Lawrence, KS, City Code

Updated January 2018

By: City of Lawrence Planning Office

https://lawrenceks.org/attorney/city_code/
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Table of Contents

Accessory Dwelling Units

The city’s land development code permits internal, attached, and detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by right in multiple residential districts, subject to use-specific standards (§20-402). These standards address method of creation, owner occupancy, number of occupants, other uses, location of entrances, parking, unit size, floor area additions, and registration (§20-534).

Form-Based Zoning

The city’s zoning code includes a mapped optional form-based code (Chapter 21). It includes six transect zones all with different permissible land uses, form standards, building frontage types, façade design standards, parking standards, and landscaping standards (§21-600.1 et seq.).

Group Housing

The city's development code defines "group home, general" as a licensed dwelling occupied by 11 or more persons, including 8 or more with a disability, and "group home, limited" as a licensed dwelling occupied by 10 or fewer persons, including 8 or fewer with a disability (§20-1701).

Limited group homes with 10 or fewer residents are permitted by right in all residential zoning districts, which general group homes with 11 or more residents are special uses in all residential zoning districts (§20.402). Limited group homes are also permitted in two commercial districts, while general group homes are special uses in all commercial districts (§20-403). Occupancy limits established by the code do not apply to group home uses (§20-601.d).

Home Occupations

The city's land development code distinguishes between high- and low-intensity home occupations (§20.537.4). It permits low-intensity “Type A” home occupations by right subject to use-specific standards (§20.537.5.i). It permits higher-intensity “Type B” home occupations with a discretionary use permit, subject to use-specific standards.

Use-specific standards for both types address use permissions, signs, outdoor activities, appearance, hazardous substances, noise, trucks and vehicles, and deliveries. Additional discretionary use permit standards address client or customer hours, nonresidential employees, customers/clients, and retail sales. 


Lawrence, KS

2010 Population: 87,643

2010 Population Density: 2,611.22/square mile