Portfolio Homes
The City offers a portfolio of housing plans available to residents and builders in Overland Park free of charge, making it easier than ever to start developing your home. This program promotes high-quality design in small-scale housing.
Plans may be used on any legal lot as long as they meet current zoning requirements. Choose from a variety of home designs, including charming cottage-style homes, small single-family houses and duplexes. These plans expand opportunities for home ownership, use existing infrastructure and services, increase the variety of available housing and combine quality with familiar styles.
These plans help streamline the construction process and reduce costs. Portfolio Plans have already undergone a preliminary review, allowing permits to be issued more quickly. Structures must be built according to the approved design, including all architectural features. While slight modifications are permitted, major changes may require additional documentation and a standard permit review. Construction sets are available at no charge. The City waives building permit fees for permits approved under the Portfolio Home program.
Contact
Planner of the Day
913-895-6217
How to Build a Portfolio Home
Plans for Portfolio Homes are pre-reviewed by the building safety team, requiring only a few additional documents before they’re permit-ready. Property owners can secure a permit quickly by following a few simple steps:
1. Pick Your Plan
Choose and download your plan here.
2. Complete Worksheets and Structural Plans
Builders typically complete this step of the process. Please note that the City does not manage or schedule utility services on your behalf. Please contact any necessary utility providers.
3. Obtain a Plot Plan
Obtain a plot plan prepared by a licensed surveyor showing the planned location of your structure and other site improvements.
4. Apply for a Permit
Based on your selected plan, choose either “Residential – Portfolio Home Single Family” or “Residential – Portfolio Home Duplex” in ePlace. Start your permit application and upload all required documents, including a sealed survey/plot plan, structural plan, truss framing worksheet and a right-of-way permit, if applicable.
5. City Review
The City reviews your submitted plans and may request additional information. Be prepared to provide any requested details and respond to comments or questions as needed.
6. Plan Approval
Wrap up final administrative steps: pay your permit fee, submit any remaining required documents and make sure your licensed contractor is obtaining the permit.
Single-Family Portfolio Home Renderings
Explore all available plans and renderings using the online catalog.
Duplex Renderings
Explore all available plans and renderings using the online catalog.
Small-Scale Development Background
In 2019, City staff began working with the Incremental Development Alliance to study the City’s development ordinances and make recommendations for expanding housing options beyond apartments and large single-family homes.
City planners, engineers, public safety personnel and other staff participated in development simulations to review current codes and consider how small scale development projects could work in Overland Park. The Incremental Development Alliance produced a report that outlined several suggestions to increase housing diversity, which City staff presented at the February 2020 Community Development Committee Meeting.
During the research process, representatives from the Incremental Development Alliance shared their insights about small-scale development and possible implementation in Overland Park.
Those presentations are recorded in the videos below:
In 2021, the staff engaged with MBL Planning to develop a set of small-scale residential plans as part of a subscription service to develop permit-ready home plans with a high-quality architectural design to encourage a more varied housing supply.
FrameworkOP
The City’s Comprehensive plan includes a section on housing that recommends regulatory changes to support a wide variety of housing development and make it easier to build on infill lots. The Portfolio Homes plans are a first step, with more changes to come as the City updates its Unified Development Ordinance.