Not legal advice. This page summarizes public city and county web pages as we read them on October 24, 2026. Rules, fees and forms change. Before any foundation work starts, confirm the requirements with your city's permit office (contacts below). Your contractor should be the one who applies for the permit.
The short version
In every city covered here, the official rules point the same way: structural foundation work generally needs a building permit, and the permit has to be issued before the work begins. Two cities name foundation repair outright. Derby's remodel permit application lists "Foundation Repairs" as a project type. Bel Aire's list of projects that need a permit includes "Foundation and Basement Repair." The others use broader wording that covers repairs or structural alterations.
Who issues the permit depends on where the house is. The Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department (MABCD) handles the City of Wichita and unincorporated Sedgwick County. Smaller cities start the process at their own city hall.
| Where the home is | Who to contact first | What the official source says about foundation work |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita & unincorporated Sedgwick County | MABCD, (316) 660-1840 | A permit is required to alter or repair a structure. "Ordinary repairs" exclude removing or cutting away load-bearing supports. |
| Derby | Derby Building Inspections, (316) 788-6632, option 2 | The remodel permit application lists "Foundation Repairs." |
| Bel Aire | Bel Aire Planning & Zoning, (316) 744-2451 ext. 121 | The permit list names "Foundation and Basement Repair." |
| Andover (Butler County) | Andover Building Department, (316) 733-1303 ext. 422 | A permit is needed to alter a building. No work is authorized until the permit is issued. |
| Haysville | Haysville Public Works, (316) 529-5940 | A permit is generally needed for any alteration or repair to a residential building. |
| Maize | City of Maize, (316) 722-7561 | Permits are generally required for structural alterations. Call the city if you're unsure. |
Wichita and unincorporated Sedgwick County (MABCD)
Sedgwick County's MABCD jurisdictions page says MABCD provides building code enforcement for the City of Wichita and unincorporated Sedgwick County, and to start with MABCD for those areas. The Wichita-Sedgwick County Unified Building and Trade Code (Sec. 2.4.020, R105.1) requires anyone who intends to "construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish" a building or structure to apply for and obtain a permit first.
The code does exempt "ordinary repairs" from permits, but it defines them narrowly. Ordinary repairs do not include "the removal or cutting away of any structural beam or load-bearing support." Most foundation stabilization involves load-bearing parts of the house, so expect a permit and ask MABCD if you're unsure.
Three more points from the same code and MABCD pages:
- Emergencies: if repairs must be made in an emergency, the code says the permit application must be submitted within the next working business day.
- Starting without a permit (Wichita jurisdiction): the code allows a civil penalty of up to the amount of the permit fee, collected on top of the permit fee.
- A red flag to watch for: MABCD's Do I Need a Permit? page warns homeowners that if a contractor asks you to get the permit, say no. It calls this a red flag and suggests calling MABCD at (316) 660-1840 to check whether the contractor is licensed and insured.
The code also points foundations on expansive soils to the "Wichita Foundation, Basement and Slab-on-Grade Standards." That's one reason local clay matters for repair design. For the soil background, see our Wichita clay soil guide.
Derby
Derby's Residential Building Permit & Certificate of Occupancy (Remodel) Application lists "Foundation Repairs" among the project types it covers, next to basement finishes, additions and egress windows. The form asks for each contractor's Derby license number. It also asks whether the property is in a FEMA hazard area, and says a Floodplain Development Permit may be required if it is.
Derby's Building Inspections & Codes page says the city licenses contractors in three classes and publishes a list of licensed contractors. Class A covers all commercial and residential construction, Class B covers construction up to three stories, and Class C covers residential only. The page also lists Ordinance 2623, which adopts the 2024 International Residential Code with amendments, and a "Foundation Standards" document. Permit applications go to permits@derbyks.gov, and the permit desk is at (316) 788-6632, option 2.
More on Derby homes: foundation repair in Derby.
Bel Aire
Bel Aire's Building Permits page lists the projects that require a building permit and notes that the list is not exhaustive. "Foundation and Basement Repair" is on it. Two other items can come up in foundation and drainage work: "Adding dirt in large quantities (5 cubic yards), or changing grade" and the matching item for removing dirt. Permits and contractor licenses are handled through the city's online portal. Contractors without a current Bel Aire contractor license have to apply for one. Questions go to Planning and Zoning at (316) 744-2451 ext. 121.
More on Bel Aire homes: foundation repair in Bel Aire.
Andover
Andover is in Butler County and runs its own Building and Inspections Department. Its official page says permits are required for any owner or authorized agent who intends to "construct, enlarge, alter, move, demolish" a building or structure. It also says permits are not approved and "no work is authorized until the permit has been issued by the Building Official and/or the Zoning Administrator."
The same page lists Ordinance No. 1957, which adopted and amended the Wichita-Sedgwick County Unified Building and Trade Code, effective May 13, 2025. On licensing, it says that as of June 28, 2025, most permits no longer require a City of Andover license. Contractors need a current MABCD license and must file a certificate of insurance naming the City of Andover as certificate holder. A few permit types still require an Andover license, including grading/site permits. To apply or schedule an inspection, call (316) 733-1303 ext. 422 or email bldg-insp@andoverks.gov.
More on Andover homes: foundation repair in Andover.
Haysville
Haysville's Permits & Plans page says that, in general, "a building permit is needed for any new building, addition, alteration or repair to any portion of commercial or residential buildings." Permits must be submitted and paid for before work starts. Work started without a permit is subject to double permit fees. Emergency work may begin before the application, but the contractor needs to obtain a permit the next business day. Most applications need a simple site plan. The Public Works office is at (316) 529-5940.
More on Haysville homes: foundation repair in Haysville.
Maize
The City of Maize permits page says permits are generally required for "additions, remodels, or structural alterations," along with other listed project types. If you're unsure whether a project needs a permit, it asks you to contact the city before starting work, at (316) 722-7561 or customerservice@maizeks.gov. Sedgwick County's MABCD jurisdictions page lists Maize among the small cities where MABCD provides some services. It also says that for these cities the permitting process "will always start with the small city," and that contractors working there need an active MABCD license.
More on Maize homes: foundation repair in Maize.
Cities not covered here
We've left out Park City and other nearby towns because we couldn't confirm their foundation-specific permit details from an official source. If your home is in one of them, call that city's building or planning office before work starts.
Questions to ask your contractor about permits
- Will you apply for the permit, and is the permit fee included in your written estimate?
- Are you licensed where my house is (MABCD, or the city's own license where one is required)?
- Which inspections will the job need, and will you schedule them?
- Will I get a copy of the permit and the final inspection result for my records?
Keeping that paperwork is worth it. When you sell, buyers and inspectors often ask whether past foundation work was permitted. For coverage questions, see does insurance cover foundation repair?
Sources (all checked October 24, 2026): Wichita-Sedgwick County UBTC; MABCD: Do I Need a Permit?; MABCD Jurisdictions; Derby remodel permit application; Derby Building Inspections & Codes; Bel Aire Building Permits; Andover Building & Inspections; Haysville Permits & Plans; Maize Permits. Phone numbers and emails are the cities' published public contacts.