In unincorporated Harvey County, building permits come from the Planning, Zoning and Environmental Department at 215 S. Pine Street, Newton (316-284-6940). It is a zoning permit priced by size, from $50 for a non-commercial building of 500 sq ft or less to $350 over 5,000 sq ft; the County has no building code, so there is no construction inspection. Newton, Hesston, Halstead, Burrton, Sedgwick and North Newton issue their own permits, and Newton’s inspectors also work in North Newton and Walton under contract.
Who issues building permits in Harvey County?
The Planning, Zoning and Environmental Department, led by Director Karen Rothe, administers the County’s Unified Development Code, which applies only to the unincorporated parts of the county. It issues building, sign, temporary use and floodplain permits, private sewer and well permits, and the inspections required when rural property changes hands. The office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday; its numbers are 316-284-6940 and 316-284-6856.
| Place | Who issues building permits |
|---|---|
| Unincorporated Harvey County | Harvey County Planning, Zoning and Environmental, 215 S. Pine St., Newton; 316-284-6940 |
| Newton (pop. 18,353) | City of Newton Building Inspection, City Hall 3rd floor, 201 E. 6th St.; 316-284-6020, option 4 |
| North Newton (pop. 1,791) | City of North Newton issues permits and contractor licences and takes inspection requests at City Hall, 2601 N. Main (316-283-7633); Newton’s inspectors carry out most inspections under contract |
| Walton (pop. 215) | Newton’s building inspection staff enforce the building codes in Walton under contract (316-284-6020) |
| Hesston (pop. 3,458) | City of Hesston, 115 E. Smith St.; 620-327-4412. Uses the 2012 IBC and licenses contractors; fees run from $25 to $500 by project value, plus $0.50 per $1,000 above $1 million |
| Halstead (pop. 2,132) | City of Halstead; the permit is valid once signed by the City’s Zoning Administrator. City Hall, 303 Main St., 316-835-2286 |
| Burrton (pop. 836) | City of Burrton requires a $25 permit for all improvements and uses the 2006 IBC. City Hall, 203 N. Burrton Ave., 620-463-4545 |
| Sedgwick (pop. 1,381 in Harvey County) | City of Sedgwick; permits for new structures, modifications and additions are approved at City Hall, 520 N. Commercial, 316-772-5151 |
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Get a free quote →What needs a county building permit?
Permit needed
- New buildings and additions, homes and commercial alike
- Placing, building or altering a structure
- Agricultural buildings (permit required, no fee)
- Pools and ground-mounted personal solar or wind
- Signs and billboards
- Home occupations and satellite dishes
- Any work in a special flood hazard area
No county building permit
- Roof repairs on an existing home
- Interior or exterior remodeling of an existing home
- Renovations that do not add finished floor area, unless the use changes
- Playhouses
Under the Unified Development Code, a permit must be issued within 10 days of the staff inspection of the lot or building, and a denial can be appealed to the Board of Zoning Appeals. The Zoning Administrator may waive the fee to rebuild after a fire or natural disaster.
Harvey County permit fees
Fees must be paid before construction starts, and paying by card adds 2.5%. Building permits are priced by the size of the structure:
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| Non-commercial structure, 500 sq ft or less | $50 |
| Non-commercial, 501–1,000 sq ft | $100 |
| Non-commercial, 1,001–2,000 sq ft | $150 |
| Non-commercial, 2,001–3,000 sq ft | $200 |
| Non-commercial, 3,001–4,000 sq ft | $250 |
| Non-commercial, 4,001–5,000 sq ft | $300 |
| Non-commercial, over 5,000 sq ft | $350 |
| Pool or personal ground-mount solar or wind | $100 |
| Agricultural accessory building | $0 (permit still required) |
| Commercial structure: up to 500 / 501–2,500 / over 2,500 sq ft | $100 / $250 / $350 |
| Sign / billboard | $25 / $100 |
| Certificate of occupancy | $50 |
| Road impact fee, new construction on a township road | $2,000 residential; $4,000 commercial |
For example, a new 2,400 sq ft house on a township road pays $200 for the building permit and the $2,000 road impact fee, plus $200 for the septic application if it needs a private sewer system.
| Application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Floodplain permit: primary home / commercial structure | $400 |
| Floodplain permit: residential accessory / agricultural structure | $100 |
| Floodplain permit: seasonal cabin | $250 |
| Floodplain permit: gazebo or deck under 400 sq ft | $50 |
| Conditional use / variance / rezoning | $300 each ($500 for a cell tower or solar farm CUP) |
| Split-off / final plat | $150 / $200 |
Septic systems, wells and trade work
The same department enforces the County’s sanitation code for private sewer systems and domestic wells. A sewer permit is required for every new private system and for any change to one, including replacement; the application costs $200 and is reviewed by the environmental officer, who may visit the site or ask for a soil profile test. A well permit for a domestic, lawn and garden or livestock well in the unincorporated county costs $100, and a drilled well must be drilled by a Kansas-certified driller unless the owner does the work.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →The County’s fee schedule lists no electrical, plumbing or mechanical permits, and with no adopted building code it recommends building to the International Building Code. Inside the cities, trade permits and contractor licensing follow each city’s own rules.
Before you apply
Building, sewer, well and conditional use applications are online forms linked from the County’s permit fees page, and they ask you to sign in to the County website. Check the setback and well separation requirements first: if a project cannot meet them, a site plan must go to the department director before construction, and a waiver or variance will be needed. A failing septic system in the Equus Beds, near a drinking water well, close to a stream or within 2 miles of a public water supply may qualify for a repair cost-share through the Harvey County Conservation District.
How to get a building permit in rural Harvey County
Inside Newton, Hesston, Halstead, Burrton, Sedgwick or North Newton, apply to that city; in Walton, Newton’s building inspection staff enforce the codes.
Use the County’s setback and separation sheets and check whether the site lies in a special flood hazard area.
Apply for the sewer permit ($200) and any well permit ($100) for a new rural home.
Submit the building permit form online after signing in, or at 215 S. Pine Street, with the structure size and site details.
Pay the size-based fee, plus the road impact fee for new construction on a township road, before work starts.
Where the permit came with an approved site plan, tell the Zoning Administrator the work is ready; the certificate of occupancy is issued or refused within 10 days.
Rather not deal with the Harvey County building department?
Get a free quote →Inspections and occupancy
The County’s permit page states that Harvey County has no building codes, that no building inspection is made when construction is finished and that no certificate of occupancy is issued. Its Unified Development Code does, however, provide a zoning certificate of occupancy for any structure or site permitted with an approved site plan: the Zoning Administrator checks the finished work against that plan, and the fee schedule lists it at $50. A six-month temporary occupancy permit is also possible.
Private sewer systems and wells are inspected by the environmental officer, and when rural property with a private sewer system or domestic well changes hands the County requires an inspection: $125 for the sewer, $160 for the well and water test, $250 for both, and $50 for a second visit after a violation.
Local Harvey County details
Floodplain: Harvey County has been in the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978. Building in a special flood hazard area needs permits from both the County and the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Water Resources, and both must be approved before any dirt work starts.
Township roads: new construction sites on township roads pay a road impact fee of $2,000 for a home or $4,000 for a commercial site, collected with the building permit fees.
Agriculture: farm buildings need a permit but pay no building permit fee; in a flood zone, an agricultural structure’s floodplain permit is $100.
Violations: work started without a permit can draw the after-the-fact fees set out in the Unified Development Code.
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
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Official Harvey County permitting resources
- Harvey County permit fees and applications
- Harvey County Planning, Zoning and Environmental
- Harvey County Unified Development Code and sanitation code
- Harvey County UDC Article 7: permits required for development (PDF)
- Harvey County floodplain management
- Harvey County setback and separation requirements
- Harvey County property exchange inspections
- City of Newton building, zoning and planning
- City of Hesston building permits and fees
- City of Halstead building permits
- City of Burrton forms and permits
- City of Sedgwick permits
- City of North Newton building and inspections
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Harvey County permit FAQs
Does Harvey County have a building code?
No. The County issues zoning-based building permits but has no building codes and does not inspect finished construction; it recommends building to the International Building Code.
How much is a building permit for a new house in rural Harvey County?
It depends on size: $150 for 1,001 to 2,000 sq ft, $200 for 2,001 to 3,000 sq ft and up to $350 over 5,000 sq ft. New homes on township roads also pay a $2,000 road impact fee.
Do I need a permit to replace my roof?
Not from the County: roof repairs and interior or exterior remodeling of an existing home are exempt. A city may still require one inside its limits.
Do farm buildings need a permit?
Yes, but the building permit fee is $0. A farm building in a flood zone needs a $100 floodplain permit.
How much is a septic permit?
$200 for the sewer permit application, reviewed by the County’s environmental officer. A well permit is $100.
Who handles permits in North Newton and Walton?
North Newton issues its own permits and contractor licences at City Hall (316-283-7633), and Newton’s inspectors do most of its inspections under contract. In Walton, Newton’s building inspection staff enforce the building codes by contract.
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More Kansas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Harvey County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.