What do these permits involve in Douglas County?

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Building Permit (unincorporated Douglas County)

Building, electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing work requiring a permit under the codes adopted in Douglas County Code Chapter 13 needs a permit from the Zoning and Codes Department. The county's Building Code page states: "Regulatory jurisdiction falls only in the unincorporated portions of Douglas County not within any city limits." A business inside Lawrence, Eudora, Baldwin City or Lecompton applies to that city instead. Under §13-111(b) (HR-22-6-2, in the Chapter 13 PDF the county published in January 2024) the fee follows the total valuation of the work: $23.50 for $1-$500, and $23.50 for the first $500 plus $3.05 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof up to $2,000. For new construction the valuation is the square footage times the Table A cost per square foot; for Type VB construction the code lists $153.02 for A-2 restaurants, bars and banquet halls, $144.35 for B business, $102.31 for M mercantile and $152.25 for I-4 day care; remodels use the estimated actual cost. Zoning and Codes (785-331-1343) gives the fee for projects above $2,000. Inspections outside business hours (two-hour minimum), re-inspections and inspections with no listed fee (half-hour minimum) cost $47.00 per hour; anyone who starts work before obtaining the permit pays an additional fee equal to 100 percent of the permit fee; third-party plan review is at the applicant's cost; solar PV systems up to 13.44 kW cost $115.00 plus $10 per whole kW above that. The same figures appear on the county's Zoning and Codes Fees page. A permit becomes invalid if work does not begin within 180 days or stops for 180 days (§13-107).

On-Site Sewage Management System (Septic) Permit (unincorporated Douglas County)

A business site in unincorporated Douglas County that uses an on-site sewage management (septic) system needs a permit from Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health before the system is built, repaired or altered; a site on a public sewer has no septic permit. Under the Douglas County Sanitary Code as published by LDCPH (adopted by the Board of County Commissioners July 12, 2017, effective July 17, 2017), no building permit is issued until the septic permit is obtained (§2-6.1(a)); the Health Department inspects and approves the site and design before issuing the permit; no system may be covered until inspected; and no building may be occupied until the final inspection approves the system. Permits are valid for two years. The code states that a fee is charged; the amount is not published in the code or on LDCPH's Septic Systems page, and LDCPH (785-843-3060) gives it. Under §1-1.4 the code does not apply to incorporated cities or to agricultural premises over 650 acres under one ownership. The County Code compilation still reproduces an earlier text adopted by Res. 08-44 with the same section structure.

Rezoning, Conditional Use Permit and Site Plan Approval (unincorporated Douglas County)

A business site in unincorporated Douglas County may need zoning approval before it is built or changes use. Under the Zoning Regulations, a site plan approval (§12-307-3) is required whenever development other than a single-dwelling residence is proposed, when a use is altered or intensified so that parking or outside storage needs increase, for building additions and for changes to parking areas or circulation. A use marked "C" in the permitted use table needs a conditional use permit after a public hearing (§12-307-2), and a property owner can apply to rezone a property (§12-307-4). The county's Planning page states that the joint Lawrence/Douglas County Planning Department processes these applications and presents them to the Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners; applications go to Planning & Development Services, 1 Riverfront Plaza, Suite 320, Lawrence (785-832-7700). Section 12-307-1 provides that applications are accompanied by the fee established by the Board of County Commissioners, that fee schedules are available in the office accepting applications, and that application fees are non-refundable; the amounts are not published in Chapter 12.

Floodplain Development Permit (unincorporated Douglas County)

Douglas County Zoning Regulations §12-312-3 (Res. 22-20) state that development within any Special Flood Hazard Area is prohibited without first obtaining a floodplain development permit approved by the Zoning Director. Development includes any man-made change to real estate, such as constructing or modifying a building or structure, grading, excavating, placing fill, paving, stockpiling, or storing equipment or materials; a site outside the mapped floodplain does not need one. The county's Floodplain Management page states that Douglas County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and must ensure that projects in the floodplain comply with FEMA regulations and the county's zoning regulations, and it links the county's interactive floodplain map. The permit fee amount is not published in Chapter 12; Zoning and Codes (785-331-1343) gives it. A business inside a city applies to that city.

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
Building Permit (unincorporated Douglas County)only if it applies to you	Douglas County Zoning and Codes Department	Valuation-based (County Code §13-111(b)): total valuation $1-$500, $23.50; $501-$2,000, $23.50 for the first $500 plus $3.05 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof. Larger projects: valuation is square footage times the Table A cost per square foot for new construction (Type VB examples: A-2 restaurants and bars $153.02, B business $144.35, M mercantile $102.31, I-4 day care $152.25), or the estimated actual cost for remodels, applied to the code's Total Valuation table; contact Zoning and Codes for the amount. Inspections outside business hours (2-hour minimum), re-inspections and inspections with no listed fee (half-hour minimum): $47.00 per hour. Work begun before the permit: an additional fee equal to 100% of the permit fee. Solar PV up to 13.44 kW and solar thermal with no structural change: $115.00, plus $10 per whole kW over 13.44 kW.	permit becomes invalid if work does not begin within 180 days of issuance or is suspended or abandoned for 180 days; written extensions of up to 180 days each (§13-107)	2026-10-12
On-Site Sewage Management System (Septic) Permit (unincorporated Douglas County)only if it applies to you	Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health	A fee is charged by the Health Department under Douglas County Sanitary Code §2-6.1; the amount is not published in the Sanitary Code or on LDCPH's Septic Systems page. Contact LDCPH (785-843-3060) for the current amount.	valid two years from the date issued (Sanitary Code §2-6.1)	2026-10-12
Rezoning, Conditional Use Permit and Site Plan Approval (unincorporated Douglas County)only if it applies to you	Lawrence/Douglas County Planning & Development Services (joint office)	Application fees are established by the Board of County Commissioners and are non-refundable (County Code §12-307-1); the amounts are not published in Chapter 12. Contact Planning & Development Services (785-832-7700) for the current amounts.	per project	2026-10-12
Floodplain Development Permit (unincorporated Douglas County)only if it applies to you	Douglas County Zoning and Codes Department	The permit fee is set by the Board of County Commissioners; the amount is not published in Chapter 12. Contact Zoning and Codes (785-331-1343) for the current amount.	per project	2026-10-12

Business licenses and permits in Douglas County, Kansas

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Permits that apply to every type of business in Douglas County