How do I find the zoning for a property in Manhattan, Kansas?

Manhattan's Community Development department maintains the official zoning map through the city's GIS portal; staff can confirm a parcel's district and any pending rezoning.

Why is multifamily zoning contentious near Kansas State University?

K-State's enrollment drives steady demand for student housing near campus and Aggieville, so rezoning requests for higher-density multifamily in or adjacent to established single-family neighborhoods are a recurring and often contested item before the Planning Board.

Who approves rezonings in Manhattan, Kansas?

The Planning Board reviews rezoning and PUD applications and makes a recommendation, with final approval by the Manhattan City Commission.

Manhattan, Kansas · city zoning districts · 16 districts

Manhattan, KS zoning map & districts

Manhattan's zoning regulations are administered by the city's Community Development department, with the Planning Board reviewing rezonings before City Commission approval. As home to Kansas State University, Manhattan's zoning map has to absorb significant enrollment-driven housing demand concentrated near campus and along the Aggieville commercial district, which regularly puts pressure on multifamily rezoning requests in and adjacent to established single-family neighborhoods.

The code Manhattan Zoning Regulations

Manhattan zoning map

Manhattan's Community Development department maintains the zoning regulations and official zoning map; the city's GIS portal supports parcel-level lookup, and Community Development staff can confirm status on any pending rezoning near campus or Aggieville.

There is no link to the official map here yet — confirm current district boundaries directly with the Manhattan planning or zoning department.

A published summary is never the authority. The adopted ordinance and the city's official zoning map govern, and both change — verify the district and every standard on your parcel before you rely on it.

How zoning works in Manhattan

Manhattan's code follows a conventional residential/commercial/industrial district structure with a Planned Unit Development option for larger or custom-standard projects; current district boundaries should be confirmed directly with Community Development given how actively contested campus-adjacent rezonings have been in recent years.

Manhattan zoning districts by family

The 16 district codes below are the ones that decide most projects in Manhattan, grouped by what they are for rather than by the order the ordinance prints them.

Key districts in the Manhattan Zoning Regulations — a curated reference, not the exhaustive list. Confirm against the current adopted code.
Code	District	What it is for
Residential 4 districts
RL	Low-Density Residential	Standard single-family district.
RM	Medium-Density Residential	Townhome and small multifamily density tier.
RH	High-Density Residential	Apartment-scale multifamily district, common near campus.
RC	Urban Core Residential	Dense residential district in Manhattan's older core neighborhoods.
Mixed-use 2 districts
CA	Aggieville	Manhattan's dedicated entertainment and mixed-use district next to campus.
MU	Mixed-Use	Combined residential and commercial development under the UDO.
Commercial 3 districts
CN	Neighborhood Commercial	Small-format retail serving surrounding neighborhoods.
CC	Community Commercial	Mid-scale shopping district along collector corridors.
BC	Business Commercial	General business and office-commercial district.
Downtown / core 1 district
CD	Downtown	Manhattan's downtown core district.
Industrial 4 districts
BP	Business Park	Campus-style office and light-industrial park district.
IL	Light Industrial	Light manufacturing district.
IG	Industrial	General industrial district under the UDO.
ICS	Industrial/Commercial Service	Service-oriented industrial and commercial uses under the UDO.
Special purpose 2 districts
U	University and College	UDO code is 'U', not 'UC'; institutional district tied to Kansas State University.
PI	Public/Institutional	Public and institutional uses under the UDO.

Manhattan zoning — common questions

How do I find the zoning for a property in Manhattan, Kansas?: Manhattan's Community Development department maintains the official zoning map through the city's GIS portal; staff can confirm a parcel's district and any pending rezoning.
Why is multifamily zoning contentious near Kansas State University?: K-State's enrollment drives steady demand for student housing near campus and Aggieville, so rezoning requests for higher-density multifamily in or adjacent to established single-family neighborhoods are a recurring and often contested item before the Planning Board.
Who approves rezonings in Manhattan, Kansas?: The Planning Board reviews rezoning and PUD applications and makes a recommendation, with final approval by the Manhattan City Commission.

Working in Kansas? Get on the list.

The parcel layer lands in the order demand does. Illinois went first because that's where the deals were; the next state is decided by who tells us what they're trying to underwrite. Tell us where you're building and what you wanted to run — you'll hear from us when Kansas opens, and sooner if we need a test parcel.

Keep reading

← Kansas zoning — who holds the zoning power in Kansas, under which enabling statute, and the reforms that override local rules.

Other Kansas cities

The zoning reference → — every state, plus city-level district guides like this one.

Manhattan zoning summaries on this page are provided for information, not legal advice. Confirm every project against the current adopted code for the jurisdiction.