Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Lancaster, Kentucky

Lancaster’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Mobile and manufactured-home units within Lancaster city limits.

  • The county building-code ordinance states that City of Lancaster planning and zoning ordinances apply in addition to the county ordinance; the current municipal zoning text and district schedule were not located.

  “Units located within the City limits of Lancaster, Kentucky are subject to the Planning and Zoning Ordinances of the City of Lancaster in addition to this ordinance.”

Rules another office applies inside Lancaster

Lancaster does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building permitLimited

  Manufactured or mobile homes placed in Lancaster city limits.

  • Placement and habitation permit is required before erection, setup, or placement.
  • Before issuance, owner must have septic or sewer approval and obtain an electric permit.
  • City planning and zoning ordinances also apply.

  “No manufactured or mobile home shall be erected, set-up, or brought onto property in Garrard County, Kentucky without first applying and receiving a permit for placement and habitation of the home.”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Homeowners installing or altering an on-site sewage disposal system inside Lancaster city limits.

  • Application must precede construction.
  • Work must comply with referenced regulations.
  • Work must be personally performed except permitted excavation/backfilling.
  • No more than one homeowner permit in five years except necessary repair or alteration.

  homeowner permit frequency: <= 1 permit per five years (necessary repair or alteration of the originally permitted on-site system)

  “Permits to construct, install, or alter on-site sewage disposal systems may be issued to homeowners provided:”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings inside Lancaster city limits subject to Garrard County's building-code ordinance.

  • County program excludes structures other than residential and business structures on parcels exceeding 10 acres.
  • Lancaster city units are also subject to City planning and zoning ordinances.

  “the KENTUCKY BUILDING CODE, promulgated in 815 KAR 7:120 and the KENTUCKY RESIDENTIAL CODE promulgated in 815 KAR 7:125 by the Board of Housing, Building and Construction, Commonwealth of Kentucky as if set out at length herein;”

• InspectionsLimited

  Manufactured or mobile homes placed in Lancaster city limits.

  • The ordinance provides for two installation inspections before a certificate of occupancy.
  • City planning and zoning ordinances also apply.

  “Permits under this ordinance shall be issued by the Garrard County Judge/Executive office, units subject to this ordinance shall be subject to inspection by the Judge/Executive or his designee.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Manufactured or mobile homes placed in Lancaster city limits.

  • Certificate of occupancy must issue before habitation.
  • City planning and zoning ordinances also apply.

  “A certificate of occupancy must be issued for a manufactured or mobile home before it is inhabited.”

• Tiny homesLimited

  Tiny homes or pre-manufactured buildings used as dwellings inside Lancaster city limits.

  • Permanent electric or sewage is not permitted until stated criteria are met.
  • The structure must be served by specified plumbing fixtures connected to sanitary sewer or an approved private sewage disposal system.
  • City planning and zoning ordinances also apply.

  “A permit will not be issued for this type of occupancy unless the following criteria is met. (Note: Permanent Electric or Sewage will not be permitted to buildings used for occupancy until the following criteria is met).”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured or mobile homes inside Lancaster city limits.

  • A placement-and-habitation permit is required before placement.
  • Prior to permit issuance, septic or sewer approval and an electric permit are required.
  • City planning and zoning ordinances additionally apply.

  “No manufactured or mobile home shall be erected, set-up, or brought onto property in Garrard County, Kentucky without first applying and receiving a permit for placement and habitation of the home.”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  On-site sewage disposal systems inside Lancaster city limits.

  • Permit is obtained from the local health department.
  • The state regulation governs permit issuance.

  “KRS 211.350 provides that no person, firm, or corporation shall construct, install, alter or cause to be constructed, installed, or altered any on-site sewage disposal system subject to administrative regulation by the cabinet without having first obtained an on-site sewage disposal permit from the local health department.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction, installation, or alteration of an on-site sewage disposal system inside Lancaster city limits.

  • Applies to systems subject to Cabinet administrative regulation.
  • Permit must be obtained before the work.

  “KRS 211.350 provides that no person, firm, or corporation shall construct, install, alter or cause to be constructed, installed, or altered any on-site sewage disposal system subject to administrative regulation by the cabinet without having first obtained an on-site sewage disposal permit from the local health department.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  On-site sewage disposal for residences inside Lancaster city limits.

  • An on-site system subject to Cabinet regulation requires a local-health-department permit before construction, installation, or alteration.

  “KRS 211.350 provides that no person, firm, or corporation shall construct, install, alter or cause to be constructed, installed, or altered any on-site sewage disposal system subject to administrative regulation by the cabinet without having first obtained an on-site sewage disposal permit from the local health department.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Manufactured or mobile homes installed inside Lancaster city limits.

  • Entrance-drive culverts are required from the main roadway where necessary.
  • City planning and zoning ordinances also apply.

  “This includes entrance drive culverts from the main roadway where necessary.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Manufactured or mobile homes placed on existing lots in a floodplain inside Lancaster city limits.

  • Applies when a unit is placed on an existing lot within the floodplain or a floodplain unit is substantially improved.
  • Floodplain-construction permit is in addition to placement-and-habitation permit.

  “Whenever a unit is placed on an existing lot within the flood plain, or whenever a unit located within the flood plain is substantially improved, the owner or resident must apply for a Construction in a Flood Plain permit in addition to the placement and habitation permit.”

• Permit processPartial

  On-site sewage disposal permit applicants inside Lancaster city limits.

  • Certified installer or qualifying homeowner submits to the certified inspector having jurisdiction.
  • Application includes DFS-307 and required fees.
  • Except for qualifying homeowners, permits are issued only to certified installers.

  “A certified installer or homeowner meeting the requirements of this administrative regulation shall complete and submit to the local health department certified inspector having jurisdiction:”

Still unanswered

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

• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Lancaster city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Lancaster city limits.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Lancaster city limits.
• Setbacks — Development inside Lancaster city limits.
• Lot coverage — Development inside Lancaster city limits.

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.