Lee's Summit, MO Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Citywide residential impervious cap
- 60% (UDO Sec. 6.1330.C)
- NFO district lot coverage cap
- 60% (Table 6-2)
- TNZ district lot coverage cap
- 80% (Table 6-2)
- First-offense fine
- $10-$250 per day
- Repeat-offense fine
- $100-$500 per day
- Notice-of-violation penalty
- flat $250 civil penalty
- Variance authority
- Board of Zoning Adjustment, Sec. 2.520
Summary
Lee's Summit caps total impervious lot coverage at 60 percent on any residential lot, in any zoning district, under Unified Development Ordinance Sec. 6.1330.C. The Neighborhood Form (NFO) district repeats that 60 percent ceiling in its own dimensional table, while the Traditional Neighborhood (TNZ) district is allowed up to 80 percent under Sec. 6.030's Table 6-2. Building past the cap without a variance is a misdemeanor.
NFO N/A 60% Max. Lot Coverage NA NA ... TNZ NA 80% Max. Lot Coverage NA NA ... (Ord. No. 9907, § 4, 5-14-2024) ... Sec. 6.1330. - Location, number and height of accessory use/structure. ... C.Number. Any number of accessory structures is permitted provided that the lot coverage is not exceeded, except as further limited herein. The maximum impervious coverage for all residential uses in any district shall be 60 percent.
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
UDO Article 6 sets the City's dimensional standards. Sec. 030's Table 6-2 governs most zoning districts by minimum lot size and lot width rather than a coverage percentage, but two districts carry an explicit lot-coverage figure: the Neighborhood Form (NFO) district is capped at "60% Max. Lot Coverage" and the Traditional Neighborhood (TNZ) district at "80% Max. Lot Coverage," both added by Ord. No. 9907, § 4, adopted May 14, 2024. 0 FAR and CS at 65 FAR. Separately, and citywide, Sec. C in the accessory-use article sets a blanket residential impervious limit: "Any number of accessory structures is permitted provided that the lot coverage is not exceeded, except as further limited herein.
). A related standard for accessory dwelling units caps their contribution so the lot's total impervious coverage still cannot exceed 60 percent. An owner who cannot fit a proposed addition, shed or driveway expansion under the 60 percent cap must apply for a variance to the Board of Zoning Adjustment under Sec. 520, filing on Development Services forms with a sketch plan showing the proposed encroachment and its relationship to surrounding properties.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the lot coverage or impervious limit without an approved variance is a misdemeanor under Sec. 1.170: fines of $10 to $250 per day for a first violation, rising to $100 to $500 per day for a repeat violation at the same property, plus up to ten days' imprisonment per day, or both. A Code Enforcement Officer may issue a civil citation to municipal court, and ignoring a removal order after ten days adds a flat $250 civil penalty; the City Attorney can sue to enjoin or abate the violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum lot coverage allowed on a residential lot in Lee's Summit?
Does the 60 percent cap apply if I only add a shed or patio?
What happens if I exceed the lot coverage limit?
Can I get a variance from the lot coverage limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lee's Summit
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Lot Coverage Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jackson County handle lot coverage limits.