County Building Permits
Laurel County, KY - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Laurel County, Kentucky. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
All properties in unincorporated Laurel County. The joint planning commission reviews developments for both London and Laurel County. Douglas Gilbert is the county's local building inspector. The county office for zoning and building questions sits at 101 S. Main Street (serving East Bernstadt, North Corbin, and other unincorporated communities), and the commission administers the Kentucky Building Code for the county.
- Department
- London-Laurel County Joint Planning & Zoning Commission in partnership with the City of London Department of Housing, Buildings & Construction, Division of Building Code Enforcement
- Address
- Laurel County Health Department, 525 Whitley Street, London, KY 40741
- Phone
- (606) 864-8401
- douggilbert@londonky.gov
Online Permit Portal
Platform: PDF Downloads • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Complete the London building permit application with all project and insurance data, plus the Affidavit of Assurances and supporting plans.
- Deliver the packet to the City of London building division (the same office handling county permits); the application records plan review dates and requires a full set of plans.
- The local building inspector (Douglas Gilbert) reviews the submission, records the permit number and fee, and issues the permit for the unincorporated property.
- Notify the inspector once the work is ready for inspections; final inspection requires trade approvals so the inspector can issue a certificate of occupancy.
Typical processing time: Not published; contact the building inspector for current lead times.
General Requirements
A building permit is required for new construction, additions, moving structures over 120 square feet, change of use, affecting load-bearing walls, and similar work. These requirements apply to unincorporated county properties.
Required Documents
- London building permit application
- Project cost breakdown
- Proof of insurance
- Contractor and owner information
- Complete set of construction plans
- Notarized Affidavit of Assurances
- Permit validity
- The six-month start window, change controls, and final inspection/certificate of occupancy requirements mirror the city policy.
- Building code
- Laurel County follows the Kentucky Building Code and Appendix Q for tiny houses, administered through the London-Laurel County Joint Planning Commission.
- Owner-builder
- The Affidavit of Assurances requires compliance with Kentucky workers' compensation and unemployment insurance for all contractors on county permits.
- Contractor requirements
- The same electrical permit requirements (city business license for electrical work) are enforced county-wide.
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- Valuation-based, drawing on the listed construction, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC costs in the application.
- Payment note
- Fee schedule not posted; call the Laurel County zoning and building office at (606) 864-5158 to confirm current fees. Permit fees are entered on the application and collected upon issuance; applications and payments are handled in person.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Vinyl siding
- Replacement windows
- Painting
- Shingles
Inspections
How to Schedule
- (606) 864-8401 (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with specific DHBC office hours (Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:00 AM-9:30 AM) for some inspectors.
Typical inspection sequence: Typical sequence: plan review, permit issuance, trade-specific inspections, final inspection, and a certificate of occupancy once electrical/plumbing/HVAC approvals have been submitted.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Laurel County follows the Kentucky Building Code and Appendix Q for tiny houses, administered through the London-Laurel County Joint Planning Commission.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Building Permit Application PDF
- Electrical Permit Application PDF
- Laurel County Official Site
- Kentucky DHBC Laurel County
- 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 London-Laurel County Joint Planning & Zoning Commission in partnership with the City of London Department of Housing, Buildings & Construction, Division of Building Code Enforcement before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Laurel County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Laurel County, KY?
- A building permit is required for new construction, additions, moving structures over 120 square feet, change of use, affecting load-bearing walls, and similar work. These requirements apply to unincorporated county properties.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Laurel County, KY?
- Fees are calculated as: Valuation-based, drawing on the listed construction, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC costs in the application..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Laurel County, KY?
- 1. Complete the London building permit application with all project and insurance data, plus the Affidavit of Assurances and supporting plans. 2. Deliver the packet to the City of London building division (the same office handling county permits); the application records plan review dates and requires a full set of plans. 3. The local building inspector (Douglas Gilbert) reviews the submission, records the permit number and fee, and issues the permit for the unincorporated property. 4. Notify the inspector once the work is ready for inspections; final inspection requires trade approvals so the inspector can issue a certificate of occupancy.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Laurel County, KY?
- Typical processing time is Not published; contact the building inspector for current lead times..
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Laurel County, KY?
- The following work is generally exempt: Vinyl siding; Replacement windows; Painting; Shingles.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Laurel County, KY?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: (606) 864-8401.
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