Daviess County, KY - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

For unincorporated Daviess County, OMPC handles building plan review, permits, and inspections. Daviess County Engineering separately processes encroachment and excavation cut/fill permits and reviews drainage-related issues. The County Road Department also posts the driveway permit form and manages county-road access work.

Department

Owensboro Metropolitan Planning Commission (OMPC), Building and Electrical Division; plus Daviess County Engineering Department and Daviess County Road Department for county encroachment, cut/fill, drainage, and driveway access matters

Address

OMPC: 200 E. 3rd Street, Owensboro, KY 42303; County Public Works/Engineering: 212 St. Ann Street, Room 202, Owensboro, KY 42303

Phone

OMPC permits: 270-687-8665; County Engineering/Public Works: 270-685-8456

Email

OMPC: permits@owensboro.org , County Engineering: No direct public email located

Website

https://iompc.org/permitting/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Start with OMPC to confirm zoning, parcel status, access, floodplain conditions, and whether the project needs a basic site plan, development plan, or full building plan review package.
2. Identify county-side approvals early. In unincorporated Daviess County, driveway access, encroachment, cut/fill, drainage, and stormwater issues are handled by county engineering or the road department in parallel with the OMPC permit review.
3. Prepare the permit package. For OMPC this can include Form 301, site plan, construction drawings, energy calculations, floodplain information, and separate trade permits. Commercial or more complex projects may require the Form 320 packet with plan review worksheets and supporting criteria.
4. Submit the OMPC application online, by email, or in person. Submit county engineering or road permit forms separately for driveway, encroachment, and excavation cut/fill work.
5. Complete outside-agency approvals where triggered, such as plumbing, RWRA utility review, health department items, state floodplain or stream permits, and utility clearances.
6. Pay fees and wait for permit issuance before starting work. OMPC posts the same Kentucky-code warning that work started before permit issuance is subject to a minimum added penalty of $500.
7. Schedule required inspections. OMPC's published minimum building inspection sequence is footer, framing or rough-in, and final. County-side inspections may also be required for encroachment or roadway-related work.

Typical processing time: No general county building-permit turnaround was publicly posted. County engineering and road pages do not publish standard review times.

Source: Owensboro Metropolitan Planning Commission (OMPC), Building and Electrical Division; plus Daviess County Engineering Department and Daviess County Road Department for county encroachment, cut/fill, drainage, and driveway access matters

General Requirements

Within Daviess County, new construction, additions, and certain remodeling require permits and review. Countywide OMPC pamphlets say permits are required for additions and for structural alterations. Separate approvals are also needed as applicable for electrical, HVAC, plumbing, signs, pools, floodplain development, driveway entrances, cut/fill, and work affecting county right-of-way.

Required Documents

• OMPC Form 301 construction permit application
• Site plan or development plan
• Building plans
• Energy calculations
• Drainage and floodplain information where applicable
• Separate trade permit applications
• County-side roadway or earthwork forms where applicable

Permit validity

No current OMPC or county page was found that publishes a general building permit expiration period for unincorporated county projects.

Building code

Kentucky Building Code under 815 KAR 7:120 and Kentucky Residential Code under 815 KAR 7:125 apply in unincorporated Daviess County, with the Kentucky Building Code incorporating the 2023 National Electrical Code for electrical standards.

Owner-builder

OMPC publishes homeowner HVAC permits for owner-occupied one- and two-family dwellings, with occupancy affidavit, sizing calculations, and one new-home homeowner permit allowed per five years. OMPC also allows homeowner or farmer electrical permits on the owner's property subject to inspector review of competency.

Contractor requirements

Kentucky licensing applies to electricians and plumbers. HVAC work follows Kentucky HVAC regulations. County roadway or access work may involve county approval conditions and, depending on scope, contractor capability requirements, but the county pages do not publish a separate countywide contractor-license roster for building permits.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$20

Plan check fee

OMPC Form 323 applies where plan review is required and uses occupancy-based per-square-foot fees plus specialized fire protection review fees.

Permit fee formula

OMPC building permits use the published valuation schedule: $20 up to $3,000; $20 plus $3 per $1,000 from $3,000 to $100,000; $311 plus $2 per $1,000 from $100,000 to $500,000; $1,111 plus $1 per $1,000 from $500,000 to $10,000,000; $10,611 plus $0.50 per $1,000 above $10,000,000

Trade permit fee

Electrical: $75 minimum; $0.05 per square foot residential or 1.5% of cost commercial/industrial

Reinspection fee

$15 for additional electrical trips; no county engineering reinspection fee schedule was located online

Penalty (no permit)

$500 minimum added fee if work starts before permit issuance

Payment note

OMPC plan review materials direct checks to the Owensboro Metropolitan Planning Commission. County pages did not publish online payment instructions for driveway, encroachment, or cut/fill permits.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Replacing roof covering when no structural work is involved
• Replacing siding when no structural work is involved
• Replacing windows when no structural work is involved
• Fences, subject to zoning, height, setback, easement, and utility checks
• Sidewalks and driveways on private property do not require a building permit, but county drainage review, cut/fill approval, driveway access approval, or right-of-way authorization may still be required

Important: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from county engineering or road department approvals. Confirm all requirements before proceeding.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• OMPC: 270-687-8665 (phone)
• County: 270-685-8456 (phone)
• OMPC portal (online)

Inspection hours

County engineering office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Typical inspection sequence: OMPC's minimum published sequence is footer before concrete, framing or rough-in before concealment, and final before occupancy. Electrical inspections generally include rough-in and final. County-side access or encroachment work is inspected under county engineering or road procedures where applicable.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Kentucky Building Code under 815 KAR 7:120 and Kentucky Residential Code under 815 KAR 7:125 apply in unincorporated Daviess County, with the Kentucky Building Code incorporating the 2023 National Electrical Code for electrical standards.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• OMPC Forms
• OMPC Zoning Maps
• Daviess County Engineering
• Daviess County Road Department
• Daviess County Contact Directory
• Daviess County Public Works Policies
• License lookup guide: Kentucky Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Kentucky Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Kentucky hub: Kentucky Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Daviess County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Daviess County, KY?

Within Daviess County, new construction, additions, and certain remodeling require permits and review. Countywide OMPC pamphlets say permits are required for additions and for structural alterations. Separate approvals are also needed as applicable for electrical, HVAC, plumbing, signs, pools, floodplain development, driveway entrances, cut/fill, and work affecting county right-of-way.

How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Daviess County, KY?

The minimum permit fee is $20. Fees are calculated as: OMPC building permits use the published valuation schedule: $20 up to $3,000; $20 plus $3 per $1,000 from $3,000 to $100,000; $311 plus $2 per $1,000 from $100,000 to $500,000; $1,111 plus $1 per $1,000 from $500,000 to $10,000,000; $10,611 plus $0.50 per $1,000 above $10,000,000. Plan check fee: OMPC Form 323 applies where plan review is required and uses occupancy-based per-square-foot fees plus specialized fire protection review fees..

How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Daviess County, KY?

1. Start with OMPC to confirm zoning, parcel status, access, floodplain conditions, and whether the project needs a basic site plan, development plan, or full building plan review package. 2. Identify county-side approvals early. In unincorporated Daviess County, driveway access, encroachment, cut/fill, drainage, and stormwater issues are handled by county engineering or the road department in parallel with the OMPC permit review. 3. Prepare the permit package. For OMPC this can include Form 301, site plan, construction drawings, energy calculations, floodplain information, and separate trade permits. Commercial or more complex projects may require the Form 320 packet with plan review worksheets and supporting criteria. 4. Submit the OMPC application online, by email, or in person. Submit county engineering or road permit forms separately for driveway, encroachment, and excavation cut/fill work. 5. Complete outside-agency approvals where triggered, such as plumbing, RWRA utility review, health department items, state floodplain or stream permits, and utility clearances. 6. Pay fees and wait for permit issuance before starting work. OMPC posts the same Kentucky-code warning that work started before permit issuance is subject to a minimum added penalty of $500. 7. Schedule required inspections. OMPC's published minimum building inspection sequence is footer, framing or rough-in, and final. County-side inspections may also be required for encroachment or roadway-related work.

How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Daviess County, KY?

Typical processing time is No general county building-permit turnaround was publicly posted. County engineering and road pages do not publish standard review times..

What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Daviess County, KY?

The following work is generally exempt: Replacing roof covering when no structural work is involved; Replacing siding when no structural work is involved; Replacing windows when no structural work is involved; Fences, subject to zoning, height, setback, easement, and utility checks; Sidewalks and driveways on private property do not require a building permit, but county drainage review, cut/fill approval, driveway access approval, or right-of-way authorization may still be required. Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from county engineering or road department approvals. Confirm all requirements before proceeding.

How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Daviess County, KY?

Inspections can be scheduled via: OMPC: 270-687-8665, County: 270-685-8456, OMPC portal.