Shed Permit in Kansas City, Missouri
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before building a detached shed, playhouse, garage or carport whose projected roof area is more than 200 square feet, and before building any detached accessory building larger than that footprint even if you would otherwise call it a shed.
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Kansas City exempts a one-story detached accessory building used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse, garage, carport or similar use from a building permit as long as its projected roof area does not exceed 200 square feet. Above that it is an ordinary building permit through CompassKC. The 200 square foot line does double duty, and that trips people up: zoning Sec. 88-305-02-D independently caps the footprint of an individual detached accessory building at 200 square feet, raising it only for a detached garage (up to 800 square feet, or one square foot per 10 square feet of lot area, whichever is greater) and a carriage house (1,500 square feet), so a 300 square foot storage shed in most residential districts is not merely permit-requiring, it is not allowed at that size. Exempt sheds still have to meet zoning: no accessory building in a front or street side yard, at least 1.5 feet from rear and interior side property lines, at least 10 feet from every other building on the lot, 10 feet maximum height for a shed and 16 feet for a detached garage, and all detached accessory buildings together limited to 40 percent of the actual rear yard area. A shed closer than five feet to a property line normally needs a one hour fire resistive wall on that side, but the department's own bulletin notes that this protection is not required for a detached accessory structure of 200 square feet or less that is exempt from permit.
Typical threshold: projected roof area of a one-story detached accessory building used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse, garage, carport or similar use.
Who is pulling this permit?
Apply yourself
Hire it out
Before you sign, ask the contractor:
- Who pulls the permit, you or me, and is the permit fee included in the bid?
- Which inspections will this job need, and who meets the inspector on site?
- Is your contractor license active in this locality, and under which business name?
When a permit is usually needed
Before building a detached shed, playhouse, garage or carport whose projected roof area is more than 200 square feet, and before building any detached accessory building larger than that footprint even if you would otherwise call it a shed.
What a shed permit costs in Kansas City
How Kansas City compares in Missouri
Closest shed permit thresholds outside Missouri
Jurisdictions we cover whose limit sits nearest Kansas City's 200 sq ft.
- Austin, Texas, one-story detached accessory structures used as tool or storage sheds with floor area no greater than 200 sq ft and no more than 15 ft in height and no plumbing and not in a floodplain are exempt
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana, floor area of a detached accessory structure
- Bellevue, Washington, detached storage sheds playhouses or gazebos with a floor area of 200 square feet or less do not require a building permit; structures over 200 square feet require a permit
- Clark County, Nevada, sheds over 200 sq ft require a building permit; storage sheds 200 sq ft or under may be exempt under Building Administrative Code Section 22.02.190
How to apply in Kansas City
A residential shed permit application, once the shed is large enough to require one, is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the adopted residential code. In practice that means a written permit application, a scaled site plan locating the shed and its distances to the property lines, and construction documents covering the shed's foundation or anchoring system and its framing.
What most shed permit applications include:
- A written permit application identifying the proposed work and describing the property by its address or legal description, filed with the building department before construction begins (IRC R105.3).
- A scaled site plan showing the shed's size and location and its dimensioned distances to all property lines so required setbacks can be verified before the permit is issued (IRC R106.2).
- Construction documents showing the shed's foundation: freestanding accessory structures at or under the code's small-structure size and eave-height limits (600 square feet and a 10 foot eave height in the model code) are exempt from continuous footings but must still be shown supported on undisturbed soil or engineered fill and anchored to resist wind-induced uplift and overturning (IRC R403.1).
- Where the shed does sit on a continuous foundation with a wood sill plate, anchor bolt or approved strap details tying the sill plate to the foundation (IRC R403.1.6).
- Roof framing details showing the rafter-to-wall or truss-to-wall connections, since even a shed exempt from continuous footings must be anchored to resist wind-induced uplift and overturning (IRC R403.1; R802.11).
General submittal guidance from IRC R105.3 (permit application), R106.2 (site plan), R403.1 (footings and anchorage for accessory structures), and R403.1.6 (sill anchorage), 2021 IRC. Source. Kansas City, Missouri City Planning and Development Department, Development Management Division (construction permits are issued by the department's Permits Division on the 5th floor of City Hall) sets the exact checklist for Kansas City.
Where to apply in Kansas City:
Kansas City, Missouri City Planning and Development Department, Development Management Division (construction permits are issued by the department's Permits Division on the 5th floor of City Hall)
- City Planning and Development Department, Permits Division, City Hall 5th floor, 414 E 12th St, Kansas City, MO 64106
- Phone: 816-513-1500
- Email: cdpermits@kcmo.org
Inspections and closing out your permit
A permitted shed is inspected in stages as it goes up: the foundation or the anchors that hold it down before they are covered, the framing before it is enclosed, and a final inspection once the shed is finished. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if skipped.
- Foundation or anchor inspection: called after any required footings, piers, or ground anchors are set and any forms or reinforcing steel are in place, but before concrete is placed, so the foundation or anchoring system can be verified before it is covered (IRC R109.1.1).
- Frame inspection: after the shed is framed, sheathed, and braced, the inspector checks the framing, bracing, fasteners, and the roof connections that resist wind uplift, before those elements are covered (IRC R109.1.4 frame inspection; R403.1 anchorage).
- Final inspection: made after the permitted work is complete and before the shed is used; work may not proceed past any inspection stage without the building official's approval (IRC R109.1.6 final inspection; R109.4 approval required).
- For a pre-fabricated or kit shed, the manufacturer's installation instructions must be on site at the time of inspection so the inspector can confirm the anchoring and assembly match the design (IRC R106.1.2).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Kansas City permit portal or by phone at 816-513-1500.
Inspection sequence from IRC R109.1.1 (foundation inspection), R109.1.4 (frame inspection), R109.1.6 (final inspection), and R106.1.2 (manufacturer's instructions on site), 2021 IRC. Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Shed Permit checklist for Kansas City
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: projected roof area of a one-story detached accessory building used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse, garage, carport or similar use. Usually needed: Before building a detached shed, playhouse, garage or carport whose projected roof area is more than 200 square feet, and before building any detached accessory building larger than that footprint even if you would otherwise call it a shed.
- Budget the fee. A shed that needs a permit is a general building permit priced from the one- and two-family valuation table in Sec. 18-20(b)(2) of the Code of Ordinances: $52.00 for total valuation of $0.00 to $1,000.00, $58.00 for $1,001.00 to $2,000.00, then $58.00 for the first $2,000.00 plus $4.33 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof to and including $100,000.00, and above $100,000.00 $483.00 for the first $100,000.00 plus $1.41 for each additional $1,000.00. Sec. 18-20 was last amended by Ord. No. 220612, Sec. 1, 10-27-22. There is no separate construction document review fee on one- and two-family work: Sec. 18-20(c)(1) charges that only "For other than one- and two-family dwellings." Optional add-ons are a $80.00 fast track permit fee under Sec. 18-20(b)(8) and a $30.00 scheduled express review fee for one- and two-family dwellings under Sec. 18-20(c)(4). Starting work before the permit is issued triples the fee under Sec. 18-20(e)(2). Official fee schedule.
- Apply. A residential shed permit application, once the shed is large enough to require one, is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the adopted residential code. In practice that means a written permit application, a scaled site plan locating the shed and its distances to the property lines, and construction documents covering the shed's foundation or anchoring system and its framing. Start at the Kansas City permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Kansas City, Missouri City Planning and Development Department, Development Management Division (construction permits are issued by the department's Permits Division on the 5th floor of City Hall). Phone: 816-513-1500. Address: City Planning and Development Department, Permits Division, City Hall 5th floor, 414 E 12th St, Kansas City, MO 64106.
- Plan for inspections. A permitted shed is inspected in stages as it goes up: the foundation or the anchors that hold it down before they are covered, the framing before it is enclosed, and a final inspection once the shed is finished. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if skipped.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a shed permit in Kansas City?
- Kansas City exempts a one-story detached accessory building used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse, garage, carport or similar use from a building permit as long as its projected roof area does not exceed 200 square feet. Above that it is an ordinary building permit through CompassKC. The 200 square foot line does double duty, and that trips people up: zoning Sec. 88-305-02-D independently caps the footprint of an individual detached accessory building at 200 square feet, raising it only for a detached garage (up to 800 square feet, or one square foot per 10 square feet of lot area, whichever is greater) and a carriage house (1,500 square feet), so a 300 square foot storage shed in most residential districts is not merely permit-requiring, it is not allowed at that size. Exempt sheds still have to meet zoning: no accessory building in a front or street side yard, at least 1.5 feet from rear and interior side property lines, at least 10 feet from every other building on the lot, 10 feet maximum height for a shed and 16 feet for a detached garage, and all detached accessory buildings together limited to 40 percent of the actual rear yard area. A shed closer than five feet to a property line normally needs a one hour fire resistive wall on that side, but the department's own bulletin notes that this protection is not required for a detached accessory structure of 200 square feet or less that is exempt from permit. Projected roof area of a one-story detached accessory building used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse, garage, carport or similar use. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a shed permit cost in Kansas City?
- A shed that needs a permit is a general building permit priced from the one- and two-family valuation table in Sec. 18-20(b)(2) of the Code of Ordinances: $52.00 for total valuation of $0.00 to $1,000.00, $58.00 for $1,001.00 to $2,000.00, then $58.00 for the first $2,000.00 plus $4.33 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof to and including $100,000.00, and above $100,000.00 $483.00 for the first $100,000.00 plus $1.41 for each additional $1,000.00. Sec. 18-20 was last amended by Ord. No. 220612, Sec. 1, 10-27-22. There is no separate construction document review fee on one- and two-family work: Sec. 18-20(c)(1) charges that only "For other than one- and two-family dwellings." Optional add-ons are a $80.00 fast track permit fee under Sec. 18-20(b)(8) and a $30.00 scheduled express review fee for one- and two-family dwellings under Sec. 18-20(c)(4). Starting work before the permit is issued triples the fee under Sec. 18-20(e)(2). See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- How long does a shed permit take in Kansas City?
- In Kansas City, a shed permit typically takes 7 business days (plan review turnaround goal for one- and two-family submittals). Times can vary by workload and project scope, so confirm with the office.
- Where do you apply for a shed permit in Kansas City?
- You can apply through the Kansas City permit portal or contact the Kansas City, Missouri City Planning and Development Department, Development Management Division (construction permits are issued by the department's Permits Division on the 5th floor of City Hall) directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a shed permit themselves in Kansas City?
- Under Missouri law (RSMo 701.055.1 and 701.055.2; RSMo 327.101.2(5)(a); RSMo 327.191.2(5)(a); RSMo 700.656.5): Missouri does not license general contractors at the state level and has no statewide owner-builder permit statute, disclosure affidavit, or resale restriction comparable to Florida's one year rule. Whether a homeowner may pull the permit and do the work is decided by the city or county that issues the permit. Where state law does speak, it is permissive: RSMo 327.101.2(5)(a) and RSMo 327.191.2(5)(a) let an unlicensed person render architectural and engineering services for the construction, remodeling or repair of a privately owned dwelling house, provided the drawings say the person is not licensed, so plans for a house do not have to be sealed by an architect or engineer. RSMo 701.055.1 expressly preserves a property owner's right to install, modify or repair their own on-site sewage disposal system as long as the state standard is met, and RSMo 701.055.2 adds that no permit or contractor registration is required simply to clean it. RSMo 700.656.5 exempts a person who installs a manufactured home on his or her own property for his or her own occupancy from the otherwise mandatory state installer license. None of these exemptions excuses a local permit where the local jurisdiction requires one. Confirm how Kansas City applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Kansas City
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | It depends | height of a platform or deck above grade at any point, where it is also not located over any basement or story below | A deck over the exemption is a building permit priced from the one- and two-family... |
| Electrical Permit | It depends | Not specified | Electrical permits for one- and two-family detached dwellings are priced from the same... |
| Fence Permit | No permit needed | Not specified | There is no fence permit and no fence permit fee. |
| HVAC Permit | It depends | Not specified | Mechanical permits for one- and two-family detached dwellings run on the same valuation... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | Not specified | A flat patio on existing grade is exempt and costs nothing. |
| Plumbing Permit | It depends | Not specified | Plumbing permits for one- and two-family detached dwellings use the Sec. |
| Pool Permit | It depends | water capacity of a prefabricated above ground pool accessory to a one- or two-family dwelling that is also less than 24 inches deep with its walls entirely above the adjacent grade | The pool building permit is priced from the one- and two-family valuation table in Sec. |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | Not specified | An exempt reroof costs nothing. |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Each trade permit is priced from the one- and two-family valuation table in Sec. |
Shed Permit in other Missouri localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Kansas City documents; the office above sets the local rules.
- IRC R105.3 (permit application), R106.2 (site plan), R403.1 (footings and anchorage for accessory structures), and R403.1.6 (sill anchorage), 2021 IRC
- IRC R109.1.1 (foundation inspection), R109.1.4 (frame inspection), R109.1.6 (final inspection), and R106.1.2 (manufacturer's instructions on site), 2021 IRC
Verified by a person against the sources above on , not confirmed with Kansas City, Missouri City Planning and Development Department, Development Management Division (construction permits are issued by the department's Permits Division on the 5th floor of City Hall). Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Permit office
Kansas City, Missouri City Planning and Development Department, Development Management Division (construction permits are issued by the department's Permits Division on the 5th floor of City Hall)
816-513-1500Permit portalCompare
Shed Permit across Missouri