In rural Bourbon County, the county permit for a new home on a private sewage system is a septic permit from the county’s Sanitation & Environmental Services, 210 S. National Avenue, Fort Scott (620-215-0894). The county asks you to call before installing so it can inspect the site, and its Sanitation Code requires at least one acre and county approval of the site. The county lists no building or zoning permit for rural land; inside Fort Scott, the City’s Codes Department issues building permits.
What needs a county permit in Bourbon County?
The county regulates private wastewater under the Bourbon County Sanitation Code, adopted by the County Commission on June 15, 1998 after KDHE approval. The wastewater chapter covers every property of less than 80 acres under one ownership in the unincorporated county.
Sanitation permit needed
- A new septic tank and lateral field
- Alternative wastewater systems, with plans approved by the Sanitation Inspector (an engineer’s design may be required)
- Any system built after 1997 must be inspected and approved, with a permit for use, before anyone uses it
- Holding tanks: pumping records kept and shown on request
Where systems are not allowed
- Within 400 feet of an existing public sewer, unless connection is not feasible
- In the 100-year floodplain of a stream or river
- Within 500 feet of the full flood pool of a public water supply reservoir
- Within 100 feet of a water well
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Get a free quote →Who issues permits in Bourbon County?
Sanitation & Environmental Services administers the Sanitation Code from the courthouse. Under the code, the office starts its site investigation within 3 working days of an application and issues or denies the permit within 10 working days, giving written reasons by certified mail if it refuses. Appeals go to a county hearing officer.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Sanitation & Environmental Services, Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National Avenue, Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
| Phone | 620-215-0894 (courthouse main line 620-223-3800) |
| Courthouse hours | Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm |
| Landfill | 2286 Noble Road, Fort Scott; 620-223-5773 |
Who issues building permits in each Bourbon County city
| City (2025 pop.) | Who issues building permits | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Scott (7,500) | City of Fort Scott Codes Department; residential and commercial permit applications | City Hall, 123 S. Main Street; 620-223-0550 |
| Bronson (305), Uniontown (294), Fulton (168), Mapleton (97), Redfield (97) | The published sources do not say | Ask the city clerk before building |
Septic system standards
The Sanitation Code sets minimum standards for a conventional septic system. The site must be approved by the Sanitation Inspector before a permit is issued.
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- At least 1,000 gallons for a home, sized by the number of bedrooms
- Concrete, with a 20-inch manhole, inlet and outlet baffles and inspection holes
- At least 3 inches of gravel beneath it
- At least 10 feet from the house, 100 feet from any water supply and 10 feet from water lines
Lateral field
- At least 400 feet of perforated pipe, each run no longer than 100 feet
- Trenches 24 to 36 inches wide and 18 to 36 inches deep, on the contour
- 14 inches of washed rock, with 6 to 12 inches of soil cover
- Lines 8 feet apart; 20 feet from foundations, 50 feet from ponds and creeks, 100 feet from wells
The county publishes no electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit for rural land. Inside Fort Scott, the City’s Codes Department handles building permits.
Bourbon County permit costs
The Sanitation Code leaves sanitation fees to a schedule set by the County Commission and paid when the application is filed; the county’s sanitation page does not list the amounts, so ask the office (620-215-0894) when you call to set up the site inspection. Fees are not refunded and permits cannot be transferred.
Inside Fort Scott, the City charges $25 for the first $1,000 of a building project and $2 for each additional $1,000; a $6,000 project costs $35. Demolition and excavation permits there carry no fee.
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →What to have ready
- The property’s location and acreage (at least one acre for a septic system)
- The number of bedrooms, which sets the tank size
- Distances to wells, ponds, creeks, foundations and water lines, so the site meets the code’s separations
- For an alternative system, plans and specifications, engineer-designed if the Sanitation Inspector asks
- For a new subdivision with lots under one acre, a public sewer plan or a surety bond filed with the County Engineer before the plat is recommended
How to get a septic permit in rural Bourbon County
Confirm it is outside city limits, at least one acre, and not within 400 feet of a public sewer or in a floodplain.
Call 620-215-0894 before installing anything to apply and set up the site inspection.
The Sanitation Inspector approves the site and slope; no permit is issued before that.
The office issues or denies the permit within 10 working days of the application.
Build the tank and lateral field to the code’s sizes and separations.
The system may not be used until the Sanitation Inspector has inspected and approved it and issued a permit for use.
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Get a free quote →Inspections
The Sanitation Inspector inspects the site before a permit is issued and inspects the finished system before it can be used; county representatives may enter property to inspect for code enforcement. Willful violations carry a fine of up to $200, and each working day counts as a separate offense. Inside Fort Scott, the number and type of City inspections depend on the project.
Local rules in Bourbon County
Fort Scott: the City requires permits for additions, roofing, decks, garages, enclosed breezeways, driveways, patios and sidewalks, interior remodels, sheds and carports, solar panels, earthwork and fences. Window repair and siding need no permit. Demolition needs a permit and a utility checklist, with trash receipts showing where the debris went, and excavation in a street, alley or sidewalk must be restored within 14 days.
Driveways onto county roads: a new entrance onto a county road needs a county Access Entrance Permit from Public Works. The county’s permit fee schedule lists a $50 application fee per location plus a permit fee from its culvert fee schedule, and the application asks for drawings of the entrance’s position; the office is at 620-223-3800 ext. 20.
Reservoirs and wells: any system between 500 and 1,000 feet of a public water supply reservoir’s full flood pool must fully meet KDHE Bulletin 4-2, and no system, septic tank or privy may be within 100 feet of a water well.
Kansas building code
Kansas has no general statewide building code: each city and county adopts and amends its own. A few state rules apply everywhere, led by the Kansas Fire Prevention Code. Kansas rules
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Get a free quote →Official Bourbon County permitting resources
- Bourbon County Sanitation & Environmental Services
- Bourbon County Sanitation Code (1998)
- Bourbon County Commission minutes
- Bourbon County Access Entrance Permit application
- Bourbon County Public Works permit fee schedule
- City of Fort Scott building, demolition and excavation permits
- City of Fort Scott Codes Department
Bourbon County permit FAQs
Does Bourbon County issue building permits?
The county lists no building or zoning permit for rural land. Its permit is the septic permit from Sanitation & Environmental Services, 620-215-0894.
How much land do I need for a septic system?
At least one acre, on a site the Sanitation Inspector has approved.
How long does a septic permit take?
The Sanitation Code requires the county to issue or deny it within 10 working days of the application.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Do I need a permit inside Fort Scott?
Yes, from the City’s Codes Department. Building permits cost $25 for the first $1,000 of the project plus $2 per additional $1,000.
How big must a septic tank be?
At least 1,000 gallons for a home, sized by bedrooms, made of concrete and at least 10 feet from the house.
Can I build a septic system near a pond or well?
Lateral lines must be at least 50 feet from ponds and creeks and 100 feet from water wells.
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More Kansas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Bourbon County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.