Wabaunsee County, KS — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Wabaunsee County Planning and Zoning Department

Street address

403 Iowa, Alma, KS 66401

Phone

(785) 765-3432

zoning@wbcounty.org

Coverage

County-wide zoning and building oversight for the unincorporated area

Website

Department website

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Wabaunsee County

County zoning regulations say a permit is required for development and building use in regulated areas.

Scope of work

Permit?

Agricultural uses are broadly exempt from county zoning restrictions

Exempt

Storage sheds 144 square feet or less are exempt from the county zoning regulations

Exempt

Exempt Agricultural uses are broadly exempt from county zoning restrictions
Exempt Storage sheds 144 square feet or less are exempt from the county zoning regulations

Note: Confirm with Planning and Zoning before treating any work as exempt.

Required documents

Application
Applicant contact info
Parcel/site information
Drawing or plans if requested
Contractor information
Utility information
Any required health or entrance approvals

Source: Wabaunsee County Planning and Zoning Department ↗

§ 03

Application process

Application → plan check → issuance → inspection → final

01

Confirm jurisdiction and scope with Planning and Zoning.
02

Complete the county building permit application PDF.
03

Attach site plan, plans, and utility/inspection details if needed.
04

County review is routed through Planning and Zoning.
05

Permit is issued after review and approval.

Source: Wabaunsee County Planning and Zoning Department ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Wabaunsee County building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

$25 special event permit; building fees start at $100 for certain categories

Permit fee formula

Published flat fees, not valuation formula

Reinspection fee

After-the-fact fees are published as double the base fee in several categories

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

Inspection hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm

Typical sequence: Application review, then any needed county sanitarian or county engineer approvals, then permit issuance and field follow-up as applicable.

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about unincorporated Wabaunsee County permits

01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Wabaunsee County, KS? ▸

County zoning regulations say a permit is required for development and building use in regulated areas.

02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Wabaunsee County, KS? ▸

Building permit fees in unincorporated Wabaunsee County, KS are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $25 special event permit; building fees start at $100 for certain categories. Fees are calculated as: Published flat fees, not valuation formula.

03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Wabaunsee County, KS? ▸

To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Wabaunsee County, KS, follow these steps: 1. Confirm jurisdiction and scope with Planning and Zoning. 2. Complete the county building permit application PDF. 3. Attach site plan, plans, and utility/inspection details if needed. 4. County review is routed through Planning and Zoning. 5. Permit is issued after review and approval.

04 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Wabaunsee County, KS? ▸

Not all construction work requires a permit in unincorporated Wabaunsee County, KS. The following work is generally exempt: Agricultural uses are broadly exempt from county zoning restrictions; Storage sheds 144 square feet or less are exempt from the county zoning regulations. Note: Confirm with Planning and Zoning before treating any work as exempt. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

last verified April 2026 source Wabaunsee County Planning and Zoning Department ↗ entry id permits/kansas/wabaunsee/unincorporated

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Wabaunsee County Planning and Zoning Department before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

Unincorporated Wabaunsee County