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

Rules another office applies inside Lowell Township

Lowell 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

  New site-built structures and other building permit categories on unincorporated land inside Lowell township (Cherokee County building permits issued through 911 Mapping)

  • Resolution 07-2018 applies to the unincorporated areas of Cherokee County, which include Lowell township land.
  • Permit must accompany a 911 address and proof of ownership.
  • The same fee schedule lists decks and in-ground pools as not requiring a permit (text reads 'pennit required'), so not every structure needs one.
  • Modular, mobile and manufactured homes must be reported to the county before they are moved in, with proof of title before a building permit issues (see manufactured-home claim).

  “the department of 911 mapping shall issue all building permits for the unincorporated areas of cherokee county, kansas.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Placing a modular, mobile or manufactured home for occupancy on unincorporated land inside Lowell township

  • Owner/occupant must notify Cherokee County before moving the home into the county.
  • Proof of title is required before a building permit is issued.
  • Home must be manufactured after June 15, 1976 and conform to the federal manufactured home construction and safety standards.
  • Home must be installed by a licensed manufactured home installer under K.S.A. 58-4219.

  “modular homes / mobile homes / manufactured homes owner/occupant shall notify cherokee county before moving manufactured home, mobile home or modular home into the county.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Construction and reconstruction of private sewers and septic systems on unincorporated land inside Lowell township

  • Authority moved from the county health department to the county Department of Emergency Management by Resolution 07-2018.
  • Enforcement is under the Cherokee County Environmental Code, referenced on the county wastewater permit form.

  “the board of county commissioners is transferring the administrative responsibilities for enforcement of regulations pertaining to construction and reconstruction of private sewers and drains in the unincorporated areas of cherokee county from the cherokee county health department to the cherokee county department of emergency management.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private on-site sewage systems on unincorporated land inside Lowell township

  • Conventional systems are installed under a county wastewater permit.
  • Special systems (chamber, drip, aerobic, mound, sand filter, evapotranspiration, wetland, cluster) require special county approval.

  “special systems sucgh as chamber systems, drip distribution, aerobic treatment, mound systems, recirculation sand filter, evapotranspiration, wetland and cluster/community system will be subject to special approval.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  New construction and additions requiring a flood plain permit on unincorporated land inside Lowell township

  • The resolution lists a flood plain permit fee for new construction and additions; the opened text does not define the mapped flood zone area, so confirm with the county whether it applies only in mapped floodplains.
  • Fee is listed alongside the building permit with the same 911 address and proof of ownership requirement.

  flood plain permit fee, new construction and additions: 50 USD

  “flood plain permit (new construction and additions): $50.00”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Non-commercial building permit fees on unincorporated land inside Lowell township

  • Resolution 07-2018 sets these fees; the same resolution title states it was adopted to set new rates, and a later fee schedule may exist.
  • Flood plain permit fee for new construction and additions is listed separately (see floodplain claim).
  • Owner-occupant manufactured home notice and proof of title apply before the building permit issues.

  non-commercial building permit application fee: 25 USD

  “building permit applications - non-commercial: $25.00”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit application process for unincorporated land inside Lowell township

  • Application must include a 911 address and proof of ownership.
  • Septic applications require a detailed site drawing from a licensed contractor and must be submitted to Emergency Management before construction starts.

  “911 address and proof of ownership must accompany application”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for Lowell township land
• Building code adopted — Adoption of a building code for land inside Lowell township
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Lowell township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Lowell township
• Local zoning — Whether Lowell township itself adopts and administers a zoning ordinance for land inside its 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.