Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Oberlin, Kansas

Oberlin’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erection, alteration or addition of buildings inside Oberlin city

  • The opening sentence of the permit paragraph was cut off in text extraction; the requirement is read from the 'before the permit is issued' language. Verify the full paragraph on the city page before relying on it.
  • Plans must be approved by the building inspector before the permit is issued; doubtful applications go to the city council.
  • The permit is valid for 180 days from date of issue.

  building permit fee: 25 USD (paid to the building inspector) · permit validity: 180 days (from date of issue)

  “application for such permit shall be made and permit obtained before work is commenced upon the foundation for any such proposed building”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction, alteration, removal, demolition, equipment, use and occupancy of buildings inside Oberlin city

  • The adopted code is the Uniform Building Code, 1988 edition, as incorporated by section 4-202; a newer code edition was not found in the code PDF.

  adopted building code edition: Uniform Building Code, 1988 edition

  “the uniform building code, 1988 edition as recommended by the international conference of building officials”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land and buildings inside Oberlin city limits (Oberlin, Decatur County, KS)

  • Zoning is adopted by incorporating the 'Standard Zoning Code with Subdivision Regulations, 1984 edition' as amended by Ord. 667; that book was not opened and its district text is not in the code PDF.
  • The code PDF revision stamps (for example 06-05-2009) are not effective dates and are not reported as effective_at.

  “the book entitled "standard zoning code with subdivision regulations, 1984 edition" as amended by ordinance no. 667 is hereby incorporated by reference”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Zoning district boundaries inside Oberlin city

  • The district map is certified and filed with the city clerk; no online copy of the map was found in the code PDF.
  • District-by-district standards are in the incorporated 1984 standard zoning code book, which was not opened.

  “the boundaries of districts are as shown on a map entitled "zoning map of oberlin, kansas," which is certified by and filed in the office of the city clerk”

• Septic permitLimited

  Private sewage disposal systems with subsurface soil absorption on lots inside Oberlin city

  • No permit may issue for a subsurface absorption system where the lot is under 20,000 square feet.
  • A general permit requirement for all private systems was not found in the code PDF.

  minimum lot area for subsurface soil absorption system: >= 20000 square feet (smaller lots are barred from a permit)

  “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”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Privies, septic tanks and cesspools inside Oberlin city

  • The ban applies except as the article provides; private systems are allowed under section 14-210 on lots of at least 20,000 square feet for subsurface absorption, and must follow Kansas Department of Health recommendations.
  • Septic tanks may not discharge to a natural outlet (section 14-210).

  “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 hookupSewer (with conditions)

  New or existing houses inside Oberlin city where a public sanitary or combined sewer is available

  • Connection is required where the property abuts a street or right-of-way with a public sewer.
  • Where a public sewer becomes available to a property on a private system, direct connection is required within 180 days.
  • A water-connection mandate was not established from the code PDF; water service rules were found only in the rate and service provisions.

  connection deadline after public sewer becomes available: 180 days (applies to properties served by a private system)

  “at such time as a public sewer becomes available to a property served by a private sewage disposal system, as provided in section 14-206, a direct connection shall be made to the public sewer within 180 days”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdividing land inside Oberlin city limits

  • Subdivision regulations are part of the 1984 'Standard Zoning Code with Subdivision Regulations' incorporated by section 18-401; that book's text was not opened, so plat, filing and improvement requirements are not confirmed.

  “the book entitled "standard zoning code with subdivision regulations, 1984 edition" as amended by ordinance no. 667 is hereby incorporated by reference”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development on lands inside Oberlin city limits within the FIRM numbered and unnumbered A zones and the fw and ff floodplain overlay districts

  • Applies only to the flood-hazard areas named in section 18-503(a); other land is not covered by this article.
  • The permit is granted by the city council or its designated representative, with safeguards it may impose.

  “in all areas covered by this article no development shall be permitted except upon a permit to develop granted by the city council or its duly designated representative”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit and sewer-connection plumbing permit fees inside Oberlin city

  • Only two fees were found in the code PDF; a current fee schedule (including water and sewer tap fees) was not located.
  • Sewer connections outside a sewer district, or to property not specially assessed, need a council-set fee.

  building permit fee: 25 USD (paid to the building inspector) · plumber's sewer permit fee: 10 USD (paid to the city clerk)

  “provided, that the applicant for the permit shall pay the sum of $25 to the building inspector as compensation for his services”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit review process inside Oberlin city

  • Plan review standard and 180-day validity are stated; application form content and inspection scheduling are not described in the code PDF.
  • Doubtful applications go to the city council for decision.

  permit validity: 180 days (from date of issue)

  “the building inspector shall study all plans, specifications and applications, and grant those which show that they comply fully with the building code and the zoning ordinances”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a home inside Oberlin city
• Inspections — Inspections of new construction inside Oberlin city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new buildings inside Oberlin city
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Oberlin city
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for residential districts inside Oberlin 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.