Environmental Rules in Johnson County, KS (2026)
4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Johnson County, Kansas.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Unincorporated Johnson County requires a land-disturbing (LD) permit before grading, clearing, or otherwise disturbing an acre or more of ground. Sec. 62-42 sets the permit trigger and exemptions, while related sections in Chapter 62 add design-manual compliance, a $100 to $500 daily fine for violations, and a waiver process before the board of county commissioners.
Land-Disturbing Stormwater Permits in Johnson County
Some RestrictionsJohnson County, KS Code of Resolutions § 62-42
(a)Unless exempt, no person shall undertake any land disturbing activity without first obtaining a LD permit.(b)No person required to obtain a LD permit shall fail to make application for such permit, fail to pay required fees, fail to comply with the county's design manual, or violate any of the requirements of this article.(c)The following shall be exempt from obtaining a LD permit:(1)Work to...
Erosion Control
Disturbing an acre or more of land in unincorporated Johnson County requires an LD permit and an approved stormwater pollution prevention plan before any grading or clearing starts.
Erosion & Sediment Control Permits: Johnson County
Significant RestrictionsSec. 62-42
(a)Unless exempt, no person shall undertake any land disturbing activity without first obtaining a LD permit. ... (c)(3)Land disturbing activities of less than one acre. For purposes of this article, land disturbing activities that are part of a larger, phased, staged, or common plan of development shall be considered a single site for purposes of calculating the disturbed area.
Flood Zones
Johnson County bars new septic tanks, absorption fields and most onsite wastewater systems from FEMA's Special Flood Hazard Zone AE, the 100-year floodplain, under its Environmental Sanitary Code. Only wastewater stabilization ponds (lagoons) may go inside the zone, and existing systems already there can still be repaired.
Septic Systems Barred from Flood Zone AE in Johnson County
Some RestrictionsJohnson County, KS Code of Resolutions, App. B (Environmental Sanitary Code), Ch. II, Art. III, § 5
Except for wastewater stabilization ponds (lagoons), no portion of an onsite wastewater system shall be constructed within the Special Flood Hazard Zone AE as defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (aka: 100-year floodplain) for Johnson County. This does not preclude repairs of existing systems, provided other requirements of this code are met.
Flood Elevation Requirements
Johnson County's Environmental Sanitary Code sets a hard freeboard number for wastewater lagoons in the floodplain: berms on any wastewater stabilization pond must sit at least one foot above the base flood elevation, certified by a registered engineer or surveyor where FEMA hasn't mapped it. JCDHE enforces this for unincorporated-area septic systems.
Septic Berm Freeboard Rule in Johnson County, KS
Some RestrictionsJohnson County, KS Code of Resolutions, App. B (Environmental Sanitary Code), Ch. II, Art. III, § 5
Berms of a wastewater stabilization pond (lagoon) shall be constructed a minimum of one (1) foot above the base flood elevation. Where base flood elevations have not been established, the base flood for the levee shall be determined and certified by a registered professional engineer or licensed surveyor.
Environmental Rules by City in Johnson County
2 cities in Johnson County have their own environmental rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Johnson County ordinances
See every category we cover for Johnson County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
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