Additional Information
This guide provides a list of regulatory agencies and services involved in the land development process. A brief description of each agency is provided. Property owners and developers interested in developing land in the unincorporated area of Douglas County should contact each of the relevant organizations early in the process to avoid costly delays.
The following information applies only to property located in the unincorporated areas of Douglas County. For property located in any city in Douglas County, please contact the respective city offices.
Douglas Co Information Numbers -
County Offices------ 785-841-7700
Appraiser--------------785-832-5289
Register of Deeds--785-832-5282
County Clerk--------785-832-5281
Treasurer-------------785-832-5178
Douglas County Commissioners--
Contact through the County Administrators Office at 785-832-5268
Douglas County Planning Department--
The Lawrence Douglas County Planning Department provides a wide range of planning services including development of long range planning documents to guide growth and development as well as review of requests for establishing home based business and other commercial ventures. Subdivision property of residential development and staff for the Lawrence/Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Commission.
6 East 6th St
P.O. Box 708
Lawrence, KS 66044
785-832-3150
Douglas County Public Works--
The Douglas County Public Works Department maintains all roadways on the county route system, and is responsible for larger drainage structures on township roads. The Department also reviews, approves and inspects new subdivision roads; issues entrance (driveway) permits and utility permits, and provides information concerning right-of-way, land surveys, road improvements and drainage.
1242 Massachusetts
Lawrence, KS 66044
785-832-5293
Operations Division
785-331-1330
Douglas County Zoning & Building Inspector--
The Douglas County Zoning & Codes Department provides the general public with information about land use, current zoning, procedures for rezoning, platting and subdividing property, issuance of building permits, temporary business permits, fireworks permits, complaint inspections and investigations, and the administration of flood plain regulations. Also comprised within this office is the enforcement of Douglas County Building Codes, by providing building plan review, and on site building construction inspections.
1242 Massachusetts
Lawrence, KS 66044
785-832-5162
Douglas County Conservation District--
The Conservation District provides information and educational programs to individuals and groups concerning the conservation of soil and water affecting farmland, rangeland, woodland, wildlife, energy, riparian and wetland.
1217 Biltmore Drive
Suite 100
Lawrence, KS 66046-1996
785-843-4288 ext 3
Douglas County Noxious Weed Department--
The Douglas County Noxious Weed Department is a division of the Public Works Department. Its objective is to educate the general public and governing bodies in the control of state declared noxious weeds under the Kansas Noxious Weed Law. The department controls noxious weeds on the right of ways of county maintained highways and properties, provides herbicides of sale to treat noxious weeds only, and enforces the Noxious Weed Law when the situation demands.
711 East 23rd St (building Location)
1242 Massachusetts (mailing address)
Lawrence, KS 66046
785-331-1331
Douglas County Sheriffs Department--
111 East 11th Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
785-814-0007
Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks--
The Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks conserves and manages Kansas wildlife habitat, through regulations and programs. For the rural homeowner, technical assistance is available for resolving human-wildlife conflicts, attracting specific types of wildlife and restoring, protecting or managing native wildlife habitats. Educaitional materials and programs are also available.
Clinton Wildlife Area
206 N 1600 Rd.
Lecompton, KS 66050
785-887-6882
Clinton State Park
798 N 1415 Rd.
Lawrence, KS 66049
785-842-8562
Kansas Forest Service--
The Kansas Forest Service is responsible for: managing the state’s private and public forest land; growing and distributing conservation trees and shrubs; training and equipping rural volunteer fire fighters in woodland fire protection and control; and working with communities in planting and managing their public tree resource. The Kansas Forest Services’ mission statement is, "Care of Natural Resources and Service to People Through Forestry".
318 Broadway
Valley Falls, KS 66088
785-945-6292
K-State Research & Extension-Douglas Count--
Provides research based educational information and services to citizens in the areas of agriculture, horticulture, family and consumer sciences, youth and economic development.
2100 Harper St.
Lawrence, KS 66046
785-843-7058
Lawrence/Douglas County Health Department--
The Lawrence/Douglas County Health Department Provides site checks for on-site sewage management systems and issues permits for construction or repair of such systems. The Health Department also issues construction permits for new water wells, conducts bacterial and nitrate water testing for private wells, and provides licensing for septic pumping contractors.
336 Missouri Suite 201
Lawrence, KS 66044
785-843-0721
Natural Resources Conservation Services--
The NRCS is an agency of the US Department of Agriculture. They work closely with the Douglas County Conservation District to provide individuals and groups with on-site technical recommendations and practices concerning natural resource problems and management. The goal is to sustain long term quality of the soil, water, plant, air and animal resources.
1217 Biltmore Drive
Suite 100
Lawrence, KS 66046
785-843-4288 Ext3
Rural Development--
Rural Development provides home ownership loans, home improvement and repair loans and grants, community facilities loans and grants, water and wastewater disposal loans and grants, business and industry loans and cooperative services.
3010 Fourwheel Dr, Suite C
PO Box 3447
Lawrence, KS 66047
785-843-7049 Ext 5 (county)
785-841-2542 ext 4 (district)
Utilities--
Kansas Power & Light
District Office
333 W 9th St
Lawrence, KS 66044
1-800-794-4780
Customer Service & Billing
1-800-794-6101
Kansas City Power & Light--
1-800-223-0755
Kaw Valley Electric Co-op--
1100 SW Auburn Rd.
Topeka, KS 66675
1-800-794-2011
