Zoning, building permits and septic rules in New Strawn, Kansas

New Strawn’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, enlarging, relocating or remodeling any building or structure inside New Strawn city

  • Permit must be obtained from the city clerk after approval by the zoning administrator, before work begins (section 4-206).
  • Work started without a permit must stop until a permit is obtained and a $50 fee is paid (section 4-209).
  • The permit must be kept on the premises during work (section 4-210).

  penalty fee for work begun without permit: 50 USD (charged with the building permit)

  “without a building permit being first obtained therefor from the city clerk, after approval by the zoning administrator or his or her duly authorized assistant.”

• Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  An owner building or remodeling a structure inside New Strawn city without a licensed contractor

  • The owner must show satisfactory evidence that the proposed work will be performed by the owner, and not by a licensed contractor (section 4-207(b)).
  • Otherwise the application must name the licensed contractor doing the work (section 4-207(b)).

  “a building permit may be issued to the owner upon his or her application disclosing satisfactory evidence that the proposed work will be performed by the owner, himself or herself and not by a licensed contractor.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction, alteration, removal, demolition, equipment, use and occupancy of buildings and structures inside New Strawn city

  • Adopted by reference under K.S.A. 12-3009 through 12-3012, including any amendments, per section 4-202.
  • Section 4-203 states that the additional provisions in the article supplement the incorporated code.
  • A city copy is to be filed with the city clerk.

  adopted building code: International Building Code, 2012 edition

  “there is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference, for the purpose of establishing rules and regulations for the construction, alteration, removal, demolition, equipment, use and occupancy, location and maintenance of buildings and structures, the international building code, 2012 edition”

• InspectionsLimited

  Permitted building work inside New Strawn city

  • The zoning administrator must be notified when layout is marked and checks lot lines, setbacks and location (section 4-211(a)).
  • The zoning administrator must be notified and inspect excavation, footings and forms before pouring (section 4-211(b)).
  • Only the layout and foundation stages are covered in the sections read; any framing, final or occupancy inspection was not located in sections 4-201 to 4-211.

  “it shall be his or her duty to inspect all such work for conformity with laws respecting location of the building foundations and footings.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit fees for work inside New Strawn city

  • Fee is paid to the city clerk when the permit is obtained and is credited to the general operating fund (section 4-209).
  • Renewal of an expired initial permit: $15 for new construction and $10 for all other construction (section 4-209).
  • Section 4-209 history cites ord. 2014-01 and ord. 2015-008; the fee schedule was not checked against any later amendment.

  building permit fee, new construction: 20 USD · building permit fee, all other construction: 10 USD

  “the fee for a building permit shall be $20 for new construction and $10 for all other construction.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit application and approval process inside New Strawn city

  • Application is made in writing to the city clerk on the city's form (section 4-207(a)).
  • Application is signed by the owner or a city-licensed contractor (section 4-207(b)).
  • Zoning administrator approves; the administrator may require drawings or full plans (sections 4-206, 4-208).
  • A permit is valid for six months unless work starts, or for eighteen months from issuance (section 4-207(d)).
  • Zoning or other permits, certificate of occupancy and inspection steps beyond foundation stage were not confirmed; process is only partly published.

  “a building permit shall be issued upon an application in writing to the office of city clerk on a form or forms provided for the purpose.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask New Strawn or Coffey County directly.

• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy approval for new buildings inside New Strawn city
• Local zoning — Land inside New Strawn city limits: whether the city adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and schedule for New Strawn city
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for single-family residential districts inside New Strawn city
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in the main single-family residential district inside New Strawn city

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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in New Strawn means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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