Wichita Site Plan Requirements | Permits & Zoning Guide

By Site Plan Creator Team •

Everything you need to know about creating a site plan for building permits in Wichita, KS. Covers zoning requirements, setbacks, stormwater management, and submission procedures.

Wichita Site Plan Requirements: Complete Guide for Building Permits

Creating a site plan for a building permit in Wichita, Kansas requires meeting specific requirements set by the Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department (MABCD). Wichita's development is governed by the Unified Zoning Code (UZC) administered by the Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department (MAPD). Key considerations include tornado-resistant construction in Tornado Alley, Arkansas River floodplain management, aircraft manufacturing compatibility near McConnell AFB and aviation facilities, and Kansas's straightforward permitting process.

Required Site Plan Elements

  • Property boundaries with dimensions and total lot area
  • Setbacks per UZC
  • Existing and proposed structures with dimensions, height, and use
  • Lot coverage calculation
  • Parking per UZC
  • Drainage and grading
  • Floodplain designation if applicable
  • North arrow, scale, vicinity map
  • Sedgwick County parcel ID

Wichita Zoning and Setback Requirements

  • SF-5 (Single-Family, 5,000 sq ft lot): Front 20 feet, side 5 feet, rear 20 feet. Lot coverage max 50%. Height max 35 feet.
  • SF-10 (Single-Family, 10,000 sq ft lot): Front 25 feet, side 8 feet, rear 25 feet. Lot coverage max 40%.
  • SF-20 (Single-Family, 20,000 sq ft lot): Front 30 feet, side 10 feet, rear 30 feet. Lot coverage max 30%.
  • TF-3 (Two-Family): Front 20 feet, side 5 feet, rear 20 feet. Lot coverage max 50%.
  • MF-18 (Multi-Family, 18 units/acre): Front 25 feet, side 10 feet, rear 25 feet.
  • MF-29 (Multi-Family, 29 units/acre): Front 25 feet, side 15 feet, rear 25 feet.
  • DT (Downtown): No minimum setbacks, build-to lines encouraged.

Tornado and Wind Load Requirements

Wichita is in the heart of Tornado Alley:

  • Wind design speed: 115 mph per ASCE 7 basic wind speed for Risk Category II structures
  • Safe rooms: FEMA P-361 safe rooms strongly recommended for new residential construction; required for certain institutional buildings
  • ICC 500 storm shelters: Standards for community and residential storm shelters
  • Roof connections: Enhanced roof-to-wall connections per IBC and IRC
  • Garage doors: Wind-rated garage doors recommended for wind resistance

Arkansas River Floodplain

  • Arkansas River and tributaries: Extensive FEMA-mapped floodplains through Wichita
  • Big Ditch and other channels: Flood control channels with development restrictions
  • BFE compliance: Finished floor 1 foot above BFE in Special Flood Hazard Areas
  • No-rise certification: Required for construction in the regulatory floodway
  • Flood insurance: Required in SFHAs

McConnell AFB and Aviation Compatibility

  • Height restrictions: FAA Part 77 surfaces limit building heights near McConnell AFB and aviation facilities
  • Noise contours: Residential restrictions in high-noise zones
  • Aviation industry: Wichita is the "Air Capital of the World" — aviation manufacturing compatibility considered in zoning

How to Submit

Submit through the MABCD online portal at sedgwickcounty.org/mabcd. Walk-in at 271 W. 3rd Street N., Suite 1000.

Fees and Timeline

  • Fees: Per MABCD fee schedule; includes special assessments for infrastructure
  • Timeline: Residential 1-3 weeks. Commercial 3-6 weeks.

Creating Your Wichita Site Plan with Site Plan Creator

Site Plan Creator makes it easy to generate a professional, permit-ready site plan for your Wichita property. Simply enter your address, and the tool automatically loads your property boundaries, building footprints, and aerial imagery. You can then add setback lines, label structures, draw proposed construction, and export a scaled PDF ready for MABCD submission.

Accessory Dwelling Units

  • ADU regulations: Wichita's UZC permits accessory dwelling units in single-family zones with specific standards
  • Size limits: ADUs limited to a percentage of primary dwelling floor area or a maximum square footage
  • Setback and height: Must meet accessory structure setback and height requirements per UZC
  • Owner occupancy: Owner must reside in either the primary dwelling or ADU
  • Kansas legislature: State-level ADU legislation has been discussed to further enable ADU development across Kansas municipalities

Landscaping and Screening

  • Landscape buffers: Required between incompatible land uses per UZC
  • Parking lot landscaping: Interior and perimeter landscaping required for commercial parking areas
  • Screening: Dumpsters, mechanical equipment, and loading areas must be screened from public view and residential properties
  • Street trees: New developments may be required to plant street trees per city standards
  • Kansas drought considerations: Landscape designs should account for Kansas's hot summers and occasional drought conditions with appropriate species selection

Historic Preservation

  • Wichita Historic Preservation Board: Reviews exterior modifications in local historic districts
  • Historic districts: Including College Hill, Riverside, Delano, and portions of downtown
  • Certificate of Appropriateness: Required for exterior work in local districts
  • Kansas and federal historic tax credits: Available for qualified rehabilitation of income-producing historic properties

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the typical residential setbacks in Wichita?
SF-5 zones (5,000 sq ft) have 20-foot front, 5-foot side, 20-foot rear with 50% coverage. SF-10 (10,000 sq ft) has 25-foot front, 8-foot side with 40% coverage. SF-20 has 30-foot front, 10-foot side with 30% coverage. Downtown has no minimum setbacks.
What tornado/wind requirements apply?
Wichita's 115 mph design wind speed requires enhanced roof-to-wall connections and wind-rated components. FEMA safe rooms strongly recommended for homes. ICC 500 storm shelters available. Required for certain institutional buildings.
What floodplain requirements exist?
Arkansas River and tributaries have extensive FEMA floodplains. Finished floor 1 foot above BFE in SFHAs. No-rise certification required in floodways. Flood insurance required. Big Ditch and other channels have development restrictions.
What McConnell AFB restrictions apply?
FAA Part 77 height restrictions near McConnell AFB. Noise contour residential restrictions. Aviation industry compatibility considered in zoning. Wichita is the Air Capital of the World with extensive aviation manufacturing.
Can I build an ADU?
Wichita's UZC allows accessory dwelling units in certain residential zones. Check current regulations for size, setback, and parking requirements. Kansas law supports property owner flexibility.
What stormwater management is required?
Drainage and grading plans required. Post-development runoff management. Stormwater quality BMPs for larger projects. Enhanced requirements near Arkansas River floodplain.
How do I submit plans?
Submit through sedgwickcounty.org/mabcd. Walk-in at 271 W. 3rd Street N., Suite 1000. Residential 1-3 weeks. Commercial 3-6 weeks.
How long does review take?
Residential 1-3 weeks — one of the faster review times among major US cities. Commercial 3-6 weeks. Floodplain review concurrent. Kansas has a business-friendly permitting environment.

How to Create a Site Plan in Wichita

  1. Look Up Property: Use Sedgwick County GIS to find zoning, floodplain, McConnell AFB overlay, and lot dimensions. Note your Sedgwick County parcel ID.
  2. Determine Requirements: Check setbacks, lot coverage, floodplain status, military compatibility, and drainage requirements.
  3. Create Site Plan: Enter your Wichita address in Site Plan Creator to load property data. Add setback lines per UZC.
  4. Include Required Elements: Include boundaries, setbacks, lot coverage, parking, flood zone designation, BFE, drainage, and north arrow with scale.
  5. Prepare Documents: Prepare drainage plan. Floodplain documentation if in SFHA. Elevation certificate for flood zones. Safe room plans if incorporating.
  6. Submit Through MABCD: Upload through sedgwickcounty.org/mabcd. Pay fees.
  7. Obtain Permit: Respond to comments. Once approved, pay fees, receive permit, schedule inspections through MABCD.