Florence, KY — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Boone County Building Department

Street address

2950 Washington Street, 3rd Floor, Burlington, KY 41005

Phone

859-334-2218

bcbd@boonecountyky.org

Coverage

Florence's official business-opening guidance directs applicants to Boone County Building Department for building permits and Boone County Planning Commission for planning and zoning review. Florence separately handles local fire, occupational license, and some city service coordination.

Online portal

Oracle Public Sector

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Florence

Florence's official guidance says Boone County building permits are required for occupant change, change of use, enlargement or remodeling, regulated electrical, mechanical, gas, or plumbing work, and pallet racking installation, alteration, or relocation.

Note: No Florence-specific separate exemption list was found on the city site. County building permit exemptions still apply because Boone County Building Department is the building permit issuer for Florence. See county exemption list on Boone County Building Department FAQ page.

Required documents

County permit application and plans through Oracle
BCPC planning or zoning approvals as applicable
Tenant finish, home occupation, sign permit, TAD, and other review applications depending on project scope

Building code: Florence routes building permit enforcement to Boone County Building Department, whose codes page references the 2018 Kentucky Building Code and 2018 Kentucky Residential Code.
Permit validity: County states permit expires if work does not start within 6 months; extensions are available.
Owner-builder: No Florence-specific owner-builder handout found. County permit pages allow application by an owner or authorized agent.
Contractor requirements: Florence's business guidance states the city also requires state licenses and certifications for certain businesses and trades, while county permit pages require project affidavits and trade-specific state credentials where applicable.

Source: Boone County Building Department ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: No public Florence-specific turnaround found. County notes that after approval it may still take 1 to 2 days to issue.

01

For business, occupancy, or development-related work in Florence, start with the City's opening-a-business guidance and coordinate with the City of Florence as needed.
02

Obtain planning and zoning approval through Boone County Planning Commission. Florence states BCPC handles planning and zoning matters for Florence and may require tenant finish, home occupation, sign, TAD, site plan, board of adjustment, or design review filings depending on the project.
03

Create an Oracle Public Sector account with Boone County Building Department and submit the permit application with plans and supporting documents.
04

County staff checks intake completeness, routes the file for review, and assesses fees.
05

Pay fees in Oracle and answer any plan review comments or revision requests.
06

Wait for formal issuance before beginning work. Florence's page states permits and inspections are required by state law, and the county notes payment alone does not authorize work.
07

Print the issued permit and keep approved stamped plans on site for inspection.

Typical processing time: No public Florence-specific turnaround found. County notes that after approval it may still take 1 to 2 days to issue.

Source: Boone County Building Department ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Florence building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

$50 (residential alteration); $150 (commercial)

Plan check fee

Commercial fees include plan review and inspections; residential page lists $50 plan revision fee.

Permit fee formula

County valuation-based and flat-fee hybrid schedule, depending on permit type.

Reinspection fee

$50 (residential)

Penalty (no permit)

Unpermitted work can trigger doubled fees under county ordinance.

County Oracle portal accepts Visa or Mastercard after fees are assessed. Florence may separately require city occupational license and fire inspection fees outside the building permit fee.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

Boone County Building Department (phone)

Scheduling deadline: Building inspections are scheduled through Boone County Building Department by phone at least 24 hours in advance; Florence also requires a local fire inspection before business opening in applicable cases.
Inspection hours: County office hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM; no Florence-specific inspection windows published.

Typical sequence: Depends on permit type under the county inspection schedules; for example single-family dwellings follow footer, foundation or slab, frame and fire block, insulation, and final-related stages.

Source: Boone County Building Department ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Florence permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Florence, KY? ▸

02 How much does a building permit cost in Florence, KY? ▸

Building permit fees in Florence, KY are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $50 (residential alteration); $150 (commercial). Fees are calculated as: County valuation-based and flat-fee hybrid schedule, depending on permit type.. Plan check fee: Commercial fees include plan review and inspections; residential page lists $50 plan revision fee..

03 How do I apply for a building permit in Florence, KY? ▸

To apply for a building permit in Florence, KY, follow these steps: 1. For business, occupancy, or development-related work in Florence, start with the City's opening-a-business guidance and coordinate with the City of Florence as needed. 2. Obtain planning and zoning approval through Boone County Planning Commission. Florence states BCPC handles planning and zoning matters for Florence and may require tenant finish, home occupation, sign, TAD, site plan, board of adjustment, or design review filings depending on the project. 3. Create an Oracle Public Sector account with Boone County Building Department and submit the permit application with plans and supporting documents. 4. County staff checks intake completeness, routes the file for review, and assesses fees. 5. Pay fees in Oracle and answer any plan review comments or revision requests. 6. Wait for formal issuance before beginning work. Florence's page states permits and inspections are required by state law, and the county notes payment alone does not authorize work. 7. Print the issued permit and keep approved stamped plans on site for inspection.

04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Florence, KY? ▸

Building permit processing times in Florence, KY typically run No public Florence-specific turnaround found. County notes that after approval it may still take 1 to 2 days to issue.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 How do I schedule a building inspection in Florence, KY? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Florence, KY via: Boone County Building Department. Building inspections are scheduled through Boone County Building Department by phone at least 24 hours in advance; Florence also requires a local fire inspection before business opening in applicable cases..

last verified April 2026 source Boone County Building Department ↗ entry id permits/kentucky/boone/florence

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Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Boone County Building Department before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

City of Florence

Other jurisdictions in Boone County.