County Building Permits
Fulton County, KY - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Fulton County, Kentucky. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
All properties outside the City of Fulton and City of Hickman limits within Fulton County. Michael Sullivan is the state & local building inspector for unincorporated Fulton County.
- Department
- Fulton County Judge Executive/Fiscal Court planning functions with building inspections overseen by Kentucky DHBC
- Address
- Fulton County Health Department, 350 Browder Street, Fulton, KY 42041
- Phone
- 270-223-8699
- Michaell.sullivan@ky.gov
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Paperwork via County Planning Office and Inspector Email/Phone • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Contact the county planning/zoning authority to confirm zoning, floodplain and subdivision implications before preparing plans.
- Determine the jurisdictional inspector (Michael Sullivan for unincorporated Fulton County) and prepare construction documents/site plans meeting the Kentucky Building Code, including valuations and specialty-system information.
- Submit the plans and fees to the assigned DHBC inspector for code review.
- Once the review is complete under the 2013 Kentucky Building Code, the inspector issues the permit.
- Schedule standard inspections (footing, foundation, framing, occupancy, electrical, plumbing) with the inspector.
- Post the permit on-site and coordinate any specialty inspections per the inspector's instructions.
Typical processing time: Not published; query the assigned inspector for current review timelines.
General Requirements
All new construction, additions, structural repairs, change-of-use and demolition projects in unincorporated Fulton County require a permit under the Kentucky Building Code.
Required Documents
- Construction drawings
- Site/plot plan
- Valuation
- Contractor/subcontractor list
- Specialty-system plans as described on the plan review worksheet
- Permit validity
- Work must begin within six months of plan approval or the permit lapses, consistent with Kentucky Building Code practice.
- Building code
- 2013 Kentucky Building Code and 2013 Kentucky Residential Code
- Owner-builder
- No owner-builder exemptions are listed; consult the inspector because contractor licensing expectations still apply.
- Contractor requirements
- The inspector expects licensed contractors/subcontractors even for unincorporated projects, aligning with the Kentucky Building Code's licensing standards.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $285
- Plan check fee
- Submit the plan review worksheet with the applicable cost-per-square-foot or valuation fee plus any specialty-system surcharges.
- Permit fee formula
- New construction uses occupancy-based square-foot rates per Table 121.3.1; additions/change-of-use follow the same table; alterations/repairs use 0.0030 of the construction cost or area-based formula.
- Reinspection fee
- Electrical inspections (and similar trades) are billed hourly plus mileage; a final certificate is withheld until all inspection fees are paid.
- Payment note
- Attach the worksheet to each plan set. The inspector expects payment before the final certificate of compliance is issued.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Plumbing repairs (plan review fees waived when the submission solely repairs plumbing)
Important: No broader exempt list was found. Verify any other exemptions with the inspector.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- 270-223-8699 (phone)
- Michaell.sullivan@ky.gov (email)
- Inspection hours
- Wednesday, 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM; otherwise coordinate by phone/email
Typical inspection sequence: Standard inspections mirror the Fulton permit checklist: footings, foundation, framing, structure, termite, occupancy, electrical, plumbing.
Additional Resources
- Building code: 2013 Kentucky Building Code and 2013 Kentucky Residential Code
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Fulton County Inspector Sheet with Discipline Contacts
- License lookup guide: Kentucky Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Kentucky Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Kentucky hub: Kentucky Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Fulton County Judge Executive/Fiscal Court planning functions with building inspections overseen by Kentucky DHBC before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fulton County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Fulton County, KY?
- All new construction, additions, structural repairs, change-of-use and demolition projects in unincorporated Fulton County require a permit under the Kentucky Building Code.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Fulton County, KY?
- The minimum permit fee is $285. Fees are calculated as: New construction uses occupancy-based square-foot rates per Table 121.3.1; additions/change-of-use follow the same table; alterations/repairs use 0.0030 of the construction cost or area-based formula.. Plan check fee: Submit the plan review worksheet with the applicable cost-per-square-foot or valuation fee plus any specialty-system surcharges..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Fulton County, KY?
- 1. Contact the county planning/zoning authority to confirm zoning, floodplain and subdivision implications before preparing plans. 2. Determine the jurisdictional inspector (Michael Sullivan for unincorporated Fulton County) and prepare construction documents/site plans meeting the Kentucky Building Code, including valuations and specialty-system information. 3. Submit the plans and fees to the assigned DHBC inspector for code review. 4. Once the review is complete under the 2013 Kentucky Building Code, the inspector issues the permit. 5. Schedule standard inspections (footing, foundation, framing, occupancy, electrical, plumbing) with the inspector. 6. Post the permit on-site and coordinate any specialty inspections per the inspector's instructions.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Fulton County, KY?
- Typical processing time is Not published; query the assigned inspector for current review timelines..
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Fulton County, KY?
- The following work is generally exempt: Plumbing repairs (plan review fees waived when the submission solely repairs plumbing). Note: No broader exempt list was found. Verify any other exemptions with the inspector.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Fulton County, KY?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: 270-223-8699, Michaell.sullivan@ky.gov.
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