County Building Permits
Graves County, KY - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Graves County, Kentucky. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Covers unincorporated county and smaller incorporated towns such as Fancy Farm, Farmington, Folsomdale, Hickory, Kaler, Lowes, Lynnville, Melber, Pottsville, Sedalia, Symsonia, Viola, and West Viola without their own building offices.
- Department
- Graves County Fiscal Court
- Address
- 101 East South Street, Mayfield, KY 42066
- Phone
- 270-247-3626
Application Process
- Contact the state/local building inspector Michael Sullivan (Graves County Health Department, 416 Central Avenue, Mayfield) via phone 270-223-8699 to describe the work and confirm permit requirements.
- Provide the inspector with property details so he can determine necessary plan review, floodplain compliance, and supporting documents.
- Once the inspector approves the documents, he issues the permit and arranges inspections as the project progresses.
Typical processing time: Not posted; ask the inspector when you call.
Source: Graves County Fiscal Court
General Requirements
Graves County requires permits for any building, fences taller than seven feet, and telecommunications towers.
Required Documents
- Property details
- Construction plans (as determined by inspector)
- Site information (as determined by inspector)
- Floodplain documentation (if applicable)
- Permit validity
- Not published; the inspector provides the timeframe when issuing the permit.
- Building code
- Kentucky Building Code, as enforced by the Division of Building Codes Enforcement.
- Owner-builder
- Not published.
- Contractor requirements
- Contractors must be licensed through the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction statewide program.
Fees
- Payment note
- No online payment method described; ask the inspector for acceptable payment methods.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Graves County Fiscal Court to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- 270-223-8699 (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Tuesdays and Fridays, 8:00-9:00 AM CST
Typical inspection sequence: The inspector coordinates plan and flood reviews during the office appointment and sets follow-up field inspections as part of the permit.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Kentucky Building Code, as enforced by the Division of Building Codes Enforcement.
- Verify contractor license: Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction
- Kentucky DHBC
- Graves County Economic Development
- 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 Graves County Fiscal Court before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Graves County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Graves County, KY?
- Graves County requires permits for any building, fences taller than seven feet, and telecommunications towers.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Graves County, KY?
- 1. Contact the state/local building inspector Michael Sullivan (Graves County Health Department, 416 Central Avenue, Mayfield) via phone 270-223-8699 to describe the work and confirm permit requirements. 2. Provide the inspector with property details so he can determine necessary plan review, floodplain compliance, and supporting documents. 3. Once the inspector approves the documents, he issues the permit and arranges inspections as the project progresses.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Graves County, KY?
- Typical processing time is Not posted; ask the inspector when you call..
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Graves County, KY?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: 270-223-8699.
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