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

Rules another office applies inside Center Township

Center Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts for unincorporated Ottawa County, including unincorporated land inside Center township

  • Five districts are named: A-1 agricultural, V-1 village, SR-1 single-family suburban residential, C-1 general commercial, I-1 industrial.
  • Official zoning map and district boundaries were not opened.

  “the zoning regulations comprise five zoning districts.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  A-1 agricultural district main residential lots in unincorporated Ottawa County

  • The zoning page describes these limits as the planned regulations; the adopted regulation text was not opened.
  • Exceptions apply for dividing off an existing farm dwelling, a historical dwelling site, and an existing separately owned lot.
  • All A-1 lots must also meet the three-acre minimum of the county sanitary code plus land for sewage disposal distances.

  minimum lot size, nonfarm residential use: >= 20 acres (except for various exceptions) · minimum lot size, other uses: >= 40000 square feet (nonfarm residential is 20 acres)

  “nonfarm residential uses would require at least a minimum lot size of 20 acres except for various exceptions. other uses would need a minimum of 40,000 square feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — SR-1 single-family suburban residential district lots in unincorporated Ottawa County

    “this district is established to provide for a minimum of three‑acre lots for rural housing that would also meet the county sanitary code for environmental protection.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes in unincorporated Ottawa County

  • Older pre-1976 mobile homes are limited; residential-design and HUD-code manufactured homes are allowed under the regulations.
  • Use as a replacement for grandfathered homes, a watchman's or custodian's home, or temporary housing is allowed only under certain conditions, and no such home may be used for storage only.

  “to limit the placement of older type mobile homes, i.e., pre‑1976 construction, in favor of "residential‑design manufactured homes" and "manufactured homes" which meet the national manufactured home construction and safety standards act of 1976 otherwise known as the hud code.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-site sewage disposal for unincorporated land inside Center township, handled under the Ottawa County sanitary code

  • Stated in the county subdivision regulations for on-site systems; the county sanitary code is the standard cited.
  • Permit administration by the county health office was not verified.

  “on‑site water supply and sewage disposal must meet the minimum standards of the county sanitary code for environmental protection.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural land use and related accessory structures in unincorporated Ottawa County, including unincorporated land inside Center township

  • Exempt only if the structures are not located in a designated floodplain.
  • An agricultural compliance certificate may be requested to confirm exempt status; no fee is required for the certificate or for a zoning permit for exempt agricultural structures outside a designated floodplain.

  “no fee is required for the certificate nor a zoning permit for exempted agricultural structures which are not in a designated floodplain.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions in the unincorporated area of Ottawa County, including unincorporated land inside Center township

  • Streets are inspected and accepted by the applicable township trustees, a homeowners' association, or the county for maintenance.
  • On-site water and sewage disposal must meet the county sanitary code.

  “to provide for the harmonious development of the unincorporated area of ottawa county by providing for a fair and uniform process to record the layout of land.”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning permits for structures or uses in unincorporated Ottawa County, including unincorporated land inside Center township

  • A zoning permit does not control building materials or construction; it controls use and bulk dimensions.
  • Six exemptions apply, including agricultural uses outside floodplains.
  • Zoning administrator's office is the county zoning contact; application forms were not located.

  “obtaining a zoning permit would be required for a proposed structure or use except for the six exemptions listed previously.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for new homes inside Center township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Center township
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption inside Center township
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Center township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Center 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.