Submittal Requirements
One & Two Family Dwelling, Multi-Family, & Commercial Building Permit Submittal Requirements
In addition to your building permit application, other submittals may be required by our division and other City departments. Below you will find information to help assist you with your building permit or demolition permit application. Please do not hesitate to contact our office (785) 832-7700 with any questions you may have. Staff will contact an applicant if additions or modification are required to the plans submitted.
| One & Two Family Dwelling Permits | Multi-Family & Commercial Permits | |
| Building Permit Application | Required | Required |
| Fire Department Form | Not Applicable | Required |
| Construction Compliance Act Form | Not Applicable | Required |
| Scaled Drawings of Project | ** Required | Not Applicable |
| Legal Description | Required for new construction | Required for new construction |
| All Contractors/Subcontractor | **Required | Required |
| Job Valuation - not including land | Required | Required |
| Contact Person/Phone Number | Required | Required |
| Plot Plan of Property | Required if exterior changes | Not Applicable |
| Sealed Drawings | Not Applicable | **Required |
| Site Plan | Not Applicable | **Required |
| Plans Reviewed by: | Inspections Supervisor | Building Inspections Staff |
| Flood Plain Permit | **Required | **Required |
| Historic Environs Approval | **Required | **Required |
| Levee Buffer Approval | **Required | **Required |
**Approval from the appropriate departments is required for new construction, additions, and exterior renovations if the property is within Historic Environs, new construction or additions within a Flood Plain, and new construction and additions within a Levee Buffer.
If you are a homeowner and wish to do your own framing, concrete, electrical, mechanical, or plumbing work, you will also need to complete the Owner-Occupant Form and submit it with your building permit application.
| Department | Phone | Web Site | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planning Division | Historic Environs Review | (785) 832-3150 | www.lawrenceks.org/pds/historic_resources |
| Flood Plain Development | (785) 832-3150 | www.lawrenceks.org/pds/floodplain_info | |
| Site Plans | (785) 832-3150 | www.lawrenceplanning.org | |
| Public Works Dept. | Levee Buffer | (785) 832-3123 | www.lawrencepublicworks.org |
One and Two Family Dwelling Building Permit Plan Submittals:
Drawings must include:
- Braced Walls clearly marked
- Footing Detail
- Typical Wall Section
- Detailed Floor Plan (scaled)
- Front and Side Elevation Drawing
- Scaled Plot Plan- Show proposed new structures or addition, and any existing buildings or structures on site, and north arrow. Show property lines with dimensions, all streets, easements and setbacks. Show all water, sewer, electrical points of connection, proposed service routes and existing utilities on the site.
- Foundation Plan-Indicate size, location and depth below grade of all footings, piers, and stem walls. If necessary, provide geotechnical report, including soil-bearing capacity for the proposed structure at the site.
Multi-Family and Commercial Building Permit Required Submittals
Drawings must include:
- Braced Walls clearly marked
- Footing Detail
- Typical Wall Section
- Detailed Floor Plan (scaled)
- Front and Side Elevation Drawing
- Site Plan
- All multi family and commercial drawings are required to be sealed by a State of Kansas licensed architect or engineer. Some remodel permits do not require sealed drawings. Two complete sets of plans at 1/8"=1'-0 minimum with dimensions, on at least 8 1/2" x 11" paper is required.
- Approval of a site plan is required when any multiple-family residential, office, commercial or industrial development or redevelopment is proposed. Single-family, duplex and triplex residential developments do not require site plan approval unless these units are combined to form a complex of four or more units. The zoning ordinance does not permit issuance of a building permit or the increase in the intensity of a use on a property until a site plan has been approved. For site plan submittals, contact the Planning Division at (785) 832-3150.
- The Site Plan must show the proposed new structures and any existing buildings or structures on site and north arrow. Show property lines with dimensions, all street, easements and setbacks. Show all water, sewer, electrical points of connection, proposed service routes and existing utilities on the site. Show general drainage and grading information.
- Foundation Plan. Indicate size, location and depth below grade of all footings, piers, and stem walls. If necessary, provide geotechnical report, including soil-bearing capacity for the proposed structure at the site.
- Floor Plan. For commercial projects, a detailed floor plan must be scaled and include Electrical, Mechanical, and Plumbing specifications. For other types of projects, show all floors including basement. Label all the rooms and provide overall dimensions and locate smoke detection systems.
- Floor and Roof Framing Plans. Show size, spacing and spans of joists, girders, rafters, beams and headers. Specify grade and species of all wood members. All wood trusses must be engineered and pre manufactured. The manufacturer's instructions on placement and attachment of all wood trusses must be at the job site for the building inspector's review.
- Details. Include typical interior and exterior wall sections showing floor, wall and ceiling type. Show footing and foundation depth and dimensions; detail anchor bolt size and spacing, and spacing of steel reinforcement in masonry, concrete footing and stem walls. Show stair details showing dimensions of rise and run of steps, handrail location, guardrail spacing, headroom, etc. Show fireplace details if using pre-fabricated unit, the manufacturer's installation instructions must be at the job site for the building inspector's review and uses.
Demolition Permit Information:
Demolition permits require a 30-day waiting period from the date the application is received by our office to the date that the permit is able to be issued. Within the 30-days, you must contact the utility companies (Westar, Aquila, and the City Water Department) to have the utilities removed and a disconnect notice sent to our department.
- Submit a complete demolition permit application (PDF)
- Contact the utility companies to request that the utilities be removed for demolition.
| E-mail Address | Phone Number | |
| Aquila (Natural Gas) | kps@aquila.com | 785-832-3943 |
| Westar(Electric) | martha_j_christie@wr.com | 785-865-4872 |
| City of Lawrence (Water) | utilitybilling@ci.lawrence.ks.us | 785-832-7878 |
After our office has received written confirmation from Westar, Aquila, and the City of Lawrence Water Department that the services have been removed and the end of the 30-day waiting period has arrived you must contact our division to request that the permit be issued. The cost of a demolition permit is $50 and is due when the permit is picked up.
