Leawood Zoning & Land Use Guide
Key Zoning Facts
Leawood Zoning Overview
Leawood is an affluent suburb in southeastern Johnson County known for its high-quality residential neighborhoods and upscale commercial centers such as Town Center Plaza and Park Place. The city's zoning is predominantly planned development, meaning nearly all property in Leawood is zoned under specific planned district designations with detailed design standards and restrictions.
Leawood's approach to zoning emphasizes architectural quality, landscaping, and compatibility between uses. The city's development ordinance imposes specific standards for building materials, signage, lighting, and screening that exceed those found in many other Kansas City-area suburbs. This planned development approach gives the city significant control over the character of new development.
Key Zoning Districts
Leawood uses planned residential districts (RP-1 through RP-4) with varying density levels, planned commercial/retail districts (SD-CR), and planned office/industrial zones (SD-O). Nearly all development occurs within these planned district frameworks rather than conventional zoning categories.
ADU Regulations
Leawood does not currently provide for accessory dwelling units in its zoning code. The city's emphasis on planned development with strict design standards has not yet incorporated ADU provisions. Kansas has no statewide ADU requirement.
Development Process
All development in Leawood goes through a detailed review process involving the Planning Commission and City Council. The city's planned development approach requires specific site plan approval for each project, with public hearings and detailed staff review. Building permits are issued by the building inspection division enforcing the locally adopted 2018 IBC.
Regulatory Layers That Apply in Leawood
Your property is subject to ALL of these regulatory layers. Each one can impose additional requirements beyond the others.
Federal
- FEMA Flood Zones: Applicable
- View FEMA Flood Map
State — Kansas
- Building Code: No mandatory statewide code; locally adopted 2018 IBC
County — Johnson County
- Role: Property records, tax assessment, unincorporated area planning
City / Municipal
The city's zoning ordinance, building codes, and local permits form the primary layer of land-use regulation for your property.
Overlay Districts
No overlay districts identified.
Private Restrictions
- HOA / CC&Rs common: Yes
- Check HOA CC&Rs for additional restrictions.
Primary Zoning Districts
- Min Lot
- 15,000 sq ft
- Max Height
- 35 ft
- Front Setback
- 30 ft
- Side Setback
- 10 ft
- Rear Setback
- 30 ft
- Min Lot
- 8,000 sq ft
- Max Height
- 40 ft
- Front Setback
- 30 ft
- Side Setback
- 15 ft
- Rear Setback
- 30 ft
- Min Lot
- None
- Max Height
- 45 ft
- Front Setback
- 30 ft
- Side Setback
- 10 ft
- Rear Setback
- 10 ft
ADU Rules in Leawood
- Max Size
- N/A
- Max Height
- N/A
- Rear Setback
- N/A
- Side Setback
- N/A
- Parking
- N/A
- Owner Occupancy
- N/A
- Permit Timeline
- N/A
Permit Costs & Timelines
Permit Costs & Timelines
Specific permit fee schedules for Leawood are available from the local planning department. Fees vary based on project type, scope, and valuation.
Check Leawood permit fees →