Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Eskridge, Kansas

Eskridge’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

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

  • The permit must be obtained before work begins on the building or its foundation (Section 4-210).
  • An application must be filed with the city clerk, and the permit is valid for six months unless the work has started (Sections 4-211(a) and 4-211(d)).
  • Owner-builder permits are available under Section 4-211(b).

  “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 exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Owner-occupant or owner doing their own building work inside Eskridge city limits

  • The owner must show satisfactory evidence that the work will be performed by the owner and not by a licensed contractor.
  • Final approval by the building inspector applies to owner-performed work.
  • Otherwise the application must name a contractor licensed by the city (Section 4-211(b)).

  “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 (with conditions)

  Construction, alteration, removal, and occupancy of buildings and structures inside Eskridge city limits

  • The code adopted is the 1997 edition of the Uniform Building Code, incorporated by reference under Section 4-202; later editions are not adopted by that section.
  • The city building inspector can approve modifications and alternate materials under Section 4-209 and 4-206(b), with governing body approval for new materials.

  “there is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference, for the purpose of establishing rules and regulations for the construction, alteration, removal, demolition, equipment, use and occupancy, location and maintenance of buildings and structures, the uniform building code, 1997 edition,”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted new construction and additions inside Eskridge city limits, including the foundation and footing stage

  • Inspections apply to work covered by a building permit (Sections 4-206(c) and 4-216).
  • The permit holder must notify the building official before the site and foundation are laid out and again before the foundation and footings are poured (Section 4-216(a)-(b)).

  “it shall be his or her duty to inspect all such work for conformity with laws respecting location of the building foundations and footings.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Occupancy and use of a building after completion of work under a city building permit inside Eskridge city limits

  • The city authorizes a certificate of approval for occupancy upon completion of permitted work (Section 4-215); the code text authorizes the certificate and does not state that it is mandatory for every occupancy.

  “upon the completion of any work under a building permit, the chief building official, the building inspector or his or her designee is authorized to issue a certificate of approval for the occupancy and use of the building or structure.”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems for buildings inside Eskridge city limests where no public sanitary sewer is available

  • The city utility superintendent issues the permit and inspects (Sections 15-413 and 15-414).
  • System type, capacity, location and layout must follow the Kansas Department of Health water pollution control requirements (Section 15-415(a)).

  “the type, capacities, location, and layout of the private sewage disposal system shall comply with all recommendations and requirements of the water pollution control section of the kansas state department of health.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Building sewage disposal where a public sanitary sewer is not available inside Eskridge city limits

  • Applies only where a public sanitary sewer is not available under Section 15-402 (Section 15-412).
  • Permit fee is $50 (Section 15-413).
  • Subsurface soil absorption systems require a lot of at least one acre (Section 15-415(a)).

  permit and inspection fee: 50 USD · minimum lot area for subsurface soil absorption system: >= 1 acre (No permit may be issued for a subsurface soil absorption system on a smaller lot)

  “before commencing construction of a private sewage disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the utility superintendent.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private sewage disposal system construction inside Eskridge city limits

  • The applicant must notify the superintendent when work is ready for final inspection or before underground portions are covered; inspection within 48 hours of notice (Section 15-414).

  “the utility superintendent or his or her authorized representative shall be allowed to inspect the work at any stage of construction”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Privy, septic tank, cesspool or other sewage disposal facility inside Eskridge city limits

  • Unlawful except as provided in the sewer article (Section 15-411).
  • Private system allowed only where a public sanitary sewer is not available (Section 15-412).
  • Subsurface absorption requires at least one acre (Section 15-415(a)).

  “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 hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Buildings used for human occupancy inside Eskridge city limits that abut a street with a public sanitary sewer

  • Connection is required only where the public sewer is within 140 feet of the property line (Section 15-402).
  • Connection must be made within 90 days after official notice.
  • Connection permit and fee: $50 (Section 15-403).

  distance from property line to public sewer: <= 140 feet (Otherwise the private system rules in Sections 15-412 to 15-416 apply)

  “provided that said public sewer is within 140 feet of the property line.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Water (with conditions) — Houses and buildings for human occupancy inside Eskridge city limits that abut a street where a public water main is located or may be located nearby

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

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permits inside Eskridge city limits

  • No building permit fee is due where the total estimated cost, labor and materials, is under $5,000 (Section 4-213).
  • Sewer connection permit fee is $50 (Section 15-403) and private sewage system permit and inspection fee is $50 (Section 15-413).

  building permit fee: 25 USD (No fee where total estimated cost is under $5,000)

  “the fee for a building permit shall be $25, however no fee shall be required to obtain a permit where the total estimated cost, the reasonable value of all services, labor and materials required, is under $5,000.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit application inside Eskridge city limits

  • Application is made in writing to the city clerk on the city's form (Section 4-211(a)).
  • The building official approves the application and issues the permit to the owner or contractor (Section 4-211(c)).

  “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 Eskridge or Wabaunsee County directly.

• Local zoning — Land inside Eskridge city limits: whether the city adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Eskridge city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Eskridge city limits
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size inside Eskridge city limits, residential districts
• Setbacks — Building setbacks inside Eskridge 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.