Building permits in Shawnee, a Johnson County city of 69,848 people, are issued by the Building Codes Division of Community Development at City Hall, 11110 Johnson Drive (913-742-6010, codes@cityofshawnee.org). You can apply in person or online through the Citizenserve portal, and every building, single-family and two-family homes included, needs plans prepared by a design professional. Under the 2026 fee schedule a $400,000 project pays a $1,882 building permit fee.
Since April 1, 2026 the division has enforced the 2024 International Building, Fire, Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes together with the 2018 International Residential Code, the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code and the 2023 National Electrical Code. Contractors are licensed by Johnson County, not by the city. Shawnee County, which contains Topeka, is a separate jurisdiction with its own rules.
The City of Shawnee in Johnson County. Lenexa, Merriam, Overland Park and the other Johnson County cities issue their own permits.
Two code cycles at once. From April 1, 2026, Shawnee applies the 2024 International Building, Fire, Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes but keeps the 2018 International Residential Code and 2018 energy code for houses, with the 2023 National Electrical Code throughout.
What requires a building permit in Shawnee?
Shawnee publishes permit application guidelines for each common project type, and its fee schedule and inspection list show which work is permitted and inspected.
Permit and guideline published
- New residential buildings and new commercial buildings
- Roofed additions, accessory buildings and basement finishes
- Decks, fences, retaining walls, swimming pools and hot tubs
- Tenant finish projects in commercial space
- Demolition ($60 permit) and house or structure moving
- Grading and land disturbance, under Chapter 11.20 of the municipal code
- Driveway approaches and other work in the public right-of-way, through Public Works
Before the permit is issued
- Open space fee, where Municipal Code 12.14 applies: $400 per dwelling unit on residential lots
- Stormwater detention fee of $350 per single-family or duplex lot where on-site detention is not required
- A current Johnson County contractor licence for each licensed trade on the job
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
Shawnee building department: who handles permitting
The Building Codes Division issues building permits, reviews plans and inspects construction on private property; Tyler Wirth is the Chief Building Official. The Planning Division (913-742-6011) handles zoning, plats and development fees, and Johnson County licenses the contractors.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Building Codes Division, Community Development, City Hall, 11110 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, KS 66203 |
| Phone and email | 913-742-6010; codes@cityofshawnee.org; fax 913-268-7562 |
| Hours | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| Online | Citizenserve portal for applications, fees and permit search |
| Contractor licensing | Johnson County Administration Building, 111 South Cherry Street, Suite 1000, Olathe; licensing staff at 913-715-2233, option 1 |
In 2025, building permits issued in Shawnee authorized 195 new privately owned housing units, 112 of them single-family homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey.
Permit types
Residential permits
A new one- or two-family home uses its own application and the city’s new residential building and foundation guidelines, with plans from a design professional. The house is reviewed under the 2018 International Residential Code and 2018 energy code, while its plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas work follows the 2024 editions and its wiring the 2023 National Electrical Code. Smaller jobs such as decks, basement finishes and accessory buildings use the residential permit application with the matching guideline; the city also links the JOCOBO construction guidelines for basements, decks, foundations, garage doors, stucco, stoop flashing and cold-weather concreting.
Building or remodeling a home here? Alliance handles residential permit expediting, so the crew isn't waiting on the counter.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Commercial permits
Commercial buildings and tenant finishes file the commercial permit application with design-professional plans and pay a plan review fee of 65% of the permit fee when the plans are submitted; the review fee is added to the permit fee. Revisions that need more review cost $50 an hour with a two-hour minimum. The city also asks for a code compliance certification statement and a verification of subcontractor’s work form, both posted with the permit forms.
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 applications through issuance. More on this: commercial building permits explained.
Shawnee permit costs and fees
Building permit fees are set in the Comprehensive User Fee Schedule, Policy Statement 56, as revised by the council on October 27, 2025 and effective January 1, 2026. The fee is based on the project valuation.
| Valuation | Fee |
|---|---|
| $0 to $500 | $20 |
| $501 to $2,000 | $20 for the first $500 plus $2 for each additional $100 or fraction |
| $2,001 to $25,000 | $50 for the first $2,000 plus $9 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $25,001 to $50,000 | $257 for the first $25,000 plus $7 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001 to $100,000 | $432 for the first $50,000 plus $5 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001 to $500,000 | $682 for the first $100,000 plus $4 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,001 or more | $2,282 for the first $500,000 plus $3 for each additional $1,000 or fraction |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Worked example: a $400,000 project pays $682 for the first $100,000 plus 300 × $4 = $1,200, a building permit fee of $1,882. If it is a commercial project, the 65% plan review fee of $1,223.30 is added.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Commercial plan review | 65% of the permit fee, in addition to it |
| Re-inspection (work not ready or failed re-inspection) | $100 each |
| After-hours inspection; inspections with no listed fee | $50 an hour (two-hour minimum after hours) |
| Temporary certificate of occupancy | $100 for the first 30 days; $250 up to 120 days; $500 up to 180 days |
| Certificate of occupancy | No charge |
| Work without a permit (each instance) | Double the permit fee |
| Demolition permit; building moving permit | $60; $75 |
| Land disturbance under one acre | $150 |
| Driveway approach work permit (paid with the building permit) | $50 |
| Open space fee, where Municipal Code 12.14 applies (residential lots) | $400 per dwelling unit |
| Stormwater detention fee where no detention is required | $350 per single-family or duplex lot |
Trade permits and who may pull them
Licensing
- Contractors register through Johnson County’s contractor licensing system; a new licence costs a $100 application fee plus $225 per licence type and lasts one year
- Plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas work follows the 2024 codes; electrical work the 2023 National Electrical Code
Separate offices
- Fire sprinkler pressure or flow tests are arranged at 913-631-6100
- Drive approach inspections are arranged at 913-406-1237
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Trade work is permitted separately under the codes the jurisdiction has adopted. Kansas rules
How to apply for a Shawnee building permit
Shawnee County and Topeka are a separate jurisdiction; Johnson County cities each permit their own work.
Use the city’s guideline for the project type, from decks and fences to new homes and tenant finishes.
Plans by a design professional are required for every building, including one- and two-family homes.
Each contractor needs a current Johnson County licence.
File the residential, new one- or two-family, or commercial application and pay the permit fee, plus plan review for commercial work and any open space or detention fees.
Call 913-742-6010 with the required notice; no same-day inspections are accepted after 2:00 pm.
Review, corrections and what actually causes delay
Design-professional plans and Johnson County contractor licences are prerequisites, and drawings have to match the right code cycle: the 2018 residential and energy codes for the house itself, the 2024 codes for its plumbing, mechanical and gas work. Changes to approved commercial plans are billed at $50 an hour for the extra review.
Inspections in Shawnee
Inspections are requested by calling 913-742-6010, and no same-day inspections are accepted after 2:00 pm. A house needs footing, foundation wall and ground rough inspections with 2 hours’ notice, rough-in, electrical service and water-resistive barrier inspections with a day’s notice, insulation and gas pressure tests with half a day’s notice, and a final with a day’s notice. Decks need a footing and ledger inspection and a final; pools need bonding, gas, ground rough electrical and final inspections. A permit becomes invalid if work does not start within 180 days or no inspection is obtained in any 180-day period, and every permit expires two years after issue; the Building Official may grant one written extension of up to 180 days. A satisfactory final inspection is required before the permit expires.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Shawnee permit search and official resources
- Shawnee Building Permits and Inspections — adopted codes, applications, guidelines and contacts
- Building permit fee schedule — valuation table and plan review fee
- Policy Statement 56, Comprehensive User Fee Schedule — all city fees effective January 1, 2026
- Required building inspections and notice — inspection list, notice times and permit expiry
- Building inspection requirements — permit expiration and final inspection rules
- Development and zoning — open space, stormwater detention and excise tax fees
- Johnson County Contractor Licensing — county licences used by Shawnee contractors
- Kansas State Board of Technical Professions — when a licensed architect or engineer must seal the drawings
- Office of the Kansas State Fire Marshal — the Kansas Fire Prevention Code, mandatory statewide
Frequently asked questions
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Is Shawnee the same as Shawnee County?
No. The City of Shawnee is in Johnson County; Shawnee County, which contains Topeka, is a separate jurisdiction.
How much is a building permit in Shawnee?
It follows the valuation table in Policy Statement 56: $682 for the first $100,000 plus $4 per additional $1,000, so a $400,000 project pays $1,882. Commercial plan review adds 65%.
Which codes apply from April 1, 2026?
The 2024 International Building, Fire, Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes, the 2018 International Residential Code and Energy Conservation Code, and the 2023 National Electrical Code.
Does a house need plans from a design professional?
Yes. Shawnee requires design-professional plans for all buildings, including single-family and two-family homes.
How do I schedule an inspection?
Call 913-742-6010 with the notice listed for each inspection; same-day requests are not accepted after 2:00 pm.
How long is a permit valid?
It lapses if no inspection is obtained in any 180-day period and expires two years after issue, with one written extension of up to 180 days possible.
Simplify Shawnee permitting with Alliance Permitting
Shawnee is easy to confuse with a county an hour away and mixes code editions more than most. We read the right ordinance, check each code’s edition, and confirm the county licence and the design-professional plans before filing.
Ready to break ground in Shawnee sooner?
Send us the scope and the parcel. We confirm the review path with the City of Shawnee Building Codes Division, assemble the submittal, file it, and track it through issuance — corrections included.
More Kansas permitting guides
More Kansas permitting guides
Lenexa
Read guide →Overland Park
Read guide →Topeka
Read guide →Shawnee County Building Permit Guide
Read guide →Spring Hill Building Permit Guide
Read guide →Sumner County Building Permit Guide
Read guide →This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Shawnee permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.