All businesses in Lenexa must have a Certificate of Occupancy which should be clearly displayed near the main entrance of your tenant space. This document certifies that your business is in a properly zoned location, that your space has been inspected for building and life safety compliance and that you are allowed to occupy the space.
Before you apply
Before signing a lease or purchasing property, make sure to verify that the property's zoning will allow your type of business. Review the City's Zoning Map and code or contact a city planner at planning@lenexa.com or 913.477.7725.
You should apply for your commercial CO at one of the following times:
- New construction: When you are submitting your application for permit through the Online permitting and application portal, you may upload the completed Certificate of Occupancy application when uploading permit documents.
- New location: When you are applying for your business license
- Change in location: If you change or move locations, including adding space/square footage to your existing business. You will need to make application for a new CO.
- Change in name/ownership: If you purchase or sell your business, or if you change the name of your business you will need to apply for a new CO.
Certificate of Occupancy application(PDF, 204KB)
If you are applying for a CO with a building permit application, then the permitting process and timelines apply. If you are applying for a CO only, then it takes City staff approximately 10 working days to review your application. Once we have reviewed your application, we will contact you to schedule an inspection. Once we approve the inspection, you will be issued your CO.
- You must clearly display your CO at all times.
- If you acquire additional space adjacent to an area with a CO, we require that you obtain a new CO.
$100 (fee waived if submitted as part of a commercial building permit application)
- Due at the time of your application
- This fee is in addition to any applicable business licensing or permitting fees
Apply
Once you verify that your intended business use is allowed per City zoning regulations, you may apply for a commercial CO by completing the Commercial Certificate of Occupancy Application.
Please note that an application for occupancy will not be processed until the application has been filled out in its entirety.
You can apply for a commercial certificate of occupancy by completing the Commercial Certificate of Occupancy Application(PDF, 204KB) and submitting via email to permits@lenexa.com or in person:
8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at:
Lenexa City Hall
17101 W. 87th St. Pkwy.
Lenexa, KS 66219
For complex situations or changes in occupancy to different use classifications, and at the discretion of City code officials, the owner may need to retain the services of a Kansas licensed design professional to prepare and submit a building and fire code analysis for the building and operation. The analysis is commonly referred to as a “Code Footprint.” Compliance with the requirement is established per section 104.7.2 of the 2018 International Fire Code and shall be provided at the applicant's expense.
For more information about what details are required on a code footprint, view this document(PDF, 265KB).