Bolthole Index

McPherson County, Kansas

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in McPherson, Kansas

McPherson, Kansas requires a building permit for new buildings and generally for additions, alterations and repairs to residential or commercial buildings.1 Inside McPherson city limits in McPherson County, city zoning governs land use and building location.2 Septic tanks need written board-of-health permission and are allowed only where public wastewater disposal is unavailable.3

At a glance

Building permits
City building permits generally required for new construction, additions, alterations and repairs1
Zoning
City zoning applies; lot size and setbacks depend on district2
Septic
Written board-of-health permission; public wastewater disposal must be unavailable3
RV camping
Municipal parking-lot camping prohibited; other camping remains subject to zoning and park rules4
Owner-builder
Qualifying homeowner exempt from contractor licensing; building permits and inspections still apply5
Occupancy
Certificate required for permitted projects involving occupancy; maintenance permits exempt6

Who to call

Building permits

City of McPherson Building Inspection Department

City building-permit questions and applications

620-245-2547

400 E Kansas Ave

Planning & zoning

City of McPherson Planning & Zoning Department

City zoning, subdivision and floodplain questions

[email protected]

Septic permits

McPherson County Planning, Zoning & Environment Department

County sanitation questions for unincorporated land; ask the city about board-of-health permission inside city limits

620-241-2288

200 N. Maple Street - 2nd Floor Suite 210 McPherson, KS 67460

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in McPherson, KS?

McPherson generally requires a city building permit for a new building, addition, alteration or repair to a residential or commercial building.1 McPherson has adopted the International Building Code and International Residential Code for covered construction.7 Permitted construction is reviewed through plan review, material specifications and inspections at different stages.8

A homeowner who personally occupies or will occupy the home can qualify for an exemption from contractor licensing when working on a single-family residence or accessory structure; the exemption does not remove building permits or inspections, and subcontractors under the homeowner permit must be licensed.5

Who issues building permits and handles zoning in McPherson?

The City of McPherson Building Inspection Department answers building-permit questions at 620-245-2547 or at its office at 400 E Kansas Ave.1 Bring a description of the proposed construction so a building inspector can determine whether a building permit is needed.1

The city Planning and Zoning Administrator is the first contact for new development questions and administers zoning, subdivision and floodplain issues.9 Start with that office when checking a parcel’s zoning or floodplain status, then coordinate the building application with Building Inspection.910 City building approval does not replace the written board-of-health permission needed for an eligible septic tank.3

Does McPherson have zoning, minimum lot sizes and setbacks?

McPherson zoning regulates land use and building location inside city limits, with standards that differ by district.2 In the R-1 Single-Family Residential District, a single-family dwelling needs a lot of at least 8,400 square feet, a width of 70 feet and a depth of 100 feet.11 R-1 single-family side yards are 7 feet and rear yards are 25 feet; street-facing yards are 25 feet, with one corner-lot yard reducible to 20 feet.12

In the A-1 Agricultural Transition District, residential uses need 130,000 square feet, with a lot width of 100 feet and depth of 150 feet.13 A-1 street-facing yards are 35 feet, and residential side and rear yards are 25 feet.14 Ask city Planning & Zoning to identify the district before sizing a house or choosing its location.9

How do septic permits and sewer connections work in McPherson?

A septic tank inside McPherson requires written board-of-health permission, which can be given only when public wastewater disposal is unavailable.3 McPherson otherwise prohibits constructing or maintaining private wastewater disposal facilities except as allowed by its sewer article.15 Ask city Building Inspection how to obtain the required board-of-health permission before designing an onsite system.13

For qualifying city properties abutting a street, alley or right-of-way containing or potentially containing public sewer, direct connection is required within 90 days of official notice when the sewer is within 100 feet of the property line.16 When public sewer becomes available to property using a private wastewater system, connection is required within 60 days, and the private system must be cleaned and filled.16

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in McPherson?

McPherson prohibits camping in municipal parking lots and on streets in areas not zoned for residential uses.4 Camping outside those prohibited areas still must meet city zoning and park-use rules, so the camping provision does not establish permission to live in an RV on a residential lot.4 Ask city Planning & Zoning about the proposed lot and the intended duration of RV use before relying on a camper for housing during construction.9

We could not confirm a separate city tiny-home occupancy rule or minimum dwelling floor area; ask city Planning & Zoning and Building Inspection about the proposed dwelling.91 McPherson’s adopted building codes and zoning still govern covered structures and land use.72

Building a home in McPherson: what are the steps in order?

  1. Ask city Planning & Zoning to confirm the parcel’s district, proposed use and any floodplain issues before settling on the house location.92
  2. Establish sewer availability before choosing septic: city septic permission depends on public wastewater disposal being unavailable.3
  3. Submit the required building application and plans to Building Inspection for code review; the city coordinates review with other involved departments, and final permit fees are due when the final zoning/building permit is submitted.10
  4. Arrange inspections during construction, then obtain a certificate of occupancy for a permitted project involving occupancy before moving in.86

For land outside city limits, use the McPherson County guide: county zoning regulations govern unincorporated land rather than replacing the city’s zoning rules.17

Watch-outs

  • A homeowner contractor-license exemption in McPherson does not exempt the project from building permits or inspections.5
  • We could not confirm a separate septic-inspection requirement inside McPherson; ask city Building Inspection about inspection conditions attached to board-of-health permission.13
  • We could not confirm a general agricultural building-permit exemption inside McPherson; ask city Building Inspection before treating an agricultural structure as exempt.1

Sources

  1. City of McPherson Building Inspection Department (mcpcity.com)
  2. McPherson Code § 94-1, Adopted (McPherson), quoted and re-checked
  3. McPherson Code § 18-620, Septic tanks (McPherson), quoted and re-checked
  4. McPherson Code § 70-9, Camping (McPherson), quoted and re-checked
  5. Contractor Licensing Application (McPherson), quoted and re-checked
  6. mcpcity.com (McPherson), quoted and re-checked
  7. McPherson Code § 18-101, International Building Code incorporated (McPherson), quoted and re-checked
  8. Building Inspection | McPherson, KS (McPherson), quoted and re-checked
  9. City of McPherson Planning & Zoning Department (mcpcity.com)
  10. City of McPherson Development Timeline (McPherson), quoted and re-checked
  11. Zoning Spatial Regulations by District (McPherson), quoted and re-checked
  12. Zoning Spatial Regulations by District (McPherson), quoted and re-checked
  13. Zoning Spatial Regulations by District (McPherson), quoted and re-checked
  14. Zoning Spatial Regulations by District (McPherson), quoted and re-checked
  15. McPherson Code § 86-93, Use of public sewers required (McPherson), quoted and re-checked
  16. McPherson Code § 86-93, Use of public sewers required (McPherson), quoted and re-checked
  17. 2024 Zoning Regulations, quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 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.

Answers from the rulebook for McPherson

McPherson’s own rules

  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    A homeowner personally occupying or intending to occupy a single-family residence or accessory structure and undertaking its construction, alteration, repair, or maintenance.

    • The exemption is from contractor licensing, not from building permits or inspections.
    • All subcontractors working under a homeowner's permit must be licensed.
    “Contractor Licenses are not required for: 1. An employee working under a licensed contractor 2. A homeowner who personally occupies or will occupy and undertakes the construction, alteration, repair or maintenance of such homeowner's single-family residence or an accessory structure. All subcontractors working under a homeowners permit MUST be licensed.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Buildings and structures inside McPherson city limits.

    • The city also adopts the 2018 International Residential Code for covered residential buildings.
    “the International Building Code, 2018 edition [...] is hereby adopted as the building code of the City of McPherson, Kansas”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction and modification projects inside the city.

    • Inspections occur at various stages.
    • Inspection requests should be made at least 24 hours ahead; same-day calls are scheduled only as inspector availability permits.
    “This is accomplished through plan review, material specification review, and site inspections at various stages of the construction process.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Permitted projects involving occupancy of space inside the city.

    • Maintenance-type permits do not require a certificate of occupancy.
    “A Certificate of Occupancy is required for all permitted projects that involve occupancy of the space. Maintenance-type permits do not require a certificate of occupancy.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside McPherson city limits.

    • The regulations also extend floodplain jurisdiction to specified unincorporated areas, which are outside this target municipality scope.
    “Zoning regulations are hereby approved and adopted by the governing body of the City of McPherson, Kansas”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts and district standards inside McPherson city limits.

    • The zoning regulations and official zoning maps govern land use and building location inside the city.
    • The opened district schedule includes R-1, R-2, R-3, MH-1, MH-2, A-1, business, and industrial districts.
    “These regulations shall apply to all buildings, structures and land within the corporate limits of the City of McPherson, Kansas”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    A-1 Agricultural Transition District inside McPherson city limits.

    • Residential uses require 130,000 square feet.
    • Other uses require 40,000 square feet.
    • Minimum lot width is 100 feet and minimum lot depth is 150 feet.

    minimum lot area: >= 130000 sq ft (residential use) · minimum lot width: >= 100 feet · minimum lot depth: >= 150 feet

    “Minimum Lot Area: [...] Residential Uses: 130,000 sq ft [...] Other Uses: 40,000 sq ft [...] Minimum Lot Width: 100 ft [...] Minimum Lot Depth 150 ft”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — R-1 Single-Family Residential District inside McPherson city limits.
      “Minimum Lot Area: [...] Single Family Dwelling: 8,400 sq ft [...] Minimum Lot Width: [...] Single Family Dwellings 70 ft [...] Minimum Lot Depth 100 ft”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    A-1 Agricultural Transition District inside McPherson city limits.

    • Front yard is 35 feet on street sides.
    • Residential and other-use side yards are 25 feet.
    • Rear yard is 25 feet.

    front yard: >= 35 feet · side yard: >= 25 feet (residential and other uses) · rear yard: >= 25 feet

    “Minimum Front Yard: 35 ft on all sides abutting a street [...] Residential: 25 ft [...] Other Uses: 25 ft [...] Minimum rear yard: 25 ft.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — R-1 Single-Family Residential District inside McPherson city limits.
      “Minimum Front Yard: 25 ft on all sides abutting a street except that on corner lots one of such yards may be reduced to 20 ft. [...] Single Family Dwellings: 7 ft [...] Minimum rear yard 25 ft”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    A-1 Agricultural Transition District inside McPherson city limits.

    • No numeric percentage is stated; the building, structure, or use may occupy the portion not otherwise required for parking, loading, or yard requirements.
    “Maximum Lot Coverage: A building, structure, or use may occupy all that portion of a zoning lot not otherwise required for off-street parking, loading, or yard requirements.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    A-1 Agricultural Transition District inside McPherson city limits.

    • Maximum structure height is 45 feet.

    maximum structure height: <= 45 feet

    “Maximum Structure Height: 45 ft. 2. Yard Requirements:”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping inside McPherson city limits.

    • Municipal parking-lot camping is prohibited.
    • Street camping is prohibited in areas not zoned for residential uses.
    • Any otherwise-permitted camping remains subject to zoning and park-use regulations.
    “No person shall camp in any municipal parking lot within the city or on any street in any area of the city not zoned for residential uses. Camping in any area not prohibited is subject to all limitations thereon provided by city zoning regulations and park use regulations.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Use of a septic tank inside the city where public wastewater disposal is unavailable.

    • Written board-of-health permission is required.
    • Septic tanks may not be used where a public wastewater disposal system is available.
    “Septic tanks may be used to receive the discharge from plumbing fixtures only upon written permission from the board of health, and such permission shall only be given when a public wastewater disposal system is not available.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private wastewater disposal inside McPherson city limits.

    • Except as provided in the sewer article, constructing or maintaining a septic tank or other wastewater disposal facility is unlawful.
    • A septic tank may be authorized only with written board-of-health permission and only where public wastewater disposal is unavailable.
    • Connection to public sewer is required when the stated distance and availability conditions apply.
    “Except as provided in this article, it shall be unlawful to construct or maintain any septic tank or other facility intended or used for the disposal of wastewater.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Property inside the city abutting a street, alley, or right-of-way containing or potentially containing a public sanitary sewer.

    • Direct sewer connection is required within 90 days after official notice.
    • The public sewer must be within 100 feet of the property line.
    • When a public sewer becomes available to a property served by a private wastewater system, connection is required within 60 days and the private system must be cleaned and filled.

    public sewer distance: <= 100 feet from property line · connection deadline after notice: 90 days (official notice) · connection deadline after availability: 60 days (property served by private wastewater treatment system)

    “The owner of any house, building or property used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other purposes, situated within the city and abutting any street, alley or right-of-way in which a public sanitary sewer of the city is or may be located, is hereby required, at his expense, to install suitable toilet facilities therein and to connect such facilities directly with the proper public sewer in accordance with the provisions of this article within 90 days after the date of official notice to do so, provided that the public sewer is within 100 feet of the property line.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Development, zoning, subdivision, and building-permit processing inside the city.

    • Subdivision review has preliminary and final plat stages.
    • Site plans are generally required except for single-family and two-family homes.
    • Code review is performed by Building Inspection and coordinated with Fire, Public Works, and other involved departments.
    • Final permit fees are due when the final zoning/building permit is submitted.
    “A subdivision is submitted to the Planning Commission for review and approval in two stages: Preliminary Plat and Final Plat. [...] The only types of development not required to produce a site plan are single family or two-family homes. [...] Code review is frequently done concurrent with the site planning process. This review is done by the Building Inspection department and will be coordinated with the Fire Department, Public Works Department, and any other city departments that may be involved. [...] The final permit fees are due at this time.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Minimum dwelling size — Residential districts inside McPherson city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside McPherson city limits.
  • Septic inspection — Septic systems inside McPherson city limits.
  • Agricultural exemption — Agricultural buildings and uses inside McPherson city limits.
  • Short-term rentals — Short-term rental use inside McPherson 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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that McPherson publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. McPherson County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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