McCracken County, KY - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

All building, construction, and electrical permits in McCracken County's unincorporated territory.

Department

McCracken County Building and Electrical Inspection Department

Address

3700 Coleman Road, Paducah, KY 42001

Phone

(270) 444-4769 or (270) 444-4724

Email

jtynes@mccrackencountyky.gov

Website

https://mccrackencountyky.gov/inspection-department-2/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm that the proposed construction, structural alteration, moving, or addition requires a permit under McCracken County zoning regulations (Section 50).
2. Prepare the required site plan or supporting materials showing the legal description, lot lines, and other location details for review (Section 51).
3. Submit the completed application, plans, and required attachments through Cloudpermit, including any affidavits or assurance forms the department lists.
4. After staff review and approvals, the permit is issued via Cloudpermit and the applicant schedules inspections through the same portal.
5. Obtain the appropriate certificate of occupancy before using or occupying the structure (Section 52).

Typical processing time: Not posted publicly; applicants should coordinate with the department when submitting to understand the current review queue.

Source: McCracken County Building and Electrical Inspection Department

General Requirements

No building or structure may be erected, moved, added to, or structurally altered without the necessary building permit.

Required Documents

• Site plan prepared by a licensed surveyor or engineer (unless otherwise approved)
• Legal description
• Graphical layout
• Compliance details
• Any affidavits or assurance forms required by the department

Permit validity

Contact the inspection department for current permit expiration policy.

Building code

McCracken County has adopted the Commonwealth's building and residential codes and administers them through the inspection department.

Owner-builder

Contact the department about owner-performed work; no owner-builder guidance was located on the department site.

Contractor requirements

Contractors must comply with Kentucky Building Code and Kentucky Residential Code state requirements for licensure and bonding.

Fees

Plan check fee

Site plan review fees are collected at review as specified in Section 51.

Permit fee formula

Includes both flat fees (e.g., $300 for a development plan) and valuation-based calculations.

Payment note

All payments run through the Cloudpermit portal as part of the online application workflow.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Fences
• Portable carports without foundations
• Accessory buildings of 120 square feet or less
• Above-grade pools or recreation courts

Important: These exemptions explicitly cover minimum yard setbacks and zoning permits; other work should be assumed permit-requiring unless the department confirms otherwise.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Cloudpermit Portal (online)

Inspection hours

Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Typical inspection sequence: The Kentucky Building Code requires inspections at each critical milestone (e.g., foundations, framing, finals) tailored to the project.

Additional Resources

• Building code: McCracken County has adopted the Commonwealth's building and residential codes and administers them through the inspection department.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Building Ordinances
• Cloudpermit Help Videos
• License lookup guide: Kentucky Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Kentucky Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Kentucky hub: Kentucky Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

McCracken County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated McCracken County, KY?

No building or structure may be erected, moved, added to, or structurally altered without the necessary building permit.

How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated McCracken County, KY?

Fees are calculated as: Includes both flat fees (e.g., $300 for a development plan) and valuation-based calculations.. Plan check fee: Site plan review fees are collected at review as specified in Section 51..

How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated McCracken County, KY?

1. Confirm that the proposed construction, structural alteration, moving, or addition requires a permit under McCracken County zoning regulations (Section 50). 2. Prepare the required site plan or supporting materials showing the legal description, lot lines, and other location details for review (Section 51). 3. Submit the completed application, plans, and required attachments through Cloudpermit, including any affidavits or assurance forms the department lists. 4. After staff review and approvals, the permit is issued via Cloudpermit and the applicant schedules inspections through the same portal. 5. Obtain the appropriate certificate of occupancy before using or occupying the structure (Section 52).

How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated McCracken County, KY?

Typical processing time is Not posted publicly; applicants should coordinate with the department when submitting to understand the current review queue..

What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated McCracken County, KY?

The following work is generally exempt: Fences; Portable carports without foundations; Accessory buildings of 120 square feet or less; Above-grade pools or recreation courts. Note: These exemptions explicitly cover minimum yard setbacks and zoning permits; other work should be assumed permit-requiring unless the department confirms otherwise.

How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated McCracken County, KY?

Inspections can be scheduled via: Cloudpermit Portal.