Building & Zoning FAQ

Permits and licenses are sold at Newton City Hall, 201 E. 6th St., on the 3rd floor in the Engineering Office. Applications may also be downloaded online.

Every individual offering to do business as a building, electrical, mechanical or plumbing contractor in the City of Newton must obtain a contractor’s license. Builders must obtain either a Class A, B, C, D or Wrecking license depending on the type of work performed. Builders must show proof of the appropriate national testing certification or take a test on building codes offered by the City of Newton. All businesses offering to perform electrical, mechanical or plumbing installations in the City of Newton must obtain a contracting license. Electricians, Mechanical Technicians and Plumbers must have either their Master or Journeyman certification from a State-approved testing agency. To find out more about licensing, please call 316-284-6020.

The following is a list of costs and requirements associated with a contractor's license. Contractors may also present certification of approved testing by recognized testing agencies in lieu of Newton testing.

Class A -$200 a year plus proof of $500,000 of liability and worker’s compensation insurance. The test for a Class A contractor’s license is $30. The test has a 4-hour time limit and is based on the International Building and Residential Codes and City of Newton Building Code. The Class A contractor’s license is unlimited in type of construction.

Class B -$150 a year plus proof of $500,000 of liability and worker’s compensation insurance. The test for a Class B contractor’s license is $30. The test has a 4-hour time limit and is based on the International Building and Residential Codes and City of Newton Building Code. The Class B contractor’s license allows construction of residential and commercial projects up to three (3) stories in height.

Class C -$125 a year plus proof of $300,000 of liability and worker’s compensation insurance. The test for a Class C contractor’s license is $30. The test has a 2-hour time limit and is based on the International Residential Code and City of Newton Building Code. The Class C contractor’s license allows construction of residential projects up to two (2) stories and three (3) dwelling units. Also non-structural commercial remodeling.

Class D -$125 a year plus proof of $300,000 of liability and worker’s compensation insurance. The test for a Class C contractor’s license is $5. The test has no time limit and is based on the International Residential Code and City of Newton Building Code. Contractors may also present certification or approved testing by recognized testing agencies in lieu of Newton testing. The Class D contractors license allows the repair and remodeling of one (1) to four (4) family residences.

Wrecking Contractor -$30 a year plus proof of $300,000 of liability and worker’s compensation insurance. The Wrecking Contractor’s license allows the demolition of all types of buildings.

Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing Contractors

First Year -$150 plus proof of $300,000 of liability and worker’s compensation insurance.

Annual Renewal -$150 a year plus proof of $300,000 liability and worker’s compensation insurance.

Master -$40 a year and hold certificate of master-level testing from a recognized agency plus proof of 12 hours of approved continuing education.

Journeyman -$20 a year and hold a certificate of journeyman-level testing from a recognized agency plus proof of 12 hours of approved continuing education.

Gas Fitter Contractor -$150 First Year, $150 Annual Renewal, Master $40 a year and hold a certificate of master-level testing from a recognized agency plus proof of 12 hours of approved continuing education.

Please call the Engineering Office at 316-284-6020 to schedule a building inspection. Tell the staff person the address of the project, the type of inspection and the time you would like the inspection. City inspectors prefer 24 hours' notice for each inspection but are flexible in some cases.

Homeowners need a permit for any building project over $1,000 (or $500 in material cost for “do-it-yourself” projects) and all new electrical, mechanical or plumbing work. Owner occupants may work on your house without a contractor’s license. If you hire electrical, mechanical or plumbing work done, that person must be a licensed contractor. However, any other residential or commercial project, regardless of whether you own the property, must have a licensed contractor performing the work.

No permit is required. However, there are some restrictions. Fences must stay within property lines and are limited to 6 feet in height in rear and side yards and 4 feet in front yards. No electrified or barbed wire fencing is permitted. For information about fencing on corner lots, please call the Engineering Office at 316-284-6020.

Swimming pools, both above and below ground, that are over 5,000-gallon capacity or over 24-inches deep are accessory structures requiring a building permit. When applying for a permit, a plot plan showing the location of the pool relative to property lines and buildings on the same lot is required. Setbacks are as required for other accessory buildings except that setbacks are measured to the inside wall face of the pool and the setback from the house is 7 feet. A separation is also required from electrical lines: 10 feet horizontal from overhead lines and 5 feet horizontal from underground lines.

All storage shed and other accessory buildings require a building permit. Storage sheds of 100 square feet or less must have a minimum property line setback of 3 feet. Sheds over 100 square feet must have a minimum property line setback of 5 or 7 feet depending on the age of your subdivision. All accessory buildings must be 10 feet from the house and anchored down. All accessory buildings over 150 square feet in area must have a permanent foundation 30 inches below the finish grade.

Concrete patios on grade and wood decks under 30 inches above grade do not require a permit. However, decks of 30 inchesabove grade or more and all covered decks and patios require a permit and must be constructed to the Building Code. Call 316-284-6020 for more information.

Building permit fees are based on the value of the construction. Check the fee schedule to determine your cost. Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing permits have itemized fees depending upon the installations to be performed.

If your property is on a historic register or in a historic district, any request for a building or sign permit must first receive a review to determine its impact on the historic characteristics of property or district. To learn more, visit the Historic Preservation page, which includes maps of Newton's historic districts.

If you have questions, contact the Engineering Office at 316-284-6020 or Historic Preservation Office at 316-284-6001.

Every dwelling unit -- be it a house, duplex, apartment, mobile home or a guest room in a hotel, motel or lodging house used for sleeping purposes -- must have smoke detectors. The number, type and location of detectors varies depending on the age and type of dwelling. Call 316-284-6020 for more information.

Signing is regulated by Article 11 of the zoning regulations based on the zoning classification, as well as sign type, size, location and illumination. A permit is required to install a sign except for those allowed under the exempt section of the ordinance.

Building permits allow the City of Newton to track all building projects in Newton. Building inspections are vital to the safety, health and overall wellbeing of our community. Building inspections make sure that all construction conforms to the adopted building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing codes. Building inspections ensure that all construction in Newton is structurally sound and safe for occupancy.

The Engineering Office has the zoning map on-hand. Call 316-284-6020 if you have a question about what zone you live in and the accepted property uses in that zone. You can also use Newton's public GIS map, or download the zoning map and  zoning regulations.

Any change in the zoning must be approved by the Newton Area Planning Commission and the Newton City Commission. An individual property owner must obtain a zoning amendment application and submit such application to the Planning Commission for consideration at a public hearing.

Generally, a property is not allowed to change zoning if the change would make that property the only property in the general area zoned differently from other properties in the neighborhood. This is called a spot zoning and is a practice municipalities try to avoid. If you have questions or would like to apply for a zoning change, call the Engineering Office at 316-284-6020.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has placed properties along Sand Creek and Slate Creek in a flood hazard area. Article 14 of the Zoning Ordinance(PDF, 4MB) places restriction on the use and development of properties in these flood zones. Contact the Engineering Office for a Flood Zone determination at 316-284-6020.

Questions on property ownership should be directed to the Harvey County Register of Deeds Office at 316-284-6950.

Questions on projects outside of Newton City limits need to be directed to the Harvey County Planning and Zoning Office at 316-284-6940.