Unincorporated Letcher County

New construction, additions, major renovations, occupancy changes, fire protection systems, and any mechanical, electrical, or plumbing work governed by the 2018 Kentucky Building Code or associated trade divisions.

Note: No local exempt-work list could be located; rely on DHBC to confirm whether a specific small project is exempt before starting work.

Building code

2018 Kentucky Building Code (based on the 2018 International Building Code and referenced standards)

Permit validity

Section 121.4 states construction approval is issued only after all required fees are paid and any amendments carry additional fees.

Owner-builder

Applicants must submit the affidavit of assurances, attesting to workers compensation and unemployment insurance compliance.

Contractor requirements

DHBC issues licenses for plumbing, electrical, fire suppression, and mechanical work, and those licensed trade contractors must be used for the respective systems.

1. 01
   Contact the local planning or zoning authority to confirm the proposed site is properly zoned before design work begins.
2. 02
   Determine whether the project falls under state jurisdiction; Letcher County is under state jurisdiction when no local program is certified.
3. 03
   Submit one completed application, fee sheet, and full plan set through SmartGov, including site plans, detailed drawings, fire protection forms, and owner/contractor information.
4. 04
   After approvals, schedule the required inspections from the 'Before You Build' checklist, including building, plumbing, electrical, fire suppression, and other trades.
5. 05
   Obtain the certificate of occupancy once a final inspection passes.

Typical processing time: DHBC does not publish a standard timeline; call (502) 573-0373 for project-specific estimates.

Source: Kentucky Department for Housing, Buildings and Construction, Division of Building Code Enforcement ↗

Fees are due with the plan submission, must be rounded to the nearest dollar, made payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer, and include project details for proper credit.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

• Division of Building Code Enforcement (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Call (502) 573-0373 before visiting to schedule inspections; inspectors prefer pre-booked appointments.

Inspection hours

Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM EST

Typical sequence: The 'Before You Build' checklist enumerates the inspections that follow plan approval: building, plumbing, electrical, fire suppression, hazardous materials, elevators, boilers, etc.