Journal article
Permits and paperwork: Administrative burden in Kansas City’s community food system
Journal of agriculture, food systems, and community development, Vol.15(2), pp.1-17
03/01/2026
DOI: 10.5304/jafscd.2026.152.005
Abstract
Local food producers and organization leaders often encounter unclear regulations, complex permitting processes, and frustration as they ensure that their food is grown legally. The administrative burden framework offers a valuable lens to identify these costs and potential interventions to support the long-term success of community food system efforts. This research uses a qualitative case study of the Kansas City metropolitan region to identify the learning, compliance, and psychological costs these actors face when encountering local government. I analyze survey and interview data to explore how administrative burdens manifest in local policy through zoning, use definitions, and permitting processes. Findings reveal that vague policy language and permitting requirements impose steep administrative costs. These barriers are not only technical but psychological, particularly for producers who perceive local food as marginalized, who face structural disadvantages such as insecure land tenure, or have limited familiarity with bureaucratic systems. Encounters with administrators often shape whether burdens are alleviated or intensified. Importantly, both informal peer networks and formal organizations—such as nonprofits—function as navigators, reducing costs and filling institutional gaps. Practical recommendations include clarifying local policies, conducting policy audits, and providing administrator training. This study underscores the need to address administrative costs that hamper investments in community food system initiatives.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Permits and paperwork: Administrative burden in Kansas City’s community food system
- Creators
- Sarah L. Hofmeyer - University of Kansas
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of agriculture, food systems, and community development, Vol.15(2), pp.1-17
- DOI
- 10.5304/jafscd.2026.152.005
- ISSN
- 2152-0801
- eISSN
- 2152-0801
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/01/2026
- Academic Unit
- Center for Social Science Innovation; School of Planning and Public Affairs
- Record Identifier
- 9985139494302771
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