Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Towanda, Kansas

Towanda’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building, construction, repair and interior remodeling work inside Towanda city limits; structures over 100 square feet; all fences

  • Sec. 4-107 requires a builder or building contractor to apply to the building inspector and obtain a permit before beginning building, construction or repair work, or interior remodeling that alters floor plan or use.
  • Amendment in sec. 4-101(b)(1): all structures with floor area over 100 sq ft require a building permit. Amendment in sec. 4-101(b)(2): all fences require a building permit.
  • City apply page says certain residential and commercial building repairs and installations require building permits and inspections, and that permits are obtained from the city planning & zoning administrator.

  structure floor area threshold: > 100 square feet (Structures at or below this floor area are not covered by the amendment; fences are covered regardless of size)

  “all structures with a floor area of more than 100 square feet require a building permit.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction, alteration and repair of buildings and structures inside Towanda city limits

  • International Building Code, 2006 edition, adopted with amendments in Chapter 4 Article 1 sec. 4-101(b), including appendices c, e, f, h, i and j.
  • International Plumbing Code, 2006 edition, adopted with amendments in Chapter 4 Article 2 sec. 4-201 (separate claim not made here).
  • Code text lists 2006 editions; no later edition adoption was found in the articles read.

  building code edition: 2006 edition year

  “the international building code, 2006 edition, as published by the international code council, at least one copy of which is on file at the city, is hereby adopted”

• InspectionsRequired

  Work under the Towanda city building code inside city limits

  • Sec. 4-104(b) directs the building inspector to examine premises with issued permits and make necessary inspections so construction is prosecuted safely.
  • Sec. 4-101(b)(4): structures must be anchored to the ground to meet code requirements (inspection standard, not a separate inspection schedule).
  • Inspection frequency and final-inspection steps for building work were not located beyond this general rule.

  “examine the premises for which permits have been issued and make necessary inspections to see that the provisions of law are complied with and that construction is prosecuted safely;”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  All land inside Towanda city limits (Towanda, KS, Butler County). Zoning is adopted and administered by the city, not by the county.

  • Zoning regulations of the City of Towanda, Kansas dated April 5, 1999 are adopted by reference by Ordinance 462, as amended by Ordinances 688, 706 and 708.
  • Official zoning district map adopted April 28, 1999 under Ordinance 462, filed with the zoning administrator and open for inspection.
  • Section 16-204 states the zoning regulations and map govern all use of land and location of buildings inside the city. The full district text was not reached in this research.

  “the zoning regulations and official zoning map herein incorporated by reference shall govern all use of the land, the location of buildings and other structures placed within the city.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots using a private sewage system with subsurface soil absorption inside Towanda city limits (septic-permit lot minimum only, not a zoning lot size)

  • Applies only to private sewage disposal systems with subsurface soil absorption facilities where public sewer is not available.
  • Not a zoning district minimum; district lot sizes remain unknown.

  minimum lot area for subsurface soil absorption private sewage system: >= 20000 square feet (No permit shall be issued below this lot area for subsurface soil absorption systems)

  “no permit shall be issued for any private sewage disposal system employing subsurface soil absorption facilities where the area of the lot is less than 20,000 square feet.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Frame (wood-framed) buildings erected or altered inside Towanda city limits

  • Applies to frame buildings only; the source does not state a height limit for other construction types.
  • District-specific zoning height limits in the 1999 Zoning Regulations were not reached; this claim is not a district height limit.
  • Sec. 4-110 requires building walls of stone, brick, cement or wood, or other council-approved materials, for buildings erected or altered inside city limits.

  maximum stories for frame building: <= 2 stories (Applies to frame buildings only)

  “no frame building hereafter erected or altered within this city shall exceed two stories in height.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile and manufactured homes parked or occupied on land inside Towanda city limits

  • Sec. 4-613: no mobile home may be stood or parked on public places or on any tract of land in the city contrary to Article 6, and no person may occupy a mobile home except as Article 6 authorizes.
  • Sec. 4-602(a): a mobile home park may be located inside city limits only if a city water supply is available on the premises and adequate sewage disposal facilities are available.
  • Sec. 4-603: MH-1 Manufactured Home Park district use rules are in Article 4 sec. 103 of the 1999 zoning regulations (not reached in this research).
  • Sec. 4-609: every mobile home must be anchored to the ground by a method approved by the inspection officer.
  • Sec. 4-601(b): mobile home defined as a factory-built structure designed for use as a dwelling without a permanent foundation.

  “no person shall park or occupy any mobile home except as authorized herein, except for mobile home sales lot.”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems for property inside Towanda city limits where a public sewer is not available

  • The city superintendent issues the written permit for a private sewage disposal system (sec. 15-307).
  • Sec. 15-309: type, capacities, location and layout of a private system must comply with all recommendations of the county health officer.
  • Sec. 15-312: nothing in the article limits additional requirements that the health officer may impose.
  • Kansas state onsite wastewater standards (KDHE Bulletin 4-2) were not verified on an official page in this research.

  “the type, capacities, location and layout of a private sewage disposal system shall comply with all recommendations of the county health officer.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction of a private sewage disposal system inside Towanda city limits where public sewer is not available

  • Permit issued by the city superintendent on a city form with plans and specifications the superintendent requires.
  • Sec. 15-309: no permit for a subsurface soil absorption system where the lot is under 20,000 square feet.
  • Sec. 15-309: no septic tank or cesspool may discharge to a natural outlet.

  permit and inspection fee: 200 USD (Paid at the time the application is filed)

  “before commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal system the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the superintendent.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Towanda city limits

  • Sec. 15-308: a permit does not take effect until the work is completed to the satisfaction of the superintendent; the superintendent may inspect at any stage.
  • Sec. 15-308: the inspection is made within 24 hours of the superintendent receiving notice.

  inspection response time: <= 24 hours

  “the inspection shall be made within 24 hours of the receipt of notice by the superintendent.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Non-sewer sanitation (private septic or other onsite disposal) for property inside Towanda city limits

  • Onsite disposal is allowed only as a permitted private sewage disposal system under sec. 15-307 and must comply with sec. 15-309 and county health officer recommendations.
  • Sec. 15-309 bars subsurface absorption permits on lots under 20,000 sq ft; sec. 15-309 bars discharge of septic tanks or cesspools to any natural outlet.
  • Sec. 15-311 requires the owner to operate and maintain private facilities in a sanitary manner at owner expense.

  “except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool, or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  A new home or structure inside Towanda city limits when public sanitary sewer is or becomes available

  • Sec. 15-305 (the section's opening sentence was not captured) requires the owner to connect toilet facilities directly to the public sewer within 90 days after official notice, where a public sewer is within 200 feet of the structure.
  • Sec. 15-306: where public sewer is not available under sec. 15-305, the building sewer must connect to a permitted private sewage disposal system.
  • Sec. 15-310: when public sewer becomes available to a property on a private system, a direct connection must be made within 60 days.
  • City apply page says the city provides water, sewer, trash and streets, and a utility connection form and $25.00 non-refundable service charge apply. Whether water connection is mandatory was not verified.

  distance to public sewer triggering connection duty: <= 200 feet (Applies only where public sewer is within this distance of the structure) · connection deadline after official notice: 90 days · connection deadline after public sewer becomes available (private-system properties): 60 days

  “to connect such facilities directly to the public sewer in accordance with the provisions of this article within 90 days after date of official notice to do so, provided that a public sewer is within 200 feet of the structure to be served by the sewer.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Towanda city limits

  • Subdivision regulations of the City of Towanda dated June 1, 1998 are adopted by reference by Ordinance 448.
  • Sec. 16-303 says the regulations also govern subdivision in the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction as described therein; that jurisdiction area was not reviewed.

  “the subdivision regulations herein incorporated by reference shall govern the subdivision of land and the vacation of rights-of-way, easements and other public reservations located within the city and in the extraterritorial jurisdiction as described therein.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Septic (private sewage disposal) permit fee and city utility connection fee in Towanda city

  • Only the septic permit fee and the utility connection service charge are published in the sources read.
  • Sec. 4-109 says building permit fees are set in a fee schedule established by the governing body and may be amended by resolution; that schedule was not located.
  • Sec. 4-205: plumbing permit fee is set per the 1994 uniform administrative code; not located.

  septic permit and inspection fee: 200 USD (Paid when the application is filed) · utility connection service charge: 25 USD (Non-refundable; applies with a utility connection form)

  “a permit and inspection fee of $200 shall be paid to the city at the time the application is filed.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work on own residence inside Towanda city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — New dwelling occupancy inside Towanda city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area for a single-family dwelling inside Towanda city limits
• Setbacks — Front, side and rear setbacks for buildings inside Towanda city limits
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage for buildings inside Towanda city limits

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.