A Zoning Clearance clarifies whether a proposed use or business is allowed by a property’s current zoning. This is an essential step of issuing a business license for those business located within the city limits of the City of Kansas City.

To apply for a Zoning Clearance for a business license, use one of the two following methods:

Apply with KCMO BizCare

Apply on CompassKC for a “Zoning Clearance for Business License”

Please Note: Approval of zoning clearance does not mean your location has the correct building code occupancy. To confirm if the official occupancy of your building matches the occupancy demands of your business and learn of any life safety requirements, please contact us at (816) 513-1500 or cdpermits@kcmo.org.

Questions about starting a business? Contact the KC BizCare team for assistance.

The Zoning Compliance Letter provides the following parcel information:

• Zoning district and permitted land use(s)
• Zoning Overlay Districts, Special Character Districts, and/or National and Local Historic Preservation Districts
• Approved Variances and Special or Conditional Use Permits
• Active Zoning Violations
• Active Building Code Violations

The fee for a Zoning Compliance Letter is $143.00. The turnaround time is 15 business days from receipt of the request and fee payment. The fee will be invoiced for each parcel being requested.

Apply online through our online permit portal CompassKC (CompassKC Help Guide). Simply click the "Apply" box in the top bar.  Then use the Application Assistant search feature to search "Zoning Compliance Letter" and choose that option selecting the blue apply button.