federal or local law.⁶
• Not by right where a federal or state discharge permit or stormwater drainage study is needed. Do not require federal or state discharge permits or stormwater drainage studies…⁶
• HOA and restrictive covenants still apply. Nothing in this section shall be construed to invalidate or limit the legality, enforceability or effect of restrictive covenants or condominium association or homeowners association regulations.⁶
• Bill signed. Approved by Governor on Tuesday, April 7, 2026…⁹

Applies to

Single-family homes, townhouses and ADUs that meet the by-right definition⁶

Can local rules be stricter?

Local zoning criteria still apply⁶