By Wichita Barndominium Builders Team · Last reviewed: September 19, 2026
Put the building, water supply, wastewater area, access and utility routes on one drawing before fixing the house location. Confirm public-service availability first. Then investigate any onsite system with the responsible authority and qualified professionals. A workable plan must accommodate construction, everyday use, maintenance and the required separation between features, not merely fit them inside the property boundary.
This guide focuses on the Wichita-area planning process, with specific wastewater references for unincorporated Sedgwick County. Begin with land and permit due diligence if the parcel's jurisdiction is not yet established. The complete building guide places these decisions in the full project sequence.
Establish public-service options first
Ask the water and sewer providers whether the parcel can be served, where connections would occur and what the owner must fund. Have the applicable authority confirm any obligation to connect. Do not select a private system solely because it seems less expensive or because a neighbor has one.
Request a written response that addresses available capacity, extension work, easements and the boundary between provider work and owner work. Ask whether a quoted connection amount includes meters, trenching, road crossings, restoration and inspections. If a line crosses another property, resolve the access and easement question before treating the route as available.
Make separate entries for temporary construction utilities and permanent service. A construction crew's power needs and a completed shop's electrical demand are different scope questions. Disclose planned large equipment to the electrical designer and provider so service assumptions match the intended use.
Investigate wastewater where it will actually go
For unincorporated Sedgwick County, MABCD's wastewater page identifies soil testing, soil survey and groundwater information as system-selection inputs. It also states that a licensed wastewater installer must obtain the wastewater permit, and that the applicable new-construction permit precedes the building permit. Ask the office how those requirements apply to your specific tract.
A conventional system includes both a tank and a treatment/dispersal area. EPA explains that the drainfield's soil is part of the treatment process. Consequently, reserving only a tank-sized patch on the drawing misses an essential part of the system.
Have the wastewater professional identify the proposed system footprint, required setbacks, service access and any replacement or reserve area required for the design. Show planned additions and heavy-vehicle routes. Keep future parking and workshop expansion from consuming space the wastewater design needs.
Record the proposed bedroom count and relevant uses accurately. If a future bedroom, guest apartment or shop bathroom is contemplated, disclose it now and ask how it affects the system. Do not assume an installed system can be expanded simply because unused land remains nearby.
Verify the water source independently
For a private supply, ask the well professional about a lawful location, expected investigation, testing, treatment evaluation and service access. A nearby well is useful background, but it is not a test of water quality or production at your proposed location.
MABCD's private-well guidance identifies the county-code coverage, permit sequence and water-analysis requirements. It states that newly constructed, reconstructed or treated wells require testing including bacteria and nitrate analysis at a minimum. City applicability and the exact work proposed should be confirmed with the responsible office.
Map potential contamination sources and existing wells, including abandoned ones. Ask the well and wastewater professionals to coordinate their locations, using the applicable separation rules rather than a generic internet diagram. Also locate the route from the well to the house, electrical controls, pressure equipment and any treatment equipment that testing indicates is appropriate.
Before accepting an existing well as part of a land purchase, request its records and an appropriate current evaluation. Separate “a well exists” from “this supply is suitable and approved for the proposed home.” Have the professional explain any unknowns before they become an assumption in the construction budget.
Treat the driveway as a designed connection
Identify the agency responsible for the road and ask about the proposed entrance. Show the actual driveway route, drainage crossing, gate and turnaround. Obtain any needed road and emergency-access review before ordering culvert materials or clearing a path.
The MABCD new-residence checklist flags road/driveway approval when a structure is more than 200 feet from the public or private roadway. Use that as a prompt to confirm the applicable fire-access review; it does not establish a universal width, grade or turning dimension for every jurisdiction.
Ask the builder how long deliveries, concrete trucks and erection equipment will reach the work. Identify staging and unloading areas that avoid the proposed wastewater field and other protected locations. Record who maintains access during construction and who completes the final drive surface afterward.
For a shop, draw the maneuvering envelope of the longest actual vehicle or trailer you intend to use. Check gate position, approach angle and space outside the overhead door. A large interior bay is less useful if a trailer cannot enter it without crossing landscaping or blocking the house entrance.
Resolve conflicts with one coordination matrix
This original matrix turns the site plan into a shared decision record:
| Pair of features | Conflict to investigate | Party to resolve it with |
|---|---|---|
| House and wastewater area | Footprint, elevations, pipe route and future additions | Designer and wastewater professional |
| Well and wastewater system | Applicable separation and contamination protection | Well/wastewater professionals and authority |
| Driveway and drainfield | Vehicle loading, construction access and reserved area | Site designer and wastewater professional |
| Utility trench and foundation | Entry elevations, sleeves and concealed connections | Foundation and trade contractors |
| Driveway and drainage | Culvert, runoff path, road connection and maintenance | Road authority and site designer |
| Shop doors and utility equipment | Vehicle clearance and service access | Designer, equipment suppliers and trades |
| Final grade and building openings | Water path, thresholds and outdoor surfaces | Site and building designers |
For each row, write the drawing revision, the decision and the person responsible. Recheck the matrix after moving the building, adding a porch or changing driveway alignment. Small drawing changes can have consequences beyond the trade that requested them.
What belongs in the utility bid package?
Require a defined start and end point for every scope. “Connect water” should identify the source, route, included excavation, required equipment and restoration. “Install septic” should identify the approved design and any excluded electrical, pumping or grading work. Ask who obtains permits, arranges tests and supplies final records.
List assumptions about rock, unsuitable soil, trench depth, dewatering, material disposal and offsite work. Ask how changed quantities will be priced and approved. Compare these boundaries using the builder-bid worksheet, not just the totals.
Before releasing foundation work, confirm that the site and utility drawings agree. Use the slab preparation checklist to coordinate under-slab work. For a home with significant workshop needs, the shop-home scope page helps carry the same activities and equipment into the building proposal.