For land outside the cities, Jefferson County building permits come from the Community Development Department at 300 Jefferson Street, Oskaloosa (785-403-0000, ext. 3), and every request starts with an online inquiry form. A new house costs $400, or $2,400 in seven sewer-district subdivisions, and staff have 10 working days to process a complete application once the Health Department and Road & Bridge have signed off. Oskaloosa, Valley Falls, Perry and the other cities issue their own permits.
Who issues building permits in Jefferson County?
Community Development, led by Director Stephan Metzger, has three divisions: Planning and Zoning handles rezonings, subdivisions and zoning complaints; Building and Construction issues building, sign and other project permits; and Economic Development. The office is in the courthouse at 300 Jefferson St. (mailing address PO Box 628), open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. County zoning applies to all land outside city limits.
| Place | Who issues building permits |
|---|---|
| Unincorporated Jefferson County | Jefferson County Community Development, 300 Jefferson St., Oskaloosa; 785-403-0000, ext. 3 |
| Oskaloosa (pop. 1,060) | City Hall, 212 W. Washington St.: the City’s application covers new buildings, remodels, additions, garages, accessory buildings, pools, decks and fences ($25 for a deck or fence); a permit lapses if work does not start within 90 days |
| Valley Falls (pop. 1,055) | City Administrator issues permits and reviews plans: $25 for the first $1,000 plus $2 per additional $1,000. City Hall 785-945-6612 |
| Perry (pop. 848) | City Hall, 205 W. Bridge St., 785-597-5613; approved by the Zoning Administrator. A new home is $400, a fence $25; commercial work is 1.25% of estimated cost under city code section 4-113 (amended in 2026), though the City’s application form still shows 0.5% |
| McLouth (pop. 832) | City of McLouth: application with a land survey, reviewed by the City Administrator and City Inspector and approved by the Planning Commission |
| Meriden (pop. 709) | City of Meriden building permit application and Planning and Zoning Commission; City Hall 785-484-3450 |
| Ozawkie (pop. 617) | City permit required under the city code posted online (marked an unofficial draft), with the mayor as building official |
| Nortonville (pop. 579) | City permit under the city code: $5 fee; none needed for a building or shed under 120 sq ft |
| Winchester (pop. 440) | City permit under the city code: $20 for the first $1,000 of value plus $1 per additional $1,000, with the mayor as chief building official |
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Get a free quote →What needs a county building permit?
The county application covers new and replacement homes, barns, garages, shops, sheds, carports, storage buildings, decks, porches, solar panels, residential and accessory additions, commercial buildings and additions, and changes of use between accessory and residential. The online inquiry form checks first whether a permit is needed at all.
Permit needed
- New houses and other living space
- Accessory buildings, garages, barns and pools
- Decks, porches and additions
- Commercial buildings and additions
- Signs and special events
- Converting a building to or from residential use
- Any development in a floodplain (separate floodplain permit)
No permit or no fee
- Fences are generally exempt from zoning, unless subdivision rules say otherwise
- Accessory residential structures of 120 sq ft or less (10 ft by 12 ft) pay no fee under the 2011 fee resolution, but the application rules still apply
- Agricultural uses and farm dwellings pay no zoning certificate fee
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Jefferson County permit fees
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential permit (new home or other living space) | $400 |
| New dwelling in sewer districts 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11 or 12 | $2,400 ($400 permit plus $2,000 sewer connection) |
| Additional residential living space | $100 |
| Other residential additions (decks, porches) | $50 |
| Accessory structure | $75 |
| Accessory structure addition | $50 |
| Commercial structure / commercial addition | $200 / $100 |
| Change of use: residential to accessory / accessory to residential | $75 / $400 |
| Sign permit / special event permit | $15 / $100 |
| Rezoning, conditional use, development plan or zoning appeal | $200 each |
The base fees date from Resolution 2011-016, effective July 11, 2011. Since January 1, 2025, Resolution 2025-035 has added a $2,000 sewer connection fee for new houses in Indian Ridge, Hilldale, Hickory Acres, Lakeshore Estates, Hilldale South, Three Hills and Westshore Estates. Building without a valid permit quadruples the fee for the permit issued afterwards.
Wastewater, driveways and the Health Department
Private septic systems and lagoons are permitted by the Jefferson County Health Department, 1212 Walnut (U.S. Highway 59), Oskaloosa (785-403-0025), under the County’s environmental sanitary code. Take a copy of the zoning building permit application and a pre-site drawing showing the buildings, the planned system and any active or abandoned wells, fill in the permit application and pay the fee. The Environmental Specialist visits the site, a county-licensed installer builds the system, the Health Department inspects it before it is covered, and the installer files an as-built drawing before the permit is issued, with a copy to Planning and Zoning.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →A new driveway onto a county road needs a Road & Bridge consultation (785-403-0279, ext. 1), which also sets the 911 address; a new entrance on a state highway needs a Kansas Department of Transportation consultation. The building permit is issued only after the wastewater and entrance applications are approved.
What to submit
Paperwork
- Paid tax receipts, printed on the day you apply, for all real and personal property of the applicant and owner (Resolution 2015-010)
- A copy of the deed
- A notarized affidavit of authorization if someone other than the owner applies
- Articles of incorporation or similar papers for a company, trust or partnership owner
Project details
- Distance from every property line; staff can help draw the site map
- Type, use, foundation and frame of the building
- Estimated cost, dimensions and living area
- Bedrooms and baths, sewage system type and any new driveway
- Floodplain status
The application includes a certificate of occupancy agreement: the owner agrees that staff may visit the property and that the building will not be used until the County issues the certificate and any wastewater system has passed its final Health Department inspection.
How to get a building permit in unincorporated Jefferson County
Enter the address on the County’s online inquiry form, with no log-in, to see whether a permit is needed.
If a permit is required, register in the permitting portal and open the building permit application.
Tax receipts, deed, any affidavit, and the site and building details.
Take the application and site map to the Health Department and Road & Bridge for their approvals.
Staff have 10 working days from a complete application to process it; construction must be finished within 1 year.
Tell Planning and Zoning when the work is done; staff visit before issuing the certificate of occupancy.
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Get a free quote →Completion and occupancy
When construction is complete, the owner or agent contacts the Planning and Zoning office and a staff site visit follows. The County then issues a certificate of occupancy confirming that the building and its use comply with the zoning regulations; the certificate says the County assumes no liability for the construction and has performed no survey. Occupying a building with a septic system also requires the Health Department’s final wastewater inspection certificate.
A permit becomes void if work has not started within 90 days, and it expires one year after issue whatever stage the work has reached.
Local Jefferson County details
Sewer districts: the County’s sewer districts include Indian Ridge, Hilldale, Westshore Estates, Hickory Acres, Lake Shore Estates, Three Hills and Hilldale South, most with special assessments per home and per vacant lot, and the County has presented the districts with a consolidation proposal.
Floodplain: the County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, and all development in the floodplain needs a floodplain development permit under Article 14 of the zoning regulations.
Lot size: you do not need 40 acres to build a house; a parcel created in line with the zoning and subdivision regulations can receive a residential permit. Setbacks vary by zoning district.
Land development: rezoning, plat, conditional use and agricultural lot split applications go through the portal and are open to surveyors and engineers.
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 Jefferson County permitting resources
- Jefferson County Community Development
- Jefferson County permits, applications and fees
- Jefferson County permit inquiry form
- Jefferson County building permit packet and 2011 fee schedule (PDF)
- Jefferson County Zoning Regulations (PDF)
- Jefferson County floodplain information
- Jefferson County Health Department wastewater permits
- Jefferson County environmental sanitary code
- Jefferson County sewer districts
- Jefferson County land development applications
- City of Oskaloosa building permit application (Word file)
- City of Valley Falls building permits
- City of Perry building permit application and fees (PDF)
- City of McLouth building procedures
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Jefferson County permit FAQs
How much is a building permit for a new house in rural Jefferson County?
$400. In sewer districts 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11 and 12 a new house pays $2,400, which includes the $2,000 sewer connection fee set by Resolution 2025-035.
Do I need a permit for a fence?
Generally no; fences are exempt from the zoning regulations unless subdivision rules apply. Keep fences out of the road right-of-way.
How long does a county permit take?
Staff have 10 working days from a complete application, and the wastewater and driveway approvals must be in place first.
Who issues septic permits?
The Jefferson County Health Department at 1212 Walnut in Oskaloosa (785-403-0025), with a site visit by its Environmental Specialist and installation by a county-licensed installer.
Do I need 40 acres to build a house?
No. A parcel created in compliance with the zoning and subdivision regulations can be issued a residential building permit.
What if I build without a permit?
The County can post a stop order, and the fee for the permit issued afterwards is quadrupled.
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More Kansas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Jefferson County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.