Development Codes

The City’s new permitting and licensing software, Enterprise Permitting & Licensing (EPL) is now live.

Below are the various ordinances and City Code sections which regulate processes administered by the Planning and Development Services Department.

The application and forms for these processes can be found on our Applications & Forms page.

Adopted Codes and Regulations

Property Maintenance

• Property Maintenance Code (Chapter 9, Article 6)(PDF, 2MB)
• Rental Housing Ordinance (Chapter 6, Article 13)(PDF, 1MB)
• Snow and Ice Removal (Chapter 16, Article 1)(PDF, 1MB)
• Weed Ordinance (Chapter 18, Article 3)(PDF, 366KB)
• Bed Bug Infestation Regulations and Procedures(PDF, 107KB)

Zoning and Land Use

Development Regulations in City of Lawrence

• Land Development Code User Guide(PDF, 2MB) Effective April 1, 2025
• Land Development Code(PDF, 9MB) Effective April 1, 2025
  • 2006 Land Development Code(PDF, 8MB)
    • 1966 Zoning & Planning(PDF, 984KB)
• Administrative Policy 126: Consolidated Review Committee(PDF, 119KB)
• Subdivision Regulations(PDF, 493KB)
  • Pre-2006 Subdivision Regulations(PDF, 231KB)
• Chapter 22 – Conservation of Historic Resources Code(PDF, 2MB)
• Urban Agriculture(PDF, 2MB)
• KU-City Land Use Agreement(PDF, 798KB)
  • First Amendment to KU-City Land Use Agreement(PDF, 385KB)
  • Second Amendment to KU-City Land Use Agreement(PDF, 401KB)
• Administrative Policy 74: Annexation Policy(PDF, 18KB)
• Downtown Area Design Guidelines(PDF, 5MB) (2009)
• 8th and Penn Neighborhood Redevelopment Zone Design Guidelines(PDF, 7MB) (2011)
• Oread Neighborhood Design Guidelines(PDF, 9MB) (2016)

Written Interpretations of the Development Regulations

• Section 1204 Floodplain(PDF, 136KB)
• 8th and Penn Neighborhood Redevelopment Zone: Shared Parking(PDF, 861KB)
• Portable On-Demand Storage(PDF, 18KB)
• 20-1305(2)(g) & 20-1305(3)(b)(2) Standard Development Projects and Major Development Projects(PDF, 42KB)
• 20-1739(1) & 20-1744(3) Photography Studios(PDF, 23KB)
• 20-1305(3)(b)(5) Major Development Projects Impervious Site Cover(PDF, 39KB)
• Playgrounds & Play Apparatus in the OS (Open Space) Zoning District(PDF, 34KB)
• Duplexes in RM12D Districts and Duplexes requiring Site Plan Review in other RM Districts(PDF, 62KB)
• Conflict between the Development Code and Private Agreements & Covenants(PDF, 52KB)
• Removal of Nonconforming Pole Signs(PDF, 68KB)
• RMG District Density & Dimensional Standards(PDF, 247KB)
• Duplex Parking off of Alley(PDF, 2MB)

Development Regulations in Unincorporated Douglas County

• Douglas County Zoning and Land Use Regulations
• Subdivision Regulations(PDF, 493KB)
• County Access Management Standards(PDF, 2MB)
• Exhibit 9-506(PDF, 462KB)
• Exhibit 9-506a(PDF, 451KB)

Written Interpretations to County Zoning Regulations

• Article 18. Height, Area, and Bulk Requirements Table(PDF, 53KB)
• Road Frontage & Lot Width Requirements based upon road classification(PDF, 53KB)

Buildings and Structures

• Permanent and Temporary Signs
• Walls, Fence and other Structures Ordinance (Chapter 16, Article 6)(PDF, 1MB)
• Basic Accessibility Regulations for Residential Occupancies(PDF, 61KB)
• Adopted Building, Fire, Trade, Contractor Licensing and Related Codes