Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Clifford Township, Kansas

Rules another office applies inside Clifford Township

Clifford Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, demolition and remodeling of structures inside Clifford township, which is unincorporated Butler County territory

  • The page lists construction permitting as a step in the county process; it does not state fee amounts, exemptions or thresholds.
  • Construction may proceed only after the permit step in the county process.

  “the steps in the process include: plan, site plan, and land use review construction permitting on-site project inspection”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction, demolition and remodeling of structures inside Clifford township, which is unincorporated Butler County territory

  • The cited page says Butler County has adopted codes applicable to structures being built or remodeled but does not name the specific code editions on that page.
  • The page does not state whether the county code applies in each unincorporated township equally; confirm with the Building Safety and Construction Enforcement Division.

  “butler county has adopted codes applicable to all structures being constructed or remodeled, and this division is responsible for seeing that all construction is done in accordance with those codes.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction, demolition and remodeling of structures inside Clifford township, which is unincorporated Butler County territory

  • The page lists on-site project inspection as a step in the county process; inspection stages and exemptions are not stated on this page.

  “the steps in the process include: plan, site plan, and land use review construction permitting on-site project inspection”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Rural Residential (RR) district land in unincorporated Butler County, including inside Clifford township if zoned RR

  • Minimum is 3 acres where an alternative waste treatment system or septic system is used and service is supplied by public water.
  • Minimum is 5 acres if a lagoon is proposed; maximum lot size is 10 acres.
  • Summary sheet only; the full Article 8 text was not opened.

  minimum lot size (RR, septic plus public water): >= 3 acre (5 acres if a lagoon is proposed)

  “rural residential-rr-article 8 minimum lot size is 3 acres with the use of an alternative waste treatment system or septic system and service supplied by public water.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Agricultural AG-40 and AG-80 district land in unincorporated Butler County, including inside Clifford township if zoned AG

  • Front setback 75 feet from front property line for residential structures; agricultural structures are not exempt from front setback.
  • Side and rear 50 feet for residential structures and 25 feet for non-residential accessory structures; agricultural-purpose structures are exempt from side and rear setbacks under K.S.A. 12-758 as stated on the sheet.
  • Article 7 says new agricultural buildings fronting designated Butler County collectors and arterials and state and federal highways remain subject to setbacks.
  • Lot width and depth 660 feet minimum; lot width-to-depth ratio no greater than 4:1.

  front setback (residential dwelling): >= 75 feet (measured from front property line) · side setback (residential structure): >= 50 feet (agricultural-purpose structures exempt) · rear setback (residential structure): >= 50 feet (agricultural-purpose structures exempt)

  “75 feet from the front property line for any residential dwelling.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Rural Residential (RR) district land in unincorporated Butler County, including inside Clifford township if zoned RR

    “rural residential-setbacks as measured from property lines and easements: 75 feet from front property line. 50 feet from side and rear property lines for any residential dwelling.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured home parks in the county MH district; the MH rule does not state the rule for a single manufactured home on an AG or RR lot

  • Parks must be developed on at least one acre; homes must be set back 50 feet from public road right-of-way and 25 feet from the park exterior line.
  • Single-wide and double-wide minimum sizes and yard setbacks apply within the park.

  minimum park area: >= 1 acre

  “manufactured housing-mh-article 13 regulations and restrictions are intended to accommodate the grouping of manufactured home sites in manufactured housing parks for use under rental or lease arrangement”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-site wastewater (septic) systems on land inside Clifford township, which is unincorporated Butler County territory

  • Authority is the county Environmental Health Division under the Butler County sanitary code, as stated on the county Community Development page.
  • The page does not state that any state or health-district body also issues permits in Clifford township.

  “issues permits for on-site wastewater treatment systems inspects such systems for compliance with the code”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installing an on-site wastewater treatment system on land inside Clifford township

  • The county issues permits for on-site wastewater treatment systems under the county sanitary code; permit fees and application steps are not stated on this page.
  • Installers must be licensed under the county contractor licensing program described on the same page.

  “issues permits for on-site wastewater treatment systems inspects such systems for compliance with the code”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  On-site wastewater treatment systems installed inside Clifford township

  • The county inspects these systems for compliance with the code; inspection timing is not stated on this page.

  “issues permits for on-site wastewater treatment systems inspects such systems for compliance with the code”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Land used for agricultural purposes inside Clifford township, as defined in the county zoning regulations, exempt from those zoning regulations

  • The exemption applies only to the zoning regulations and depends on the regulations' definition of agricultural purposes.
  • New agricultural buildings fronting designated county collectors and arterials and state and federal highways remain subject to setback requirements.
  • Change of agricultural land to a nonagricultural use is subject to the regulations.

  “all lands used for agricultural purposes, as defined in these regulations, are and shall be exempt from the restrictions and limitations of these regulations.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of land inside Clifford township, which is unincorporated Butler County territory

  • The county Subdivision Regulations (revised 10/26/2011) govern land divisions; the regulations text was not opened.
  • The Setbacks sheet states that the most restrictive setback requirement governs in subdivisions, per the subdivision rules.

  “the planning and zoning division consults with and advises citizens of the regulations and requirements of the butler county zoning and subdivision regulations (including floodplain regulations) and enforces the regulations.”

• Permit processPartial

  Construction permitting for structures inside Clifford township, which is unincorporated Butler County territory

  • The page lists the steps but not the application forms, documents, fees or timelines.
  • Application forms are not linked from the page as opened.

  “the steps in the process include: plan, site plan, and land use review construction permitting on-site project inspection”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Clifford Township or Butler County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from building permits inside Clifford township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for a new home inside Clifford township
• Local zoning — Whether Clifford township itself adopts and administers a zoning ordinance for land inside its limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area for a home inside Clifford township
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage for residential lots inside Clifford township

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.