Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Wamego, Kansas

Wamego’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New homes and other large construction inside Wamego city limits

  • The city page lists work that does not need a permit: 'the city does not require permits for the following work:' (non-structural roofing, siding, window and door replacement, fixture replacement, flat work, lawn irrigation and others).
  • Smaller buildings such as sheds may only require zoning review, per the same page.

  “projects that will require a building permit from the city: large construction projects such as new homes, businesses, additions and interior alterations (remodeling).”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Wamego city limits: the city administers its own zoning ordinance (Code Chapter XVII, Zoning).

  • The city page says the city zoning jurisdiction extends beyond city limits (for projects just outside the city); that extraterritorial area was not analyzed and is not covered by this claim.
  • Rules for the A-L agricultural district (article 5) and the other districts were not opened.

  “the "r-2" two-family dwelling district is intended for the purpose of allowing a slightly higher density than in district "r-1", yet retaining the residential qualities.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts of Wamego city inside city limits

  • The code's table of contents lists the districts (A-L agricultural through I-2 heavy industrial, plus overlays); the zoning district map was not opened.
  • Only the R-1 and R-2 district text was read.

  “article 11: "r-2" single-family dwelling district”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family buildings in the R-2 single-family dwelling district (Article 11, § 17-1104) inside Wamego city limits, by water and sewer service

  • Lot size depends on the water and sewer service: private wells and septic five acres; public water with private septic three acres; public water and public sewer 6,000 square feet.
  • Lagoon systems need planning commission review (see septic_authority).

  minimum lot area, private well and septic: >= 5 acres (buildings served by private water wells and septic systems) · minimum lot area, public water and private septic: >= 3 acres (buildings served by a public water system and a private septic system) · minimum lot area, public water and public sewer: >= 6000 square feet (buildings served by a public water system and a public sewer system)

  “(3) buildings served by a public water system and a public sewer system - 6,000 square feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family lots in the R-1 single-family dwelling district (Article 10, § 17-1004) inside Wamego city limits

    “every lot shall have an area of not less than 6,000 square feet and an average width of not less than 65 feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Principal buildings in the R-1 single-family dwelling district (Article 10, § 17-1007) inside Wamego city limits

  • Front yard may be larger where required for arterial and collector streets under article 29.
  • Existing buildings on single lots of record of 7,500 square feet or less may have limited additions under the section's exceptions.
  • A one-foot roof overhang into the side setback is permitted unless the planning commission prescribes otherwise.

  front yard depth: >= 25 feet (except as required for arterial and collector streets in article 29) · rear yard depth: >= 25 feet · side yard setback minimum: >= 5 feet (side yard is one-third the principal building height or 10% of lot width, whichever is greater) · side yard setback maximum: <= 15 feet

  “there shall be a rear yard having a depth of not less than 25 feet.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Principal and accessory buildings in the R-1 single-family dwelling district (Article 10, § 17-1005) inside Wamego city limits

  • Lots of record of not more than 7,500 square feet as of the code's effective date may cover up to 35% of the lot area.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 30 percent of lot area (35% for a single lot of record of not more than 7,500 square feet)

  “the principal building and accessory buildings shall not cover more than 30% of the lot area”

• Building heightSpecified

  All buildings in the R-1 single-family dwelling district (Article 10, § 17-1006) inside Wamego city limits

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet

  “no building shall exceed 35 feet in height.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed

  Residential design manufactured homes in the R-2 single-family dwelling district (Article 11) inside Wamego city limits

  • Only the R-2 use list was verified; the R-1 use list, the manufactured home overlay (article 14) and the manufactured home park (article 15) were not opened.
  • The 'residential design' definition was not opened.

  “(b) residential design manufactured homes.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Building sewer connection to the city sanitary sewer for land inside Wamego city limits

  • Connection needs a building sewer permit (three classes) and a $25 sewer inspection fee paid before connecting to the sanitary sewer.
  • The code excerpt does not state that connection is mandatory when a sewer line is available.
  • The water connection rule was not located; water availability is unknown.

  sewer inspection fee: 25 USD (charged for each class of building sewer located within the corporate limits)

  “a sewer inspection fee of $25 shall be charged for each class of building sewer located within the corporate limits of the city, prior to connection with the sanitary sewer system.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway curb cuts into city streets inside Wamego city limits

  • The city page lists curb cuts and excavation into city streets for driveways as work that requires a building permit.
  • Adding driveway width on flat work does not require a permit, per the same page.

  “making curb cuts and excavating into city streets for driveways or other features.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building sewer permit inspection fee inside Wamego city limits

  • Only the sewer inspection fee was found; building permit fees were not located.
  • A separate tapping permit and inspection fee of $350 applies to sewer users outside the corporate limits and is not part of this claim.

  sewer inspection fee: 25 USD (per class of building sewer located within the corporate limits)

  “a sewer inspection fee of $25 shall be charged for each class of building sewer located within the corporate limits of the city, prior to connection with the sanitary sewer system.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built homes inside Wamego city limits
• Inspections — Construction inside Wamego city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new homes inside Wamego city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Wamego city limits
• Living in an RV — Occupancy of recreational vehicles inside Wamego 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.