County Building Permits
Warren County, KY - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Warren County, Kentucky. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
County authority applies in unincorporated Warren County and, per the county's page, excludes Bowling Green and Oakland.
- Department
- Warren County Public Works, Building Services
- Address
- 1141 State Street, Bowling Green, KY 42101
- Phone
- 270-843-5360
- craig.hunt@ky.gov
Online Permit Portal
Platform: SmartGov • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Review the county's application list and choose the applicable permit form.
- Complete the permit application and gather building plans and a professionally drawn plot plan.
- If the project is an accessory structure under 750 square feet on more than 5 acres, prepare a county-acceptable site plan and matching cross-section instead of a full plot plan.
- Add special-condition approvals if triggered, including county road right-of-way encroachment, fire-protection waiver, or SWPPP for disturbance over 1 acre.
- Confirm the contractor holds the required contractor's license and occupational business license.
- Submit to Building Services. The county states a five-business-day review begins once all required applications and documentation are submitted.
- Pay the assessed fee after approval; the permit is then issued.
- Schedule inspections during construction and secure final approval before occupancy.
Typical processing time: Five business days for building permit review after complete submittal; portal splash page says allow 48 business hours to review completed permit applications before payment and issuance; electrical permit review is 48 hours / 2 business days
General Requirements
County page says permits are required for new construction, alteration, relocation, demolition, and change of occupancy. FAQ adds that all new construction, including agriculturally zoned property, requires a permit. Separate county permit forms are published for pools, fences, signs, manufactured homes, apartment buildings, and short-term rentals.
Required Documents
- Application form
- Building plans
- Professionally drawn plot plan unless eligible for a site-plan substitution
- Cross-section when using a site plan
- Right-of-way encroachment permit if adding a county-road entrance
- Fire-protection waiver if water pressure is inadequate
- SWPPP if disturbing more than 1 acre
- Permit validity
- Not clearly posted on the cited county pages.
- Building code
- County page states enforcement of Kentucky Building/Residential Codes and the National Electric Code. Additional links point to the 2018 Kentucky Residential Code and 2018 Kentucky Building Code.
- Owner-builder
- Not clearly posted on the cited county pages.
- Contractor requirements
- All contractors working in Warren County are required to obtain a contractor's license and an occupational business license.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $45
- Plan check fee
- $100 electrical plan review fee; no separate building plan-check fee posted on the county building page
- Permit fee formula
- Building permits are $0.15 per square foot for all classification groups. County FAQ lists flat $45 exceptions including swimming pools, demolition permits, electrical service meter poles, decks, fences, cellular towers, and signs. Residential electrical permits are $0.10 per square foot and include four inspections.
- Reinspection fee
- Electrical reinspection fee is $50; county FAQ states work begun without a permit will result in at least a $500 fine
- Payment note
- SmartGov portal states applications are reviewed and approved before payment can be made
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Warren County Public Works, Building Services to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- 270-843-5360 (phone)
- SmartGov portal for approved contractors (online)
- Inspection hours
- County office Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM; county asks applicants to allow at least two business days for inspections
Typical inspection sequence: Footings; foundation/underfloor; framing; energy efficiency; final
Additional Resources
- Building code: County page states enforcement of Kentucky Building/Residential Codes and the National Electric Code. Additional links point to the 2018 Kentucky Residential Code and 2018 Kentucky Building Code.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Development Review
- Building Services
- Electrical Services
- KYTC Stormwater Local Contacts
- 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 Warren County Public Works, Building Services before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Warren County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Warren County, KY?
- County page says permits are required for new construction, alteration, relocation, demolition, and change of occupancy. FAQ adds that all new construction, including agriculturally zoned property, requires a permit. Separate county permit forms are published for pools, fences, signs, manufactured homes, apartment buildings, and short-term rentals.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Warren County, KY?
- The minimum permit fee is $45. Fees are calculated as: Building permits are $0.15 per square foot for all classification groups. County FAQ lists flat $45 exceptions including swimming pools, demolition permits, electrical service meter poles, decks, fences, cellular towers, and signs. Residential electrical permits are $0.10 per square foot and include four inspections.. Plan check fee: $100 electrical plan review fee; no separate building plan-check fee posted on the county building page.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Warren County, KY?
- 1. Review the county's application list and choose the applicable permit form. 2. Complete the permit application and gather building plans and a professionally drawn plot plan. 3. If the project is an accessory structure under 750 square feet on more than 5 acres, prepare a county-acceptable site plan and matching cross-section instead of a full plot plan. 4. Add special-condition approvals if triggered, including county road right-of-way encroachment, fire-protection waiver, or SWPPP for disturbance over 1 acre. 5. Confirm the contractor holds the required contractor's license and occupational business license. 6. Submit to Building Services. The county states a five-business-day review begins once all required applications and documentation are submitted. 7. Pay the assessed fee after approval; the permit is then issued. 8. Schedule inspections during construction and secure final approval before occupancy.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Warren County, KY?
- Typical processing time is Five business days for building permit review after complete submittal; portal splash page says allow 48 business hours to review completed permit applications before payment and issuance; electrical permit review is 48 hours / 2 business days.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Warren County, KY?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: 270-843-5360, SmartGov portal for approved contractors.
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