County Building Permits
Pendleton County, KY - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Pendleton County, Kentucky. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
The department serves unincorporated Pendleton County and partners with the City of Falmouth to enforce the zoning ordinance and to require businesses to contact the office before choosing a site or changing use.
- Department
- Pendleton County Department of Planning & Zoning
- Address
- 233 Main Street, Falmouth, KY 41040
- Phone
- 859-654-1108
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Kentucky.gov county portal page with downloadable PDF permit packets • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Contact Planning & Zoning at 859-654-1108 before a purchase or lease to confirm zoning allowances, conditional-use needs, parking requirements, and to understand that even a change of use triggers a building permit.
- For downtown properties, request any additional maintenance requirements from the office before submitting a permit.
- Complete the appropriate zoning permit application (residential or commercial), supplying owner/applicant and parcel information, site dimensions, floodplain/hillside checkboxes, utility/sewage providers, disturbance acreage, setbacks, construction description, and required attachments such as site plans, plats, and deeds.
- Submit the assembled package to the Planning & Zoning office at 233 Main Street, pay the applicable fee to the county general fund, and wait for the Zoning Administrator to approve the application.
- Call the office after excavation but before foundation installation for setback verification, then coordinate the required state building, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and utility inspections; remodeling and buildings with occupancy over 100 also require zoning and utility inspections before occupancy.
Typical processing time: Not published on the Applications, Fees & Permits page; contact 859-654-1108 for current lead times.
General Requirements
All new construction, new uses, additions, demolitions, accessory structures (sheds, detached garages, pools, decks), fences, off-street parking, and signage require zoning permits.
Required Documents
- Completed permit application with owner/applicant information
- Parcel ID and current zoning information
- Floodplain/hill information
- Utility and sewage provider contacts
- Project description
- Site plans
- Plats and deeds
- Permit validity
- Not stated in the public materials; check with the Zoning Administrator for the current permit duration.
- Building code
- Kentucky Building Code
- Owner-builder
- The application requires the owner or authorized agent signature; no special owner-builder waiver is provided.
- Contractor requirements
- Applicants must meet the National Electric Code along with Kentucky State Plumbing, HVAC, and Building codes as applicable.
Fees
- Plan check fee
- Map amendment or Stage I development plan and Stage II development plan fees apply.
- Permit fee formula
- Two-family, multi-family, commercial/industrial plus per-acre for sites over 3 acres, and additional fees based on development valuation tiers; cell towers incur a statutory fee.
- Reinspection fee
- Late fee applies to applications for work that already started without a permit or for unapproved amendments.
- Payment note
- Fees are payable to the Pendleton County General Fund and are non-refundable.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Pendleton County Department of Planning & Zoning to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- 859-654-1108 (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Not published on the site; confirm inspector availability with the office.
Typical inspection sequence: Setback verification precedes foundation work, followed by required state building/electrical/plumbing/HVAC inspections and utility inspections for remodeling or high-occupancy spaces.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Kentucky Building Code
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Applications, Fees & Permits
- 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 Pendleton County Department of Planning & Zoning before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pendleton County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Pendleton County, KY?
- All new construction, new uses, additions, demolitions, accessory structures (sheds, detached garages, pools, decks), fences, off-street parking, and signage require zoning permits.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Pendleton County, KY?
- Fees are calculated as: Two-family, multi-family, commercial/industrial plus per-acre for sites over 3 acres, and additional fees based on development valuation tiers; cell towers incur a statutory fee.. Plan check fee: Map amendment or Stage I development plan and Stage II development plan fees apply..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Pendleton County, KY?
- 1. Contact Planning & Zoning at 859-654-1108 before a purchase or lease to confirm zoning allowances, conditional-use needs, parking requirements, and to understand that even a change of use triggers a building permit. 2. For downtown properties, request any additional maintenance requirements from the office before submitting a permit. 3. Complete the appropriate zoning permit application (residential or commercial), supplying owner/applicant and parcel information, site dimensions, floodplain/hillside checkboxes, utility/sewage providers, disturbance acreage, setbacks, construction description, and required attachments such as site plans, plats, and deeds. 4. Submit the assembled package to the Planning & Zoning office at 233 Main Street, pay the applicable fee to the county general fund, and wait for the Zoning Administrator to approve the application. 5. Call the office after excavation but before foundation installation for setback verification, then coordinate the required state building, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and utility inspections; remodeling and buildings with occupancy over 100 also require zoning and utility inspections before occupancy.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Pendleton County, KY?
- Typical processing time is Not published on the Applications, Fees & Permits page; contact 859-654-1108 for current lead times..
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Pendleton County, KY?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: 859-654-1108.
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