Bolthole Index

Sedgwick County, Kansas

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Cheney, Kansas

Cheney, Kansas requires a city building permit for any detached residential structure, from a house to a shed or carport, and it has its own city zoning code12. Permits are issued at Cheney City Hall, not by Sedgwick County1. We could not confirm who handles septic permits inside city limits; call City Hall at (316) 542-36223.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the City of Cheney, including sheds and carports1
Zoning
City zoning code applies inside Cheney2
Setbacks
Front 25 ft, side 6 ft, back 20 ft (general city figures)4
Permit fee
$0.38 per sq ft finished, $0.30 per sq ft unfinished5
Septic
Not confirmed inside city limits; ask City Hall3
Water well
City permit required, $100; not in the front yard6
Manufactured homes
Permit and inspection, $65; installer must be licensed7
RV and tiny homes
Not confirmed; ask City Hall3

Who to call

Building permits

City of Cheney City Hall

Building permits, zoning questions, and the city's permits for fences, wells, driveways and lot splits inside Cheney

(316) 542-3622

131 N Main, Cheney, KS 67025

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Cheney, Kansas?

Yes. The City of Cheney says any detached residential structure needs a city building permit, including carports and any structure set or built on your property1. New residential permits are figured at $0.38 per square foot of finished space and $0.30 per square foot of unfinished space5.

Separate city permits are also listed for furnaces and water heaters, roofing, siding, demolition, fences, pools, sprinklers and driveways or curb cuts1. Roofing fees are based on the structure footprint with a $50 minimum and $1500 maximum, a demolition permit is $50, a fence is $30, and a driveway, curb or sidewalk permit is $155. A lot split needs a city permit at $508.

Who issues building permits in Cheney, and how do you reach them?

Cheney City Hall issues building permits inside the city1. The city asks building-permit questions to go to City Hall at (316) 542-36223, which is open 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday at 131 N Main3.

The Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department (MABCD) covers unincorporated Sedgwick County, so it is the wrong counter for a lot inside Cheney9. For land outside city limits, see the Sedgwick County page.

Does Cheney have zoning, and what about setbacks?

Yes. Cheney's building-permit page points to chapter 22 of the city zoning code for fences, so the city runs its own zoning2. The city's FAQ gives general setbacks measured from the property line: 25 feet front, 6 feet side, 20 feet back, and 15 feet on the street side of a corner lot4. A garage or carport reached from an alley must sit 8 feet from the inside back property line4. The FAQ does not name a zoning district, so confirm your lot's district with City Hall.

We could not confirm Cheney's rules on RVs, tiny homes, minimum house size or minimum lot size; ask City Hall before you buy.

How do septic permits and wells work in Cheney?

We could not confirm who issues septic permits inside Cheney city limits; City Hall at (316) 542-3622 can say whether your lot is on city sewer3. Kansas allows a private sewage system only where public sewers are not available and local requirements are met10.

Outside the city, Sedgwick County MABCD regulates septic systems and lagoons in unincorporated areas11. For wells inside Cheney, the city requires a $100 water well permit, and wells may not be located in the front yard6.

Can you put a manufactured home in Cheney?

Cheney allows manufactured home installation with a permit and inspection, at a fee of $657. A copy of the title must accompany the application and the installer must be licensed7. Kansas does not let a city exclude manufactured homes from its entire zoning jurisdiction, though local zoning and design standards still apply12.

Building a home in Cheney: the steps, in order

  1. Call Cheney City Hall at (316) 542-3622 to confirm your lot's zoning district and setbacks3.
  2. Ask City Hall about sewer and water service for the lot3.
  3. Apply for the city building permit at City Hall1.
  4. Add separate city permits for any driveway or curb cut, fence, well or sprinkler system1.

What stays with Sedgwick County, and what to check before you buy

Cheney sits in Sedgwick County, where the effective property tax rate is 1.2%13. The county's own building, zoning and septic rules apply to unincorporated land, not to lots inside Cheney9.

Before buying, check the lot's zoning district, whether city sewer reaches it, and whether any part of it lies in a floodplain, which we could not confirm for Cheney. A fence moratorium is also in place while the city reviews its fence code14.

Watch-outs

  • Cheney's fence code is under review and fences need approval from the city administrator before you build; call City Hall first143.
  • We could not confirm Cheney's septic, RV, tiny home, accessory dwelling, floodplain or minimum lot size rules; City Hall is the office to ask3.
  • Sedgwick County's rules apply to unincorporated land only, so do not use the county permit counter for a lot inside Cheney9.

Sources

  1. Building Permit Information - City of Cheney, KS (Cheney), quoted and re-checked
  2. Building Permit Information - City of Cheney, KS (Cheney), quoted and re-checked
  3. City of Cheney City Hall (cheneyks.org)
  4. Building Permit Information - City of Cheney, KS (Cheney), quoted and re-checked
  5. Building Permit Information - City of Cheney, KS (Cheney), quoted and re-checked
  6. Building Permit Information - City of Cheney, KS (Cheney), quoted and re-checked
  7. Building Permit Information - City of Cheney, KS (Cheney), quoted and re-checked
  8. Building Permit Information - City of Cheney, KS (Cheney), quoted and re-checked
  9. Do I Need a Permit?, quoted and re-checked
  10. MF2214 Minimum Standards for Design and Construction of Onsite Wastewater Systems (Kansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Wastewater - Sedgwick County Only, quoted and re-checked
  12. K.S.A. 75-1218 — Exemption from construction codes; zoning (Kansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  14. Building Permit Information - City of Cheney, KS (Cheney), quoted and re-checked

Written October 24, 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 Cheney

Cheney’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Detached residential structures (sheds, carports) and other construction inside Cheney city

    • Permits obtained at Cheney City Hall
    • Separate permits also listed for furnace/water heater, roofing, siding, demolition, fences, pools, sprinklers, driveways/curb cuts
    “yes, any detached residential structure requires a city of cheney building permit.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Furnace/water heater installs and manufactured home installs inside Cheney city

    • Page states inspections for these items only; general new-construction inspections not stated on page
    “yes, a permit is required, and an inspection is performed to ensure the safety of the installation.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Cheney city limits

    • Page refers to a city zoning code; full ordinance text not opened.
    “fencing requirements can be found in chapter 22 of the city zoning code.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    General setbacks stated on city FAQ inside Cheney city; zoning district not named

    • Measured from property line
    • Alley 3 ft; 8 ft where alley-accessed garage/carport
    • Structures with alley drive access must be 8 ft from inside back property line
    • Per-district setbacks not verified

    side yard: 6 ft · front yard: 25 ft · back yard: 20 ft · street side yard (2nd frontage): 15 ft

    “setbacks are measured from the property line. side yard- 6’ front yard- 25’ alley- 3’ alley with no opening on building- 8’ street side yard (2 nd frontage)- 15’ back yard- 20’”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured home installation inside Cheney city

    • Permit and inspection required
    • Copy of title must accompany application
    • Installer must be licensed
    • Fee $65

    manufactured home permit fee: 65 USD

    “a permit and inspection are required. permit fee is $65.00. a copy of the manufactured home title must be submitted with the permit application. the installer must be license. manufactured homes must be newer than june 15, 1976.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Installing a water well on property inside Cheney city

    • Water wells may not be located in the front yard of a property

    water well permit fee: 100 USD

    “i am installing a water well. do i need a permit? yes, water well permits are $100. water wells may not be located in the front yard of a property.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Lot splits inside Cheney city

    • Permit fee $50

    lot split permit fee: 50 USD

    “lot splits require a permit with the city of cheney. permit fee is $50.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Curb cuts and new driveways inside Cheney city

    • Permit fee $15, obtained at City Hall

    permit fee: 15 USD

    “yes, permits may be obtained at cheney city hall. permit fees is $15.”
  • Permit feesPublished

    Building permit fees inside Cheney city

    • Roofing $.05/sq ft (min $50, max $1500); demolition $50; sprinkler $50 residential/$75 commercial; fence $30; driveway/curb/sidewalk $15; siding and pools by valuation

    finished space: per 0.38 USD per sq ft · unfinished space: per 0.3 USD per sq ft

    “building permits are figured at $.38 for each square foot of finished space and $.30 for each square foot of unfinished space.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building permits inside Cheney city

    • Contact City Hall at 542-3622; fence moratorium noted pending code review
    “to help answer questions specific to building permits, please contact cheney city hall at 542-3622.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Cheney city
  • Building code adopted — Building code inside Cheney city
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Cheney city
  • Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Cheney city
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Cheney city
15 more unanswered
  • Minimum lot size
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

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 Cheney publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Sedgwick County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Sedgwick County: county rules, score and offices