Site Plan for Permit in Wichita, KS: Easements and Property Lines

Preparing a site plan for a permit in Wichita, KS involves more than drawing your proposed project on a property map. Your plan may need to identify property lines, required setbacks, utility easements, drainage easements, existing structures and the exact location of the proposed construction.

A clear and properly scaled site plan can help permit reviewers understand your project and identify possible zoning or easement conflicts before construction begins.

Order Your Wichita Site Plan

Who Reviews Building Projects in Wichita?

Building permits and inspections in Wichita and Sedgwick County are administered through the Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department, commonly called MABCD. Zoning and land-use questions may also involve the Wichita-Sedgwick County Planning Department.

If a project affects a public easement or right-of-way, additional approval from the appropriate City department may be required. The reviewing agencies depend on the property, project type and easement involved.

When Might You Need a Wichita Site Plan?

A site plan may be requested when a project changes the use or layout of a property. Common residential projects include:

• Detached garages and workshops
• Sheds and other accessory buildings
• Home additions
• Carports and covered patios
• Decks and porches
• Swimming pools
• Driveway additions or extensions
• Fences and retaining walls
• New residential construction

The exact submission requirements can vary. Confirm what is required with MABCD or the relevant planning authority before ordering plans or beginning construction.

What Should a Wichita Permit Site Plan Show?

A useful permit site plan normally presents the entire lot rather than showing only the proposed structure. Depending on the project, it may include:

• The property address and parcel information
• Property lines and lot dimensions
• A north arrow and drawing scale
• The existing house and other structures
• The proposed structure or improvement
• Distances from the proposed work to property lines
• Applicable front, side and rear setbacks
• Utility, drainage, access and other recorded easements
• Streets, alleys, rights-of-way and driveways
• Relevant utilities and drainage features

Wichita planning instructions for certain applications specifically require plans to show zoning setbacks, utility and drainage easements, adjacent streets, alleys and access points. Requirements for an ordinary residential building permit may differ, but including these features can make the proposed layout easier to review.

Why Property Lines Matter

Setbacks are generally measured from a legal property line—not from a fence, curb, driveway or the edge of the lawn. A fence may have been installed inside the boundary, and neighboring landscaping may extend across it.

Placing a garage, shed or addition too close to a property line can create permit problems and may lead to expensive design changes. This is why the property boundary and the proposed structure’s dimensions should be shown clearly.

Can an Online Property Map Confirm the Boundary?

Wichita and Sedgwick County GIS maps are useful for preliminary property research. They may display parcels, zoning information, aerial photography and other geographic layers. However, online parcel lines are not a substitute for a boundary survey.

If the boundary location is uncertain, disputed or critical to the project, consult a Kansas-licensed land surveyor. USA Site Plans prepares site plans from the information supplied or available but does not establish legal property boundaries.

What Is an Easement?

An easement gives another party a defined right to use part of a property for a particular purpose. The property owner still owns the land, but the easement may limit where structures, fences or other improvements can be placed.

Easements commonly appear on a recorded subdivision plat, boundary survey, title documents or a separately recorded easement document.

Utility Easements

A utility easement may provide access for water, sewer, electricity, gas, telephone or communication infrastructure. Constructing over an easement can interfere with maintenance and emergency access.

Do not assume that a proposed structure is acceptable simply because it meets the zoning setbacks. If it overlaps a utility easement, separate permission or a revised layout may be necessary.

Wichita provides a Use of Easement Permit process when private use is proposed within certain public easements. Approval is not automatic, and utility providers or City departments may need to review the proposal.

Drainage Easements

A drainage easement helps carry stormwater across or away from a property. Structures, fill, fences and landscaping can obstruct drainage if they are placed without considering the intended flow path.

A permit site plan should identify a known drainage easement and show how the proposed project relates to it. Projects should not block established drainage or redirect stormwater onto neighboring properties.

Access Easements and Rights-of-Way

Some properties contain shared-driveway or access easements. A public right-of-way may also extend beyond the visible street or sidewalk. Proposed fences, driveways and structures should be checked against these areas.

Easements and Setbacks Are Different

Property owners sometimes use the terms interchangeably, but an easement and a setback serve different purposes.

• A setback establishes the required separation between a structure and a property line or another regulated feature.
• An easement preserves a legal right to use a specific part of the property for utilities, drainage, access or another purpose.

A proposed structure may satisfy its setbacks and still conflict with an easement. It can also avoid every easement but fail to meet the applicable zoning setbacks. Your site layout should account for both.

Where Can You Find Easement Information?

Before preparing a site plan, review any available property documents, including:

• A recorded subdivision plat
• A recent boundary survey
• The property deed and title documents
• Recorded easement agreements
• Approved plans from an earlier permit
• Utility information supplied by the appropriate provider

GIS information can help with initial research, but recorded documents and field surveys provide stronger evidence when the exact location of an easement or property line matters.

How to Measure the Proposed Project

Accurate measurements help produce a clearer site plan. Record the overall length and width of the proposed structure and measure its distance to nearby property lines, existing buildings, driveways and known easements.

Measurements should be taken from consistent points. For example, measure from the outside face of the proposed building to the property boundary. Avoid measuring only from a fence unless you know the fence follows the legal boundary.

Information to Gather Before Ordering

To reduce delays, gather the following information before requesting your Wichita site plan:

• Property address
• Project type and intended use
• Dimensions of the proposed improvement
• Distances to property lines and nearby structures
• Photos or sketches showing the proposed location
• Any available survey, plat or previous site plan
• Known utility or drainage easements
• Comments or checklists received from the permit office

Common Site Plan Problems

Many plan revisions can be avoided by checking the property information carefully. Common problems include:

• Using a fence as the assumed legal boundary
• Leaving an easement off the plan
• Showing the proposed structure without dimensions
• Not providing distances to property lines
• Drawing only part of the property
• Confusing an easement with a zoning setback
• Starting construction before permit approval

Professional Wichita Site Plans in 24 Hours

USA Site Plans prepares clear residential site plans for permit applications using available parcel information, aerial imagery and measurements supplied by the property owner. Our plans can show the property layout, existing improvements, proposed construction, setbacks and known easements.

Our standard turnaround is approximately 24 hours after receiving the necessary project information.

USA Site Plans provides unsigned drafting plans. Our service is not a boundary survey, engineering service or replacement for a licensed professional when a stamped or certified document is specifically required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every Wichita permit require a site plan?

No. Requirements depend on the project and property. Exterior construction that changes the property layout is more likely to require a site plan than interior work. Confirm the submission requirements with MABCD.

Can I build inside a utility easement?

Not without checking the recorded easement and obtaining any required approvals. Wichita has a Use of Easement Permit process for certain private uses of public easements, but approval depends on the location and proposed improvement.

Is a fence an accurate property-line marker?

Not necessarily. A fence may be inside or outside the legal boundary. Use a recorded survey or hire a licensed land surveyor when the exact boundary must be established.

Will a site plan show both setbacks and easements?

Yes, when the necessary zoning and property information is available. Showing both helps reviewers determine whether the proposed structure fits within the buildable area.

Can USA Site Plans determine my legal property line?

No. We can prepare a permit drawing using available records and customer-supplied information, but only a licensed land surveyor can locate and certify a legal boundary in the field.

Order Your Site Plan for a Wichita Permit

A well-prepared site plan makes it easier to review your project’s location, setbacks, property lines and easements. Provide your address, project dimensions and available property documents, and USA Site Plans can prepare a professional drawing for your permit submission.

Get Your Wichita Site Plan

Official Wichita Resources

• Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department
• Wichita and Sedgwick County GIS Map Search
• Wichita Use of Easement Permit Forms

Permit, zoning and easement requirements can change and may vary by property. Always confirm current requirements with the reviewing authority before construction.