Do You Need a Permit to Remodel in Wichita, KS?

What Needs a Permit and What Doesn't

Work	Permit needed?
Painting, wallpaper, tile, carpet, flooring, cabinets, countertops, and paneling (replacing what is already there)	No permit
Replacing a window or door with the same size or a smaller one, without cutting any framing	No permit
Repairing or replacing up to 400 square feet of roofing or siding in 12 months	No permit
Repairing up to 100 square feet of interior drywall in 12 months, with no framing, electrical, or plumbing changes	No permit
Clearing a stoppage, repairing a leak in a pipe, valve, or fixture, or removing and reinstalling a toilet, when no valves, pipes, or fixtures are replaced or rearranged	No permit
Fences 8 feet or lower, and decks or porches 30 inches or lower with no roof over them	No permit
Removing or cutting a wall or partition, or removing a beam or load-bearing support (see load-bearing wall removal)	Permit required
Cutting a new or larger window or door opening	Permit required
Replacing or rearranging valves, pipes, or fixtures	Permit required
Electrical work beyond replacing a breaker in the same spot	Permit required
Water heater installation or replacement	Permit required
Furnace, air conditioner, and other mechanical work	Permit required
Replacing more than 400 square feet of roofing or siding	Permit required
Additions, basement finishes, and garage conversions	Permit required

This follows the Wichita-Sedgwick County Unified Building and Trade Code. A kitchen or bathroom remodel needs a permit when it moves walls, plumbing, or electrical. Swapping cabinets, countertops, and flooring in the same footprint does not. Other towns have their own rules, covered next.

Which Office Issues Your Permit?

MABCD, the Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department, administers permitting for Wichita and unincorporated Sedgwick County. The towns around Wichita work in three ways, based on MABCD's jurisdiction page and each city's own website.

Wichita and Unincorporated Sedgwick County

MABCD administers building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, roofing, and siding permits here. Apply in the MABCD Portal or in person by appointment.

Cities Under Contract With MABCD

These cities use MABCD for services such as inspections and plan review. MABCD says the permitting process always starts with the city. Valley Center also requires its own contractor license on top of MABCD's.

• Andale
• Bentley
• Cheney
• Clearwater
• Colwich
• Garden Plain
• Goddard
• Maize
• Mulvane
• Valley Center

For Andale, Bentley, and Garden Plain, start with city hall. MABCD's Jurisdictions page lists the phone number for each.

Cities With Their Own Permit Office

City	What to know
Bel Aire	Runs its own permits and inspections. A significant remodel needs a licensed contractor, with the city building inspector approving the work.
Derby	Own permits and contractor licensing. Call the permitting desk at least 24 hours before an inspection.
Kechi	Own permit office. The city lists structural changes, electrical, heating and cooling, roofing, siding, and basement finishing as permit projects, and says to call city hall if you are unsure.
Park City	Own permit office. The application asks for the project value, the general contractor's name and license number, a site plan, and a floor plan. It is void if work does not start within 180 days.
Haysville	Own inspections department. Permits, plan review, and inspections all go through the city.
Andover	Own permit office. Since June 28, 2025, most permits accept an MABCD contractor license plus a certificate of insurance naming the city.
Augusta	Own permit office. Hired contractors must be licensed with the City of Augusta.
El Dorado	Own permit office with online permitting. Trade contractors need city licenses.
Newton	Own permit office. A permit is required for work over $1,000 ($500 in materials for do-it-yourself work) and for all electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work.
Rose Hill	Own permit office with an online portal. The city says to refuse if a contractor asks you to pull the permit.

Checked against each city's website in October 2026. Rules, fees, and forms change, so confirm with the city before you plan the work.

Who Can Pull the Permit?

In MABCD's jurisdiction, a homeowner can pull a permit for their own home only if they own and occupy it. Owners who do not live in the home must hire a licensed contractor. The homeowner signs a Homeowner Declaration Form. For electrical, plumbing, and water heater work, the homeowner either designates licensed subcontractors or passes MABCD's homeowner exam for the trade they will do themselves. A score of 75 percent passes. The electrical exam is 50 questions and costs $50, and the plumbing exam is 30 questions and costs $25. Ask MABCD about mechanical work.

A homeowner who pulls a permit takes on the same responsibilities and liability as a licensed contractor, and MABCD notes they may be accountable to lenders for harmful changes to the home.

MABCD says a contractor who asks you to pull the permit is a red flag, and Rose Hill's city website gives the same advice. When a project needs a permit, we pull it ourselves and never ask the homeowner to. To check a contractor's license and insurance, contact MABCD.

How to Get a Permit in Wichita

1. Apply. Use the MABCD Portal, or book an in-person appointment at 271 W. 3rd St. N., Suite 101. Plan on about an hour at the office.
2. Bring the basics. For a residential building permit, have the legal description, the PIN (tax key number), and a site plan. MABCD's residential permit application is online.
3. Schedule inspections. After the fee is paid, inspections are scheduled as the work progresses.

What Does a Remodel Permit Cost?

In Wichita and unincorporated Sedgwick County, a remodel building permit is priced on the value of the work. A $20,000 remodel costs $268 in building permit fees, and a $5,000 job costs $103.

Project value	Building permit fee
$5,000	$103
$10,000	$158
$20,000	$268
$40,000	$488
$60,000	$668

Based on MABCD's published Table B. Actual fees can also include a plan review fee, which MABCD's Table C sets at 60 percent of the building permit fee (ask MABCD whether it applies to your project), separate electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permit fees, and a $50 re-inspection fee. MABCD also posts a fee calculator.

New residential construction is priced per square foot instead: 38 cents for finished space and 30 cents for unfinished space. For an addition, ask MABCD which schedule applies to your project. Other towns set their own fees, so check the city's page above.

What Happens If You Skip the Permit?

In the Wichita jurisdiction, starting building work without a permit carries a civil penalty of twice the permit amount, up to $5,000, and MABCD's director can require you to appear before the Board of Code Standards and Appeals. Trade work without a permit carries a $150 penalty plus the permit fee, rising to $300 and then $600 for repeat violations within 12 months. A permit also expires if work does not start within 180 days or stops for 180 days.

It can come up when you sell. The Kansas City Regional Association of REALTORS' seller's disclosure form asks whether you know of additions or structural changes and, if so, whether all necessary permits and approvals were obtained and the work met building codes.