Deck Permit Requirements in Johnson County, Kansas

A practical guide to deck permit jurisdiction, plan submittals, code details, county fees, review timing, and inspections in Johnson County, Kansas.

Outdoor Living · 7 min read · Updated 2026-09-26 · By Kris Kohrs, Owner — Precision Home Concepts (2001-present)

In unincorporated Johnson County, a building permit is required for all decks, including a deck being altered, replaced, or repaired. If the property is inside an incorporated city, the city—not Johnson County Building Codes—is the permitting authority, and that city’s rules and exceptions control. [1][2]

That distinction is the first thing to settle before ordering materials or setting a start date. A permit is a review of the specific address, site, and design; it is not simply a countywide deck rule. This guide explains a practical path for homeowners planning a new or replacement deck, whether the project calls for a simple platform or a more complete decks and outdoor living plan.

1. Identify the jurisdiction before you design

Johnson County Building Codes administers its construction regulations in unincorporated portions of the county. The County expressly says that a building project within a city needs a permit through that particular city. [2] That means an Overland Park, Olathe, Lenexa, Shawnee, Prairie Village, or other incorporated-city address should start with that municipality’s building department rather than assume the County handles it.

Use the County’s unincorporated-area address check before applying; it specifically instructs owners to confirm that the project address is in the unincorporated area. [3] This matters for more than the application website. Local setback, easement, zoning, adopted-code, fee, review, and inspection procedures can differ even where Johnson County-area jurisdictions use similar deck-construction practices.

Olathe has its own all-digital deck-permit process, listing a plan and site plan among common documents. [6] For an Overland Park deck project, verify current City requirements directly rather than treating a county handout as the final rule.

2. Prepare a permit-ready site plan and deck plan

For the countywide Johnson County Building Officials Association (JOCOBO) deck guideline, the basic submittal package begins with two drawings: a scaled site plan and a scaled deck plan. The site plan should locate the house and proposed deck on the lot, show lot dimensions, distances to property lines, easements, building lines, street/address information, and the deck’s relationship to the house. It does not have to be sealed by a design professional under that guideline. [5]

The deck plan should make the reviewer able to understand how the structure will stand up. Show the overall dimensions; framing layout and member sizes; joist direction and spacing; beams, posts, piers/footings, stairs, guardrails, ledger attachment, and connections. Identify decking and railing material, too—manufacturer span instructions can affect joist or stair-stringer spacing for composite products. [5]

Do not mistake a generic deck sketch for a complete plan. The JOCOBO document says its sample plan information is the minimum for review and that more information may be needed. It also says unusual designs may need an architect, engineer, or other design professional. Multi-level decks, roofed decks, decks supporting hot tubs, spas, or sunrooms, and designs outside the guideline’s span/cantilever allowances are specifically outside its ordinary prescriptive scope. [5]

Complete the site and structural plans before demolishing an old deck; doing so can reveal a property-line conflict, footing adjustment, or ledger condition early. Coordinate deck location with doors, drainage, patios, and related Olathe remodeling.

3. Plan around the construction details inspectors review

Johnson County adopted the 2018 International Codes for its unincorporated area, and the JOCOBO deck guideline was written around the 2018 International Residential Code. [4][5] The guideline is useful across many Johnson County jurisdictions, but it plainly says it does not replace each jurisdiction’s local permit, fee, inspection, ordinance, or additional-information requirements. Treat it as a sound design aid and verify the project-specific interpretation with the authority having jurisdiction. [5]

Some practical items that belong in the design conversation include:

• Loads and foundation support. The guideline’s prescriptive deck approach is based on 40 pounds per square foot live load plus 10 pounds per square foot dead load. It calls for piers at least 36 inches deep, below the frost line, with diameter selected for the area each pier supports. [5]
• Ledger and water management. A ledger is not simply nailed to the house; the guideline requires lag or bolt attachment to the house rim joist, with appropriate flashing and corrosion-resistant hardware. It cautions against attaching a deck ledger to or through brick, masonry, stone, or stucco veneer; a freestanding design may be the appropriate alternative. [5]
• Guards and stairs. A guard is required when the deck surface is more than 30 inches above grade or another floor within 36 inches horizontally of the open edge, and the guideline specifies a minimum 36-inch guard height. It also specifies a 36-inch minimum stair width, 7 3/4-inch maximum riser, 10-inch minimum tread, and a handrail on at least one side when stairs have four or more risers. [5]
• Project-specific additions. Deck lighting, electrical work, roof structures, a fire feature, a spa, and retaining conditions may introduce additional approval or trade-permit questions. Ask the local department before work starts rather than assuming the deck permit covers every feature.

Resolve footing locations, the house connection, railing geometry, and stair layout on paper first—before finished decking can conceal a connection.

4. Budget the official fee path and review time

For an unincorporated Johnson County residential project, cost is valuation-based, not a single published “deck permit price.” The County adds a $50 plan-review fee and calculates the building fee from total work value, including material and labor. [7] At a $10,000 valuation, the schedule produces a $163 permit fee; with plan review, that is $213 before applicable payment-service or separate charges. [7]

That $213 illustration is an application-fee calculation, not a contractor quote or a prediction of a city’s fee. In-city fees and procedures are set by the city, so ask the city for its current total before budgeting. Johnson County also states that residential permit fees are due when the permit is issued, not when it is submitted. [1]

The County says residential permits take approximately 7–10 business days. [1] Olathe lists a typical residential plan-review turnaround of 5 business days, with an express one-business-day review available for qualifying smaller residential projects at no additional cost. [8] Neither published review window is a promise that a specific deck will be approved or built in that time: incomplete plans, special design elements, corrections, weather, and the inspection sequence all affect the overall schedule.

For unincorporated County work, applications have been submitted through the MyGovernmentOnline customer portal since January 1, 2020. The portal supports digital PDF plans, online fees, application tracking, review comments, approved plans, inspection requests, and inspection reports. [9] Keeping approved plans available at the job site is important—the County will not provide an inspection without them on site. [10]

5. Build only after approval and protect the inspection sequence

Plan review comes before issuance and construction. The practical order is: confirm jurisdiction, submit plans, respond to review comments, receive the permit, then begin work. [8]

Inspections are not merely a final walk-through. The JOCOBO deck guideline notes that a footing/pier-hole inspection may be needed before concrete is placed; a framing inspection may be required where framing and connections cannot be readily checked at final; and a final inspection is required when the work is complete. [5] County Building Codes says all permits it issues require inspections. It asks for a two-hour minimum notice for concrete inspections and at least a half-day notice for other inspections. [10]

Avoid covering framing, hardware, or electrical work until the relevant inspection is accepted. Olathe requires stage inspections before work is concealed or the next phase begins and may assess a $100 reinspection fee if a site is unready, corrections remain, or work proceeds without approval. [11] Keep the permit and approved drawings accessible and make the site ready.

References

[1] Johnson County Building Permits

[2] Johnson County Permits and Licenses Guide

[3] Johnson County Unincorporated Area

[4] Johnson County Code of Regulation for Building and Construction

[5] Residential Decks: Permit and Construction Guidelines under the 2018 IRC

[6] City of Olathe Residential Building and Development Permits

[7] Johnson County Residential Building Permit Fee Chart

[8] City of Olathe Permit Plan Review

[9] Johnson County Online Permitting

[10] Johnson County Building Inspections

[11] City of Olathe Building Permit Inspections

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