COUNTY REGULATIONS
Pottawatomie County Building Permits, Zoning & Building Codes
One of the easiest mistakes to make with rural property is assuming that “buildable” simply means the parcel is large enough. Pottawatomie County separates zoning, permitting, sanitation, floodplain and building-code issues, and the rules can differ depending on where the property is located.
Reviewed October 2026
A building permit is generally required
The County says building permits are required for site-built dwellings, accessory structures, manufactured homes, moved-in homes and additions. Small storage sheds 120 square feet or less, fences, playhouses and play equipment are listed as exceptions. Agricultural structures still require a permit for floodplain and setback review, although the County says there is no fee for an agricultural structure on 40 acres or more.
Acreage does not automatically make a homesite buildable
For A1 agricultural property, the County generally describes 3 acres as the minimum when rural or city water is available with private septic and 5 acres when an individual well and private septic are used. The final determination depends on water availability and sanitary disposal. A parcel can therefore meet a headline acreage threshold and still have a problem with its proposed homesite.
Building codes are location-specific
Pottawatomie County’s current FAQ states that, outside the Blue Township Sewer District, the County has not adopted general building codes other than ADA requirements for commercial buildings. The Blue Township/Green Valley area is subject to building codes and inspections. This is different from zoning and permit requirements, which still apply more broadly.
Zoning and private restrictions are separate questions
A property can satisfy County zoning requirements and still be subject to private restrictive covenants. The County notes that covenants can impose requirements such as minimum house size, architectural controls or livestock restrictions. Those restrictions are generally enforced privately rather than by the County.
Check access, water, wastewater and floodplain before you buy
For a proposed home, verify road access and any required county-road entrance, water service, septic or sewer feasibility, floodplain status, setbacks and easements before treating the land as a homesite. These are separate questions and solving one does not automatically solve the others.
The safest approach before buying
Give Planning and Zoning the parcel information and proposed use and ask what approvals apply. Then verify water service with the applicable district and sanitary feasibility through the County’s environmental health process. If the purchase depends on a future home, make the contract and due-diligence period long enough to actually complete those checks.
SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Sources are provided so you can verify the information and dig deeper. Regulations, programs and market conditions can change.
HAVE A QUESTION?
Talk through your property plans.
Whether you’re buying, selling or looking at land, we’re happy to help you sort through the local questions.
Contact SMRE