Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Lincoln Center, Kansas

Lincoln Center’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, constructing, enlarging or improving any building or structure inside Lincoln Center city

  • Separate permit for each building or structure
  • Issued by the city clerk
  • Fee set by Sec. 4-906 may have been changed by later ordinance (Ord. 752 building permit fee, not opened)

  “no person, firm or corporation shall erect, construct, enlarge, or improve any building or structure in the city or cause the same to be done, without first obtaining a separate building permit for each such building or structure from the city clerk.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction inside Lincoln Center city

  • Code adopted by reference under K.S.A. 12-3009 through 12-3012
  • Editions are old: IBC 2003, IPC 2003, NEC 2005 (city code adopted June 9, 2014); later amendments not checked
  • Builders, electricians and plumbers must carry liability insurance ($100,000 per person / $300,000 per accident / $50,000 property damage)

  International Building Code edition: 2003 · International Plumbing Code edition: 2003 · National Electrical Code edition: 2005

  “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, 2003 edition”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Each mobile home space within a designated mobile home park inside Lincoln Center city (not a general residential district)

  • No general residential or agricultural district lot size found; zoning article reserved

  minimum space per mobile home: >= 1000 square feet

  “an area of not less than 1,000 square feet shall be allotted for the location space of each mobile home in a mobile home park”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Mobile homes within designated mobile home parks inside Lincoln Center city (not general residential districts)

  • No general district setbacks found; zoning article reserved
  • Section text for the street-side distance omits the unit (reads '15 from the property line')

  distance to other mobile home or building: >= 15 feet · rear property line: >= 6 feet

  “permit a mobile home to be parked or to park a mobile home closer than 15 feet to any other mobile home or building”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes (factory-built, transportable; includes any movable structure occupied as living quarters, on wheels or foundation) inside Lincoln Center city

  • Only on land designated by the governing body as a mobile home park
  • Park permit requires $500 fee (refunded if denied) and notice to owners within 150 feet
  • Must connect to city sewer
  • Skirted or on permanent enclosed foundation and anchored; no joining of single-wides
  • Definition is broad and may reach HUD-code manufactured homes; applicability to newer manufactured homes on foundations not resolved

  mobile home park permit fee: 500 USD (refunded if permit not granted)

  “no person, corporation or other entity shall locate a mobile home on any land within the city limits of the city of lincoln center unless said mobile home is sited on land within said city limits which has been designated by the governing body as a "mobile home park."”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Lincoln Center city where public sewer is not available

  • City utility superintendent inspects; system must meet state health department water pollution control requirements
  • City or county health officer may impose additional requirements

  “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 permitLimited

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Lincoln Center city

  • Allowed only where public sewer is not available under Sec. 15-402
  • No permit for subsurface soil absorption where lot is under one acre
  • Septic tank or cesspool may not discharge to a public sewer or natural outlet

  minimum lot area for subsurface absorption system: >= 1 acre

  “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 one acre.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private sewage disposal system installation inside Lincoln Center city

  • Inspection by utility superintendent or representative at any stage
  • Superintendent must inspect within 48 hours of notice (per code)

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

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Sewage disposal inside Lincoln Center city

  • Private systems only where public sewer is not available
  • Subsurface absorption systems not permitted on lots under one acre
  • When public sewer later becomes available, direct connection required and septic abandoned and filled

  “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 hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Houses and buildings for human occupancy abutting a street, alley or right-of-way with a public main inside Lincoln Center city

  • Water: connection required at owner's expense for properties abutting a street with a public water main
  • Sewer: connect within 90 days after official notice, provided the public sewer is within 140 feet of the property line
  • Water connection requires written permit application to city clerk; fee is actual cost of labor and materials
  • Failure to connect sewer: city may connect and assess cost against the property

  sewer distance trigger: <= 140 feet (measured to property line) · sewer connection deadline after 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.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Construction inside Lincoln Center city, reviewed for flood hazard

  • City clerk reviews building permit applications for flood safety
  • Construction must be anchored, flood-resistant, with adequate drainage and elevated utilities
  • The city has a separate Floodplain Ordinance 745 (and floodplain ordinances 753/758) which was not opened; detailed floodplain permit rules unresolved

  “the city clerk shall require that any such proposed construction: (1) be designed and anchored to prevent the floatation, collapse or lateral movement of the structure or portions of the structure due to flooding.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permits inside Lincoln Center city

  • Paid to city clerk when application is submitted
  • Code text dates from Ord. 543; a later 'building permit fee' Ord. 752 is listed on the city ordinances page and was not opened, so the current fee may differ

  building permit fee (Sec. 4-906): 10 USD (per building permit; later ordinance may supersede)

  “a fee in the amount of $10.00 for each building permit shall be paid to the city clerk at the time the application for building permit is submitted to the city clerk.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permits inside Lincoln Center city

  • City clerk reviews each application for flood-damage consistency
  • No full application checklist or timeline found

  “the city clerk shall review all building permit application to determine if the proposed construction is consistent with the need to minimize flood damage.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Inside Lincoln Center city
• Inspections — Building construction inside Lincoln Center city
• Certificate of occupancy — Inside Lincoln Center city
• Local zoning — Land inside Lincoln Center city limits
• Zoning districts — Inside Lincoln Center 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.