Where Goddard sits
Goddard lies on U.S. 54 immediately west of Wichita, about 13.5 miles straight-line from downtown, based on the city's coordinates. At about 1,463 ft, it sits higher than Maize (1,348 ft) or Derby (1,293 ft), on open upland between the Arkansas and Ninnescah rivers. Upland means fewer creek bottoms than in Maize or Derby, and open ground on the west edge of town takes the wind with little in the way.
Do you need a permit for a greenhouse in Goddard?
Goddard handles permits itself. Per the city's permits page, "Goddard will process all permits for work being completed inside the city limits." Contractors must be licensed with MABCD, and after the permit is paid, the city does the inspections.
Goddard's zoning regulations, Article 6, set the rules a backyard greenhouse runs into:
| Rule | Goddard zoning (Art. 6) |
|---|---|
| Size cap, enclosed accessory building on a one- or two-family lot | 280 sq ft gross floor area, unless the Board of Zoning Appeals approves a conditional use |
| Zoning permit required | Accessory structures over 120 sq ft of ground area, or any needing a permanent foundation under the building code |
| Front and side setbacks | Same as the house |
| Rear setback | At least 3 ft from the rear lot line |
| Distance from the house | At least 10 ft from any principal structure |
| Height | One story, no taller than the house |
| Timing | No accessory building before construction of the house begins |
Two cautions. First, the code doesn't name greenhouses. We read a backyard greenhouse as a "building for storage and other enclosed purposes," which is where the 280 sq ft cap sits, but confirm with Goddard. Second, the building-code side. Goddard's residential code article still adopts the 2012 IRC as amended by Sedgwick County Resolution 106-2015, with no newer edition on record. Under that 2012-era text, accessory buildings of 200 sq ft or less were exempt from a building permit (Res. 080-2017), so 200 sq ft is likely the line. Confirm with Goddard when you apply.
Bottom line: over 280 sq ft means a Board of Zoning Appeals request. Our permit guide compares every jurisdiction in the county.
What soil is under a Goddard greenhouse?
We sampled a nine-point grid across Goddard, spaced about a mile apart, in NRCS Soil Data Access (Sedgwick County survey, KS173). Goddard is the most uniform of our three location pages.
| Soil (NRCS map unit) | Points | Foundation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blanket silt loam, 1–3% slopes | 6 of 9 | Well drained, group C; subsoil clay up to 42%; moderate-to-high shrink-swell (linear extensibility 6.0%, high end 7.7%) |
| Nalim loam | 1 of 9 | Well drained; moderate shrink-swell (4.5%) |
| Vanoss silt loam | 1 of 9 | Well drained, group B; moderate (4.6%) |
| Tabler silty clay loam | 1 of 9 | Clay up to 43%, high shrink-swell (6.2%), group D |
None of the nine points flagged flooding or a shallow water table. That sets Goddard apart from Maize.
The trap is the word "well drained." Blanket drains well at the surface, so lots look easy. But its subsoil is clay that swells when wet and shrinks in a dry August. A slab poured on it without preparation can crack. For a glazed greenhouse, piers or a footing below the 24-inch frost depth limit that movement. On the occasional Tabler pocket, add drainage too. We confirm soil on site before we design. See greenhouse foundations.
Hail: where the 2010 swath began
The National Weather Service describes the September 15, 2010 storm as "part of a large hail swath that extended from Goddard to Udall." The supercell moved "southeast across Maize, Goddard and Western Wichita." It dropped the 7.75-inch, 1.1-lb stone near Pawnee and 119th in southwest Wichita, a few miles east of Goddard; NWS said it may set a Kansas record.
Goddard sits at the swath's western edge, so the glazing choice is the same as in Maize or west Wichita. Twin- or triple-wall polycarbonate is the usual answer for a year-round greenhouse. Our hail-resistant glazing guide covers impact ratings and insurance.
Wind and sun on the west edge
Open upland means wind. MABCD's local table lists "76w/90-3 sec. gust" (Sec. 2.4.115, UBTC), one older value written two ways: 76 mph fastest-mile = 90 mph 3-second gust. Current maps give 115 mph ultimate (Meltplan), about 89 mph in allowable-stress terms. Velocity pressure at 115 mph is 0.00256 × 115² = 33.9 psf before exposure factors. A west-edge lot with no windbreak sits in the more exposed category. Our wind-rated design guide runs the anchoring math.
Sun is the upside. At 37.66°N, December 21 solar noon is 90 − 37.66 − 23.44 = 28.90°, and a wall shades 1.81× its height. On a lot without neighbors to the south, a lean-to or passive solar greenhouse gets the full winter sun.
Who builds greenhouses in Goddard?
Goddard is inside our core service area: Sedgwick County and towns within about 30 miles of Wichita. Price depends on size, glazing and foundation. Published national figures run $5 to $30 per sq ft for most residential greenhouses, averaging about $22 (LawnStarter, Dec 2025); we quote your actual build. Nearby towns are on our service area page.
Frequently asked questions
How big can a greenhouse be in Goddard, KS?
Goddard's zoning caps enclosed accessory buildings on one- and two-family lots at 280 sq ft unless the Board of Zoning Appeals approves more. Confirm with the city that the cap applies to greenhouses.
Do I need a zoning permit for a small greenhouse in Goddard?
Zoning permits are required for accessory structures over 120 sq ft of ground area, or any that need a permanent foundation. A building permit is separate; under Goddard's adopted 2012-era code, 200 sq ft or less is likely exempt, but confirm with Goddard.
How close to the property line can I build in Goddard?
At least 3 ft from the rear lot line, the same front and side setbacks as the house, and at least 10 ft from the house.
Is Goddard soil good for a greenhouse foundation?
It drains well, but Blanket silt loam has a clay subsoil with moderate-to-high shrink-swell. Piers or footings below 24 inches suit glazed greenhouses.
Was Goddard in the 2010 hail swath?
Yes. NWS describes the swath as extending from Goddard to Udall.
Get a quote
Send us your Goddard address, lot layout and the size you want. We'll check the 280 sq ft cap, your setbacks and your soil, then price the build.