Bolthole Index

Johnson County, Kansas

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Johnson County, Kansas

43Index Score / 100
#78 of 105 in Kansas

Unincorporated Johnson County, Kansas requires a building permit for a new home or modular home and regulates land through county zoning and subdivision rules123. Johnson County Building Codes issues building permits, while Planning and Zoning confirms the district and Environmental Division permits private sewage systems where public sewer is unavailable456. Incorporated cities administer their own rules7.

At a glance

Building permit
Required in unincorporated area1
Zoning
Yes in the unincorporated area2
Septic permits
Johnson County Environmental Division8
Owner-builder exemption
No — permit still required even if you do the work9
Rural-district lot size
Generally at least 10 acres per dwelling10
Residential lot sizes
1, 2 or 3 acres, depending on district111213
Household well permit
Required; listed fee is $6514
RV or tiny-home living
Not confirmed; ask Planning and Zoning5

Who to call

Building permits

Johnson County Building Codes

Building permits, plan review and inspections for new homes, modular homes and other structures in unincorporated Johnson County

913-715-2200

[email protected]

111 S. Cherry St., Suite 2000, Olathe, KS 66061

Online permits →

Zoning

Johnson County Planning and Zoning

Zoning, subdivision and floodplain questions for a specific unincorporated parcel, and confirming whether an address is unincorporated or inside a city

913-715-2200

County Administration Building, 111 S. Cherry St., Olathe, KS 66061

Septic permits

Johnson County Environmental Division (Department of Health and Environment)

Septic (on-site sewage) system permits and inspections, and licensing of installers and pumpers, for unincorporated Johnson County

913-715-6900

11811 S. Sunset Drive, Suite #2700, Olathe, KS 66061

Roads & driveways

Johnson County Public Works

County road and bridge maintenance in the unincorporated area, and entrance (driveway) permits

913-715-8300

1800 W. Old Highway 56, Olathe, KS 66061

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 29, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Johnson County, Kansas?

Unincorporated Johnson County, Kansas requires a building permit for a new single-family home, modular home and most other structures1. The county has adopted building codes for the unincorporated area, while cities in Johnson County have their own codes15. Johnson County Building Codes requires a complete application, construction plans and a site plan before issuing the permit1. A homeowner may perform personal work using a Homeowner Installation form but still needs the standard building permit; there is no owner-builder exemption from permitting9. Before applying, confirm the parcel is unincorporated: a city-name result on the county address search directs you to that city's planning department5.

Who is the Johnson County building department, and how do you reach them?

Johnson County Building Codes, a division of Planning, Housing and Community Development, issues permits and performs inspections for unincorporated Johnson County4. Reach the office at 913-715-2200 (option 1) or [email protected], at the County Administration Building, 111 S. Cherry St., Suite 2000, Olathe, KS 660614. Johnson County Building Codes uses the MyGovernmentOnline (MGOConnect) portal for applying, paying fees, requesting inspections and checking permit status4. A full set of construction plans — elevations, framing, floor plans, footing and foundation details — plus a scaled site plan showing the new structure, existing buildings, septic tank and laterals, and lot-line distances must be uploaded with the application1.

Does Johnson County have zoning?

Johnson County zoning and subdivision regulations apply in the unincorporated area; incorporated cities administer their own zoning, although county rules may cover unincorporated pockets within some cities and towns27. Minimum lot size depends on the county zoning district: RUR generally requires at least 10 acres per dwelling, RLD requires 3 acres, RN-2 requires 2 acres and RN-1 requires 1 acre10131211. A PRUR subdivision has a 4-acre minimum nominal lot area but may not exceed overall density of one dwelling per 10 acres, apart from its stated bonus-lot provision16. Narrow exceptions can apply to qualifying existing lots and replats, and subdivision regulations also control land division173. Ask Planning and Zoning to identify the parcel's district, setbacks and floodplain status before relying on acreage alone5.

How do septic permits work in Johnson County?

The Johnson County Residential On-Site Program issues permits for private sewage treatment systems where a property is not served by public wastewater collection6. Reach the Environmental Division at 913-715-6900, at 11811 S. Sunset Drive, Suite #2700, Olathe, KS 6606118. Kansas law lets local governments adopt sanitary codes, approve plans and issue permits, so the county sanitary code controls the local process while statewide design limits still apply19. Kansas bans cesspools, seepage pits and dry wells for onsite systems and forbids a private onsite system from discharging to the surface20. Countywide soil data rate 0% of Johnson County land as free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so obtain a site evaluation early and allow for the possibility of an engineered or alternative design21. Ask the Environmental Division whether the parcel has an approved system or prior evaluation before making an offer.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Johnson County?

We could not confirm a Johnson County rule that allows or prohibits living in an RV or tiny home on a rural parcel during or after construction. County land uses are controlled by zoning districts in the unincorporated area, while incorporated cities apply their own zoning227. A tiny home intended as a dwelling does not escape the ordinary building-permit process merely because it is small; unincorporated Johnson County requires permits for new homes and has adopted building codes115. Before buying, call Johnson County Planning and Zoning at 913-715-2200 and ask about the exact proposed use, district, duration of occupancy and whether utilities may be connected5. Do not treat short-term rental rules as an answer to residential RV occupancy; they address a different use.

Building a home in Johnson County: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the address is unincorporated; a city-name result means the city's offices handle the project5.
  2. Ask Planning and Zoning to confirm the district, minimum lot size, subdivision status, setbacks and floodplain conditions2235.
  3. If public sewer is unavailable, contact the Environmental Division before fixing the house location because the county permits private sewage systems618.
  4. If you plan a household well, obtain the required county permit; the listed fee is $6514.
  5. Ask Public Works about an entrance permit for a new driveway on a county road23.
  6. Prepare the building-permit application, construction plans and site plan, then submit through the county's permit portal and arrange inspections14.

What to check before you buy land in Johnson County

Start with jurisdiction and parcel configuration: county rules govern unincorporated land, cities have separate zoning, and dividing land triggers subdivision review73. Verify the zoning district because minimum residential lot sizes range from 1 acre in RN-1 to 10 acres per dwelling in RUR, with separate PRUR density rules and limited replat exceptions11101617. Check public sewer availability and soil suitability before choosing a house site; countywide soil data rate 0% of the land as free of severe conventional drain-field limits21. A household water well requires a county permit with a listed $65 fee, while lawn-and-garden, livestock/pasture and geothermal wells are listed without a county permit; other state permits may still apply14. Also confirm legal road access and whether the driveway meets a county road or state highway2324.

Watch-outs

  • Confirm your parcel is unincorporated before assuming county rules apply — Johnson County's own address search tells you when a result belongs to a city instead, and cities run their own separate building and zoning departments5.
  • Johnson County's RV-occupancy, tiny-home-occupancy, minimum-home-size and numeric setback rules could not be confirmed; call Planning and Zoning at 913-715-2200 with the parcel and proposed use before buying5.
  • Johnson County requires a county permit for a household well and lists a $65 fee, but other well categories and possible state approvals differ, so identify the intended well use before drilling14.

Sources

  1. Johnson County - New Single Family Dwellings, Modular Homes Permit (2026 county census)
  2. Unincorporated Area, quoted and re-checked
  3. Unincorporated Area, quoted and re-checked
  4. Johnson County Building Codes (jocogov.org)
  5. Johnson County Planning and Zoning (jocogov.org)
  6. Residential Systems, quoted and re-checked
  7. Unincorporated Area, quoted and re-checked
  8. Residential Systems (2026 county census)
  9. Johnson County - New Single Family Dwellings, Modular Homes Permit (2026 county census)
  10. Article 9. Rural Districts, quoted and re-checked
  11. Article 10. Residential Districts, quoted and re-checked
  12. Article 10. Residential Districts, quoted and re-checked
  13. Article 10. Residential Districts, quoted and re-checked
  14. Water Well County Permits, quoted and re-checked
  15. Unincorporated Area, quoted and re-checked
  16. Article 9. Rural Districts, quoted and re-checked
  17. Article 30. Minimum Subdivision Standards, quoted and re-checked
  18. Johnson County Environmental Division (Department of Health and Environment) (jocogov.org)
  19. MF2214 Minimum Standards for Design and Construction of Onsite Wastewater Systems (Kansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. MF2214 Minimum Standards for Design and Construction of Onsite Wastewater Systems (Kansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  22. Unincorporated Area, quoted and re-checked
  23. Johnson County Public Works (jocogov.org)
  24. Kansas Administrative Regulations, Volume 3 (Kansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written September 29, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

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County locator

Johnson County in Kansas

43
County map
Johnson County highlighted among the Kansas counties · colored by Index score

How Johnson County scores

Seclusion17100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency57100% ev.
Admin Boringness43100% ev.
Durability63100% ev.
Property Autonomy47100% ev.
Carry Cost55100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$469kTypical home
1.2%Property tax
$6,558Land / acre
39.5"Annual rain
8.5% of yrsSevere drought
15.5 / yr (+12.3)Mid-century 100°F days
20.9 daysMid-century dry spell
2.34" (+4.2%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.65×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,486Home insurance / yr
2.5% / yrInsurance growth
0.94%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
487,936People within 30 min
3,260,796People within 2 hr
570,288Radius comparison (15 mi)
1,313.8People / sq mi
0%Federal land
96.1%Land at 15% slope or less
0%Septic soil without severe limits
23 acWorkable land screen
26.8 tonsBiomass / forest ac
55.1°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Johnson County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Johnson County rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Building codes for Johnson County and its unincorporated area.

    • The official page also states that all cities in the county have enacted building codes; municipal rules may differ.
    • The new-home permit page references the Johnson County Code of Regulations for Buildings and Construction 2018 edition and the 2018 International Residential Code, Chapter 11.
    “which is constructed in accordance with the building codes adopted by the County.”
  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Johnson County zoning and subdivision regulations in the unincorporated area, meaning areas not located in a city.

    • The county regulations apply to the unincorporated area and not generally to incorporated cities.
    • The source states that cities have similar zoning requirements within their boundaries.

    adoption date: 1994-03-17

    “adopted new zoning and subdivision regulations for the Unincorporated Area”
  • Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

    County aggregate of zoning jurisdiction: Johnson County regulates unincorporated areas, while incorporated cities administer zoning within their boundaries.

    • This is an aggregate countywide conclusion and does not claim that Johnson County administers each municipal ordinance.
    • The county page states that city zoning requirements apply within city boundaries.
    • The county regulations may apply to pockets of unincorporated area within some cities and towns.
    “cities have similar zoning requirements for properties within their boundaries.”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Zoning districts and district-based land-use regulation in unincorporated Johnson County.

    • The county page confirms that land uses are permitted in different zoning districts.
    • The opened pages did not provide the complete district schedule, map or dimensional standards.
    • Municipal zoning districts are separate from county unincorporated-area districts.
    “provides a description of the zoning districts and the standards that apply to them”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Planned Rural District (PRUR) subdivisions and dwellings in unincorporated Johnson County.

    • Lots must take access from a collector or local street.
    • Overall density may not exceed one dwelling unit per ten acres of real property platted into the Planned Rural Development Subdivision, plus one bonus lot for each 30 acres platted.
    • The minimum nominal lot area is four acres per dwelling, including bonus lots.
    • The lot area rule is subject to Article 24, Nonconforming Lots and Uses.
    • Minimum lot width is 150 feet.
    • Side and rear yard setbacks may be larger than 25 feet when required by County-adopted Fire Code building-separation requirements.
    • Minimum infrastructure requirements in Article 31 must be met prior to rezoning or development; highly recommended infrastructure factors also apply unless waived for good cause under Article 31, Section 2(E).

    overall density: >= 10 acres per dwelling unit (Plus one bonus lot for each 30 acres of real property platted into the subdivision) · minimum nominal lot area: >= 4 acres per dwelling (Including bonus lots; except as provided in Article 24, Nonconforming Lots and Uses) · minimum lot width: >= 150 feet

    “Planned Rural Development Subdivisions, including bonus lots, shall provide a minimum Nominal Lot Area of four (4) acres per dwelling.”
    5 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Specified — Dwellings in the Rural District (RUR) in unincorporated Johnson County.
      “The minimum width of a lot shall be three hundred (300) feet. 4. Minimum Lot Area: Every dwelling hereafter erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved or altered, shall provide a Nominal Lot Area of not less than ten (10) acres per dwelling except as provided in Article 24, Nonconforming Lots and Uses.”
    • Specified — Dwellings in the Residential Low Density District (RLD) in unincorporated Johnson County.
      “The minimum width of a lot shall be one hundred fifty (150) feet. 4. Minimum Lot Area: Every dwelling hereafter erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved or altered shall have a lot area of not less than three (3) acres.”
    • Specified — Dwellings in the Residential Neighborhood Two District (RN-2) in unincorporated Johnson County.
      “The minimum width of a lot shall be one hundred (100) feet. 4. Minimum Lot Area: Every dwelling hereafter erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved or altered shall have a lot area of not less than two (2) acres.”
    • Specified — Dwellings in the Residential Neighborhood One District (RN-1) in unincorporated Johnson County.
      “The minimum width of a lot shall be one hundred (100) feet. 4. Minimum Lot Area: Every dwelling hereafter erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved or altered shall have a lot area of not less than one (1) acre.”
    • Specified — Certain replatting of existing 10-to-15-acre lots or tracts in qualifying residential or planned residential zoning districts under Johnson County Article 30.
      “Existing lots or tracts with a Nominal Lot Area of at least ten (10) acres but not more than fifteen (15) acres that have a lot-depth to lot-width ratio not greater than 4-to-1, may be subdivided to create new 3-acre or smaller lots [...] if all the following criteria are met:”
  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Private sewage treatment systems in areas of Johnson County served by the Johnson County Environmental Sanitary Code.

    • The Residential On-Site Program issues permits where the property is not served by a public wastewater collection system.
    • JCDHE licenses septic designers, installers and disposal contractors in areas served by the county sanitary code.
    “The Residential On-Site Program issues permits for private sewage treatment systems”
  • Well permitLimited

    Water wells in Johnson County, Kansas, as categorized by the official county-permit table.

    • The KDHE table lists a permit as required for household wells in Johnson County.
    • The same table lists no county permit for lawn-and-garden, livestock/pasture, or geothermal wells.
    • The listed Johnson County permit cost is $65.
    • The KDHE page states that a well may also need a Division of Water Resources permit, Class V Authorization, Public Water Supplies permit, or other permit depending on the well.

    well category: household · permit fee: 65 USD

    “County | Household | Lawn & Garden | Livestock/Pasture | Geothermal | Cost [...] Johnson | Yes | No | No | No | $65”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land in unincorporated Johnson County.

    • The regulations apply to the unincorporated area, defined on the page as areas not located in a city.
    • When dividing land, buyers and sellers should check with the County Planning Office to determine whether resulting parcels meet minimum standards.
    • Municipal subdivision requirements may apply within incorporated cities.
    “These regulations govern the subdivision of land”
  • Owner-builder exemptionNot available

    Homeowners may perform their own work via a Homeowner Installation form but still must obtain the standard building permit; no exemption from permitting.

    Johnson County - New Single Family Dwellings, Modular Homes Permit ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Kansas rules that apply here

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, additions, and covered renovations or occupancy changes on State of Kansas-owned property administered through the Department of Administration's Design, Construction & Compliance process.

    • The code footprint is required for all new construction, additions, and building renovation/remodeling affecting active or passive life-safety systems or changing occupancy on State property.
    • A permit to build is issued as Form 125 Project Acceptance after applicable code footprints and temporary egress plans are accepted by DCC/OSFM and construction documents are accepted by DCC.
    • The source states that projects not on state property should be directed to the local code enforcement office or Kansas Fire Marshal's office.

    permit form: Form 125 - Project Acceptance

    “A permit to build will be granted when the code footprint, if applicable, and temporary egress plans, if applicable have been accepted by DCC / OSFM and construction documents have been accepted by DCC. The permit to build is issued on the Form 125 - Project Acceptance.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Buildings and property owned by the State of Kansas undergoing construction or covered repairs, improvements, or occupancy changes.

    • DCC conducts the building construction inspections for buildings and property owned by the State of Kansas.
    • Healthcare and childcare occupancies and Board of Regents capital-improvement projects require joint or additional OSFM inspection as described in the manual.
    • Required code inspections are tied to issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy.
    “The Department of Administration - Office of Facilities Management - Design, Construction & Compliance conducts building construction inspections on buildings and property owned by the State of Kansas.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Building construction inspections for buildings and property owned by the State of Kansas.
      “The Department of Administration - Office of Facilities Management - Design, Construction & Compliance conducts building construction inspections on buildings and property owned by the State of Kansas.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Any portion of a State of Kansas-owned building that has been in construction or has a change in occupancy, under the Department of Administration DCC process.

    • Form 150 is issued before occupancy of any portion of a building that has been in construction or has a change in occupancy.
    • Healthcare and childcare occupancies and Board of Regents capital-improvement projects require OSFM participation in construction inspections before authorization or acceptance of occupancy.
    • The manual states that failure to submit the occupancy request and schedule required inspections results in denial of occupancy.

    certificate form: Form 150 - Certificate of Occupancy

    “Form 150 - Certificate of Occupancy will be issued by DCC prior to occupancy of any portion of a building that has been in construction or has a change in occupancy. For Healthcare and Childcare Occupancies and Capital Improvement Projects for the Board of Regents, OSFM will perform construction inspections prior to authorization/acceptance of occupancy.”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Building setbacks and yard or open-space requirements established by applicable Kansas municipal or county zoning regulations.

    • Actual setback distances are determined by the applicable local zoning classification or applicable highway/street setback resolution.
    • Agricultural buildings may still be regulated for setbacks from public roads under K.S.A. 19-2960.
    • No statewide numeric setback distance was identified.

    yard, court, open-space, or street/highway setback: local regulation

    “the size of yards, courts and other open spaces”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Percentage of a lot that may be occupied under applicable Kansas municipal or county zoning regulations.

    • Actual lot-coverage percentage is set by the applicable local zoning classification, if adopted.
    • No statewide numeric lot-coverage percentage was identified.

    maximum percentage of lot occupied: local zoning classification percent

    “the percentage of lots that may be occupied”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Building height and number-of-stories restrictions established by applicable Kansas municipal or county zoning regulations.

    • Actual height or story limits are set by the applicable local zoning classification, if adopted.
    • No statewide numeric building-height limit was identified.

    maximum building height or stories: local zoning classification

    “restrict and regulate the height, number of stories and size of buildings”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Placement and residential occupancy of manufactured homes in Kansas jurisdictions with applicable county or city zoning regulations.

    • Manufactured homes remain subject to applicable county and city zoning regulations.
    • A governing body may not exclude manufactured homes from its entire zoning jurisdiction.
    • A governing body may not exclude residential-design manufactured homes from single-family residential districts solely because they are manufactured homes.
    • Architectural or aesthetic standards compatible with site-built housing may still apply.
    • Valid restrictive covenants running with the land are not preempted.
    • The source states the zoning provision became effective January 1, 1992.
    “All mobile homes shall be subject to zoning regulations of counties and cities applicable to areas in which such homes are located.”
  • Septic permitLimited

    Private onsite wastewater systems throughout Kansas, where permit requirements depend on applicable county or other local sanitary/environmental codes.

    • Local governments may adopt codes and issue construction and operating permits.
    • County sanitary or environmental codes specify local design and permitting requirements.
    • If there is no local code, landowners must comply with K.A.R. 28-5-6 to 9 and KDHE Bulletin 4-2.
    • All septic tanks installed in Kansas must comply with KDHE Bulletin 4-2.
    • The cited state materials do not establish a single construction- and operating-permit requirement applicable statewide.

    applicable state regulations without local code: K.A.R. 28-5-6 to 9 · state minimum standard: KDHE Bulletin 4-2

    “County sanitary (environmental) codes specify local design and permitting requirements. [...] If there is no local code, landowners are required to comply with Kansas Administrative Regulations (K.A.R.) 28-5-6 to 9 and minimum standards in this bulletin.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Domestic wastewater disposal without a public sewer connection, using an approved septic system, lagoon, or alternative onsite system.

    • Domestic wastewater must be discharged to an approved sewage collection system, approved lagoon, septic system, alternative system, or permitted sewage treatment plant.
    • Private sewerage facilities are conditioned on public sewers not being available and on compliance with local requirements.
    • Seepage pits, cesspools, and dry wells (rat holes) are not permitted.
    • No private onsite wastewater system may have a surface discharge.
    • Alternative systems may require a local variance; where there is no local code, KDHE may grant a variance.
    “Wastewater from a home shall be discharged to a properly designed and maintained septic tank–soil absorption field or wastewater pond, an approved alternative treatment and disposal system, or a permitted sewage treatment plant. Seepage pits, cesspools, and dry wells (rat holes) are not permitted. [...] No private onsite wastewater system shall have a surface discharge.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Private onsite sewerage facilities serving domestic wastewater in Kansas.

    • A private sewerage facility may proceed only when public sewers are not available and all applicable local requirements are met.
    • The source does not establish a statewide requirement to connect to public water service.
    “Proceed with any private sewerage facility only when public sewers are not available and all applicable local requirements are met.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Use of land for agricultural purposes and erection or maintenance of agricultural buildings under city or county zoning regulations adopted under Kansas planning and zoning statutes.

    • The exemption applies only while the land and buildings are used for agricultural purposes and not otherwise.
    • The exemption does not apply to flood-plain regulations in designated flood plains.
    • Under K.S.A. 19-2960, dwellings, garages, and other similar accessory buildings are not agricultural buildings.
    • Under K.S.A. 19-2960, all buildings, including agricultural buildings, may be regulated for setbacks from public roads.
    • K.S.A. 12-758 applies to regulations adopted by a city pursuant to K.S.A. 12-715b or by a county pursuant to the planning and zoning act.

    agricultural-use condition: land and buildings must be used for agricultural purposes and not otherwise (Flood-plain regulations remain applicable.) · public-road setback exception: permitted (Agricultural buildings may be regulated as to setbacks from public roads under K.S.A. 19-2960.)

    “regulations adopted by a city pursuant to K.S.A. 12-715b, and amendments thereto, or a county pursuant to this act shall not apply”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Construction or alteration of a driveway connecting to the Kansas state highway system.

    • The requirement applies to driveways onto the state highway system.
    • No work may be performed on state highway right-of-way until an approved highway permit agreement is received.
    • Driveways connecting only to local roads are outside the cited rule's stated scope.
    “Individuals desiring to construct or alter a driveway onto the state highway system shall be required to obtain a permit.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Statewide Kansas framework governing locally adopted floodplain zones, districts, and floodplain development regulations

    • A local governing body may establish floodplain zones and districts; the statute does not itself impose one uniform permit requirement on every development statewide.
    • Any floodplain regulations must comply with the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 and rules adopted under it.
    • Before adoption, a local ordinance, resolution, regulation, or plan creating or changing a floodplain zone or district, or regulating structures, encroachments, or land uses in the area, must be submitted to the chief engineer of the Kansas Department of Agriculture's Division of Water Resources.
    • The chief engineer may require complete maps, plans, profiles, specifications, and textual matter; approval or disapproval is due within 90 days after receipt of all required data, and failure to act within that period results in deemed approval.
    • Under K.A.R. 5-44-4, local floodplain zoning regulations must identify flood hazard areas by a specific map, meet or exceed federal minimum requirements, meet or exceed applicable chief-engineer requirements, and designate a local floodplain administrator responsible for reviewing and issuing floodplain development permits.
    • K.A.R. 5-44-1 states that its definitions apply in administering K.S.A. 12-766; its listed effective dates are January 1, 1992 and February 17, 1992.

    chief engineer review period: 90 days (After receipt of all data required by the chief engineer; failure to approve or disapprove within the period results in deemed approval.) · flood threshold referenced by K.S.A. 12-766: 1% annual chance (The governing body may restrict application to lands adjacent to watercourses subject to floods of a lesser magnitude than that having a one-percent chance occurrence in any one year.)

    “The governing body may establish flood plain zones and districts and restrict the use of land therein”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Development in special flood hazard areas under Kansas local floodplain-management ordinances based on the Kansas Department of Agriculture model ordinance.
      “In all areas covered by this ordinance, no development shall be permitted except through the issuance of a floodplain development permit”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term rentals and vacation units or properties regulated by a Kansas municipality during the temporary statutory period from May 15, 2026 through July 25, 2026.

    • The temporary rule applied from May 15, 2026 through July 25, 2026.
    • No municipality could limit the number of permits or other municipal authorizations or limit rental duration during that period.
    • Completed authorization applications had to receive a response within 15 calendar days.
    • If the municipality failed to process and respond within 15 calendar days, the application was deemed approved and no additional municipal regulation or code requirement could be imposed as a condition of approval.
    • The definition excluded a permanent guest or a person occupying under a contract intended for long-term or permanent occupancy for more than 28 consecutive days within the period.

    application response deadline: 15 calendar days (completed municipal authorization applications during the statutory period)

    “During such period, all completed applications to a municipality [...] shall be processed by the municipality [...] within 15 calendar days.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Permits, licenses, and other activities under county sanitary codes statewide in Kansas.

    • County commissioners may adopt reasonable fees through sanitary codes.
    • The statute does not establish a single statewide fee amount.

    fee amount: county sanitary code dependent

    “Each sanitary code may provide for permits, licenses and fees.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — KDHE air-quality construction approval applications statewide in Kansas.
      “there is a $750 fee for each construction approval application.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    KDHE air-quality construction permits or approvals for projects whose potential-to-emit increase exceeds applicable regulatory thresholds.

    • A construction permit or approval must be issued before beginning actual construction or modification when the project exceeds the applicable potential-to-emit thresholds.
    • Land may be cleared, contracts made, and equipment purchased and stored before issuance.
    • Foundation work is considered beginning actual construction and must wait until issuance.
    • Equipment whose emissions contribute to the permitting requirement may not be permanently affixed or installed before issuance.
    • Pre-issuance activity is conducted at the owner or operator's financial risk.
    “foundation work is considered to be "beginning actual construction" and must wait until after issuance.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Partial — Domestic septic tank and lateral-field systems and related onsite wastewater controls in Kansas.
      “Unless otherwise provided by the board of county commissioners, the local health department shall have the authority and responsibility for administering all sanitary codes.”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    Kansas counties adopting zoning regulations for all or any portion of unincorporated county territory.

    • The authority is exercised by the board of county commissioners through resolution and under the applicable planning-and-zoning act.
    • Permissible subjects include building height, number of stories, building size, lot coverage, yards and open spaces, population density including minimum lot dimensions, building and land uses, and floodplain land use.
    • County zoning jurisdiction may cover all or any portion of the unincorporated area; incorporated municipalities have separate statutory zoning jurisdiction.
    “The board of county commissioners, by resolution, may provide for the adoption or amendment of zoning regulations for the unincorporated portion of the county in the manner, and for the purposes, provided by this act.”
  • county building authorityLimited

    Kansas counties' authority to require building permits and regulate construction in unincorporated areas through subdivision regulations

    • The county must first adopt a comprehensive plan before adopting subdivision regulations under K.S.A. 19-2961.
    • The permit procedures apply to lots divided, subdivided, resubdivided, or replatted within an area governed by the county's subdivision regulations.
    • No building authorization may be granted for a structure on a lot subdivided, resubdivided, or replatted after adoption of the regulations unless the statutory approval process is followed.
    • Regulations must provide a building-permit procedure for lots divided into not more than two tracts without replatting, unless otherwise provided.
    • Permit procedures must account for zoning regulations, adequate street rights-of-way, easements, and improvement of public facilities, and specify a decision time limit.
    • The statute permits the final permit decision to be made by the county commission, subject to other law.

    maximum tracts for permit without replatting: <= 2 tracts (unless otherwise provided by the county regulations)

    “Any regulations adopted by the board of county commissioners with reference to subdividing lots shall provide for the issuance of building permits”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • General — Kansas counties adopting and enforcing building codes in unincorporated portions of the county.
      “Any part of a code adopted pursuant to the provisions of this section may be made applicable, by resolution, either to all unincorporated portions of the county or to any area of the county outside of but within three (3) miles of the nearest point of the corporate limits of any city.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in unincorporated Johnson County.
  • Living in an RV — Living in or occupying a recreational vehicle on a rural residential parcel during or after construction in unincorporated Johnson County, Kansas.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land in unincorporated Johnson County.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy in unincorporated Johnson County.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory-dwelling occupancy in unincorporated Johnson County.

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.

Living off-grid in Johnson County, Kansas

Is Johnson County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Johnson County scores 43/100 on the Bolthole Index, a marginal county profile. Its strengths: mixed durability signals. Watch-outs: about 487,936 people within a 30-minute drive.

Do you need a building permit in Johnson County, Kansas?

Johnson County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Johnson County Environmental Department. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Johnson County, Kansas?

Land in Johnson County runs about $6,558 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Johnson County?

Johnson County gets about 39.5" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 8.5% of years.

How remote is Johnson County?

A representative private-land location has about 487,936 people within a 30-minute drive and 3,260,796 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

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

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How Johnson compares in Kansas

Compare side-by-side →See all 105 Kansas counties ranked →