2026-09-10 · Kansas · Regulation

A Lawrence homeowner can now get a city permit for a backyard cottage and still be in breach of their subdivision's covenants — and the city has written down, in its own code, that this is not its problem. Lawrence's rewritten Land Development Code states its own start date at §20-101(b): “This LDC became effective on April 1, 2025.” The current text is the February 17, 2026 edition.¹

It is the clearest statement of the covenant-versus-code relationship in any Kansas municipal code we have found, and a sentence every Kansas board can point to.

Section 20-105(d), in full

Under the heading “Conflict with Private Agreements and Covenants”: “This LDC is not intended to abrogate, annul, or otherwise interfere with any easement, covenant, or other private agreement or legal relationship otherwise in conformance with the LDC. Where the provisions of any private restriction are more restrictive or impose higher standards than the provisions of this LDC, the City has no duty to enforce the private restrictions, nor is the City obligated to adopt regulations consistent with private restrictions.”²

Three propositions in one paragraph. The code does not override covenants. The city will not enforce them. And the city does not have to align its rules with them.

What Lawrence permitted at the same time

Accessory dwelling units are an allowed accessory use across the residential districts, subject to the use-specific standards at §20-811(b).

Those standards are real but modest. Owner occupancy is required: “Either the principal dwelling unit or the accessory dwelling unit must be occupied by one or more of the persons who is/are the record owner of the premises.” Size is capped: “The maximum size of an interior or attached accessory dwelling unit may be no more than 50 percent of the gross floor area of the dwelling in which it is located,” though an attic or basement ADU may occupy an entire floor level. Parking requirements vary with street frontage.

1. The Land Development Code of the City of Lawrence, Kansas — February 17, 2026 edition (§20-101, §20-105(d), §20-811(b)) ↩
2. Planning and Development Services — City of Lawrence, Kansas ↩
3. K.S.A. 58-4608, Association powers and duties — Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes ↩