Building permit process
You can manage your building permit process in our Application and Permitting Portal.
Choose a contractor
Unless you — the homeowner — are doing the work at the home you occupy, you'll select a contractor to complete your project. All subcontractors must have the following documents on file with us before obtaining a building permit:
If you have questions about your contractor’s licensing, call our customer service at 913.477.7500.
Apply for a building permit
You can apply for a building permit through our Application and Permitting Portal.
Additional requirements
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For swimming pool, fence, deck and residential permits, you will be required to provide a plot plan with your application, showing an outline of the project drawn to scale. We may have a copy of your home’s plot plan on file. A plot plan is a legal drawing prepared by a registered engineer or land surveyor. It will show the property address, legal description, property dimensions, existing and proposed structures, distances to property and building lines, contour lines, location of outside utilities, easements and rights-of-way.
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We will review this plan for size, placement in relation to setback requirements, building lines and utility easements.
Fences: The smooth, finished side of the fence must face outward with the support posts on the inside. Fences can be no more than 6 feet tall.
Decks: You must provide construction drawings, which we will review for code compliance.
Residential additions: You must also provide drawings, which we will review for code compliance. These drawings should show the structural design, elevations, room usage, the addition’s relationship to the existing structure and square footage.
Locate underground utility lines
If you are doing a project that requires digging, including planting trees and shrubs, you must call Kansas OneCall to have your utility service lines marked. Call 800.344.7233 (800.DIG.SAFE) at least two business days in advance.
Most utilities in Lenexa are members of this service, but if any of your utilities are not covered, you must contact them directly.
Inspections
Your project will require one or more inspections by a city building inspector. You must schedule your inspection at least one business day in advance:
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Online through our Application and Permitting Portal. (Exceptions must be scheduled by phone: concrete, occupied homes and if you are acting as your own contractor)
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By calling customer service at 913.477.7500 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Residential inspection guidelines
Expired permits
Building permits are valid for 180 days. Each approved inspection extends your building permit for an additional 180 days.
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30 days before your permit will expire, we will attempt to mail you a courtesy letter reminding you of the expiration date; however, it is your responsibility to keep track of the status of your permit and a permit will expire if no courtesy letter is mailed.
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If you allow your permit to expire, you may be charged a fee (based on the construction valuation of the remaining work) to reinstate the permit before we will perform any additional inspections.
Working without a permit
You must have a permit before performing any construction work, unless the work is exempt from needing a permit. If you do not have a permit before you begin work, we will charge an investigation fee equal to the permit fee.