Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Stafford, Kansas

Stafford’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, enlarging, relocating or remodeling any building or structure inside Stafford city limits

  • Permit is issued by the city clerk after approval by the chief building official; work may not start before the permit is obtained.
  • Owner-builder and contractor licensing conditions apply (see owner-builder claim).

  “without a building permit being first obtained therefor from the city clerk, after approval by the chief building official or his or her duly authorized assistant.”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Owner applying for a building permit for work on his or her own property inside Stafford city limits

  • Permit may issue to the owner only if the owner shows the work will be performed by the owner, himself or herself and not by a licensed contractor.
  • Work remains subject to final approval of the building inspector.

  “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 inside Stafford city limits: International Building Code, 2012 edition

  • Adopted under K.S.A. 12-3009 through 12-3012 including any amendments thereto.

  “the international building code, 2012 edition as published by the international code council”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Adopted — One- and two-family dwellings and townhouses up to three stories inside Stafford city limits: International Residential Code, 2012 edition

    “the international residential code, 2012 edition as published by the international code council”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the limits of Stafford city, Kansas: the city adopts and incorporates its own zoning regulations (Ordinance No. 805, 'Zoning regulations of the City of Stafford, Kansas')

  • Code section 16-201 incorporates the city's zoning regulations by reference; the zoning regulations text itself was not opened, so district-level limits are not verified here.
  • Zoning is a city rule for land inside city limits; it is not a statement about the county's unincorporated area.

  “there are hereby incorporated by reference as if set out fully herein, the zoning regulations adopted by the governing body of the city of stafford, kansas, as prepared by the city and consisting of ordinance no. 805”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems for buildings inside Stafford city limits where no public sanitary sewer is available

  • The city utility superintendent issues the construction permit.
  • System type, capacity, location and layout must comply with Kansas Department of Health water pollution control requirements.
  • City or county health officer may impose additional requirements.

  “no statement contained in this article shall be construed to interfere with any additional requirements that may be imposed by the city or county health officer.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction of a private sewage disposal system inside Stafford city limits where a public sanitary sewer is not available

  • Application must include plans or other information the utility superintendent requires.
  • No permit may issue for a subsurface soil absorption system where the lot is under one acre.
  • Permit and inspection fee is stated in the code as a blank amount ('$ shall be paid').

  minimum lot area for subsurface soil absorption: >= 1 acre (no permit issues where lot is less than 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.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private sewage disposal system construction inside Stafford city limits

  • Inspection may occur at any stage of construction; the utility superintendent must make the inspection within 48 hours of notice.
  • Applicant must notify the superintendent before underground portions are covered.

  “the applicant shall notify the superintendent when the work is ready for final inspection or before any underground portions are covered.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Privies, septic tanks, cesspools and other on-site sewage facilities inside Stafford city limits

  • Allowed only as provided in the Sewers article (private system after permit where no public sewer is available); discharge of a septic tank or cesspool to a public sewer is prohibited.
  • Once a public sewer becomes available, a direct connection is required and the private facilities must be abandoned.

  “it shall be unlawful to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool, or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage except as provided in this article.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Houses and buildings used for human occupancy inside Stafford city limits

  • Water: required where the property abuts a street or right-of-way with a public water main; connection requires a written application to the city clerk.
  • Sewer: required only where a public sanitary sewer is within 140 feet of the property line; otherwise a private system applies.
  • Connection fee: see permit fee claim.

  public sewer distance threshold: <= 140 feet (distance measured to property line)

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

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Stafford city limits

  • The subdivision regulations are incorporated by reference; their text was not opened, so procedures and standards are not stated here.

  “article 3. subdivision regulations 16-301. regulations incorporated.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Construction or development inside the special flood hazard areas within Stafford city limits (unnumbered A zones on the 08/26/1980 FIRM index map)

  • Applies to all proposed construction or other development in the covered areas, including placement of manufactured homes.
  • Permit is granted by the city council or its designated representative; city superintendent is the floodplain administrator.
  • Appeals and variances go to the Stafford city council as appeal board, then to district court.

  “a floodplain development permit shall be required for all proposed construction or other development, including the placement of manufactured homes, in the areas described in section 16-502, section a.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Connection to the city waterworks system inside Stafford city limits

  • Application is made to the city clerk and must be accompanied by the fees in section 15-207.

  water connection fee: 50 USD

  “the fee for connection to the city waterworks system shall be $50.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Variable (with conditions) — Building permit fee inside Stafford city limits

    “the fee for a building permit shall be established by resolution of the governing body.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit application process inside Stafford city limits

  • Application is in writing to the city clerk; the owner or a licensed contractor must sign; the chief building official approves before issue.

  “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 Stafford or Stafford County directly.

• Inspections — Building inspections inside Stafford city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Completion approval for new buildings inside Stafford city limits
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and districts for land inside Stafford city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the single-family residential district inside Stafford city limits
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in the main single-family residential and any agricultural or rural-residential district inside Stafford 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.