Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Washington, Kansas

Washington’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building, repair, alteration, move, removal or relocation of any building inside Washington city limits; administered by the city building inspector (the city administrator)

  • Permit must be obtained before work begins on the foundation.
  • Permit valid 180 days from issue.
  • Building inspector may refer doubtful applications to city council.

  permit validity: 180 days

  “any person, firm, or corporation desiring to build, repair or otherwise alter or move, remove, or relocate any building within the city limits shall first secure a building permit therefor from the city by making written application to the building inspector for the permit”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Required — Plumbing work and sewer connections on buildings connected to the city public sewer system (Chapter 4, Article 4)

    “without having first received a written plumber's permit from the building inspector of the city, granted upon written application describing contemplated work”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Electrical wiring only, performed personally by an individual on his own property; no general owner-builder exemption for building construction was found

  • The owner must still obtain the regular permit and certificate of approval for the job.
  • Work must be done by the individual personally on his own property and not as a service to the public generally.

  “any individual desiring to perform his own electrical work personally shall not be required to make the required bond, but shall be required to obtain the regular permit and certificate of approval for that particular job.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  New construction, repair and alteration of buildings inside Washington city limits

  • The incorporated text is the National Building Code, 1976 edition, as written in Chapter 4, Article 2; no later adoption of a building code was found in the chapter opened.
  • Amendments in Section 4-202 apply to the incorporated code.

  incorporated code edition: 1976 edition

  “the certain standard code known as the national building code, 1976 edition abbreviated, recommended by the american insurance association, 85 john street, new york, new york, 10038, is hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this article”

• Permit feesPublished

  Plumber's permit for sewer connections and plumbing work inside Washington city limits (Chapter 4, Article 4). A general building permit fee was not found.

  • The fee is paid to the city clerk.
  • Connections to mains outside a sewer district or unassessed property carry a council-set fee (Section 4-404).

  plumber's permit fee: 2 USD (plumbing sewer permit only, per Section 4-404 as written; building permit fee not established)

  “this permit will be issued only upon payment to the city clerk of a fee of two dollars ($2)”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit application inside Washington city limits, to the city building inspector

  • Written application stating the exact site, materials, dimensions and estimated cost is required before work starts on the foundation.
  • Plans and specifications are submitted for inspection and approval before issue.
  • Doubtful or denied applications go to city council, which decides.
  • Permit valid 180 days from issue.

  permit validity: 180 days

  “the permit, if granted, shall be valid for one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of issue.”

Still unanswered

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

• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new buildings inside Washington city limits
• Local zoning — Land inside Washington city limits
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Washington city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Washington city limits
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size inside Washington city limits, main single-family residential district

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.