In Manhattan, building permits are issued by Risk Reduction, a division of the Manhattan Fire Department at 2000 Denison Avenue (785-587-4506, riskreduction@cityofmhk.com). Since June 29, 2026, applications, plan uploads, payments, licence renewals and inspection requests go through the city’s new online permitting and licensing portal. The building fee follows the valuation table in the city’s code amendments: a $300,000 project pays $1,710.93.
Code officers review plans and issue building, moving, curb cut and mobile home permits as well as electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits, and the same division issues all contractor and trade licences. The office is open Monday to Thursday from 8:00 am to noon and 1:00 to 5:00 pm, and on Friday from 8:00 am to noon. The 2021 International Codes and the 2020 National Electrical Code took effect for the Manhattan area on January 1, 2023, each adopted with local amendments by its own ordinance; the energy code is the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code.
The City of Manhattan, which lies in Riley and Pottawatomie counties. Unincorporated Riley County is permitted by Riley County Planning and Development.
A new portal replaced the old forms. The city moved permitting and licensing to its Oracle-based online permitting and licensing portal on June 29, 2026. Active permits and applications under review were moved into it, the old contractor licence portal was shut down, and a first-time user registers an account before applying.
What requires a building permit in Manhattan?
Manhattan’s amended Section R105.2 of the residential code lists the work that needs no permit; everything else on a house, from new construction to additions and alterations, needs one. Electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits are issued separately.
Permit required
- New houses, additions, alterations and accessory buildings over 200 square feet
- Decks and porches more than 30 inches above grade, or any that are roofed or enclosed
- Fences over 7 feet and retaining walls over 7 feet, or walls supporting a surcharge
- Electrical, mechanical, gas and plumbing work beyond minor repairs
- Replacing a concealed trap, drain, water, soil, waste or vent pipe that has failed
- Moving a building, curb cuts and mobile home placement
No permit (residential code)
- One-story detached sheds and playhouses of 200 square feet or less
- Open detached pergolas up to 400 square feet without a solid roof
- Sidewalks and driveways
- Painting, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work
- Prefabricated pools less than 24 inches deep, swings and playground equipment
- Clearing stoppages and stopping leaks in drain or water pipes
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →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
Manhattan building department: who handles permitting
Risk Reduction is the permit and licensing office for the city. Its plan reviewers and building inspectors handle building work, and the division’s fire inspectors and property maintenance staff work alongside them. Projects in the Blue Township Sewer District apply to Pottawatomie County first and then file a separate sewer permit application with the City of Manhattan.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Risk Reduction Division, Manhattan Fire Department, 2000 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502 |
| Phone and email | 785-587-4506; riskreduction@cityofmhk.com |
| Hours | Monday to Thursday 8:00 am to noon and 1:00 to 5:00 pm; Friday 8:00 am to noon |
| Online | City online permitting and licensing portal (since June 29, 2026), linked from the Business and Development page |
| Codes | 2021 IBC, IRC, IEBC, IFC, IFGC, IMC, IPC, IPMC and ISPSC, 2020 NEC (Ordinances 7602 to 7611, effective January 1, 2023); 2009 IECC |
In 2025, building permits issued in Manhattan authorized 222 new privately owned housing units, 72 of them single-family homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey.
Permit types
Residential permits
House projects are reviewed against the 2021 International Residential Code as amended by Ordinance 7609. The amendments delete Chapter 11 (energy), so energy compliance is shown under the city’s 2009 International Energy Conservation Code, and delete Section R313 (residential sprinklers). Window wells must have at least 9 square feet of area with a 36-inch projection and width, and building sewers must be at least 34 inches below grade unless insulated. The city’s instructional videos cover first-time portal registration, building permits, miscellaneous trade permits and inspection scheduling.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Building or remodeling a home here? Alliance handles residential permit filing, so the crew isn't waiting on the counter.
Commercial permits
Commercial work is reviewed against the 2021 International Building Code as amended by Ordinance 7602, together with the city’s fire, plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas ordinances. For new buildings the valuation used for the fee comes from the ICC building valuation data table; for other work it is the total value of all construction. A plan review fee of 30% of the building permit fee is paid when the application is filed and credited to the building permit fee when the permit is issued.
Kansas has no state licence for general contractors or the main trades; cities and counties license them under state rules. Roofers register with the Attorney General. Kansas rules
For tenant improvements and new commercial builds, Alliance handles commercial permit expediting through issuance. More on this: commercial building permits explained.
Manhattan permit costs and fees
Building permit fees are written into Section R108.2 of the residential code ordinance and Section 109.2 of the building code ordinance adopted on October 18, 2022; the city’s January 2026 permit listing shows fees calculated on this table. The building official sets the valuation from the ICC Building Valuation Data table, and it includes all finish work, roofing, electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning and other permanent equipment.
| Valuation | Fee |
|---|---|
| $0 to $500 | $19.00 |
| $501 to $2,000 | $19.00 for the first $500 plus $2.47 for each additional $100 or fraction |
| $2,001 to $25,000 | $56.09 for the first $2,000 plus $11.34 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $25,001 to $50,000 | $317.31 for the first $25,000 plus $8.18 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001 to $100,000 | $521.43 for the first $50,000 plus $5.67 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001 to $500,000 | $804.93 for the first $100,000 plus $4.53 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,001 to $1,000,000 | $2,619.33 for the first $500,000 plus $3.84 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Over $1,000,000 | $4,543.08 for the first $1,000,000 plus $2.95 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Swimming pools, prefabricated safe rooms and carports, fences and retaining walls | $50.00 |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →The city’s Master Fee Schedule still lists $25 for pools, safe rooms and carports; the code ordinances adopted on October 18, 2022 set $50, and that adopted figure is shown above.
Worked example: a $300,000 project pays $804.93 for the first $100,000 plus 200 × $4.53 = $906, a building permit fee of $1,710.93.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Plan review (building code projects) | 30% of the building permit fee, paid at application and credited to the permit fee at issue |
| Re-inspection | $50 for each re-inspection after the first; due within 10 calendar days and before the certificate of occupancy |
| Temporary certificate of occupancy | $250 for the first re-issue past expiry, $500 for each later one |
| Work started before the permit | A fee equal to the permit fee, in addition to the permit fee, at the building official’s discretion |
| Electrical permit (Master Fee Schedule) | $10 minimum, plus item charges such as $0.10 per ampere of service |
| Mechanical, plumbing and curb cut permits (Master Fee Schedule) | $15 per permit |
| General contractor A, B or C, electrical, plumbing or mechanical contractor licence | $200 for two years; plumbing and mechanical combination $300 |
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Trade permits and who may pull them
City licensing
- Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work each need their own permit from Risk Reduction
- Trade contractors hold a city contractor licence and name a master; the city asks for both an individual and a contractor application
- Master and journeyman electricians, plumbers and mechanical workers hold city certificates renewed each year, with continuing education uploaded in the portal
- A miscellaneous permit application covers urgent trade work such as electrical service repairs for occupied buildings
No trade permit
- Replacing lamps and plugging approved portable equipment into existing receptacles
- Portable heating, cooling, cooking and drying appliances
- Replacing a minor part that does not change the equipment’s approval
Trade work is permitted separately under the codes the jurisdiction has adopted. Kansas rules
How to apply for a Manhattan building permit
Create a City of Manhattan online account; the city posts short videos for first-time registration and each application type.
Contractors and trades apply for or renew city licences in the same portal before pulling permits.
Use the 2021 codes with the city’s amendment ordinances and the 2009 energy code.
Choose the building permit application, upload plans and pay; building code projects pay the 30% plan review fee at this stage.
Blue Township Sewer District projects apply to Pottawatomie County, then to the city for the sewer permit.
Schedule each inspection online and have the work ready at the booked time.
Review, corrections and what actually causes delay
Energy compliance shown against the 2021 model chapter rather than the city’s 2009 energy code, and unpaid re-inspection fees, which stop further inspections on the permit, are avoidable causes of delay.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Inspections in Manhattan
Risk Reduction’s building inspectors inspect permitted work, and inspections are scheduled through the online portal. An inspection that is not ready at the scheduled time counts as failed. The first re-inspection is free; each later one costs $50, must be paid within 10 calendar days and before a certificate of occupancy is issued, and no further inspections take place on that permit until past-due fees are paid. The building official may waive re-inspection fees.
Manhattan permit search and official resources
- Manhattan adopted construction codes — the editions and amendments the city has adopted
- Risk Reduction — permits, licences, hours and the portal changeover
- Business and Development — sign-in to the online permitting and licensing portal
- Apply for a permit or licence — how-to videos for the portal
- Ordinance 7609, 2021 International Residential Code — exempt work, fee table and local amendments
- Ordinance 7602, 2021 International Building Code — fee table, plan review fee and valuation rule
- City of Manhattan Master Fee Schedule — trade permit and licence fees
- Kansas Department of Administration, Facilities and Property Management — the codes applying to construction on state-owned property
- Office of the Kansas State Fire Marshal — the Kansas Fire Prevention Code, mandatory statewide
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Frequently asked questions
Who issues building permits in Manhattan?
Risk Reduction, a division of the Manhattan Fire Department, at 2000 Denison Avenue (785-587-4506). It also issues trade permits and contractor licences.
How much is a building permit in Manhattan?
It follows the valuation table in the 2021 code ordinances; a $300,000 project pays $1,710.93, and pools, fences and retaining walls pay a flat $50.
Which code editions apply?
The 2021 International Codes and the 2020 National Electrical Code with local amendments, in force since January 1, 2023, and the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code.
Do I need a permit for a shed or a fence?
Not for a one-story shed of 200 square feet or less or a fence up to 7 feet high; larger sheds and taller fences need a permit.
How do I apply now?
Through the city’s online permitting and licensing portal, which replaced the earlier forms and licence portal on June 29, 2026.
When is the counter open?
Monday to Thursday from 8:00 am to noon and 1:00 to 5:00 pm, and Friday from 8:00 am to noon.
Simplify Manhattan permitting with Alliance Permitting
Manhattan runs permits and contractor licensing through its fire department and keeps an older energy code under newer building codes. We file with the right office and design to the city’s amendments rather than the model code.
Ready to break ground in Manhattan sooner?
Send us the scope and the parcel. We confirm the review path with the City of Manhattan Risk Reduction Division, assemble the submittal, file it, and track it through issuance — corrections included.
More Kansas permitting guides
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Read guide →McPherson County Building Permit Guide
Read guide →This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Manhattan permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.