Bolthole Index

Wabaunsee County, Kansas

Building permits, zoning and septic in Alma Township, Kansas

For unincorporated land in Alma Township, Kansas, start with Wabaunsee County Planning & Zoning for building approval; the county publishes house building-permit fees.1 County zoning sets district-specific lot requirements, and the County Sanitarian handles septic inspection and approval.234 Temporary RV dwelling use is allowed while a site-built home is under construction on the same site.5

At a glance

Building permits
County house building-permit fee: $300; $600 after the fact, for applicable unincorporated projects.1
Zoning and lot size
County district rules: AG minimum 40 acres, with a quarter/quarter exception; SR minimum 1 acre per family.23
Septic permits
County Sanitarian inspection and approval; wastewater inspection and permit fee $75, or $150 after the fact.41
RV living
Temporary dwelling while a site-built home is under construction on the same site, on unincorporated land.5
Agricultural exemption
Conditional exemption in AG; new agricultural buildings retain floodplain and designated-road setback requirements.6
Owner-builder
Kansas exempts qualifying owner-performed roofing from roofing-contractor registration; this is not a general building-permit exemption.7

Who to call

Planning & zoning

Wabaunsee County Planning & Zoning / County Sanitarian

County building and development approval for applicable unincorporated Alma Township projects, septic inspection and approval, and floodplain management.

785-765-3432

403 Iowa Street Alma KS 66401

Online permits →

Roads & driveways

Wabaunsee County Road & Bridge

Road records, surveys, floodplain maps and county bridge plans; ask for the township road contact for a township-road entrance.

785-765-3432

403 Iowa Street Alma KS 66401

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Alma Township, KS?

For applicable construction on unincorporated land in Alma Township, Wabaunsee County publishes building-permit fees: a house costs $300, an addition $100, and a utility building $100; the listed after-the-fact amounts are $600, $200 and $200 respectively.1 Wabaunsee County Planning & Zoning oversees building and other development, so bring the parcel and proposed work to that office before construction.8 We could not confirm a universal building-permit requirement with all exceptions, an adopted residential construction-code edition, or a separate occupancy-certificate requirement for Alma Township; ask Planning & Zoning to identify the approvals and inspections for your project.

Does Alma Township have zoning, and what lot size can you build on?

The verified district rules for unincorporated Alma Township come from county authority: in AG Agricultural, the minimum lot area is 40 acres, but a lot described as a quarter/quarter qualifies even if its net acreage is smaller.2 In SR Suburban Residential, a dwelling needs at least 1 acre per family, and the minimum lot dimensions are 165 feet wide and 250 feet deep.3 Ask County Planning & Zoning to confirm the parcel district and applicable setbacks before choosing a house location.8 Agricultural use in AG has a conditional exemption, but new agricultural buildings remain subject to floodplain rules and setbacks along designated major roads and highways; conversion to a nonagricultural use triggers the zoning regulations.6 We could not confirm whether Alma Township independently administers zoning.

How do septic permits work in Alma Township?

The Wabaunsee County Zoning Administrator also serves as County Sanitarian and inspects and approves waste-management systems on unincorporated land in Alma Township.4 New or reconstructed septic tanks, lateral fields and lagoons require the county permit and system documentation; the system must be inspected and the form signed by the Sanitarian or designated representative.910 The wastewater inspection and permit fee is $75, or $150 after the fact.1 Wabaunsee County has only 0.2% of soils rated USDA “not limited” for a conventional drain field: that calls for a parcel evaluation and potentially an engineered system, rather than proving septic is impossible.11 Ask the Sanitarian about soils and system design before committing to a building site.4

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Alma Township?

On unincorporated land in Alma Township, the county allows a recreational vehicle or manufactured home as a temporary dwelling while a site-built dwelling is being constructed on the same site.5 That construction-linked permission does not establish approval for permanent RV residence.5 Ask County Planning & Zoning how temporary occupancy will be documented and when approval ends.8 We could not confirm a tiny-home occupancy rule or minimum dwelling floor area for Alma Township; ask the same office about the proposed structure before buying it. A separate AG provision allows a manufactured home as an accessory dwelling for people employed on the agricultural land and their families, but prohibits using the manufactured home or its land as a rental unit.12

Building a home in Alma Township: what steps come first?

  1. Bring the parcel and proposed home to County Planning & Zoning to establish the building-approval route and the applicable county district requirements for unincorporated Alma Township.823
  2. Discuss the wastewater design with the County Sanitarian, arrange the required lateral-field perc test, and obtain the new-system permit and inspection requirements before installation.4109
  3. Identify the road authority before planning an entrance: townships install driveway entrances on township roads, while a driveway onto the state highway system requires a state highway permit.1314
  4. Ask County Planning & Zoning to review floodplain concerns alongside the proposed building location; floodplain management is part of that department’s work.8

What stays with Wabaunsee County, and what should Alma Township buyers check?

County septic inspection and approval and county floodplain management remain with Wabaunsee County Planning & Zoning for the unincorporated Alma Township projects described here.48 For land outside Alma Township, see the Wabaunsee County guide and ask the county office to confirm jurisdiction.8 Road & Bridge has road records, surveys and floodplain maps available; ask for the relevant records before planning access or selecting a site.13 Kansas requires well logs for water-well construction, reconstruction and plugging, but we could not confirm the local well-permit requirement for Alma Township; ask the County Sanitarian and KDHE about the proposed well.15 Off-grid wastewater still must use an approved disposal system, and Kansas prohibits seepage pits, cesspools, dry wells and surface discharge from private onsite systems.16

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm a township-run building or zoning office; ask Wabaunsee County Planning & Zoning to confirm jurisdiction for the exact parcel.8
  • Temporary RV dwelling permission in unincorporated Alma Township is tied to construction of a site-built dwelling on the same site.5
  • Manufactured-home subdivisions in unincorporated Alma Township require public water and public sanitary sewer; do not apply that subdivision rule to every rural home.17

Sources

  1. Building Fees | Wabaunsee County, KS (Alma Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. wbcounty.org (Alma Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. Wabaunsee County Zoning Regulations effective 05.08.2023 (Alma Township), quoted and re-checked
  4. Planning & Zoning | Wabaunsee County, KS (Alma Township), quoted and re-checked
  5. wbcounty.org (Alma Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. Wabaunsee County Zoning Regulations effective 05.08.2023 (Alma Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. K.S.A. 50-6,129. Exemptions (Kansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Wabaunsee County Planning & Zoning / County Sanitarian (wbcounty.org)
  9. Zoning - Septic Lagoon Final Checklist, quoted and re-checked
  10. Zoning - Septic Lagoon Final Checklist, quoted and re-checked
  11. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  12. wbcounty.org (Alma Township), quoted and re-checked
  13. Wabaunsee County Road & Bridge (wbcounty.org)
  14. Kansas Administrative Regulations, Volume 3 (Kansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Water Well County Permits (Kansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. MF2214 Minimum Standards for Design and Construction of Onsite Wastewater Systems (Kansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. wbcounty.org (Alma Township), quoted and re-checked

Written October 12, 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 Alma Township

Rules another office applies inside Alma Township

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

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    SR Suburban Residential District on unincorporated land inside Alma township.

    • The lot width-to-depth ratio may not exceed 3:1; the Zoning Administrator decides whether unusual configurations meet the requirement.

    minimum lot area per family: >= 1 acre · minimum lot width: >= 165 feet · minimum lot depth: >= 250 feet

    “Lot Dimensions: The minimum width of a lot shall be 165 feet. The minimum depth of a lot shall be 250 feet. There shall not be a lot width to lot depth ratio greater than 3:1 (i.e. the depth of the lot cannot be greater than 3 times the width of the lot). In the event of unusual lot configurations, the Zoning Administrator shall determine whether the lot dimensions meet the spirit and intent of this requirement. Lot Area Per Family: Every dwelling hereafter erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved or altered shall provide a minimum lot area of 43,560 square feet or 1 acre per family.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — AG Agricultural District on unincorporated land inside Alma township.
      “Lot Area: Every lot shall be a minimum of 40 acres. A lot described as a quarter/quarter (i.e. 1/4 of 1/4 of a section) shall be deemed to meet the lot size requirements even though said lot may net less than a full 40 acres.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-1 Single-Family Residential District on unincorporated land inside Alma township.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet (and/or 2-1/2 stories)

    “Height: Buildings or structures shall not exceed 35 feet and/or 2-1/2 stories in height.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Specified — RR Rural Residential District on unincorporated land inside Alma township.
      “Height: Nonagricultural buildings or structures shall not exceed 35 feet and/or 2-1/2 stories in height.”
    • Specified — SR Suburban Residential District on unincorporated land inside Alma township.
      “Height: Buildings or structures shall not exceed 35 feet and/or 2-1/2 stories in height.”
  • Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

    Use of a recreational vehicle as a temporary dwelling in unincorporated Alma township while a site-built dwelling is being constructed on the same site.

    • The use is temporary.
    • A site-built dwelling must be under construction on the same site.
    “The use of a manufactured home or a recreational vehicle for a temporary dwelling purposes while a site-built dwelling is being constructed on the same site.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes in county-regulated manufactured-home parks or subdivisions inside unincorporated Alma township.

    • Manufactured-home parks and subdivisions have separate standards.
    • Placement, relocation, alteration, or replacement in a manufactured-home park requires a permit.
    • Manufactured-home subdivisions require public water and public sanitary sewer.
    “The initial placement, relocation, alteration or replacement of all manufactured homes within the Manufactured Home Park shall require a permit as specified within these Regulations. Responsibility for obtaining the required permit rests solely with the owner/operator of the Manufactured Home Park and not with the owner of the manufactured home.”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    A manufactured home used as an accessory dwelling on agricultural land in the AG District inside unincorporated Alma township.

    • The occupants must be persons employed on the agricultural land, including their families.
    • The manufactured home or land may not be intended or used as a rental unit in the AG District.
    “The use of a manufactured home as an accessory dwelling on land used for agricultural purposes when used by persons employed thereon, including their families. At no time shall a manufactured home or the land upon which it sits be intended and/or used as a rental unit in the "AG" District.”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    Waste-management systems on unincorporated land inside Alma township.

    • The County Zoning Administrator acts as the County Sanitarian.
    “The Zoning Administrator also acts as the Wabaunsee County Sanitarian in charge of inspecting and approving waste management systems in the county.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    Manufactured homes within a county-regulated manufactured-home subdivision inside unincorporated Alma township.

    • This requirement is stated for manufactured-home subdivisions, not as a general rule for every home in the township.
    “All manufactured homes within the Manufactured Home Subdivision shall be served by a public water supply. All manufactured homes within the Manufactured Home Subdivision shall be served by a public sanitary sewer system.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Land used for agricultural purposes in the AG Agricultural District inside unincorporated Alma township.

    • The exemption does not apply to new agricultural buildings in floodplains.
    • New agricultural buildings remain subject to setback requirements on agricultural land fronting designated major roads and highways.
    • Changing agricultural land to a nonagricultural use subjects the proposal to the zoning regulations.
    “In this regard, all lands used for agricultural purposes, as defined in these regulations, are and shall be exempt from any and all restrictions or limitations. No administrative interpretation shall be made that results in any restriction or stipulation on land used for agricultural purposes as herein defined; provided, however that consistent with state law, new agricultural buildings shall be subject to floodplain regulations and to setback requirements on that part of agricultural lands fronting on designated major roads and highways. Any proposal for change of land used for agricultural purposes to nonagricultural uses shall be subject to the requirements of these Regulations.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision applications for unincorporated land inside Alma township.

    • The County publishes a preliminary and final subdivision approval application.
    • Other zoning, sanitary, access, and development requirements may also apply.
    “Zoning Subdivision Preliminary and Final Approval Application”
  • Permit feesPublished

    County building, conditional-use, variance, and wastewater permits for unincorporated land inside Alma township.

    • The page lists separate after-the-fact amounts.
    • Other permits and fees may be available from Planning and Zoning.

    house building permit: 300 USD ($600 after the fact) · addition permit: 100 USD ($200 after the fact) · utility building permit: 100 USD ($200 after the fact) · commercial building permit: 500 USD ($1000 after the fact) · wastewater inspection and permit: 75 USD ($150 after the fact)

    “Building Permits: House: $300/$600 (atf) Addition $100/$200 (atf) Utility Building $100/$200 (atf) Commercial Building Permit: $500/$1000 (atf) Commercial Addition Permit: $300/$600 (atf) Wastewater Inspection and Permit (Lagoon/Septic System): $75/$150 (atf)”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Building permits inside Alma township.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions inside Alma township.
  • Building code adopted — Building-code adoption inside Alma township.
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Alma township.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Alma township.
9 more unanswered
  • Local zoning
  • Minimum dwelling size
  • Lot coverage
  • Tiny homes
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Driveway access
  • 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 Alma Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Wabaunsee County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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