Lee's Summit, MO Building Safety: Green Building Code (2026)
Key Facts
- Wall R-value (residential)
- R-13
- Ceiling R-value (residential)
- R-30
- Wall R-value (non-residential)
- R-11
- Duct insulation
- R-5 inside building, R-8 outside
- Enacting ordinance
- Ord. No. 8584, § 1 (3-19-2019)
Summary
Lee's Summit regulates building energy efficiency through its own locally-drafted Energy Conservation Code, City Code §§ 7-800 to 7-805, which sets minimum R-values for walls, floors, roofs, ceilings and ducts in new residential and non-residential construction rather than adopting a national IECC by reference. The Building Official enforces the standards through the same Chapter 7 permit and inspection process.
The minimum required R-value for each element of the building thermal envelope shall be in accordance with the following: A.Wall assemblies forming portions of a building envelope shall meet or exceed an R factor rating of R-13. This requirement does not apply to doors, windows, or other openings or approved penetrations nor does it apply to basement concrete walls when the basement is not finished as a habitable space.B.Floor assemblies forming portions of a building envelope shall meet or exceed an R factor rating of 19. Garage ceilings with living area above shall comply with this requirement... C.Roof assemblies forming portions of a building envelope shall meet or exceed an R factor rating of 19. This requirement does not apply to skylights or other approved penetrations.D.Ceilings forming portions of a building envelope shall meet or exceed an R factor rating of thirty (30) at the time of installation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 55 | Unified Development Ordinance: Supplement 15).
Full Breakdown
" Non-residential buildings run lower under § 7-803: walls need only R-11, floors and roofs still need R-19, and the Building Official "may approve a decreased R-Value for building exterior walls" in spaces "normally not occupied by employees" such as storage or manufacturing. Concrete floors in contact with the earth are exempt from insulation in both categories. Section 7-804 requires that "materials and equipment shall be identified in a manner that will allow a determination of their compliance with this chapter" and installed per the manufacturer's instructions, with blown-in or sprayed insulation installers required to certify installed density and R-value if the Building Official asks.
Section 7-805 defines "building envelope," "floor assembly," "roof assembly," "wall assembly" and "R-factor" for the chapter. All of it is enforced through the standard Article I permit and inspection process, not a separate green-building certification.
Violations & Fines
Non-compliant insulation or thermal-envelope work is a Chapter 7 violation like any other building code breach: § 7-177 sets a fine of up to $500, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day a violation persists after notice counted as a new offense, and the Building Official can issue a stop-work order under § 7-178 until it is corrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lee's Summit have its own energy code, or does it use the IECC?
What R-value do exterior walls need in a new Lee's Summit house?
Can a warehouse get a lower insulation standard than a house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lee's Summit
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