Procedures:
Obtain an application for a permit. The permit can be downloaded by clicking the link to the left. An entrance permit application is also included in the building permit application packet available from Building Codes at the Planning Department.

Filing the application: The owner or contractor should fill out the upper portion of the Entrance Permit Application and mail or deliver the application to the Road Superintendent at the Johnson County Public Works Department 1800 W. 56 Highway, Olathe, Kansas, 66061. The permit fee is $50 and should be in the form of a check made payable to Johnson County Public Works.

Review of the application: the site will be field checked prior to issuing a permit. The normal time for Public Works officials to check the site and process an Entrance Permit Application is five working days. The permit, with appropriate stipulations and drawings, will be mailed to the owner or contractor at the address given at the top of the application, so make sure the address is correct and complete.

Location: In order to determine the exact location of the requested entrance you should stake the location within one day of filing your entrance permit application. Property corners along the road also need to be flagged to verify frontage, and to determine alternate locations if necessary to move the proposed entrance location.

Driveway restrictions: A new entrance will not be allowed at a location which may pose a traffic safety problem, restrict future traffic capacity of the road, or does not comply with recorded restrictions or plats. Proposed new driveway locations will be checked for required sight distance down the road, distances from intersection and adjacent entrances, required frontage for number of driveways on the property, and for subdivision plat restrictions. New driveways are permitted only where they meet current criteria. Sometimes the location of the proposed driveway can be moved to satisfy the criteria. The owner will be notified if an issue is identified with the requested location of the driveway. On section line roads there are stringent corner clearance, and lot frontage requirements based on the current and future functional classification of the road, a separate sheet explaining these requirements is available from Public Works.

Sight distance: Sight distance is measured 10 ft. off the shoulder of the road. A new driveway will not be allowed at a location where the sight distance is inadequate to enter the traffic stream safely. Sometimes sight distance problems may be eliminated by clearing trees and shrubs along the right-of-way line. If the trees and shrubs are a problem, the applicant will be required to do the clearing as part of the entrance permit stipulations. New landscaping should be planned so that sight distance will not be blocked as the landscaping matures.

Construction: For each new driveway, requirements will be listed on the permit as to type of culvert, size and length of culvert, and entrance surface requirements. Normal culvert type to be required will be corrugated metal or concrete pipe. The use of plastic pipe is prohibited except under special conditions where adequate cover is available. The Public Works Department is responsible for future maintenance of entrance culverts, to reduce future maintenance problems, only new culverts will be allowed. Residential and field entrances must be surfaced with gravel, or may be paved. Commercial and industrial entrances must be paved with 6" of asphalt or concrete if the adjacent county road is paved.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to furnish the required materials and hire a contractor to perform the work in accordance with the Entrance Construction Specifications and other requirements furnished with the permit. In normal situations adequate instructions and drawings are provided with the permit so that the contractor can perform the work properly. If there are any questions the contractor should call road maintenance.

Notify Public Works at least one day in advance of installing the entrance. Public Works will then try to have someone check the work while it is in progress. Many times this will prevent a call back to correct construction problems.

Ditching and Driveways constructed by Public Works: During off peak periods Public Works will install new residential driveways entrances with gravel surfacing for a fee. The fee is $500, which includes up to an 18" x 24' pipe, 100 ft. of ditching and one load of rock. Additional ditching along the road is $3 per foot. Contractors can usually install an entrance faster and cheaper where the ditch is already deep enough and little ditching is needed. Our crews are experienced in ditching along roads, and so you may want to consider this option if it appears that you have a shallow ditch and more than average ditching work will be needed. If you are interested in this option contact Public Works for an estimate for installing the entrance and any ditching or ditch shaping you think is needed. Entrance installations are not high priority work for Public Works crews, so there is normally a 30 day lead time for driveway installations.

Ditching by Public Works: For new construction, such as a new home or building, many times ditching and shaping is needed in county right-of-way for ease of mowing or to make drainage work better. Public Works crews can perform this work on county right-of-way, and the fee is $3 per foot. However, we suggest that it may be easier and cheaper to have your grading contractor do the work. Many times this work can easily be accomplished while grading around a new house or constructing the driveway. Normally we allow the back of the ditch to be flattened, but we rarely allow the ditch to be filled in or made shallower. Any ditching and shaping on road right-of-way will be inspected as part of the entrance permit inspections. Call Public Works for a field visit prior to any work on the right-of-way. If you are interested in Public Works shaping the ditch, contact Public Works for a fee estimate for any ditching or ditch shaping you might want.

Completion & Inspections: Due to the likelihood of damage during construction of homes and businesses there are two required inspections.

Initial Inspection: The initial inspection is performed just after the culvert is installed. This inspection is for proper location, workmanship, materials, elevation and drainage. To obtain the inspection, the applicant must notify the Road Superintendent when the entrance is constructed. If no building construction is anticipated in the near future, this will be the final inspection.

Final Inspection: Prior to the request for Final Occupancy by Building Codes, the applicant must request a final inspection for the entrance installation. At this time, the installation will be inspected for construction damage and the area inspected to insure that any damage to the right-of-way has been repaired and all cleanup has been performed. The most common problem is the ends of the culvert bent due to being run over by construction equipment. If any final corrections need to be made, they shall be corrected and completed at this time. This inspection shall serve as the acceptance of the installation. When the work is satisfactory completed, Building Codes will be sent an approved permit. Call in for a final inspection far enough in advance so that you have adequate time to make any corrections or repairs before the final inspection of the building.

Expiration: Entrance permits automatically expire six months after approval of the application by the County. If the entrance is not constructed within six months, a new entrance permit will be required.

Enforcement: Normally Building Codes will not issue a building permit unless an entrance permit application is on file. A Certificate of Occupancy will not be issued unless Public Works has approved the construction of the entrance. Additionally, any unauthorized entrance or an entrance that was constructed improperly can be removed by the Public Works Department without notice. Public Works will not accept maintenance of any new entrance that does not have an approved permit. It is also a codes violation to install a new driveway without a permit and fines may be imposed.