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

Rules another office applies inside Gardner Township

Gardner 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 code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Unincorporated Johnson County land inside Gardner township (outside the City of Gardner)

  • The page says all cities in the county have enacted building codes; land inside the City of Gardner is governed by the city.

  “johnson county and all cities in the county have enacted building codes.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Unincorporated (non-city) land inside Gardner township; Johnson County zoning, not a township ordinance, is the rule that applies there

  • Applies only outside incorporated city limits; the county FAQ lists Gardner among the incorporated cities whose areas are generally excluded.
  • The county page describes the regulations as continuing to apply only to unincorporated areas; pockets of unincorporated land within some cities are also covered.
  • Gardner township itself has not been shown to adopt its own zoning ordinance; the county regulations are used as the rule that applies.
  • The regulation text itself was not opened; district standards are not stated here.

  “the updated zoning and subdivision regulations will continue to only apply to unincorporated areas of johnson county.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage treatment (septic) systems inside Gardner township where the property is not served by public sewer; the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) administers the on-site program

  • Applies only where property is not served by a public wastewater collection system.
  • Gardner township has no septic rule of its own found in this review.
  • The county Environmental Sanitary Code was not opened.

  “the residential on-site program issues permits for private sewage treatment systems where property owners are not served by a public wastewater collection system.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New or repaired private septic systems on land inside Gardner township not served by public sewer; JCDHE issues the permit

  • Page says a permit from JCDHE will be required in most cases, including before building additions, fencing, decking, exterior buildings or alterations.
  • Does not apply where the property is served by public sewer.

  “a permit from jcdhe will be required in most cases.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Existing residential septic systems serving a home sold in Gardner township where the property is not served by public sewer

  • Resale inspection by JCDHE is required before a residential property with a private system is bought or sold.
  • Routine inspection frequency for new construction was not stated on the page.

  “this is an inspection of the existing private sewage treatment system serving a residential property, which is required to be completed prior to a property being bought or sold.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdividing land in unincorporated Johnson County inside Gardner township

  • Applies only outside incorporated city limits; the county subdivision regulations are the 1994 adoption, subject to later amendment, and the 2026 update was not confirmed adopted.

  “these regulations govern the subdivision of land and the types of land uses that are permitted in different zoning districts.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway entrances on unincorporated Johnson County land inside Gardner township

  • Permits page lists an entrance permit among the permits that apply to residential projects in the unincorporated area; driveway limitations are also listed as a regulation.
  • The entrance permit criteria and driveway limitation text were not opened.

  “unincorporated area permits entrance permit land disturbance utility permit”

• Permit processPartial

  Permit process for unincorporated Johnson County land inside Gardner township

  • Page gives the Building Codes contact line and email for permit questions and the online mygovernmentonline permitting system; the step-by-step application process and fee schedule were not opened.
  • Land inside the City of Gardner is handled by the city.

  “if you are unsure if your project requires a building permit, please give us a call at 913-715-2200, option #1 or email us at [email protected].”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for homeowners building in unincorporated Johnson County land inside Gardner township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in unincorporated Johnson County land inside Gardner township
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts for unincorporated land inside Gardner township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the main single-family residential district and any agricultural or rural-residential district for unincorporated land inside Gardner township
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in the main single-family residential district and any agricultural or rural-residential district for unincorporated land inside Gardner township

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.