Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Lane, Kansas

Lane’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Lane city limits. The city code incorporates by reference a zoning ordinance titled 'zoning regulations of the city of lane, kansas'.

  • The incorporation sentence leaves the ordinance numbers blank (ordinance nos. _____) and the code copy is marked 'unofficial draft'. The zoning regulations text itself was not located or opened, so the ordinance number and adoption date are unverified.
  • The code states the regulations 'have subsequently been amended by ordinance nos. ______' (blank).
  • Zoning-only topics (dimensional limits, districts, occupancy) are answered unknown because the regulations text was not reached.

  “there are hereby incorporated by reference as if set out fully herein, the zoning regulations adopted by the governing body of the city of lane, kansas”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal (septic) systems on land inside Lane city limits where no public sanitary sewer is available

  • The city utility superintendent issues the construction permit and inspects the work (sections 15-313 and 15-314).
  • Layout and type must comply with Kansas Department of Health (KDHE) water pollution control requirements (15-315).
  • The city or county health officer may impose additional requirements (15-316).
  • Unapproved septic tanks or privies may be abated as a public nuisance on the order of the city or county board of health (15-317).

  “no statement contained in this article shall be construed to interfere with any additional requirements that may be imposed by the city or county health officer.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction of a private sewage disposal (septic) system inside Lane city limits where no public sanitary sewer is available

  • Permit must be obtained from the utility superintendent before construction begins.
  • No permit may be issued for a system using subsurface soil absorption where the lot is under one acre.
  • The permit and inspection fee is blank in the code copy ('$ _____'), so the fee amount is unknown.
  • KDHE layout and type requirements also apply.

  minimum lot area for subsurface soil absorption system permit: >= 1 acre (Applies to systems employing subsurface soil absorption facilities; no permit shall be issued below this lot area)

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

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private sewage disposal (septic) system construction inside Lane city limits

  • Inspection is by the utility superintendent or authorized representative, at any stage of construction.
  • The applicant must notify the superintendent for final inspection or before underground portions are covered.
  • Inspection must be made within 48 hours of receipt of notice (15-314).

  inspection response time after notice: <= 48 hours

  “the inspection shall be made within 48 hours of the receipt of notice by the superintendent.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Non-connected sanitation (privy, septic tank, cesspool or other sewage disposal facility) inside Lane city limits

  • Only facilities built under the private sewage disposal article are allowed where no public sewer is available.
  • Any unauthorized or unapproved privy, vault, septic tank or other sewage disposal facility may be abated as a public nuisance (15-317).

  “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 except as provided in this article.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Owners of buildings or properties inside Lane city limits abutting a street, alley or right-of-way with a public sanitary sewer

  • Connection is required only where the public sewer is within 140 feet of the property line.
  • Owner must connect within 90 days after official notice.
  • Where sewer is not available, a private system is permitted under sections 15-311 to 15-316 (see septic claims).
  • When a public sewer becomes available to a property on a septic system, a direct connection is required and septic facilities must be abandoned and filled (15-315(b)).

  distance from property line to public sanitary sewer: <= 140 feet (Connection required only if sewer is within this distance) · connection deadline after official notice: 90 days

  “within 90 days after date of official notice to do so, provided that said public sewer is within 140 feet of the property line.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land located within Lane city and the surrounding area described in the subdivision regulations

  • The incorporated subdivision regulations are not reproduced in the code copy; the surrounding area the regulations cover is 'as described therein' and was not identified.
  • The code copy is an unofficial draft with blank preparer and ordinance numbers.

  “certain regulations governing the subdivision of land located within the city of lane, kansas and certain surrounding area as described therein”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Sewer connection permit to the city sewer system only. Building permit and private septic permit fees were not found published.

  • The private sewage disposal permit and inspection fee is blank in the code copy ('$ _____'), so it is not published.
  • Building permit fees were not located.

  sewer connection permit fee: 1500 USD (Payable at time of application for the sewer connection permit)

  “there shall be charged a fee of $1,500 payable at the time of making application for the permit.”

• Permit processPartial

  Sewer connection permit application inside Lane city limits. The building permit and septic permit process was not located.

  • Application goes to the city clerk, who forwards it to the utility superintendent.
  • Application must include legal description, owner name and address, property type and proposed connection point (15-304).

  “any person desiring to make a connection to the city sewer system shall apply in writing to the city clerk who shall forward the application to the utility superintendent.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — New residential construction permit inside Lane city limits
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permit or licensing inside Lane city limits
• Building code adopted — Building construction code adoption inside Lane city limits
• Inspections — Building construction inspection inside Lane city limits (septic inspection is answered separately)
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for a new dwelling inside Lane 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.