Does Siding Need a Permit in Wichita?

Who issues permits in the Wichita area

The Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department (MABCD) is the joint City of Wichita and Sedgwick County department that issues building and trade permits and licenses contractors for Wichita, unincorporated Sedgwick County and the small cities within its jurisdiction. Larger suburban cities, and every city outside Sedgwick County, generally run their own building or code departments. Some smaller cities contract with others for inspections.

If you are not sure which office covers your address, call MABCD (316-660-1840) or your city hall, or ask your contractor, who should know.

The 400-square-foot exemption

The Wichita-Sedgwick County Unified Building and Trade Code lists work that is exempt from permits. One exemption is the repair or replacement of roofing and/or siding materials not exceeding 400 square feet within any 12-month period. That covers most small repairs: a few blown-off panels, a hail-cracked section, a rotted area under a window.

Notice the 12-month window. Several small repairs in the same year add up. And the exemption is about the permit, not about doing the work correctly; exempt work still has to meet code.

When a siding permit is required

• Whole-house re-siding.
• Replacing more than 400 square feet in 12 months, such as one or two full elevations after hail.
• Siding as part of an addition or new construction (covered by the building permit for the project).
• Work that alters structure, such as enlarging window openings, which needs a building permit.

MABCD lists siding among the permits that can be obtained through the MABCD Portal or in person, with fees set by MABCD's fee schedule. The roofing and siding permit application (MABCD Form 62) asks for the contractor and its MABCD license number, which is one reason permits are normally pulled by the contractor rather than the homeowner.

Contractor licensing

MABCD licenses contractors in categories that include a roofing and/or siding license. For roofing and roofing-and-siding licenses, MABCD also requires the State of Kansas roofer registration certificate, issued by the Attorney General under the Kansas Roofing Registration Act. A contractor working in MABCD's jurisdiction should be able to give you its license number, and the permit should be in its name.

Homeowners can do some work on their own owner-occupied homes, but rules vary by trade; ask MABCD before you take on a large siding project yourself.

Cities outside MABCD

For homes in cities with their own building departments, such as many of the larger suburbs and every town in Butler, Harvey, Reno and Sumner counties, check the city's rules. Some have similar exemptions for small repairs; some require a permit for any re-siding; some require contractor registration with the city. A quick call to city hall before work starts avoids problems later. Your town's page in the service areas section has local notes.

Why permits are worth it

• A second set of eyes. Inspections can catch missing flashing or barrier problems before they are hidden.
• Insurance and resale. Unpermitted work can raise questions during a home sale or an insurance claim.
• Accountability. A permit in the contractor's name ties the job to its license.

What about asbestos and lead?

Permits are separate from environmental rules. Removing asbestos-cement siding has its own requirements, and work that disturbs paint on pre-1978 homes falls under the EPA's lead-safe rules. See old asbestos and aluminum siding replacement.

Historic properties and HOAs

Homes in historic districts may need design review before exterior changes. Homeowners associations in newer subdivisions often have rules about siding colors and materials and may require approval before work begins. Neither replaces a building permit, and a building permit does not satisfy either.

Questions to ask your contractor about permits

• Does this project need a permit where I live, and who will pull it?
• What is your MABCD license number (or city registration, outside MABCD)?
• Is the permit fee included in the quote?
• Will there be an inspection, and do I need to be home for it?
• Will you give me a copy of the permit and the final inspection result for my records?

A contractor that suggests skipping a required permit to save time or money is a red flag. So is one that asks you to pull the permit in your own name for work it is doing; that can shift responsibility for the work onto you.

Insurance claims and permits

After a hailstorm, many homeowners replace more than 400 square feet of siding through an insurance claim, which puts the job in permit territory in MABCD areas. Many insurers include code-required items in their estimates, and some policies have ordinance or law coverage for upgrades the code requires. Ask your adjuster how permit-related costs are handled. See siding insurance claims in Kansas.

Quick reference

• Small repair, 400 square feet or less in 12 months, in MABCD areas: no permit.
• Whole-house re-side in MABCD areas: siding permit, pulled by a licensed contractor.
• Addition or new home: part of the building permit.
• Outside MABCD: ask your city.

This is general information current as of October 2026. Codes change, so confirm with MABCD or your city for your project.

Related services

• Siding Replacement: Tear off worn or damaged siding and re-side the house in vinyl, fiber cement, engineered wood or steel.
• Siding Repair: Fix cracked, loose, blown-off or rotted sections before water gets behind the wall.
• Siding Installation: New siding for additions, new builds, garages and shops, installed to the manufacturer's instructions.

Sources: Wichita-Sedgwick County Unified Building and Trade Code (permit exemptions); MABCD, permits (roofing and siding); MABCD Form 62, roofing and siding permit application; MABCD, contractor licensing; Kansas Attorney General, roofing contractor registration.

Good to know: Requesting a quote is free and there is no obligation. Ask for a written quote that lists the material, the scope, permits and the warranty terms.