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Board asks staff to rewrite demolition ordinance to match current practice and define 'demolition'
Summary
Members asked staff to revise Article 14 to allow a single demolition permit per lot (current city practice), to add a clear definition of 'demolition' distinguishing full removal from remodels that leave foundations or some walls, and to clarify Historic Resources Commission review triggers.
The Lawrence Building Code Board of Appeals on Oct. 7 directed staff to redraft Article 14 (demolition of structures) to reflect current permitting practice and to add a clear definition of "demolition."
Timberly French, commercial plans examiner for the City of Lawrence, told the board the department’s current practice is to issue one demolition permit per lot that can cover multiple structures on that parcel. The draft ordinance language, by contrast, required a separate permit for each building or structure. Timberly asked the board to change the last sentence of section 14‑01 to allow permits by lot or parcel.
Why it matters: Under current practice, a single demolition permit can cover a primary dwelling, detached garage and accessory shed on the same lot. Board members cited practical examples — including a multi‑building apartment complex near the KU football stadium — where the draft language would have required multiple permit filings for a single development site.
Key discussion points: Staff and board members also discussed adding a definition of "demolition" to clarify when an activity requires a demolition permit versus a remodel/building permit. Staff said the draft demolition ordinance does not currently define whether reuse of a foundation or retention of some walls counts as a "demolition." Staff suggested the code include parameters that give applicants clearer guidance while allowing staff discretion for safety cases; Historic Resources Administrator Lynn Zollner provided language changes to address context areas and certificate-of-approval requirements for historic properties.
Next steps: Staff will prepare a revised draft for the board’s next meeting (Oct. 28) that: (1) replaces the draft’s per‑structure wording with an explicit per‑lot/parcel permit option, and (2) adds a definition and guidance describing the scope of a demolition permit and how it differs from a remodel. The board agreed staff can retain separate review of each structure within a multi‑structure permit (comments and reviews will be conducted per building even if a single permit is filed).
