Bolthole Index

Fulton County, Kentucky

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Hickman, Kentucky

Hickman, Kentucky requires building permits for new buildings and listed alterations inside city limits.1 Hickman sets its own zoning in Fulton County; septic permits come from the local health department where onsite sewage is allowed.23 Once a municipal sewer connection is available, Hickman prohibits private septic tanks and similar sewage systems.4

At a glance

Building permits
Required for new buildings and listed alterations1
Zoning
City zoning applies inside Hickman city limits2
Residential building fees
$0.08 per square foot for the first 1,000 square feet; $0.02 per additional square foot5
Sewer and septic
City sewer connection required when available; local health department handles septic permits63
Driveway permits
City building official approves plans before construction78
Floodplain development
Development permit required in special flood hazard areas9
Private wells
Kentucky requires a certified driller; no owner permitting application or fee for construction or abandonment10

Who to call

Building permits

Hickman City Hall

City contact for requesting the building official and zoning inspector, building applications, sewer availability and city floodplain-permit routing.

(270) 236-2535

[email protected]

1812 South 7th Street Hickman, KY 42050

Septic permits

Purchase District Health Department, Environmental Health

Onsite sewage site evaluations, construction permits, and installation inspections for Fulton and Hickman counties

1-270-236-2825

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Hickman, KY, and who issues it?

Hickman requires a building permit for all new buildings, including garages, carports, accessory buildings and storage sheds; covered alterations include additions, extensions and remodeling that affects load-bearing components.1 Start with Hickman City Hall and ask for the city building official and the application for your proposed work.11

Hickman’s published residential building-permit fee is $0.08 per square foot for the first 1,000 square feet, then $0.02 for each additional square foot; carports, garages and accessory buildings are $0.04 per square foot.5 Ask the building official to confirm the current fee and inspection schedule before budgeting or starting work.11

Does Hickman have zoning, and what does it mean for your lot?

Hickman has city zoning, so a building permit alone does not answer whether a proposed use belongs on a particular lot.2 Hickman’s mapped districts include residential, business, industrial, floodway/conservancy and agricultural districts.12 Ask City Hall to route a parcel-specific request to the zoning inspector: bring the address, proposed use and a sketch showing the building and driveway.11

We could not confirm the district schedules for minimum lot size, dwelling size, setbacks, height or lot coverage; ask the zoning inspector for the applicable schedule before choosing a house plan.11 For land outside Hickman city limits, use the Fulton County guide rather than treating Hickman’s city ordinance as the county rule.2

How do sewer connections and septic permits work inside Hickman?

Check sewer availability with Hickman City Hall before planning an onsite system.11 Hickman requires connection within 90 days after written notice that municipal sanitary sewer is available, and new premises must provide a means to connect sanitary sewage drains and outlets.6 Once sewer connection is available, Hickman prohibits privies, cesspools, septic tanks and similar systems receiving flowable sewage.4

Where public sewer is absent, Purchase District Health Department requires a site evaluation before a new septic system; the published evaluation fee is $250 and the new-system construction permit is $250.13 The health department inspects installation for final approval.13 Fulton County’s county-level soil estimate rates only 8.7% of soils not limited for conventional drain fields; that calls for a site evaluation, not a conclusion that septic is impossible on a particular Hickman lot.14

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Hickman?

We could not confirm permission for residential RV occupancy, tiny homes or accessory dwellings on private land in Hickman; ask the city zoning inspector about the proposed dwelling and the parcel’s district before buying or moving onto the lot.11 Hickman’s rule requiring the city manager’s written consent for camping addresses city property, so that provision does not establish permission to live in an RV on private land.15

A new building in Hickman still falls under the city’s building-permit requirement, and sewer availability still controls whether private septic is allowed.14 Describe both the structure and the intended occupancy when asking for a written zoning answer.11

What are the steps for building a home in Hickman?

  1. Ask Hickman City Hall for the zoning inspector, confirm the parcel’s district and discuss the proposed residential use.112
  2. Confirm municipal sewer availability with the city; where public sewer is absent, arrange the health department’s septic site evaluation before settling the site layout.1113
  3. Obtain the city building permit for covered construction and ask the building official for the required inspection stages.111
  4. Submit plans for a private driveway connecting to a public street, alley or public way to the building official before construction; a driveway permit follows final approval.87
  5. Resolve any city floodplain development permit before development in a special flood hazard area, and arrange health-department final approval for a septic installation.913

What should you check before buying land in Hickman?

For a Hickman parcel in a special flood hazard area, the city requires a development permit; applications may require scaled plans with elevations, fill and drainage details, and residential lowest floors must meet the applicable base flood elevation requirement.9 Ask City Hall to identify the city floodplain administrator for your parcel.11 Kentucky’s Division of Water also regulates development in, along or across streams, so the city development permit may not complete the floodplain approvals.16

For a private well, Kentucky requires a certified water well driller even though the property owner has no permitting application or fee for construction or abandonment.10 If you plan to subdivide land that cannot be served by sewer extension, Hickman requires county health officer approval of septic lot sizes and a certified percolation test for each proposed lot.17

Watch-outs

  • Do not plan private septic as an alternative to available city sewer in Hickman: the city prohibits septic tanks once a sanitary sewer connection is available.4
  • We could not confirm a Hickman owner-builder construction exemption or the complete inspection and occupancy requirements; ask the city building official before work begins or anyone moves in.11
  • A Hickman driveway connection needs its own plan approval and construction permit from the city building official.7

Sources

  1. Hickman Code, Ch. 7, Sec. 7-4 (Hickman), quoted and re-checked
  2. Hickman Code, Appendix A, Sec. 2 (Hickman), quoted and re-checked
  3. KRS 211.350 — On-site sewage disposal systems, quoted and re-checked
  4. Hickman Code, Ch. 26, Sec. 26-35 (Hickman), quoted and re-checked
  5. Hickman Code, Ch. 7, Sec. 7-7 (Hickman), quoted and re-checked
  6. Hickman Code, Ch. 26, Sec. 26-32 (Hickman), quoted and re-checked
  7. Hickman Code, Ch. 24, Sec. 24-27 (Hickman), quoted and re-checked
  8. Hickman Code, Ch. 7, Sec. 7-4 (Hickman), quoted and re-checked
  9. Hickman Code, Ch. 11, Sec. 11-41 (Hickman), quoted and re-checked
  10. Water Well Information for Home Owners (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Hickman City Hall (cityofhickman.org)
  12. Hickman Code, Appendix A, Sec. 4 (Hickman), quoted and re-checked
  13. Purchase District Health Department, Environmental Health (purchasehealth.org)
  14. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  15. Hickman Code, Ch. 27, Sec. 27-10 (Hickman), quoted and re-checked
  16. Kentucky Division of Water permits, certifications, and approvals, quoted and re-checked
  17. Hickman Code, Appendix B, Sec. 4.4 (Hickman), quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 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 Hickman

Hickman’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    New construction and listed alterations inside Hickman city limits.

    • The section lists garages, carports, accessory buildings, storage sheds, additions, extensions, affected-load-bearing remodeling, in-ground swimming pools, and related work.
    “Permits shall be required for all new construction of all buildings, including the following:”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Buildings inside Hickman city limits.

    • The cited ordinance adopts the listed ICC codes by reference, with subsequent Kentucky statutory updates and amendments.
    “The 2006 International Code Council [codes] is [are] hereby adopted by reference, including the following: ICC Building Code, ICC Residential Code, ICC Fire Code”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Hickman city limits.

    • The ordinance establishes zoning districts and regulations for the City of Hickman.
    “The intent, purpose and scope of this ordinance is to promote and protect public health, safety, morals and general welfare of the City of Hickman by establishing zoning districts and regulations”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Land inside Hickman city limits.

    • The listed districts are R-1, R-2, B-1, B-2, B-3, I-1, I-2, P-1, and A, as shown on the zoning map.
    “The city is divided into the following districts as shown on the zoning map and these districts are designated as follows: R-1 Residential District R-2 Residential District B-1 Neighborhood Business District B-2 General Business District B-3 Historic Downtown District I-1 Industrial District (Light) I-2 Industrial District (Heavy) P-1 Floodway/Conservancy District A Agricultural District”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping on city property inside Hickman city limits.

    • Express written consent of the city manager is required.
    • The cited section addresses city property.
    “No camping is permitted without the express written consent of the city manager.”
  • Off-grid sanitationProhibited

    Privies, cesspools, septic tanks, and similar flowable-sewage systems on premises inside Hickman city limits after sanitary sewer connection is available.

    • The prohibition begins when a sanitary sewer connection is made available to the premises.
    “From and after the time when a sanitary sewer connection is made available to any premises, it shall be unlawful for any person to construct or maintain a privy, vault, cesspool, septic tank or other similar contrivance for the reception of flowable sewage wastes”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Premises and new premises inside Hickman city limits where municipal sanitary sewers are available.

    • Connection is required within ninety days after written notice of availability.
    • New premises must provide a means to connect all sanitary sewage drains and outlets to the municipal sanitary sewer system.
    • Private septic tanks and similar contrivances are unlawful after sewer connection is available.

    connection deadline: 90 days (after written notice of sewer availability)

    “When the construction and installation of any additional sanitary sewer facilities progress to such a point as to be capable of receiving and disposing of the flowable sanitary sewage of any premises, the city shall give written notice to the owner or occupant of such premises that a sanitary sewer connection is available, and that such premises shall be connected thereto within ninety (90) days after such notice is given.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision development inside Hickman city limits.

    • Where public water is reasonably accessible, the subdivider must construct a complete water distribution system with a connection for each lot and appropriately spaced fire hydrants.
    • Where public sanitary sewer is reasonably accessible, sanitary sewers must be installed to serve all lots.
    • If lots cannot be served by sewer extension, county health officer approval of lot sizes for individual septic tanks and disposal fields and a certified percolation test for each proposed lot are required.
    “Where the public sanitary sewer system, in the opinion of the Planning Commission, is reasonably accessible, sanitary sewers shall be installed to adequately serve all lots with connections to the public system. Where lots cannot be served by the extension of an existing public sanitary sewer, the Subdivider shall obtain approval of lot sizes from the County Health Officer for individual septic tanks and disposal fields and present a certified percolation test for each proposed lot.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Private driveways connecting to public streets, alleys, or public ways inside Hickman city limits.

    • A plan must be submitted before construction.
    • The building official may approve, disapprove, or modify the plan.
    • A permit is issued after final approval.
    “Upon final approval said employee shall issue a permit for construction.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in areas of special flood hazard inside Hickman city limits.

    • A development permit is required.
    • Applications may require scaled plans showing the nature, location, dimensions, elevations, structures, fill, storage, drainage facilities, and related information.
    • Residential construction must elevate the lowest floor, including basement, to or above base flood elevation where base flood elevation data are provided.
    “A development permit shall be required in conformance with the provisions of this article.”
  • Permit feesPublished

    Building permits inside Hickman city limits.

    • Commercial and industrial fees, warehouse/special-use fees, and remodeling fees are also listed in the cited section.

    residential fee first 1000 square feet: 0.08 USD/square foot · residential fee over 1000 square feet: 0.02 USD/square foot (each additional square foot) · carports, garages, accessory buildings: 0.04 USD/square foot

    “Residential: $0.08 per square foot for the first one thousand (1,000) square feet, then $0.02 for each additional square foot; (2) Carports, garages and accessory buildings: $0.04 per square foot;”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building and driveway construction inside Hickman city limits.

    • Building permits are required for covered work.
    • Driveway plans must be submitted to and approved by the building official before construction.
    • Sewer-connected new premises must provide evidence of a means to connect to the municipal sanitary sewer before erection.
    “Any person desiring to connect a private driveway with public streets, alleys or public ways shall, prior to said construction, submit to the building official the plan for construction and connection, and he shall approve, disapprove or modify said plan according to standards of general application.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Hickman or Fulton County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Hickman city limits.
  • Inspections — Building construction inside Hickman city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Hickman city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family residential and agricultural districts inside Hickman city limits.
  • Minimum lot size — R-1, R-2, and A districts inside Hickman city limits.
8 more unanswered
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Short-term rentals

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 Hickman publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Fulton County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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