Ottawa County, KS - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Unincorporated Ottawa County only. The county zoning administrator is Truette McQueen.

Department

Ottawa County Planning Board / Zoning and Subdivision Office

Address

307 N. Concord, Suite 106, Minneapolis, KS 67467

Phone

785-392-3037

Email

Not publicly listed on reviewed pages

Website

https://ks1497.cichosting.com/main/departments/planning-zoning

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

Typical processing time: Not publicly stated.

Source: Ottawa County Planning Board / Zoning and Subdivision Office

General Requirements

A zoning permit is required for a proposed structure or use except for the six exemptions listed by the county. The county page states that a zoning permit is not a building permit and does not regulate construction materials or methods.

Required Documents

• Not fully published. Public pages indicate the office handles zoning and subdivision matters and that agricultural compliance status may be requested.

Building code

No county building code adoption was identified on the public zoning pages. The county appears to regulate land use, setbacks, and subdivision issues rather than building construction methods.

Owner-builder

Not publicly stated.

Contractor requirements

Not publicly stated at the county level.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

No fee required for agricultural compliance certificates or zoning permits for exempt agricultural structures not in a designated floodplain

Plan check fee

Not publicly listed

Permit fee formula

No general public fee formula identified

Reinspection fee

Not publicly posted

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• When permit required: A zoning permit is required for a proposed structure or use except for the six exemptions listed by the county. The county page states that a zoning permit is not a building permit and does not regulate construction materials or methods.
• Validity / expiration: Not publicly stated.
• Formula: No general public fee formula identified
• Reinspection / penalty fees: Not publicly listed
• Utility distribution systems except major substations
• Railroad tracks and related equipment and activity
• Structures and land owned and operated by the federal government
• Drilling and operating oil and gas wells
• Family burial plots
• Agricultural land use and related accessory structures not in a designated floodplain
• Farmhouses, modular dwellings on a foundation, and single or multi-wide manufactured homes are described as exempt in the county zoning discussion
• Windows / hours: Planning Board meets the first Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the courthouse basement meeting room when agenda items exist
• Subdivision URL: https://ks1497.cichosting.com/main/departments/planning-zoning/subdivision
• Planning Board page: https://ks1497.cichosting.com/main/departments/planning-zoning

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Not publicly described (phone)

Typical inspection sequence: Zoning review first, then Planning Board review for special uses or rezonings, with County Commissioner action where required

Additional Resources

• Building code: No county building code adoption was identified on the public zoning pages. The county appears to regulate land use, setbacks, and subdivision issues rather than building construction methods.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Zoning URL
• License lookup guide: Kansas Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Kansas Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Kansas hub: Kansas Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Ottawa County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Ottawa County, KS?

A zoning permit is required for a proposed structure or use except for the six exemptions listed by the county. The county page states that a zoning permit is not a building permit and does not regulate construction materials or methods.

How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Ottawa County, KS?

The minimum permit fee is No fee required for agricultural compliance certificates or zoning permits for exempt agricultural structures not in a designated floodplain. Fees are calculated as: No general public fee formula identified. Plan check fee: Not publicly listed.

How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Ottawa County, KS?

Typical processing time is Not publicly stated..

What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Ottawa County, KS?

The following work is generally exempt: When permit required: A zoning permit is required for a proposed structure or use except for the six exemptions listed by the county. The county page states that a zoning permit is not a building permit and does not regulate construction materials or methods.; Validity / expiration: Not publicly stated.; Formula: No general public fee formula identified; Reinspection / penalty fees: Not publicly listed; Utility distribution systems except major substations; Railroad tracks and related equipment and activity; Structures and land owned and operated by the federal government; Drilling and operating oil and gas wells; Family burial plots; Agricultural land use and related accessory structures not in a designated floodplain; Farmhouses, modular dwellings on a foundation, and single or multi-wide manufactured homes are described as exempt in the county zoning discussion; Windows / hours: Planning Board meets the first Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the courthouse basement meeting room when agenda items exist; Subdivision URL: https://ks1497.cichosting.com/main/departments/planning-zoning/subdivision; Planning Board page: https://ks1497.cichosting.com/main/departments/planning-zoning.

How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Ottawa County, KS?

Inspections can be scheduled via: Not publicly described.