Inside El Dorado, building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, sign, fence and pool permits come from the City’s Building Department, 226 N. Vine Street (316-322-4453), led by Building Official Brandon Taylor. Applications go through the City’s online permit portal or to the office by fax, email or mail. Fees follow Resolution 3038, in force since January 1, 2026: a $200,000 house pays $1,433.50, and residential plan review usually takes a few days.
What needs a permit in El Dorado?
A permit is needed to build, enlarge, alter, repair, move or demolish a building, change its occupancy, or install or change any electrical, gas, plumbing or mechanical system, fence or sign. El Dorado has tightened the 2006 code exemptions it adopted.
Permit required
- Every structure with a floor area of more than 60 sq ft, including sheds and detached garages
- All fences, whatever their height
- Additions, remodels, repairs and roofing
- Demolition of any structure over 200 sq ft
- Swimming pools, signs, house moving and mobile home installation
- Electrical, plumbing and gas, mechanical and sprinkler work, and gas tests
No permit
- Wallpapering, painting and similar finish work
- Minor repairs such as replacing receptacles or fixing pipe leaks, when no new wiring or piping is needed
- One-story sheds and playhouses of 60 sq ft or less
The Building Official keeps the full exemption list and will, on request, give a written statement of the items that need no permit.
Who issues building permits in El Dorado?
The Building Department, a division of Community Development alongside Planning and Zoning, enforces the City’s building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing codes. It reviews plans for zoning, building and fire code and accessibility compliance, issues permits and inspects the work, including private water and sewer service lines.
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Get a free quote →| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | 226 N. Vine Street, El Dorado, KS 67042 |
| Phone and fax | 316-322-4453; fax 316-322-4450 |
| Hours | Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m. to noon; closed holidays |
| Building Official | Brandon Taylor |
| Online | eldoradoks.municipalonlinepayments.com (Building Permits or Contractor Licensing) |
| City Hall | 220 E. 1st Avenue; 316-321-9100 |
El Dorado is in Butler County; outside the city limits, Butler County Community Development issues permits.
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits in El Dorado
Electrical, plumbing and sprinkler work each need their own permit, and trade permits are priced on the same valuation table as building permits. The person or contractor doing the work should pull the permit; a homeowner may take one out only for work they do themselves. Contractors registered with the City can get permits that need no drawings over the phone.
Electrical, mechanical and plumbing contractors must hold a City licence before starting work. The company needs a certified master, a certificate of insurance with at least $500,000 of general liability coverage, and test results and continuing education records, or a current MABCD individual card, for each master and journeyman. Under Resolution 3038 a new contractor licence costs $200 and renews every two years for $100; master certification is $40 and journeyman certification $20.
The City’s trade codes are the 2006 Uniform Plumbing and Mechanical Codes and the 2008 National Electrical Code with local amendments; for example, one-step PVC cement is not allowed, and AFCI protection is required in dwelling bedrooms only.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →El Dorado permit fees
Resolution 3038, approved by the City Commission on December 15, 2025 and in force from January 1, 2026, replaced all earlier fee resolutions. The same table prices building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and gas, and sign permits by total valuation.
| Total valuation | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1 to $500 | $21 |
| $501 to $2,000 | $21 for the first $500, plus $3 for each additional $100 or fraction |
| $2,001 to $25,000 | $66 for the first $2,000, plus $13 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $25,001 to $50,000 | $365 for the first $25,000, plus $9.30 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001 to $100,000 | $597.50 for the first $50,000, plus $6.44 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001 to $500,000 | $919.50 for the first $100,000, plus $5.14 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,001 to $1,000,000 | $2,980.64 for the first $500,000, plus $4.36 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Over $1,000,000 | $5,155.50 for the first $1,000,000, plus $2.90 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Reinspection | $100 |
| Inspections outside business hours, or with no listed fee | $100 an hour |
| Extra plan review for changes to approved plans | $100 an hour |
| Outside consultants for plan review or inspection | $100 an hour |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →For example, a house valued at $200,000 pays $919.50 plus 100 × $5.14 = $514, a permit fee of $1,433.50. Demolition permits are free for residential accessory buildings with no utility services. The schedule also lists a $10 sewer service inspection and permit fee and a $150 special use permit.
What to submit
New buildings and additions
- A dimensioned site plan showing property lines, existing structures and the new work
- Floor plans
- Foundation plans
- Elevation views
- Homes can be designed by the owner or builder
Commercial buildings
- Design by a licensed architect
- Structural, electrical, mechanical and civil engineering drawings
- A site plan
Interior remodels and exterior repairs do not need a site plan. Once plans are approved the work must follow them, and any change must be approved in writing by the Building Official first. Most residential plan reviews take a few days; commercial reviews can take up to 2 weeks.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →How to get an El Dorado building permit
Open eldoradoks.municipalonlinepayments.com, choose Building Permits and register; the account must be approved by the City before you can apply.
Choose the residential or commercial category: new building, addition, remodel, repair, roofing, fence, pool, trade work or demolition.
Upload the site plan and, for new buildings and additions, floor, foundation and elevation plans; applications can also be faxed, emailed or mailed.
Allow a few days for most homes and up to 2 weeks for commercial buildings.
The fee is set by the valuation of the work.
View the project’s inspections in the portal and keep the work to the approved plans.
Inspections in El Dorado
Building Department inspectors check construction, plumbing, mechanical and electrical work and private water and sewer services. The online portal shows each project’s inspections and completed projects. A reinspection costs $100, and inspections outside business hours $100 an hour. After a demolition, the code official inspects the capped sewer and the final condition of the lot; utilities must be disconnected first, and foundations removed to at least 3 feet below grade.
Local El Dorado details
Codes: the City enforces the 2006 International Building, Residential and Existing Building Codes and the 2006 International Fire Code, with local amendments. The residential design table sets a 15 psf ground snow load, 90 mph wind speed, a 30-inch frost depth and flood hazards from the June 20, 2001 FIRM map or later updates.
Anchoring and wood: every structure, accessory buildings included, must be anchored to the ground, and wood sill plates must be naturally durable or preservative-treated.
Board of Appeals: a five-member Board of Appeals/Code Review appointed by the Commission and Mayor meets within 14 days of an appeal being filed and hears it.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →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
Official El Dorado permit resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
- El Dorado Building Permits & Inspections
- El Dorado online permit and contractor licensing portal
- El Dorado 2026 fee schedule, Resolution 3038
- El Dorado Building Department FAQs
- El Dorado adopted building codes
- El Dorado Municipal Code Chapter 15.04, building code
- El Dorado trade contractor licence requirements
Frequently asked questions about El Dorado permits
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Who issues building permits in El Dorado?
The City’s Building Department at 226 N. Vine Street, 316-322-4453. Brandon Taylor is the Building Official.
How much is a building permit for a new house in El Dorado?
Under Resolution 3038 a house valued at $200,000 pays $1,433.50.
Do I need a permit for a shed or fence?
Yes for any fence, and for any structure over 60 sq ft. Sheds and playhouses of 60 sq ft or less are exempt.
How long does plan review take?
A few days for most homes and up to 2 weeks for commercial buildings.
Can a homeowner pull a permit?
Only for work the homeowner does personally. If a contractor does the work, the contractor gets the permit.
Which building codes does El Dorado use?
The 2006 International Building, Residential, Existing Building and Fire Codes, the 2006 Uniform Plumbing and Mechanical Codes and the 2008 National Electrical Code, with local amendments.
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More Kansas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about El Dorado permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.