Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Yates Center, Kansas

Yates Center’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, enlarging, relocating or remodeling a building or structure inside Yates Center city limits

  • Permit is obtained from the city clerk under section 4-101.
  • Accessory buildings and structures also require a building permit from the zoning administrator (section 4-406).
  • Permits expire if work is not started within 180 days or is suspended for 180 days (section 4-103).
  • Work begun without a permit: a permit fee double its original cost, and the city may seek an injunction (section 4-104).

  “it shall be unlawful for any person to hereafter erect or cause to be erected within the city of yates center any building or structure of any kind or enlarge or add to the outside dimension thereof”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Yates Center city limits: the city adopts its own zoning regulations and zoning map by reference

  • The adopted regulations are the Zoning Regulations of Woodson County, Kansas, including the City of Yates Center, Kansas, October, 2007 Edition, prepared by the Woodson County Joint Planning Commission; the text of those regulations was not opened in this research.
  • The zoning district boundary map was revised by Ordinance No. 1022.
  • Chapter 16 of the city code lists a Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission article (16-201) and a Board of Zoning Appeals (16-401); their roles were not verified.

  “is by reference incorporated in and by this publication made part of this chapter and article as fully as though set out at length herein and is adopted as the zoning regulations for the city of yates center, kansas.”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Zoning district boundary map for land inside Yates Center city limits

  • The map is adopted by reference and was revised by Ordinance No. 1022; the map itself and the district list in the incorporated county regulations were not opened.

  “is adopted as the zoning district boundary map for the city of yates center, kansas”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots inside Yates Center city limits served by a private sewage system with subsurface soil absorption

  • This is a septic permit limit, not a general zoning lot-size rule. District minimum lot sizes in the incorporated county regulations were not opened.
  • Lots on public water use the half-acre figure.

  lot area for subsurface soil absorption private sewage system, well water supply: >= 1 acre (if the water supply is from a well) · lot area for subsurface soil absorption private sewage system, public water supply: >= 0.5 acre (if the water supply is public)

  “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 1 acre if the water supply is from a well, or ½ acre if the water supply is public.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Accessory buildings and structures inside Yates Center city limits (pools and permanent barbecue grills in a required rear yard)

  • Accessory structures may not project into a required yard setback along any street or alley (section 4-402).
  • Main-building setbacks come from the incorporated county zoning regulations, which were not opened; they are not stated here.
  • No alley may be used to meet the rear yard requirement (section 4-404).

  distance from side or rear lot line: >= 5 feet (open uncovered swimming pools and permanent barbeque grills in a required rear yard)

  “accessory, open and uncovered swimming pools and permanent barbeque grills may occupy a required rear yard, provided that they are not located closer than five (5) feet to the side or rear lot line. no alley may be used in meeting this requirement.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Using a recreational vehicle as a residence on land inside Yates Center city limits

  • Exception: use of an RV for a period not to exceed 72 hours is allowed (section 4-504(b)).
  • Exception: RVs may be used inside a recreational vehicle park if one exists (section 4-504(a)).
  • Storage of RVs within city limits is not prohibited (section 4-503).
  • Violation is a misdemeanor, up to a $500 fine and 30 days in jail; a third conviction allows impoundment (section 4-505).

  maximum consecutive RV stay: <= 72 hours (use of RVs for a period not to exceed 72 hours is allowed)

  “the use of recreational vehicles as residential structures within the city limits of yates center is prohibited.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems on land inside Yates Center city limits where no public sewer is available

  • The city superintendent issues the private system permit and inspects the work (section 15-303(b)-(c)).
  • The type, capacity, location and layout must follow Kansas Department of Health and Environment recommendations (section 15-303(d)).
  • The superintendent is the superintendent of public works of the city, per section 15-301.
  • No county health department service area for septic permits was verified in this research.

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

• Septic permitRequired

  New private sewage disposal systems inside Yates Center city limits where no public sewer is available

  • No permit is issued for subsurface soil absorption on a lot under 1 acre with a well water supply, or under 1/2 acre with public water (section 15-303(d)).
  • Permit and inspection fee of $50.00 is paid at filing (section 15-303(b)).

  permit and inspection fee: 50 USD (paid at the time the application is filed)

  “a permit and inspection fee of $50.00 shall be paid to the city at the time the application is filed.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Yates Center city limits

  • The permit does not take effect until installation is completed to the superintendent's satisfaction (section 15-303(c)).
  • The applicant must notify the superintendent when work is ready for final inspection, before underground portions are covered.
  • The superintendent may inspect at any stage of construction.

  “a permit for a private sewage disposal system shall not become effective until the installation is completed to the satisfaction of the superintendent.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Privies, septic tanks, cesspools, lagoons and other sewage disposal facilities inside Yates Center city limits

  • Construction or maintenance of such facilities is unlawful except as provided in the code (section 15-302(c)).
  • Where no public sewer is available, the building sewer must go to a private system that is permitted under section 15-303.
  • No septic tank or cesspool may discharge to a natural outlet (section 15-303(d)).

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

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Houses and buildings inside Yates Center city limits when a public sanitary sewer is within 400 feet of the property line

  • Connection must be made within 90 days after official notice (section 15-302(d)).
  • Where a public sewer becomes available to a septic-served property, the building sewer must connect within 60 days (section 15-303(h)).
  • A building sewer connection permit is required from the city clerk, with a fee of $200 for residential or commercial service (section 15-304(a)-(b)).
  • Water connection requirement was not verified; the code contains water-service sections (Chapter 15, Article 1) that were not opened.

  distance from property line to public sanitary sewer: <= 400 feet (requirement to connect applies only when the public sewer is within this distance)

  “provided that said public sewer is within four hundred (400) feet of the property line”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of land inside Yates Center city limits

  • The subdivision regulations are incorporated by reference (section 16-501); the incorporated text was not opened, so the approval steps are not stated here.

  “article 5. subdivision regulations 16-501. subdivision regulations incorporated.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permits inside Yates Center city limits

  • Permit fee is paid before the permit is issued and work starts (section 4-104).
  • If work begins without a permit, the fee is doubled before a permit is issued (section 4-104).

  building permit fee, work up to 399 square feet: 25 USD (includes fence, flagpole, dog pen and signage projects) · building permit fee, work 400 square feet and larger: 50 USD (work 400 square feet and larger)

  “(a) $25 for work up to 399 square feet, including all fence projects, flagpole projects, dog pens, and signage; and (b) $50 for all work 400 square feet and larger.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit process inside Yates Center city limits

  • Building permits are obtained from the city clerk (section 4-101).
  • Accessory structure permits come from the zoning administrator on a site plan (section 4-406).
  • Permits expire after 180 days without start or after 180 days of suspension (section 4-103).
  • Process steps beyond these were not published in the sections reviewed.

  “without a building permit being first obtained from the city clerk”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption inside Yates Center city limits
• Building code adopted — Building and construction codes for land inside Yates Center city limits
• Inspections — General building inspections for construction inside Yates Center city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new buildings inside Yates Center city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Yates Center 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.