Outside the cities, Jackson County requires a Certificate of Zoning Compliance before any building is built, enlarged, moved in or converted; apply to the Office of Planning and Land Information, 400 New York, Room 103, Holton (785-364-4781). The filing fee rises with project value, $200 plus $2 per $1,000 above $100,000 for larger jobs, and a new septic system needs a separate $325 application to Northeast Kansas Environmental Services. Holton issues its own permits.
Who handles permits in Jackson County?
The Zoning Administrator, Steven Duryea, runs the Office of Planning and Land Information and is also the County’s floodplain administrator. The commission split zoning from the Appraiser’s office in early 2026 and approved his appointment on March 23, 2026. The office reviews zoning compliance applications, conditional and special use permits, variances and tract splits, and carries out periodic field inspections to check that permits and land use match the zoning rules.
The County’s zoning regulations apply to the unincorporated county only, and they exclude land within the boundaries of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Reservation.
| Place | Who issues building permits |
|---|---|
| Unincorporated Jackson County (outside the reservation) | Office of Planning and Land Information, 400 New York, Room 103, Holton; 785-364-4781 |
| Holton (pop. 3,396) | City of Holton: permits for new construction, additions, structural changes, fences, signs and water, sewer and electric connections. City Hall, 430 Pennsylvania Ave., 785-364-2721 |
| Mayetta (pop. 353) | City of Mayetta: its code adopts the 2015 IBC and makes the mayor the chief building official; no permit fee is due on work under $1,000 |
| Hoyt (pop. 593) | City of Hoyt issues building, accessory building and fence permits; applications go to City Hall, 201 E. 4th St. (785-986-6385), are reviewed by the city’s building inspector, and some are approved by the City Council |
| Whiting (pop. 197), Delia (pop. 154), Circleville (pop. 149), Denison (pop. 144), Netawaka (pop. 139), Soldier (pop. 101) | The published sources do not say; ask the city clerk |
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →What needs a Certificate of Zoning Compliance?
It is unlawful to start building, enlarging, placing, altering or converting a building in the unincorporated county without first applying for and receiving the certificate, and each building needs its own. The County uses it to check the project against its floodplain, zoning, driveway entrance, subdivision, private sewage and groundwater rules. It is a zoning certificate: the County’s zoning regulations do not adopt a building code.
Certificate and fee
- New homes, including manufactured and modular homes moved onto a lot
- Additions to homes and other buildings
- Commercial buildings and additions
- Changes in the use of land or of an existing building
Certificate but no fee
- Agricultural buildings on agricultural land outside a floodplain
- Non-residential buildings of 600 sq ft or less worth $5,000 or less, which still get a certificate to confirm size, value, setbacks and floodplain status
The fee exemptions were reinforced by Resolution 2026-14 on July 20, 2026. A farm building put up without an application can be filed as built within 90 days of the Zoning Administrator’s notice with no fee; after that, the filing fee can be doubled.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Jackson County filing fees
The non-refundable filing fee is paid to the Jackson County Treasurer with the application and is based on the completed value of the work, including finishes, roofing, electrical, plumbing and heating. The table is the one in the County’s certificate instructions (revised July 17, 2023).
| Project value | Filing fee |
|---|---|
| Under $20 | None |
| $21–$2,000 | $15 |
| $2,001–$10,000 | $25 |
| $10,001–$20,000 | $50 |
| $20,001–$30,000 | $75 |
| $30,001–$40,000 | $100 |
| $40,001–$50,000 | $125 |
| $50,001–$100,000 | $150 |
| $100,001 and up | $200 plus $2 for each additional $1,000 |
For example, a $300,000 house carries a filing fee of $200 plus 200 × $2, or $600. Starting work before the certificate is approved doubles the fee, and the zoning regulations allow a fine of up to $500 or up to 6 months in jail for each offense. Commissioners discussed the fee tiers on February 23, 2026, and the minutes posted through October 13, 2026 record no change.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Septic systems, driveways and other approvals
Septic and lagoons: private wastewater systems in Jackson County are permitted by Northeast Kansas Environmental Services (NEKES), a coalition of five counties based at 201 S. Main St., Troy (785-985-2778). Submit its application, a site drawing and the $325 fee to NEKES or to the Jackson County Health Department; NEKES then evaluates the site, the system must be installed by a NEKES-licensed installer, and after the final inspection NEKES issues a final use permit. Lagoons must be fenced, and septic systems need a final drawing, before that permit is issued. The County will not issue a zoning certificate until the sewage system is approved.
Driveways: a new entrance onto a county road needs a Residential Access Agreement approved by Road and Bridge (785-364-3519) before the certificate is issued; on a state highway, a Kansas Department of Transportation entrance permit is needed first.
What to submit with the application
Application
- Owner and contractor details; buyers under contract record an affidavit of equitable interest first
- Type of construction (new, addition or relocation) and completed value
- Dwelling type, square footage including basement, dimensions, bedrooms, baths, height and stories
- Water source, sewage disposal method and road surface
- A recorded deed if county records do not yet show the new owner
Attachments
- A detailed copy of the winning contractor bid, or the bank’s owner-build construction loan letter
- Floor plan showing total square feet, room uses and plumbing fixtures
- Scaled site plan with a north arrow, lot lines, easements, setbacks from the right-of-way line, driveway, septic tank and lateral field, wells and ponds, and any 100-year floodplain
- An approval letter from the subdivision board in a rural subdivision
Front setbacks are measured from the road right-of-way line, not from the center or edge of the road. Allow at least 3 business days for review; the regulations give the Zoning Administrator 10 days to issue or refuse the certificate.
Rather not deal with the Jackson County building department?
Get a free quote →How to get a zoning certificate in Jackson County
The County advises calling Planning and Land Information before buying materials or hiring anyone.
File the NEKES wastewater application and, for a new entrance, the Road and Bridge access agreement or KDOT permit.
Application, contractor bid or bank letter, floor plan and scaled site plan.
Submit at 400 New York, Room 103, Holton, with the fee payable to the County Treasurer.
The certificate lapses if work has not begun within 90 days or stops for 180 days.
The certificate is valid only once the NEKES septic inspection and permit are complete and filed with the zoning office.
Local Jackson County details
Floodplain: the Zoning Administrator administers the County’s National Flood Insurance Program participation, and any construction in the 100-year floodplain needs a Floodplain Development Permit; farm buildings in a floodplain lose their usual exemption.
Planning Commission and appeals: both meet on the second Thursday of the month at the courthouse, the Planning Commission at 7 p.m. and the Board of Zoning Appeals at 8 p.m. The zoning regulations, adopted in 2010, were last amended on July 27, 2026.
Tax rebates: the zoning office also hands out Neighborhood Revitalization Plan applications and explains who qualifies.
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 Jackson County permitting resources
- Jackson County Planning & Zoning
- Jackson County zoning compliance certificate instructions and fees (PDF)
- Jackson County zoning compliance application (PDF)
- Jackson County site plan sheet (PDF)
- Jackson County Zoning Regulations, updated July 27, 2026 (PDF)
- Jackson County Commission agendas and minutes
- Northeast Kansas Environmental Services: Jackson County septic permits
- City of Holton permits and code enforcement
- Code of the City of Mayetta
- City of Hoyt council minutes
Jackson County permit FAQs
Do I need a permit to build in rural Jackson County?
Yes. Any new building, addition, placement or conversion in the unincorporated county needs a Certificate of Zoning Compliance from the Office of Planning and Land Information.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How much does the zoning certificate cost?
From $15 for small jobs to $150 for $50,001 to $100,000 of work; above $100,000 it is $200 plus $2 per extra $1,000, so a $300,000 house pays $600.
Do farm buildings or small sheds need a certificate?
Farm buildings on farm land and non-residential buildings of 600 sq ft or less worth $5,000 or less still need a certificate, but pay no fee; a farm building in a floodplain is not exempt.
Who issues septic permits?
Northeast Kansas Environmental Services. The application fee is $325, and the County will not issue the zoning certificate until the system is approved.
How long does review take?
Allow at least 3 business days; the regulations require a decision within 10 days of receiving the application.
Does the County permit work in Holton?
No. Holton issues its own permits for construction, fences, signs and utility connections; call City Hall at 785-364-2721.
Simplify Jackson County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Kansas. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.
Ready to break ground in Jackson County sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Jackson County permits while your crew stays on the job.
More Kansas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Jackson County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.