Permits, Licenses + Inspections for Building + Construction

Accessory Structures

A permit is not required for accessory structures such as garages, sheds, carports or gazebos that do not exceed 200 square feet in area.

Air Conditioner Repairs

Air conditioner repairs do not require a permit. If the demand for the unit is greater than the old unit, conductor sizes may need to be increased. A means to disconnect power is required within sight of the unit. A permit is required for new, additional, or replacement furnaces or air conditioning systems.

Alarm / Security System

A permit is not required by the Planning and Development Services Department. Low voltage wiring (less than 12 volts) does not require a permit. An alarm permit for alarms that are connected to emergency assistance is required by the Overland Park Police Department.

Arbors, Trellises + Shade Structures

A permit is not required when the overhead structure is at least 50 percent open at the top with no member wider than 2 inches in horizontal plane and incapable of accumulating ice or snow (OPMC 16.100.105.2). Structures must comply with setback requirements and maintain clearances to service-drop conductors with 8 foot vertical above the roof surface and 3 foot from the roof edge (2018 IRC Section E2604.2).

Awnings + Canopies

A permit is not required for awnings in Group R-3 and U occupancies, when they are supported by an exterior wall and do not project more than 54 inches from the exterior wall, and do not require additional support.

Basketball Goals

A permit is not required. Structures greater than 10 feet in height must be located a distance from the property line equal to one-third the height of the structure.

Cabinets

No permit is required for installation or replacement. Electrical or plumbing modifications associated with cabinet replacement require a permit.

Dishwashers - New and Replacement

A permit is not required to replace an existing dishwasher. New installations do require an electrical permit when the installation requires a new branch circuit. Dishwashers and disposals are to be on a separate circuit from the two required countertop small appliance circuits.

Deck Patios

Decks do not require a permit if they meet all of the following:

• Are detached from the dwelling.
• Do not exceed 200 square feet in area.
• Are not more than 30 inches above grade measured 36 inches out from the perimeter of the deck at any point.
• Do not serve an egress door.

Repairs of deck walking surfaces, guardrails or handrails do not require a permit.

Driveways and Drive Approach

A building permit is not required for sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade which are not over any basement or story below and are not part of an accessible route. A building permit is not require for driveway replacement on private property. Driveways on private property require minimum 4-inch air entrained concrete. The driveway shall have a constant slope so as to avoid ponding of water. A driveway cannot be closer than 2 feet to adjoining property and cannot occupy more than 35 percent of the front yard area (OPMC 16.110.R309.6, UDO 18.430.120).

A right-of-way work permit is required for sidewalk or driveway installation or replacement in the public right-of-way (from the property line to the curb) and are issued by the Public Works Department. An approach addition or replacement requires a minimum 6-inch paving with approved city concrete mix. Contact the Public Works Department (913) 895-5184 for additional information on approach modifications.

Electric Low Voltage Wiring

A permit is not required for electrical wiring, devices, appliances, apparatus or equipment operating at less than 25 volts and not capable of supplying more than 50 watts of energy and not part of a fire alarm system.

Electrical Fence

A permit is not required if using off-the-shelf, step-down transformers that plug into a standard receptacle. Electric fences are not allowed in front yards and are not considered proper restraining devices for dogs.

Flag Poles

A permit is not required. Structures greater than 10 feet in height must be located a distance from the property line equal to one-third the height of the structure.

Garage Door Openers

No permit is required.

Garbage Disposals

A permit is not required unless it is a new installation, which requires a separate circuit and an electrical permit (can be combined with a dishwasher circuit). The dishwasher and garbage disposal are to be on a separate circuit from the two required countertop small appliance branch circuits.

 

Gas Tanks

A permit is not required for tanks with capacity less than 500 gallons. Tanks must comply with accessory structure setback requirements and maintain a minimum 5-foot separation from openings below grade and 10 feet from buildings. See 2018 International Fire Code Table 5703.1.1.

Lawn Irrigation Systems

A building permit is not required. Any work in the public right-of-way requires issuance of a right-of-way work permit. Contact the Public Works Department at 913-895-6040 for more information.

Patios

A permit is not required for patios on grade consisting of concrete or brick and not supporting a structure. Applicable setbacks must still be followed.

Playground Equipment + Swingsets

A permit is not required.

Retaining Walls

Retaining walls less than 48 inches in height do not require a permit. All retaining walls should be setback two feet from any right of way line (OPMC 18.390.140.C) and 1 foot from any other property line (OPMC 7.54.210).

Routine Maintenance

A building permit is not required for routine maintenance such as replacing plumbing and lighting fixtures, carpeting, painting, installing cabinets and shelving.

Roofing + Re-Roofing

A permit is not required. The code has specific material and installation requirements for roofing and re-roofing. A composition roof may be installed over wood shingles, not over shakes. No more than two layers of any type of covering may be placed on a roof. If three layers of roofing are in place, all layers must be removed prior to installation of additional roofing. Some homes associations regulate the quality and color of roof coverings.

Re-roofing is considered a repair and may not require a permit, unless you are switching from a light roof covering like asphalt or wood shingles to a heavy roof covering like concrete tiles, clay tiles, or slate. Changing from a light roof covering to a heavy roof covering requires a permit and an engineered analysis of the roof structure and usually requires additional reinforcement of the roof.

Although a permit is not required, the code has specific material and installation requirements for roofing and re-roofing which must be followed by the person or persons undertaking the repair or replacement. (2018 IRC Section R908)

A composition roof may be installed over wood shingles (not permitted over wood shakes) if the shingle manufacturer allows it. No more than two layers of any type of covering may be placed on a roof. If two or more layers of roofing are in place, all layers must be removed prior to installation of additional roofing. Roof decking shall be inspected by the roofer and any necessary repairs should be made. The City will not inspect this type of project.

Check with your homes association for regulations of roof coverings as these are not enforced by the city.

Adding an additional layer of roof covering is not permitted in the following conditions:

1. Where existing roof or roof covering is water soaked or has deteriorated to the point that the existing roof or roof covering is not adequate as a base for additional roofing.
2. Where the existing roof covering is slate, clay. Cement or asbestos-cement tile.
3. Where the existing roof has two or more applications of any type of roofing covering.

Ice Barriers

An ice barrier is required. Please reference 2018 IRC Section R905.1.2 and OPMC 16.110.R301.2(1). Ice barriers shall be installed for asphalt shingles, metal roof shingles, mineral-surfaced roll roofing, slate and slate-type shingles, wood shingles and wood shakes. The ice barrier shall consist of not fewer than two layers of underlayment cemented together, or a self-adhering polymer-modified bitumen sheet shall be used in place of normal underlayment and extend from the lowest edges of all roof surfaces to a point not less than 24 inches (610 mm) inside the exterior wall line of the building. On roofs with slope equal to or greater than eight units vertical in 12 units horizontal (67%slope), the ice barrier shall also be applied not less than 36 inches (914 mm) measured along the roof slope from the eave edge of the building.

An ice barrier is not required for detached accessory structures not containing conditioned floor area.

Materials

Only Class A, B or C roof covering materials are allowed. Non-classified roofing is not allowed. All roof covering materials shall be delivered in packages bearing the manufacturer’s identifying marks and approved testing agency labels.

Structural + Construction Loads

The structural roof components shall be capable of supporting the roof covering system, and the material and equipment loads that will be encountered during installation of the roof covering system.

Roof Covering

Where the application of a new roof covering over wood shingle roofs creates a combustible, concealed space, the entire existing surface shall be covered with gypsum board, mineral fiber, glass fiber or other approved materials securely fastened in place.

Reinstallation of Materials

Existing slate, clay, or cement tile shall be permitted for reinstallation, except damaged, cracked, or broken slate or tile which shall not be reinstalled. Existing vent flashing, metal edgings, drain outlets, collars and metal counter flashing shall not be reinstalled where rusted, damaged or deteriorated. Aggregate surfacing
materials shall not be reinstalled.

Flashings

Flashings shall be reconstructed in accordance with approved manufacturer’s installation instruction. Metal flashings, to which bituminous materials are to be adhered, shall be primed prior to installation.

Roof Deck – Repair/Replacement

A permit is not required unless structural repairs are necessary.

Floodplain Development Permits

Re-roofing a structure shall be considered routine maintenance and exempt from requiring a floodplain development permit except in the following cases:

The sheathing or joists underneath the roofing materials are replaced or other structural repairs are necessary.

The roofing is replaced in conjunction with other building repairs that require a building permit. For example, storm damage to the roof that damages other portions of the structure.

If a floodplain development permit is required, information about the cost of all repairs shall be provided to verify that the repairs do not constitute a substantial improvement to the building.

Satellite Dishes

A permit is not required. Dishes 39 inches in diameter or smaller may be attached to the house. Where the antenna is ground-mounted on a self supporting mast, the mast shall be set back a distance from any property line equal to 1/3 of its height and shall not be located in the front yard. Satellite dishes greater than 39 inches in diameter shall be ground-mounted and shall not exceed 13 feet in height (distance between the average surrounding grade and highest point on the satellite dish antenna). Ground-mounted dishes must be in the backyard and set back from the property line by a distance equal to its height.

Sewer

Johnson County permits repair and replacement sewer lines outside of a building that are connected to the Johnson County Wastewater sewer system. A permit from Johnson County Wastewater is required for new installations of switching from septic to sewer.

Sidewalks

The City maintains sidewalks on public streets. Please file an OPCares request if your sidewalk needs maintenance.

Siding

Siding repair and replacement are considered maintenance and do not require of a permit, except when replacing with stucco or EIFS. These materials require a permit.  The building code contains requirements regarding siding applications and flashing.

Sump Pumps

A permit is not required for the replacement of an existing sump pump. Johnson County Wastewater District does not allow sump pump connections to the sanitary sewer system. Sump pump discharges shall not be closer than 5 feet to an adjoining property line (OPMC 7.54.250). A new sump pump requires a dedicated GFCI electric circuit. An electrical permit is required for new branch circuits.

Tree Houses

A permit is not required. Electrical connections to tree houses are not allowed.

Water Line Replacement - Exterior

A permit is required for the replacement or repair of fire service mains service private fire hydrants, fire suppression systems (sprinkler) and standpipe systems. Permit are not required for general water line replacement. Call Water One at (913) 895-1800 before beginning work.

Window Replacement

A permit is not required for in-kind replacement. Alterations to exterior walls do require a permit.

You can submit application drawings electronically using ePLACE. Submit drawings based on the standards included below.

Drawing Sets Under 25 pages

• All documents shall be in PDF format, with a graphic scale, and rotated so that the pages read
  upright.
• Verify you have unlocked and flattened all the drawings and reports. The markups list & layers
  should be cleared and empty (you can also control this in your print settings).
• Files should only be saved in black and white.
  • The exception to the black and white submittals will be elevation and rendering views for Current Planning Design Review requirements.
• File naming conventions should be as follows: Category-Projectname-Address_REV#.
  • Example: (ArchMEP-CityHall-8500SantaFe_Rev1) Applications with files not named consistent with these requirements may be rejected.
• Drawings, reports and other documents must be submitted as a separate PDF for each document type as indicated in the ePlace application (e.g. calculations, specifications, reports, studies, etc.).
• Drawings shall have a scale bar.

Drawing Sets Over 25 Pages

All documents shall be in PDF format, with a graphic scale, and rotated so that the pages read
upright.

Verify you have unlocked and flattened all the drawings and reports. The markups list & layers should be cleared and empty (you can also control this in your print settings.)

Vector content only. Scanned images are prohibited.

Drawing Export Tips:

• Maintain output Scale – avoid “Fit to Page.”
• Keep hatch patterns to a minimum as a best practice as these can quickly increase file sizes and slow the files down.

Documents shall be created with TrueType Fonts.

If you have the capability, the drawings are requested to be batch linked. (Learn more about batchlinking online at the You Tube website.

Sheet title block sizes shall remain consistent on each page of the plan set including sub
disciplines.

Files should only be saved in black and white. The exception to the black and white submittals will be elevation and rendering views for Current Planning Design Review requirements.

File naming conventions should be as follows: Category-Projectname-Address_REV#.

• Example: (ArchMEP-CityHall-8500SantaFe_Rev1) Applications with files not named consistent with these requirements may be rejected.

Name each page with a page label that matches the sheet.

• Example: Page label C2 Grading plan.

Each Plan Sheet must be clearly bookmarked to clearly identify the content of the page.

• Example: Page A1.0 Architectural Site Plan.

Reserve a location on the all plan sheets for City stamps. The size shall be a minimum of 3” x 2” and be in the same location on every sheet.

Drawings, reports and other documents must be submitted as a separate PDF for eachdocument type as indicated in the eplace application (e.g. calculations, specifications, reports, studies, etc.).

Drawings shall have a scale bar.