County Building Permits
Knott County, KY - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Knott County, Kentucky. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Building, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and septic permits for unincorporated Knott County. County maintains no local building inspector; state inspectors (Levi Wells—building, James Burt—electrical, Ricky Adams—plumbing, Billy Blair—HVAC, Rodney Napier—elevators) handle inspections. No zoning regulations apply.
- Department
- Knott County Fiscal Court (Judge Executive); state inspectors from Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction
- Address
- 54 West Main Street, Hindman, KY 41822
- Phone
- 606-785-5592
- info@knottky.com
- Website
- https://knottcountyky.gov/
Application Process
- Contact Knott County Fiscal Court by phone (606-785-5592) or email (info@knottky.com) to describe the proposed building, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, or septic work.
- Confirm which permits are required with the fiscal court.
- Submit plans, drawings, and paperwork as requested by the fiscal court; exact forms are not published online.
- Once the county accepts the submission, schedule the required inspections with the state inspectors.
- Coordinate any reinspection requests with the DHBC inspectors.
General Requirements
Building, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and septic permits are required for housing and construction projects.
- Building code
- Kentucky Residential Building Code and KY Housing Corporation minimum design and energy efficiency standards
- Contractor requirements
- Contractors must comply with Kentucky state licensing regimes enforced by the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Knott County Fiscal Court (Judge Executive); state inspectors from Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Inspection hours
- Plumbing inspector: Thursdays 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM EST at Knott County Health Department (880 West Main Street)
Typical inspection sequence: State building, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and elevator inspectors review their respective trades after permit issuance.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Kentucky Residential Building Code and KY Housing Corporation minimum design and energy efficiency standards
- Kentucky DHBC Knott County Inspector Directory
- Knott County Fiscal Court Home Page
- 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 Knott County Fiscal Court (Judge Executive); state inspectors from Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Knott County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Knott County, KY?
- Building, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and septic permits are required for housing and construction projects.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Knott County, KY?
- 1. Contact Knott County Fiscal Court by phone (606-785-5592) or email (info@knottky.com) to describe the proposed building, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, or septic work. 2. Confirm which permits are required with the fiscal court. 3. Submit plans, drawings, and paperwork as requested by the fiscal court; exact forms are not published online. 4. Once the county accepts the submission, schedule the required inspections with the state inspectors. 5. Coordinate any reinspection requests with the DHBC inspectors.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Knott County, KY?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Knott County Fiscal Court (606-785-5592) or state inspectors via DHBC directory.
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