In unincorporated Pottawatomie County, the Planning & Zoning Office at 207 N. 1st St., Westmoreland (785-457-3551) issues building permits under the Unified Development Regulations: $200 for a new house and $50 for most additions and accessory buildings. Outside the Blue Township Sewer District there is no building code and no building inspection; inside it, the county adopted the 2021 International Codes, the City of Manhattan reviews plans and inspects, and new construction must be done by county-licensed contractors unless the owner lives in the home and does the work.
What needs a building permit in Pottawatomie County?
A county building permit is needed for all site-built houses and accessory buildings, manufactured and moved-in homes, and additions. Farm buildings also need a permit so the county can check floodplain and setbacks, but there is no fee for an agricultural building on 40 acres or more. A moved building needs both a building permit and a moving permit.
Permit required
- New houses, manufactured homes and moved-in homes
- Additions to any structure
- Garages, shops and other accessory buildings over 120 sq ft
- Commercial, industrial and institutional buildings
- Agricultural buildings (no fee on 40 acres or more)
- Any development in a floodplain, under a separate floodplain development permit
Exempt county-wide
- Fences, driveways, playhouses and play equipment
- Patios, retaining walls, gazebos, pergolas and trellises
- Storage buildings of 120 sq ft or less (not containers or trailers)
- Remodeling that adds no floor area and does not change the use
- Residential solar collectors and above-ground prefabricated pools
- Windmills, water towers, propane tanks and satellite dishes
In the Blue Township Sewer District, extra work needs a permit because of the building codes: for example finishing a basement, decks more than 30 inches above grade, fences over 7 feet and in-ground pools.
Who issues permits in Pottawatomie County?
The Planning & Zoning Office, open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., issues building and sign permits, acts as floodplain administrator, assigns addresses and reviews plats. The Zoning Administrator heads it. Septic systems and private wells are handled by the County Sanitarian in the Environmental Health Division, 612 E. Campbell St., Westmoreland (785-457-3397).
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →In the Blue Township Sewer District, the neighborhood east of Manhattan just outside its city limits, building codes are a joint program: the county adopted them in January 2020 and the City of Manhattan enforces them. Inside the cities:
| Town | Who issues building permits |
|---|---|
| Wamego (4,912 residents in the county) | City of Wamego Code Enforcement, under the 2018 International Building and Residential Codes and 2017 National Electrical Code; contractors must hold a city licence. City building codes do not apply outside city limits, but projects in the Wamego zoning area need city zoning review. City offices, 430 Lincoln Ave., 785-456-9119. |
| St. Marys (pop. 2,790) | City of St. Marys Zoning Administrator, with separate residential and commercial building permit forms (2026). In the city’s extra-territorial zone the city issues no building permit; a Letter of Zoning Compliance is required before building, and the county issues water, sewage and driveway approvals. |
| St. George (pop. 1,165) | City of St. George, which adopted the 2018 International Codes and 2017 National Electrical Code by Ordinance 2021-05. City Hall, 220 First St., 785-494-2558. |
| Manhattan (part) | City of Manhattan, which mostly lies in Riley County; see our Manhattan guide. |
| Westmoreland (pop. 747) | City of Westmoreland: file the building permit application at City Hall, 202 Main St. (785-457-3361), with a site plan drawn to scale and a Kansas One-Call ticket number; the city’s zoning administrator checks it against Zoning Ordinance 489. Approval can take up to 21 days, and permits are valid for 180 days. |
| Olsburg (pop. 225) | City of Olsburg: a building permit is required for any structure over 50 sq ft, at $0.05 per sq ft ($20 minimum), with drawings of the structure; apply about two weeks ahead. City Hall, 317 2nd St., 785-468-3209. |
| Onaga (683) | The published sources do not say; ask City Hall, 785-889-4456. |
| Belvue (206), Emmett (170), Louisville (151), Havensville (130), Wheaton (110) | The published sources do not say; ask the city clerk. |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Septic, wells and trade work
A new private sewage system needs a health permit from Environmental Health before it is built. The division also issues non-public water supply permits and, on request, inspects septic systems and wells for a property sale or refinance; the home must have been lived in for at least 60 days before a septic inspection, and the tank must be pumped.
Outside the Blue Township Sewer District the county issues no electrical, plumbing or mechanical permits. Inside it, all new construction under the codes must be done by a contractor licensed by Pottawatomie County, and trade contractors need a county-licensed master on staff. A Manhattan or Wamego licence does not replace the county licence. Homeowners who own and live in the home may do their own work without a licence but still need permits and inspections.
Pottawatomie County permit fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| New house (residential dwelling) | $200 |
| Residential addition or accessory building | $50 |
| Commercial or industrial structure | $250 |
| Commercial or industrial addition or accessory building | $100 |
| Institutional building / addition or accessory | $200 / $100 |
| Temporary building permit | $75 |
| Home occupation or special event permit | $25 |
| Sign permit | $25 |
| Rezoning, conditional use permit, variance | $250 each |
| Septic health permit, new construction / reconstruction or tank replacement | $150 / $25 |
| Septic inspection for a sale or refinance | $50 |
| Contractor licence (general or trade), two years | $200 |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →In the Blue Township Sewer District, fees for permits that need inspections are set by the City of Manhattan, and the county’s 2024 guide lists sewer connection fees of $2,789 (Blue Township) and $2,000 (Brook Ridge), plus $50 for a driveway. Online payments carry a 2.55% card fee or $2 for e-checks.
Late charges: applying after construction starts costs $100 for a principal building or $50 for an accessory building on the first offense, rising with later offenses to $400. Another $100 is added if the permit is not obtained within 7 working days of starting, and another $200 if it is not obtained within 14 days of pouring the slab or foundation.
What the permit application needs
- The square footage, type of structure and estimated market value
- A plot plan showing where every structure sits relative to the lot lines
- Building plans
- Contractor and subcontractor information
- On a lot under 5 acres, confirmation that a public water district can serve it
- On a lot under half an acre, lot lines and building corners staked by a Kansas licensed surveyor
For a new home in Blue Township, the county also requires current property taxes and compliance with its sidewalk and driveway specifications.
How to get a county building permit
A house generally needs 3 acres with rural or city water and a septic system, or 5 acres with a private well and septic; the county asks buyers to call Planning & Zoning first.
Register on the county’s permitting site. Outside Blue Township, file the Pre-Application Form describing the project and the county sends the right application.
For a new house, contact the County Sanitarian for the sewage permit and the county’s Engineering Aide for the driveway entrance.
Place 3-foot stakes at the dig line of each building face and notify Zoning staff, or submit a plot plan instead.
Pay online, then post the “Permit Issued” placard and the address sign on site.
A permit is valid for 180 days and cannot be moved to another property or use.
Rather not deal with the Pottawatomie County building department?
Get a free quote →Inspections in Pottawatomie County
Outside the Blue Township Sewer District, county building permits carry no inspections. Inside it, inspections are required for structures over 200 sq ft and are carried out under the City of Manhattan’s program; applications go to both the county and Manhattan, and construction may not begin until both have issued their permits. Manhattan also requires a separate sewer permit application, filed with the City after you apply to the county. The County Sanitarian inspects septic systems.
Local details for Pottawatomie County
City zoning areas: the county regulations do not apply in the extraterritorial zoning areas of Wamego and St. Marys, which the cities zone.
Floodplain: any construction or other development in the regulated floodplain, including placing a manufactured home, needs a separate floodplain development permit from the Zoning Administrator.
Manufactured home parks: the County Commission amended the manufactured home park district rules on August 3, 2026 (Resolution 2026-35).
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 Pottawatomie County permitting resources
- Pottawatomie County Planning & Zoning Office
- Pottawatomie County permits page
- Pottawatomie County planning and zoning fees
- Pottawatomie County Licensing and Permitting Guide (2024)
- Pottawatomie County Unified Development Regulations
- Pottawatomie County building codes (Blue Township Sewer District)
- Pottawatomie County Environmental Health (septic and wells)
- Pottawatomie County planning and zoning FAQs
- City of Wamego: before you build
- City of Wamego code enforcement
- City of St. Marys permit applications
- City of St. George planning and zoning
- City of Westmoreland forms (building permit application)
- City of Olsburg city services (building permits)
- City of Manhattan Risk Reduction (Blue Township sewer permits)
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Pottawatomie County permit FAQs
How much is a building permit for a new house in Pottawatomie County?
$200 for a new dwelling outside a sewer district, plus a $150 septic health permit if the house needs a private system. Most additions and accessory buildings are $50.
Do I need a permit for a shed or fence?
Not for a storage shed of 120 sq ft or less, a fence, a playhouse or play equipment. In the Blue Township Sewer District, fences over 7 feet do need one.
How many acres do I need to build a house?
Generally 3 acres with rural or city water and a private septic system, or 5 acres with a private well and septic.
Does the county inspect new houses?
Only in the Blue Township Sewer District, where the City of Manhattan inspects under the county’s adopted codes. Elsewhere the county permit carries no building inspections.
How long is a permit valid?
180 days. It cannot be transferred to another property or a different use.
Who issues permits in Wamego and St. Marys?
The cities do: Wamego Code Enforcement (785-456-9119) and the St. Marys Zoning Administrator. In the St. Marys extra-territorial zone, the city issues a Letter of Zoning Compliance instead of a building permit.
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More Kansas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Pottawatomie County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.