Johnson County, KS Hurricane Preparedness: Storm Debris (2026)
Key Facts
- Registration trigger
- During declared disaster emergency
- Licensed contractors
- Automatically deemed registered
- Exempt parties
- Owners, tenants, occupants own property
- Unregistered work penalty
- Class A misdemeanor
- Other violation fine
- $100-$5,000 per day
Summary
Johnson County requires anyone doing paid storm debris removal, cleanup, or disaster repair work to register with the county once a state of disaster emergency is declared, with licensed contractors automatically covered.
During the period that a declaration of a state of disaster emergency is in effect pursuant to K.S.A. 48-932, and any amendments thereto, every person performing cleanup, debris removal or the repair or maintenance of any structure within an area designated in the declaration of a state of disaster shall register with the county with the exception that an owner, tenant, or occupant of any structure who performs cleanup, debris removal, or repair or maintenance of such structure shall not be required to register.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Resolutions: Supplement 14).
Full Breakdown
Under Article III of Chapter 26, anyone performing paid cleanup, debris removal, or storm-damage repair within an area covered by a chairperson's disaster declaration must register with Johnson County before starting work, providing employee names and posting registration numbers on vehicles and job-site placards. Owners, tenants, and occupants working on their own property are exempt, and contractors already licensed by the county as building, plumbing, electrical, or HVAC contractors are automatically deemed registered. The rule targets storm-chasing repair scams that follow tornadoes and severe storms across the Kansas City metro.
Violations & Fines
Working without registering during a declared disaster is a Class A misdemeanor under K.S.A. 48-939; other violations of the article are a Class G infraction fined $100-$5,000, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to register to clean up my own storm-damaged property in Johnson County?
What happens if a contractor does storm debris removal without registering?
Are licensed building contractors automatically registered during a disaster?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Johnson County
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