State guide
Kansas
Kansas sets minimum onsite wastewater standards through KDHE, but most septic permitting is handled locally under county sanitary or environmental codes. The state bulletin emphasizes contacting the local administering authority before spending time or money on design, installation, or repairs.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who regulates septic permits
- Kansas onsite wastewater regulation is a local program in most areas: KDHE sets minimum standards, while county sanitary or environmental codes usually control permits, approvals, inspections, and variances.
- Who can do the soil or perc test
- KDHE says soil evaluation is performed by a trained and qualified person, which can include a soil scientist, environmental health specialist, sanitarian, or another competent person with appropriate soil training; some counties also require licensed installers, engineers, or county staff for parts of the process.
- State fee
- Not published by an official source we could verify. Ask the office.
Official resources in Kansas
Official county-by-county directory of local sanitary and environmental codes used for onsite wastewater regulation.
State minimum design bulletin explaining when county codes control and how soil and site evaluations are used.
State technical bulletin residents and local officials use to understand soil and site evaluation basics.
Example county page showing that a profile or site evaluation application and fee must be submitted to start the process.
Example county page explaining local system types, soil testing expectations, and permit rules for unincorporated Sedgwick County.
Key facts for Kansas
- KDHE says local governments may adopt minimum onsite wastewater requirements, approve plans, issue construction permits, operation permits, and variances.
- KDHE says sanitary codes are usually adopted and administered by local government through county health departments.
- KDHE says if there is no local code, landowners must comply with K.A.R. 28-5-6 to 9 and Bulletin 4-2.
- KDHE says a trained and qualified person for soil evaluation can include a soil scientist, environmental health specialist, sanitarian, or another competent person with appropriate training.
- Sedgwick County requires soil testing for all parcels for new construction and says testing must be done by a professional experienced in those procedures.
- Riley County says a completed Profile/Site Evaluation Application and fee must be submitted by the property owner or a licensed installer to start the wastewater process.
County septic and soil-evaluation offices in Kansas
| County office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sedgwick County MABCD - Wastewater Sedgwick | Wichita | (316) 660-1840 | Regulates lagoons, septic, and advanced or alternative systems in unincorporated Sedgwick County and explains required soil testing. |
| Miami County Code Services Department Miami | Not published* | Not published* | County document says to contact this office for soil profile analysis, inspection procedures, and onsite wastewater design and permitting guidelines. |
| Saline County Environmental Health - Septic Information Saline | Salina | Not published* | Provides septic information, permit requirements, request-for-service access, and county sanitary code links. |
| Riley County Planning & Development - Environmental Health Division Riley | Manhattan | 785-537-6332 | Oversees private wastewater installation and repair, licenses installers and haulers, and answers septic permit questions. |
| Franklin County Planning & Building / Environmental Health - Onsite Wastewater Systems Franklin | Ottawa | 785-229-3570 | Handles online septic permits and related environmental health questions through the county permit portal. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Start with your county sanitary code or environmental health office, because permit rules, forms, and fees are usually county-specific in Kansas.
- Ask the county whether it wants a soil profile, a perc test, or both before hiring anyone to evaluate the lot.
- If your county licenses installers or requires county-approved professionals, confirm that list before paying for design or construction work.
Not seeing your county office or county?
Not every county office publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Kansas's population center, for comparison only):
- Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, Water Quality Program, Nebraska · about 162 miles
- Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, Property Transfer, Nebraska · about 162 miles
- Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Local Health Departments, Nebraska · about 162 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.KDHE - County Environmental / Sanitary Codes
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Kansas page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.