Kansas City ADU permit requirements
Last reviewed: June 22, 2026
Quick answer
Permitting an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in Kansas City, Missouri means pulling a building permit from the local authority that issues it. ArchPermit tracks 14 source-cited requirements (11 required, the rest conditional) for this jurisdiction. Submittals go through CompassKC online portal. These requirements were last reviewed June 22, 2026; confirm the exact forms and fees with the local permitting authority.
A source-cited checklist of what an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) permit package needs in Kansas City. Every item links to its authoritative source; items that vary are flagged to confirm locally.
Kansas City, Missouri (not Kansas City, KS). Ordinance 220698 (2022) makes ADUs by-right citywide on any lot with a detached principal dwelling (§88-305-15) — no special-use permit and no district restriction. Owner-occupancy is mandatory: the owner must reside in either the principal dwelling or the ADU AND record a deed restriction limiting occupancy to the owner; proof of the recorded restriction is required before the ADU's Certificate of Occupancy. Detached ADU is in the rear yard, ≤800 sf, with 5-ft setbacks and no additional off-street parking required. The building submittal follows the standard one-/two-family residential path (Information Bulletin No. 100). Submit via CompassKC; separate trade permits apply.
- Building Elevations (all sides)required
Door/window size & location, garage-door 90 MPH note, wall framing, water-resistive barrier, continuous-stud detail (IB100 item F).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Completed Building Permit Applicationrequired
The residential (One- & Two-Family) building-permit/plan-submittal application, filed via CompassKC (IB100 item A).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Construction Details & Code Notesrequired
Safety glazing & egress windows, stairs, dwelling/garage separations, structural load-path details, braced-wall lines, and fire-rated walls within 5 ft of a property line (IB100 item G).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Energy-Conservation Note / Specsrequired
Conformance to IRC energy provisions: insulation R-values (wall/crawl/basement/slab/attic) and window/door U-values & SHGC (IB100 item G-6).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Floor Plans (each level incl. basement)required
Plan view per level, room dimensions & uses, floor/ceiling framing sizes/species/spacing, and truss/I-joist drawings (truss drawings sealed by a MO-registered engineer) (IB100 item D).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Foundation Planrequired
Footings (≥36" frost depth), soil bearing, concrete strength, wall height/thickness/reinforcement, slab, dampproofing, drainage, and basement egress (IB100 item C).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Owner-Occupancy Deed Restriction (recorded)required
Record a deed restriction limiting occupancy to the owner; proof of recording is required before the ADU Certificate of Occupancy (§88-305-15-C-2).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Plan-Set Format (min 11×17, ≥2 sets, via CompassKC)required
Required paper size, set count, and electronic submittal; architect/PE/NCBDC-certified plans get expedited handling (IB100 item H).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Roof Framing / Roof Informationrequired
20 psf min snow-load note, covering type, framing member sizes/spacing, sealed truss drawings, and rafter/ridge-beam details (IB100 item E).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Separate Trade Permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical)required
Each trade pulls its own permit; licensed subs permit their own work (IB146 / KCBRC §18-14).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Site Plan (scaled)required
Legal description (+ lot-split # if applicable), scale & north arrow, property lines/dimensions, platted setback lines & easements, building dimensions and distances incl. projections, right-of-way, off-street parking/driveway, and address (IB100 item B).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Floodplain Development Permit + Sealed Site Planconditional
Required only if the regulatory 100-yr floodplain (+1-ft freeboard) touches the parcel; then the site plan must be sealed by a PE/land surveyor (IB100 item B-7).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Lot-Split / Platting Completionconditional
Permits cannot issue until platting/lot-split requirements are met; the site plan must cite the lot-split approval number for lots created without a plat.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Sealed Land Survey (staked)conditionalverify locally
Effective Jan 1 2024, new structures/additions need a sealed land survey; the exception for accessory structures >10 ft from a property line likely doesn't help a detached ADU at the 5-ft setback. Confirm scope on the Plans Review page.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22