Bolthole Index

Ellsworth County, Kansas

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Ellsworth, Kansas

Ellsworth, Kansas requires a city building permit for construction, renovation or alteration of structures.1 Ellsworth has its own zoning, including a restriction on living in recreational equipment parked on residential lots.23 In Ellsworth County, Saline County Environmental Health enforces the sanitary code and requires a new septic permit when a septic system changes.45

At a glance

Building permits
Required for construction, renovation or alteration inside Ellsworth city limits1
Zoning
City zoning applies to land and structures inside Ellsworth2
Septic permits
Saline County Environmental Health administers the sanitary code; septic-system changes require a new septic permit45
RV living
Recreational equipment cannot be used for living, sleeping or housekeeping on residential lots or in locations not approved for that use3
Tiny homes
Ask Central Inspection about the proposed dwelling; accessory buildings cannot be used as dwellings67
Lot size
R-2 single-family lots: 6,000 square feet and 50 feet wide; A-L farm-family or employee dwellings: at least 3 acres, subject to utility service requirements89
Household wells
Ellsworth County requires a household-well permit with a listed $300 fee; ask Environmental Health about city-site requirements104

Who to call

Building permits

Ellsworth Central Inspection Department

City building inspections, code enforcement and zoning compliance; contact for building applications and questions about the proposed use.

(785) 531-9752

dbettenbrock@ellsworthks.net

121 W. 1st St. | PO Box 163 Ellsworth KS 67439

Online permits →

Septic permits

Saline County Environmental Health

Administers Ellsworth County sanitary-code requirements for onsite wastewater; contact for septic-system changes and private-well questions.

(785) 309-5813

229 North 9th Salina, KS 67401

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Ellsworth means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Ellsworth, KS?

Ellsworth requires a building permit for construction, renovation or alteration of structures inside city limits.1 The city application asks for the project address, contractor, district or zone, and a description of the proposed project.1 Ellsworth building-permit fees vary with project valuation, so ask for the charge for your particular scope of work.11

Budget separately for utility connections and zoning requests: the city lists a $100 sewer tap fee, a $100 water connection fee and separate water-meter charges.11 Ellsworth lists $300 for a variance, $300 for a zoning change and $150 for a zoning appeal.11

Who handles building inspections and zoning questions in Ellsworth?

The Ellsworth Central Inspection Department evaluates projects during construction for compliance with safety regulations, zoning ordinances and other applicable codes.6 Reach the building inspector at (785) 531-9752 or dbettenbrock@ellsworthks.net.6 For setback issues, Ellsworth directs applicants to resolve questions with City Hall before submitting the building-permit application.12

Ellsworth now uses its Building Permit Application form for roofing, siding and window permits.6 Kansas allows an owner to perform qualifying roofing work without roofing-contractor registration, but that exemption does not remove local building-permit or inspection requirements.13 Ask Central Inspection which adopted building-code edition and inspections apply to your project; we could not confirm the edition or the city's certificate-of-occupancy requirements.6

Does Ellsworth have zoning, minimum lot sizes and setbacks?

Ellsworth zoning applies to structures and land inside the incorporated city.2 In Ellsworth's R-2 Two-Family Dwelling District, a single-family dwelling needs a lot of at least 6,000 square feet with a minimum width of 50 feet.8 In the A-L Agricultural District, single-family dwellings for exclusive use by the farm family or employees need at least 3 acres, subject to utility service requirements.9

Ellsworth accessory buildings may cover no more than 30% of the required rear yard and may not encroach on utility easements; that percentage is not a whole-lot coverage allowance.14 Actual setback distances depend on the applicable local zoning classification or street/highway setback rule.15 Bring your proposed layout to City Hall to resolve setback issues before applying for the building permit.12

How do septic permits work inside Ellsworth?

Saline County Environmental Health enforces Ellsworth County's sanitary code, making that office the starting point for an Ellsworth property with onsite wastewater.4 A new septic permit is required when a septic system changes, including adding lateral lines or installing a new tank.5 Call Environmental Health at (785) 309-5813 about the proposed system and required approvals.4

Kansas permits private sewerage facilities only when public sewers are unavailable and applicable local requirements are met, so establish sewer availability before planning an off-grid system in Ellsworth.16 Kansas requires approved wastewater disposal and prohibits seepage pits, cesspools and dry wells; approved alternative systems remain possible under the applicable requirements.17 We could not confirm Ellsworth's site-specific septic inspection steps or fees; ask Environmental Health before ordering a system.4

What should you check before buying land in Ellsworth?

Ask Central Inspection to confirm city jurisdiction and the parcel's zoning; for land outside city limits, consult the Ellsworth County guide for the unincorporated-area answers.26 Every building erected or moved in Ellsworth must sit on a lot adjacent to a public street or with access to an approved private street, with safe access for servicing, fire protection and required parking.18

Ellsworth County requires a household-well permit with a listed $300 fee, separately from other authorizations that may apply to the well.10 Ask Environmental Health about the proposed city location.4 Construction in a Kansas Special Flood Hazard Area requires a floodplain permit, including filling and excavation; ask City Hall to identify the local floodplain administrator for an Ellsworth parcel.196

Watch-outs

  • Ellsworth's residential-lot restriction on RV living still matters even when an RV meets the separate flood-zone conditions.3
  • Kansas's owner-performed roofing exemption concerns contractor registration; Ellsworth still directs roofing work to its building-permit form.136
  • We could not confirm tiny-home-specific occupancy standards or minimum dwelling floor area in Ellsworth; ask Central Inspection before committing to a design.6

Sources

  1. Building Permit (Ellsworth), quoted and re-checked
  2. Ellsworth Code of Ordinances, 17.20.030 Use regulations (Ellsworth), quoted and re-checked
  3. Ellsworth Code of Ordinances, 17.96.010 Qualifications and supplementations to district regulations (Ellsworth), quoted and re-checked
  4. Saline County Environmental Health (salinecountyks.gov)
  5. Environmental Health, quoted and re-checked
  6. Ellsworth Central Inspection Department (ellsworthks.net)
  7. Ellsworth Code of Ordinances, 17.96.010 Qualifications and supplementations to district regulations (Ellsworth), quoted and re-checked
  8. Ellsworth Code of Ordinances, 17.32.040 Intensity of use regulations (Ellsworth), quoted and re-checked
  9. Ellsworth Code of Ordinances, 17.20.030 Use regulations (Ellsworth), quoted and re-checked
  10. Water Well County Permits, quoted and re-checked
  11. City Costs and Fees (Ellsworth), quoted and re-checked
  12. Ellsworth Code of Ordinances, 17.96.160 Replacement of manufactured homes (Ellsworth), quoted and re-checked
  13. K.S.A. 50-6,129. Exemptions (Kansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Qualifications and supplementations to district regulations (Ellsworth), quoted and re-checked
  15. K.S.A. 12-753 — Zoning regulations; districts; restrictions (Kansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. MF2214 Minimum Standards for Design and Construction of Onsite Wastewater Systems (Kansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. MF2214 Minimum Standards for Design and Construction of Onsite Wastewater Systems (Kansas statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. library.municode.com (Ellsworth), quoted and re-checked
  19. Protect Your Home From Flood Damages, quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Ellsworth

Ellsworth’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, renovation, or alteration of structures inside Ellsworth city limits.

    • The official city permit page describes the permit as required for construction, renovation, or alteration of structures.
    • The application requires project address, contractor, district/zone, proposed project, and other project information.
    “A building permit is a vital legal authorization required for construction, renovation, or alteration of structures.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Ellsworth city limits.

    • Title 17 establishes district-specific zoning regulations.
    “Single-family dwelling units on a minimum of three acres for exclusive use by the farm family or employees. (Site size subject to utility service requirements.)”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Ellsworth city limits.

    • The cited official code sections identify A-L Agricultural and R-1 Single-Family Dwelling districts among the published district regulations.
    “Single-family dwelling units on a minimum of three acres for exclusive use by the farm family or employees. (Site size subject to utility service requirements.)”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Accessory buildings in Ellsworth zoning districts.

    • The limit applies to the required rear yard, not total lot coverage.
    • Accessory buildings may not encroach on utility easements.

    required rear-yard coverage: <= 30 percent

    “No accessory building shall cover more than thirty (30) percent of the required rear yard.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Specified structures inside Ellsworth city limits.

    • The structures listed in the ordinance may not conflict with airport approach zones.
    • The 150-foot provision applies to the listed structures and necessary mechanical appurtenances.

    maximum height: <= 150 feet (Listed structures and appurtenances that do not conflict with airport approach zones)

    “Chimneys, cooling towers, elevator headhouses, fire towers, grain elevators, monuments, stacks, stage towers or scenery lofts, tanks, water towers, ornamental towers and spires, church steeples, radio and television towers, or necessary mechanical appurtenances, which do not conflict with airport approach zones, may be erected to a height not to exceed one hundred fifty (150) feet.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Recreational equipment parked on residential lots or locations not approved for such use inside Ellsworth city limits.

    • This prohibition applies when the equipment is parked on a residential lot or another location not approved for such use.
    • Flood-zone RV placements have separate alternatives under Chapter 15.12.
    “No such recreational equipment shall be utilized for living, sleeping or housekeeping purposes when parked on a residential lot or in any location not approved for such use.”
  • Camping on your landProhibited

    Overnight camping in Ellsworth city parks.

    • Camping is allowed where the city park is posted to allow it.
    “Overnight camping is prohibited in city parks except where posted. (Ord. 2709 § 7, 1992)”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes inside Ellsworth city limits.

    • A manufactured home may not be temporarily or permanently located in a district that does not otherwise permit it.
    • The cited section provides exceptions for prefabricated mobile office structures in business or industrial districts.
    “No manufactured home, or portion thereof, shall be moved onto any lot or parcel for storage or any other purpose than for a residence in any district and no such home shall be temporarily or permanently located in any district not otherwise permitting such homes.”
  • Accessory dwellingsProhibited

    Use of an accessory building as a dwelling inside Ellsworth city limits.

    • This claim addresses accessory buildings; it does not resolve whether another form of accessory dwelling unit is authorized by a separate ordinance.
    “No accessory building shall be constructed upon a lot until the construction of the main building has been actually commenced, and no accessory building shall be used for dwelling purposes.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Every building erected or moved inside Ellsworth city limits.

    • Lot must be adjacent to a public street or have access to an approved private street.
    • Structures must provide safe and convenient access for servicing, fire protection, and required off-street parking.
    “Every building hereafter erected or moved shall be on a lot adjacent to a public street, or with access to an approved private street”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Placement of recreational vehicles in designated flood-hazard zones inside Ellsworth city limits.

    • Applies within unnumbered and numbered A Zones, AE, AH, and AO Zones on the community's FIRM.
    • An RV must be on site fewer than 180 consecutive days, be fully licensed and ready for highway use, or meet the chapter's manufactured-home permitting, elevation, and anchoring requirements.

    maximum consecutive days on site: < 180 days (Alternative to full licensing/highway readiness or manufactured-home permitting, elevation, and anchoring compliance)

    “Require that recreational vehicles placed on sites within all unnumbered and numbered A Zones, AE, AH, and AO Zones on the community's FIRM either: A. Be on the site for fewer than one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days; or B. Be fully licensed and ready for highway use*; or C. Meet the permitting, elevation, and anchoring requirements for manufactured homes of this chapter.”
  • Permit feesPublished

    City building, zoning, water, sewer, and related fees inside Ellsworth city limits.

    • The page states the schedule is based on Resolution 2025-36, adopted December 8, 2025, effective January 1, 2026.
    • Building permit fees vary by project valuation.
    • Separate zoning charges, sewer tap fees, water connection fees, and water-meter charges are listed.

    sewer tap fee: 100 USD · water connection fee: 100 USD · zoning change: 300 USD · variance: 300 USD · zoning appeals: 150 USD

    “Variance | $300.00 Zoning Appeals | $150.00 Zoning Change | $300.00”
  • Permit processPartial

    Special-use approval for manufactured homes inside Ellsworth city limits.

    • The Board of Zoning Appeals may approve the stated special uses.
    • A temporary home while building must meet applicable bulk regulations and the county sanitary code.
    “The board of zoning appeals may approve a special use for a manufactured home in the following circumstances: a. Where an unusual hardship is shown, such a home may be located as an accessory use on a lot or tract with an existing dwelling for a stated period of time.”

Rules another office applies inside Ellsworth

Ellsworth does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single-family dwellings in Ellsworth's A-L Agricultural District.

    • The dwelling must be for exclusive use by the farm family or employees.
    • Site size is subject to utility service requirements.

    minimum lot area: >= 3 acres (Single-family dwelling for exclusive use by farm family or employees)

    “Single-family dwelling units on a minimum of three acres for exclusive use by the farm family or employees. (Site size subject to utility service requirements.)”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Single-family dwellings in Ellsworth's R-2 Two-Family Dwelling District.
      “A lot on which there is erected a single-family dwelling shall contain an area of not less than six thousand (6,000) square feet with a minimum lot width of fifty (50) feet.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Ellsworth or Ellsworth County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Ellsworth city limits.
  • Building code adopted — Building-code editions applicable inside Ellsworth city limits.
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Ellsworth city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for structures inside Ellsworth city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Ellsworth city limits.
10 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Ellsworth publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Ellsworth County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Ellsworth County: county rules, score and offices