Zoning, building permits and septic rules in White City, Kansas

White City’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, enlarging, relocating, or remodeling any building or structure inside White City city limits; permit issued by the city clerk after approval by the chief building official

  • Permit must be obtained before work begins on any building or structure or its foundation (4-210).
  • Application may be signed by the owner or by a city-licensed contractor; owner-builder permit available under 4-211(b).
  • Permit valid for six months unless building work commenced within that period (4-211(d)).
  • Application must include a 180-day time limit statement (4-211(a)(12)).

  “it shall be unlawful for any person to hereafter erect or cause to be erected within the city any building or structure of any kind or enlarge or add to the outside dimension thereof”

• Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Owner who performs the building work personally inside White City city

  • Owner must show satisfactory evidence that the owner will do the work personally and not through a licensed contractor.
  • Work remains subject to final approval of the building inspector.
  • Owner signs the permit application (4-211(b)).

  “a building permit may be issued to the owner upon his or her application disclosing satisfactory evidence that the proposed work will be performed by the owner, himself or herself and not by a licensed contractor”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction, alteration, removal, demolition, equipment, use and occupancy of buildings and structures inside White City city

  • Adopted edition is the 2000 edition as stated in the city code; no later edition was found in the code text.
  • Adopted by reference under K.S.A. 12-3009 through 12-3012 per the code.

  “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, 2000 edition”

• InspectionsRequired

  Building work in the process of erection, construction, alteration or relocation inside White City city

  • The building inspector examines work for compliance with the permit and city regulations (4-206(c)).
  • Owner-builder work is subject to final approval of the building inspector (4-211(b)).
  • Specific inspection stages and final inspection schedule are not stated in the code.

  “to examine all buildings in the process of erection, construction, alteration or relocation in the city for the purpose of determining whether the work is in compliance with the permit given”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles used for occupancy on any lot or tract inside White City city

  • City council must approve each permit application (4-502(a)).
  • Owner must obtain an annual permit that expires December 31 and renew it after re-inspection (4-502(b)).
  • Each RV must meet setbacks of 3 feet on each side, 10 feet front and rear, and 20 feet from any other structure on the lot (4-502(d)(3)).
  • Owner of a park must designate a party responsible for water, sewer and refuse payment (4-502(d)(6)).

  annual permit fee per hookup: 25 USD (per hookup, paid with application) · RV side setback: 3 feet (each side of the vehicle) · RV front and rear setback: 10 feet · distance from other structure on lot: >= 20 feet

  “the city council must approve all applications and permits for the location of any recreational vehicle parks or recreational vehicles to be used for occupancy on any lot or tract of land within the city”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Prohibited — New recreational vehicle parks on any lot abutting Mackenzie Street inside White City city

    “no recreational vehicle park shall be located on any lot abutting mackenzie street, white city, kansas other than those already existing prior to the enactment of this article”

• Septic permitLimited

  Private sewage disposal systems with subsurface soil absorption inside White City city where no public sewer is available

  • Permits are not issued for subsurface soil absorption systems on lots under one acre.
  • Septic tanks and cesspools may not discharge to a public sewer (15-413(a)).
  • The code does not expressly state that a septic permit is required; the permit process is not published in the code.

  minimum lot area for subsurface soil absorption permit: >= 1 acre (no permit issued for lots under one 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”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Houses inside White City city where a public sanitary sewer is not available under 15-402

  • Privies, vaults, septic tanks and cesspools are unlawful except as the sewer article provides (15-411).
  • Private system must comply with KDHE requirements and 15-411 to 15-416.
  • Discharge of sewage to the ground or to a natural outlet is prohibited (15-415, 15-417).

  “where a public sanitary sewer is not available under the provisions of section 15-402 the building sewer shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying with the provisions of sections 15-411 to 15-416”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Houses and buildings used for human occupancy inside White City city abutting a street, alley, or right-of-way with a public sanitary sewer

  • Connection required only if the public sewer is within 140 feet of the property line (15-402).
  • Owner must connect within 90 days after official notice.
  • Where no public sewer is available, a private system is used (15-412).

  distance from property line to public sewer that triggers connection: <= 140 feet (no connection required if public sewer is farther than 140 feet) · connection deadline after official notice: <= 90 days

  “is hereby required at his or her 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 date of official notice to do so, provided that said public sewer is within 140 feet of the property line.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Water (with conditions) — Houses and buildings inside White City city abutting a street, alley, or right-of-way where a public water main is located or may be located in the future

    “is hereby required at his or her own expense to make connection to such public water main”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit fees for work inside White City city

  • Fee is paid to the city clerk when the permit is obtained (4-213).
  • The fee schedule is the code's fixed amount; the code does not show any amendment after the 2000 code text.
  • Fence permit fee is also set in 4-213 ($10).

  building permit fee, structures up to 400 square feet: 25 USD (structures up to 400 square feet) · building permit fee, larger structures: 100 USD (structures larger than 400 square feet)

  “the fee for a building permit shall be $25 for structures up to 400 square feet, and $100 for larger structures.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit application process inside White City city

  • Application is written, on city form, filed with the city clerk (4-211(a)).
  • Designated agent may set further application rules (4-204(b)).
  • Application must disclose owner, location, work, dimensions, occupancy class, construction class, materials, dates, and contractor (4-211(a)).
  • Chief building official may require drawings or plans (4-212).

  “a building permit shall be issued upon an application in writing to the office of city clerk on a form or forms provided for the purpose”

Still unanswered

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

• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside White City city
• Local zoning — Whether White City city adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance for land inside city limits
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside White City city
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum size of a single-family dwelling inside White City city
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for a single-family home inside White City 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.