Frequently Asked Questions

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Use the FAQs module to easily find answers to the questions you ask the most.

In almost all cases the document must be an original. The only exceptions are for certified copies from Courts and from the Bureau of Vital Statistics for Death Certificates.

We cannot fill out the forms for you, but we can help guide you as to what information must be filled in.

The earliest records date back to the 1860’s. Patents are among the early records when land was bought from the United States government. The original documents would have been signed by the President of the United States.

No, It is not a service of our office, but we can instruct you on how to search the records or give you the names of local title companies that would perform the search.

The minimum acreage size to construct a residence in the unincorporated areas of Franklin County is 3.00 acres as long as you can meet the setback requirements and your on-site wastewater system will fit on that 3.00 acre tract. If, after you have had a soil profile test done, you find out you need to install a wastestabilitization pond (lagoon) it requires a minimum 5.00 acres.

The setback requirements for Franklin County depend on what the property is zoned. The Setback Requirements schedule will assist you in figuring out the setback requirement for your particular Zoning District.

The Zoning District Classifications are based on acreage size. Each Zoning District has uses that are allowed and other that are allowed pending the approval of a Special Use Permit. Those uses are outline in the Franklin County Zoning Regulations.

Under special circumstances the Franklin County Zoning Regulations may allow a temporary dwelling when a Temporary Hardship can be proven which would allow a second dwelling to be placed/constructed with the approval of a Temporary Use Permit. For further information you can review Article 26 of the Franklin County Zoning Regulations or contact the Planning & Building Department at 785-229-3570.

It is always better to avoid building in a floodplain, however in some cases you can build in a floodplain if certain standards and requirements are met. Article 16 of the Franklin County Zoning Regulations addresses floodplain development or you can contact the Floodplain Administrator at the Planning & Building Department at 785-229-3570 to determine if you are in a floodplain or if you have any questions about building in a floodplain.

Any work/construction outside of routine maintenance or minor repair requires a permit BEFORE the work/construction is started. To find out if a specific project requires a permit call the Planning & Building office at 785-229-3570 for more information.

A Building Permit is only valid for a period of 180 days unless construction has begun within that time frame. Where construction has been initiated within the required time frame, the permit is then valid for a period of one (1) year from the date of the completion of the first inspection.

You will need to fill out a Building Permit Application. You will also need a copy of your deed, a site (plot) plan drawing, and two (2) sets of AS BUILT drawings/plans. The Helpful Hints will assistant you in what you need to do or you can find out more information about what needs to be submitted to obtain a building permit by calling the Planning & Building office at 785-229-3570.

The site plan is a drawing looking down on your property that depicts the dimensions of the property and location and size of existing structure/s and any proposed structures and shall include driveway entrance and separation distance of structures from the property lines. There is a sample of a site (plot) plan included in the Helpful Hints.

The building permit fees for Franklin County are dependent on the type of structure you are building and the square footage of the proposed structure. The Building Permit fee schedule will assist you in determining the fee for the proposed structure. You can determine the building permit fee by looking at the building permit fee schedule or you can call 785-229-3570 for the amount. The permit fees are due when your permit is issued.

All Commercial construction must be prepared by an architect or engineer. Generally, plans for light frame single family dwellings are not required to be prepared and sealed, however, some special features may require design requirements to be sealed by an engineer. These will be noted on the plan by the Building Official.

Franklin County has adopted the 2003 editions of the IRC (Residential), IBC (Building), IPC (Plumbing) and IMC (Mechanical) Codes and also the 2002 Edition of the NEC (Electrical) Code.

The Franklin County Planning & Building Department have the adopted Code books available to read in our office.

Generally anything that is considered to be a safety or sanitation requirement must be complete before occupancy of a new dwelling will be granted. A Certificate of Occupancy is required to be issued by the Building Official before a dwelling may be legally occupied. Some of the issues that must be complete for a residence to be occupied prior to full completion include: • Approval of the onsite wastewater system and water supply by the Environmental Health Department • Smoke detectors required by building code installed and functioning • At least one fully functioning bathroom, including a tub or shower, a lavatory and a water closet; any opening in the DWV system for additional fixtures shall be capped • A kitchen sink and cooking facilities • A water heater with a thermal expansion tank • At least one exit including landings, stairs, handrails and guardrails that fully comply with applicable code requirements; additional exit doors do not have landings that are over 30 inches above the outside grade shall be blocked by approved guardrails or be locked by temporary double keyed deadbolts • Handrails on stairs with three or more risers and guardrails on porches, decks or similar platforms located 30 inches or more above adjacent surface • Required electrical receptacles, switches, lights, fixtures Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters and cover plates • Final approval of the Electrical Service, including grounding system shall have been given • Between September 30 and May 1, required mechanical heating equipment shall be completed and approval given by the Building Official • A Temporary of Occupancy may be obtained in certain cases until a full final approval of the residence is given.

The Certificate of Occupancy is issued within a couple days following a passed final inspection and is mailed to the owner, unless otherwise specified.

No. Manufactured homes have been constructed to the minimum Department of Housing and Urban Development Design Standards which did not include any additions. Detached decks and landings are permitted.

A manufactured home may be installed anywhere that a site built home is permitted by the County Regulations and in the Mobile Home Park District. Any manufactured home installed in Franklin County must comply with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards approved by HUD through 1994 or newer.

Court costs, fines, attorney fees, DNA fees, KBI fees and restitution should be paid directly to the District Court of the county you were sentenced in. Community Corrections does not accept payments for these fees.

We only purchase aluminum cans.

We no longer accept E-Waste.

The state of Kansas has declared the following weeds noxious that are found in Franklin County: Field Bindweed, Johnson Grass, Musk Thistle, Sericea Lespedeza.

There are links on our page that have descriptions and pictures. If you are still unsure you can take a picture or bring a sample and one of our staff will determine if it is one of the four noxious weeds found in Franklin County.

Franklin County is licensed to sell herbicides for Noxious Weed Control Only. The herbicide products sold can only be purchased for use on land in Franklin County. Contact our office for more information.

Chances are we don't have your insurance information. Please call us with your insurance name, address, policy number and group number.

Yes, Franklin County Ambulance will work with you on payment arrangements.

Franklin County Ambulance will work with you on payment arrangements, please call for more information.

We do not charge if we do not transport the patient.

We do have the option allowing you to

No, the full-service Driver's License station is located at 225 South Walnut, Ottawa. Phone# - (785)242-1276 Tues-Fri 7am-5:30pm

No, for a ticket issued by the City of Ottawa you will need to contact the Ottawa Municipal Court at 715 West 2ns Street Ottawa KS, 66067. (785)242-5333. If the ticket was issued by the Kansas Highway Patrol or the Franklin County Sheriff's Office you will need to contact the Franklin County District Court: 301 South Main Ottawa, KS (785)242-6000.

The following link should help you find information on this

A properly assigned title, proof of insurance, the signature of the purchaser and the current fee are needed to get a 60 day permit. A property completed transfer of ownership agreement (TR-39a), proof of insurance and the current fee may also be used

To remove a name(s): At least one of the current owners must remain on the title as an owner. Use the assignment on the back of the title. Complete the purchaser's name space on the back of the title under "Name of Purchaser" as the name(s) are to appear on the new title. If there is a lien holder for the vehicle, a Lienholder's Consent to Transfer Ownership, form TR-128, must be completed. If there is an etitle, use the assignment space on the bottom of the form TR-128. Adding a name(s): Only an immediate family member (spouse, father, mother, son and/or daughter) can be added to a title. On the back of the title, use the purchaser's name space to record ALL the names that are to appear on the new title. If there is a lien holder for the vehicle, a Lienholder's Consent to Transfer Ownership, form TR-128, must be completed. If there is an etitle, use the assignment space on the bottom of the form TR-128. If you are adding any names that are not immediate family members, use the back of the title and complete the purchaser's name space to record ALL the names that are to appear on the new title. If there is a lien holder for the vehicle, a Lienholder's Consent to Transfer Ownership, form TR-128, must be completed. If there is an etitle, use the assignment space on the bottom of the form TR-128. This is considered an original title application and all fees and taxes will be accessed. Changing name(s) due to marriage or court order will requires a copy of the marriage license or the court order. On the back of the title, use the back of the title and complete the purchaser's name space to record ALL the names that are to appear on the new title. If there is a lien holder for the vehicle, a Lienholder's Consent to Transfer Ownership, form TR-128, must be completed. If there is an etitle, use the assignment space on the bottom of the form TR-128.

You will need to exhibit proof of insurance to the treasurer. The proof of insurance must have: the name of the insurance company, the policy number, name of the vehicle owner, the effective and expiration date of the coverage, the year, make and VIN for the vehicle being renewed. You will need proof of insurance for each vehicle. If a trailer does not have its own coverage, the trailer will use the insurance of the vehicle that will be towing the trailer. State law K.S.A 40-3107 requires proof of insurance as a prerequisite to motor vehicle registration.

To determine if there is a lien holder listed on the vehicle record look at the latest registration receipt issued for the vehicle or trailer. If there is a lien holder on the file with the Kansas Division of Vehicles (D of V) for the vehicle. It will say Title held Electronically at the top of your registration. Kansas has been an Electronic holding state since 2003. You would need to bring the notarized lien release to the Motor Vehicle Department to process the release. The state office will print your title that night and mail to you. Please be sure the clerk knows you proper mailing address. Prior to 2003, titles were printed with lien. To replace, you need a lien release and $20.00. (Exception, moving out of state). If there is no lien holder for the vehicle, a duplicate title application can be completed at any county treasurer's office or by mail directly to the Titles and Registrations Bureau. You will need to complete the Application for Secured/Duplicate/Reissue Title, form TR-720B that includes the following information: vehicle year, make and identification number, owner's name(s) and the current odometer reading. Include appropriate title fee. NOTE: If the title was issued prior to 2003 and you have an out of state lien holder, check the upper left portion of the receipt for application for Kansas title for "SMO to Lienholder". If there is and SMO (Special Mailing Order) noted on the application, the title was mailed to the lien holder. If the lien is paid off, contact the lien holder concerning the title. If the title was printed but not mailed to the lien holder or the lien holder does not have the title, you will need a lien release and make application for a "reissued" title that will remove the lien enabling a title to be printed.

If you do not receive your decal in the mail within 10 days from mailing in your payment, contact our office at (785)229-3455 to inquire if the decal may have been returned to our office. If the decal has been returned, give the customer service representative the correct mailing address and the decal will be either sent out again or held in the office if you want to pick it up in person. If the decal has not been returned, a police report must be filed in the city in which you reside. After filing the police report, bring the report, license plate number of the vehicle, insurance information and $1.50 to either motor vehicle office to obtain a replacement decal. This must be done by the registered owner of the vehicle, or the registered owner may give someone Power of Attorney to process this transaction on their behalf.

Road maps are available at the Public Works Department Office, 1428 S. Main St., Suite 5, Ottawa, Kansas. The map is 24” square and the costs $2.00 each. The maps are available in other sizes at the Appraisers Office, County Courthouse, 315 S. Main St., Ottawa, Kansas. Please contact the Appraisers Office for other sizes available and the cost.

Ownership maps are available at the County Appraisers Office, County Courthouse, 315 S. Main St., Ottawa, Kansas. Please contact the County Appraisers Office for the sizes available and the cost.

If the existing pipe or tube is too small to handle normal rainfall amounts then you should contact the Public Works Department at (785) 229-3550. We will study the location and make a determination as to the best manner to proceed.

If the width of your entrance is too narrow because you have changed the type or size of vehicle/s you are using, then you would be responsible for the upgrade (widening) of the entrance. Applications for the upgrade are available at the Public Works Department Office, 1428 S. Main St. Suite 5, Ottawa, Kansas (or you can download the form in .pdf format by clicking on Entrance Requirements). If you have any questions, please contact the Public Works Department at (785) 229-3550.

Applications for the installation of new entrances are available at the Public Works Department Office, 1428 S. Main St. Suite #5, Ottawa, Kansas (or you can download the form in .pdf format by clicking on Entrance Requirements). If you have any questions, please contact the Public Works Department at (785) 229-3550.

Entrances must be constructed to proper standards and specifications for reasons primarily related to traffic safety. The standards and specifications are contained within the Entrance Construction Application available at the Public Works Department Office, 1428 S. Main St. Suite #5, Ottawa, Kansas (or you can download the application in .pdf format by clicking on Entrance Requirements). If you have any questions, please contact the Public Works Department at (785) 229-3550.

Roads are vacated by a legislative act by the Board of County Commissioners. The process to vacate a road is authorized by K.S.A. 68-102 et seq. A hearing before the County Commissioners is required prior to action. Various public notices of the hearing/s are required. While it is possible for the Board of County Commissioners to vacate a road on their own initiative, they are typically reluctant to do so without a petition. Petitions to vacate a road may be submitted to the Public Works Department Office, 1428 S. Main St. Suite #5, Ottawa, Kansas. If you have any questions, please contact the Public Works Department at (785) 229-3550.

Permission to place a gate on a rural public road may only be granted by the Board of County Commissioners in locations that are typically agricultural in nature and not subject to routine traffic. Requests can be made to the Public Works Department Office, 1428 S. Main St., Suite #5, Ottawa, Kansas.

Roads and bridges are rarely closed to traffic except in cases of major construction. If you have a question about a specific road or bridge you may contact the Public Works Department Office at (785) 229-3550 or by visiting the “Current Projects” link at www.franklincoks.org/countydepartments/publicworks.

A “minimum maintenance” road is a road that receives little or no routine maintenance and has been officially designated as such by the Franklin County Board of County Commissioners. Kansas law (K.S.A. 68-5, 102) allows for certain roads to be designated as “minimum maintenance” for various reasons. Generally, roads that have been so designated have very low traffic. Designating a road as “minimum maintenance” reduces the tort liability associated with failure to maintain a roadway to normal standards.

The process to designate a road from “minimum maintenance” to “full maintenance” involves a hearing before the Board of County Commissioners. Requests to designate a road as “full maintenance” can be made to the Public Works Department Office, 1428 S. Main St., Suite #5, Ottawa Kansas. If you have any questions, please contact the Public Works Department at (785) 229-3550.

Each late winter, with the approval of the Board of County Commissioners, the Public Works Department has an enrollment period for residents wishing to purchase a “dust palliative” treatment for the road fronting their property. This is a user-fee program, so the property owner pays up front for the estimated cost of applying the dust palliative material. In addition, the user-fee also pays for the road to be prepared for the dust palliative, the application of the dust palliative. The dust palliative is typically applied in late spring. The most common dust palliative products are calcium chloride and magnesium chloride. Both products consist of a “brine solution” found naturally in various regions of the U.S.A. The products have been found to control dust by attracting moisture from the atmosphere causing dust to “clump” together. This aids in dust control in two ways. First, the road surface tends to form a hard crust that does not have loose dust particles. Secondly, larger and heavier dust particles do not float about as much. Franklin County does not guarantee the results of the product. We simply provide an enrollment service to allow the collective purchase of the product in a large enough quantity to achieve an economical solution. Once the enrollment period has closed, then departmental staff reviews each location to determine if it has been marked properly. The quantity of dust palliative required to cover the locations is then calculated and a bid process is initiated. Once the bid has been awarded, large tank trucks are used to apply the product to the locations throughout the County. Please note that the road must be properly graded by the Public Works Department prior to application of the dust palliative. In addition, occasional grading may be required should hazardous potholes develop within the treatment segment of the road. Degradation of the dust-controlling properties of the dust palliative may occur. If you have any questions, please contact the Public Works Department at (785) 229-3550.

Various roads have different width of right-of-way depending on several factors. Some have widths that were determined arbitrarily by statute based on the year they were created. Other roads have variable right-of-way widths depending on the terrain in which they are located. Roads built to modern standards generally fall into this category. To find out the road right-of-way width of your road you can contact the Public Works Department at (785) 229-3550.

If the immediate safety of traffic is at risk due to a missing traffic control sign, (i.e. a STOP sign) then you should contact the appropriate law enforcement agency by dialing 911. Other rural sign problems concerning down or damaged signs should be reported to the Public Works Department by calling (785) 229-3550.

There are several agencies located within Franklin County with rural roadway maintenance responsibilities. State and Federal Highways are maintained by the Kansas Department of Transportation. Other major and local rural routes are maintained by the Franklin County Public Works Department. If you have any questions, please contact the Public Works Department at (785) 229-3550.

Before you come in for a vaccination please check with your health insurance company to see what vaccines are covered, if you are locked in to a provider or if there is a deductible you must pay.

A second dose is recommended to boost immunity to these diseases because the immunity developed may lessen over time.

Pertussis can cause serious illness, hospitalization and even death — especially in infants who are too young to be well-protected by vaccines. Because vaccine protection fades over time, parents and other caregivers of infants need to get Tdap vaccine to protect against pertussis as well as tetanus and diphtheria.

If you are not a county resident, you do not have to serve a juror in this county. You should note that information in writing on your juror questionnaire.

Effective July 1, 2014, prospective jurors who appear at the Franklin County Court Building will receive $10 the first day of service and $20 for all subsequent days of jury service. Prospective jurors who have appeared at the courthouse for jury duty in Coffey and Anderson County receive $40.00 a day for their service. Summoned prospective jurors who appear at the courthouse for jury duty in Osage County receive $30.00 a day for their service. Jurors living outside the city limits of the courthouse will be reimbursed for their mileage. Payment is made by the county around the first day of following month.

While there is no law regarding age, the 4th Judicial District will excuse jurors over the age of 70, if requested. Please indicate your preference on the juror questionnaire.

The Fourth Judicial District will accommodate anyone wishing to serve as a juror. Please indicate your needs when you return the questionnaire. You may also request relief from serving as a juror if the service creates a hardship.

The 4th Judicial District will not require you to serve as a juror more than once in a 12 month period. If you are summoned twice in a year's time, please indicate such on your questionnaire and court personnel will excuse you.

The 4th Judicial District uses the list of licensed drivers provided by the state. A computer randomly selects a pool of potential jurors for each trial. If your mailing address is incorrect on the summons, it is usually because the information is incorrect on the driver’s license list received from the state.

If you are a full time college student, living a considerable distance from the city where court is held, please indicate that on your juror questionnaire. Each student requesting excused status will be reviewed on an individual basis.

No, parents with children at home are not automatically excused from jury service. If we excluded all parents with children at home our jury pool would not truly be representative of our community. You are responsible for arranging for your own child care if you are called for jury service.

The Clerk of District Court will provide every juror with a letter for your employer when you arrive and check in for your jury service.

Jury service is the duty of all citizens, including employers and employees. Employers must not reprimand you for jury service. District Court will provide documentation of your attendance for your employer. If you have any questions or problems please call the telephone number on your summons.