Bolthole Index

Bullitt County, Kentucky

Building permits, zoning and septic in Mount Washington, Kentucky

Mount Washington, Kentucky has a city residential building-permit process that requires a zoning compliance certificate from Bullitt County Planning & Zoning.1 Mount Washington adopts its own zoning regulation and building codes.23 Where sewer is available under the city’s connection rule, a new building that produces sewage must provide evidence of connection before construction; onsite sewage permits elsewhere go through Bullitt County Health Department.45

At a glance

Residential building permits
City process; zoning compliance certificate from county planning1
Zoning
City-adopted regulation and map2
Sewer connection
Required for new sewage-producing buildings where the city rule makes sewer available4
Septic permits
Bullitt County Health Department; new installations and repairs require approval6
RV and tiny-home living
We could not confirm permission; ask city Building Codes and county planning21
Owner-installed septic
Homeowner may apply if personally installing the system7
Private wells
No owner permit application or fee under state rules; certified driller required8

Who to call

Building permits

City of Mt. Washington Department of Building Codes

Residential building applications, encroachment applications, and referral to Bullitt County Planning & Zoning for zoning compliance.

502.538.0515

[email protected]

311 Snapp Street Mt. Washington KY 40047

Zoning

Bullitt County Planning and Zoning

Zoning compliance contact identified in Mount Washington residential building instructions.

(502) 543-6832

[email protected]

149 North Walnut Street, 3rd Floor

Septic permits

Bullitt County Health Department – Environmental Services

Onsite sewage site evaluations, septic permits and inspections.

[email protected]

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Mount Washington means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Mount Washington, KY?

Mount Washington’s Department of Building Codes publishes a residential building-permit process, and the city requires a copy of the zoning compliance certificate obtained from Bullitt County Planning & Zoning.1 Mount Washington has adopted building and residential codes, with building-code inspections performed by certified persons employed by the city’s Department of Code Enforcement.39

Start with the city building office for the residential application and county planning for the zoning certificate; the city instructions require building and encroachment applications, scope of work, plans, applicable survey and fees.1 Ask the city building office for the current fee schedule, inspection stages and occupancy requirements before scheduling construction.

Does Mount Washington have zoning, and can you live in an RV or tiny home?

Mount Washington has adopted a zoning regulation and zoning map for land inside city limits.2 The city’s residential building instructions direct applicants to Bullitt County Planning & Zoning for zoning compliance before submitting the certificate to the city building office.1

We could not confirm permission for RV occupancy, temporary camping, tiny homes, manufactured homes or accessory dwellings in Mount Washington. Ask county planning and the city Department of Building Codes about the proposed dwelling type and parcel’s district before buying; also request the district’s minimum lot size, dwelling size, setbacks, height and lot-coverage requirements. The adopted city zoning regulation is the starting point, rather than assuming a rural-looking parcel has no zoning.2

How do septic permits work inside Mount Washington?

Mount Washington requires evidence of sanitary sewer connection before erecting or installing a sewage-producing building where a collection line is available under the city’s specified conditions.4 Ask the city about sewer availability before budgeting for a septic system.

For onsite sewage in Bullitt County, including Mount Washington, Bullitt County Health Department performs site evaluations, issues septic permits and conducts inspections.5 New installations and repairs require a septic permit, with a listed sewage permit fee of $275 and environmentalist approval before issuance.6 A homeowner may apply after receiving the site evaluation and system requirements if personally installing the system; otherwise a certified installer must apply.7 The installer calls for inspection after installation.10

What are the steps to building a home in Mount Washington?

Begin by asking Bullitt County Planning & Zoning for zoning compliance, then provide the certificate to Mount Washington’s Department of Building Codes with the residential building application.1 Prepare the scope of work, plans and fees; the city instructions require a signed, stamped and dated Kentucky registered land surveyor’s survey for a new single-family dwelling.1

Submit the encroachment application alongside the building application; the city instructions exempt a single-family basement finish from the accompanying encroachment permit.1 For a new single-family dwelling, the city requires water meter/sewer tap purchase when building permits are purchased.1 If onsite sewage is proposed, arrange the health department’s site evaluation and septic approval.6 Before development in a special flood hazard area, obtain the city development permit using forms from the Floodplain Administrator.11

What should you check before buying land in Mount Washington?

Check the parcel’s city-limit location before choosing the building or zoning counter: Mount Washington adopts its own zoning, while the county’s zoning answer concerns unincorporated Bullitt County.212 For land outside city limits, use the Bullitt County guide.

Inside Mount Washington, special flood hazard area development requires a city development permit before work begins.11 Ask the city building office to identify the Floodplain Administrator for the parcel. For a private well, Kentucky does not require an owner permitting application or fee for construction or abandonment, but construction, modification and abandonment must be performed by a Kentucky Certified Water Well Driller.8 Confirm sewer availability with the city before assuming the health department can approve an onsite sewage alternative.45

Watch-outs

  • A Mount Washington zoning compliance certificate comes from Bullitt County Planning & Zoning, but the residential building application goes to the city Department of Building Codes.1
  • The homeowner septic allowance concerns installation of an onsite sewage system; we could not confirm a city exemption for owner-built homes.7
  • Mount Washington’s sewer connection rule can determine the wastewater route before a new sewage-producing building is erected.4

Sources

  1. City of Mt. Washington Department of Building Codes (cms3.revize.com)
  2. § 153.01 Zoning Regulations and Map Adopted by Reference (Mount Washington), quoted and re-checked
  3. § 150.02 Adoption of Building Codes and Residential Codes (Mount Washington), quoted and re-checked
  4. § 50.035 Sewer Connections Required for New Buildings (Mount Washington), quoted and re-checked
  5. Sewage, quoted and re-checked
  6. Sewage procedures and fees, quoted and re-checked
  7. Sewage, quoted and re-checked
  8. Water Well Information for Home Owners (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. § 150.04 Enforcement (Mount Washington), quoted and re-checked
  10. Sewage, quoted and re-checked
  11. § 159.17 Establishment of Development Permit (Mount Washington), quoted and re-checked
  12. Buildings & Safety / Planning and Zoning, quoted and re-checked

Written October 12, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Mount Washington

Mount Washington’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction in Mount Washington city.

    • Includes periodic amendments to the Kentucky Building Code and International Building Code.
    • Applies the most current editions of the Kentucky Residential Code and International Residential Code.
    “Kentucky Building Code and the International Building Code, [...] the most current edition of the Kentucky Residential Code and the International Residential Code”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Building-code inspections conducted by the Mount Washington Department of Code Enforcement inside city limits.

    • The cited provision identifies who performs inspections but does not establish the inspection stages or whether every residential project receives an inspection.
    “All inspections shall be performed by persons who are certified [...] and employed by the Department of Code Enforcement of Mt. Washington, Kentucky.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Mount Washington city limits subject to the city's adopted zoning regulation and zoning map.

    • The city adopted a zoning regulation dated January 1985 and subsequent amendments it adopts.
    • The city zoning map is dated January 3, 1972 and is subject to subsequent city amendments.
    “the city hereby adopts by reference a zoning regulation dated January, 1985”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Mount Washington city zoning map and regulation.

    • The listed zones are from the zoning regulation adopted by reference; parcel applicability depends on the city zoning map and its amendments.
    “Agricultural, Conservation, Stream Valley Reserve, Residential R-1, Residential R-2, Residential R-3, Residential R-4”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    A new building or improvement capable of emitting liquid wastes or sewage on city land where a sewage collection line is available in the locations described by § 50.035.

    • Before erection or installation, the person must provide the Superintendent satisfactory evidence that sanitary sewage drain pipes have been or will be connected to the sewer collection line.
    • The rule covers a lot abutting a street, alley, or easement containing a sewage collection line; a lot through which such a line is installed; or a lot to which a line is made available.
    • Stormwater and other surface or subsurface water may not be connected to, or introduced into, sanitary sewer lines.
    “before erecting or installing that building [...] connecting the sanitary sewage drain pipes [...] with the sewer collection line. No stormwater [...] shall be connected”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development activities in special flood hazard areas inside Mount Washington city limits.

    • The development permit must be obtained before commencement of development activities in a special flood hazard area.
    • Application must be made on forms furnished by the Floodplain Administrator.
    “A development permit shall be required [...] prior to the commencement [...] in the special flood hazard areas [...] forms furnished by the Floodplain Administrator.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Mount Washington or Bullitt County directly.

  • Building permit — Residential building construction inside Mount Washington city limits.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Mount Washington city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Mount Washington city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings in Mount Washington city zoning districts.
  • Minimum lot size — Lots in Mount Washington city zoning districts.
19 more unanswered
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Mount Washington publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Bullitt County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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