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), with 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
Kansas City ADU permit questions
- Do I need a permit to build an ADU in Kansas City?
- Yes. An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in Kansas City requires a building permit. ArchPermit tracks 14 cited requirements for this jurisdiction (11 required, the rest conditional). Always confirm the exact forms, fees, and code edition with the local permitting authority that issues the permit.
- What does an ADU permit package require in Kansas City?
- Core required items include: Building Elevations (all sides); Completed Building Permit Application; Construction Details & Code Notes; Energy-Conservation Note / Specs; Floor Plans (each level incl. basement); Foundation Plan, plus 5 more. Each requirement links to its authoritative source, and nothing is permit-ready until an independent licensed professional reviews and seals it.
- How are ADU permits submitted in Kansas City?
- Kansas City accepts permit submittals via CompassKC online portal. ArchPermit prepares a draft package you can submit there after a licensed architect reviews and seals it.