Building permits, zoning and land rules in Hardin County, Kentucky

Yes. In unincorporated Hardin County, individuals must obtain building and electrical permits before beginning building, moving or alteration activities governed by the zoning ordinance, and the project may also require a zoning permit¹. Kentucky has adopted the Kentucky Building Code and Kentucky Residential Code applicable in Hardin County¹⁸. The state code exempts some work, including certain one-story detached accessory structures no larger than 120 square feet and fences no higher than 7 feet, but confirm the exemption with the county before starting¹⁹. Before using a regulated structure or premises, obtain the county-required certificate of occupancy showing code and zoning compliance and approved utilities^1,20.

The Hardin County Planning & Development Commission is the first stop for building, electrical and zoning permits in unincorporated Hardin County^1,8. Reach the commission at (270) 769-5479 or visit 150 N. Provident Way, Suite 225, Elizabethtown, KY 42701²¹. Building and electrical permit applications must be submitted in person, and emailed permit requests are not accepted²¹. Submit the completed permit form, an application affidavit and an aerial photo showing the proposed structure and its distances from property lines²². Building and electrical inspections are required for new construction, additions and remodeling, and Kentucky assigns local review and inspection of single-family homes where a local inspection program exists^21,23. Inside Elizabethtown and West Point, city authorities issue building permits; septic permits remain with Lincoln Trail District Health Department^3,5,7.

County zoning applies to all unincorporated Hardin County land⁸. The Planning & Development Commission's official zoning map is the final authority for a parcel's designation²⁴. Covered construction or land-use changes require a zoning permit; conditional uses and variances require the applicable board's approval¹. In R-1, minimum front and side setbacks are 40 feet and 10 feet, with a 100-foot side setback for qualifying subdivision lots next to A-1, I-1 or I-2 zones¹. R-1 minimum lots are 12,000 square feet with sewer or wastewater treatment alternatives, 40,000 square feet with septic, public water and a qualifying government-maintained road, and 3 acres without public water on a qualifying road; roads with less than a 16-foot paved surface require 5 acres¹. Other districts have separate lot standards¹. We could not confirm minimum dwelling size, height or lot coverage; ask the commission for the parcel's requirements. Elizabethtown and West Point administer city zoning; septic stays with Lincoln Trail District Health Department^4,6,7.

The Lincoln Trail District Health Department administers septic permits and inspections in Hardin County⁷. Start by submitting a site-evaluation request online or at the local Environmental office with the site address, boundary information, survey plat, existing features, proposed structure and system locations, and information about the proposed use⁷. The site evaluation costs $300, due with the application; an existing-system inspection costs $100, and credit-card payments carry a 5% surcharge⁷. All onsite-sewage service fees must be paid before the evaluation, permit issuance or inspection⁷. If the site is suitable or provisionally suitable, a certified installer may apply for the installation permit⁷. Every installed, constructed, altered or repaired system must be inspected by a certified inspector before backfilling¹⁰. Only about 32.1% of county soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so order the evaluation early²⁵.

We could not confirm that unincorporated Hardin County allows long-term RV occupancy on private land, so ask the Planning & Development Commission about the parcel's zoning before relying on an RV as temporary or permanent housing. Kentucky's narrow protection for sleeping in a lawfully parked vehicle on a public road, street or parking lot lasts less than 12 hours and does not authorize living in an RV on private land¹¹. We also could not confirm county occupancy rules or a minimum dwelling size specifically for tiny homes. A site-built tiny home is not a way around the permit system: covered building activity requires building and electrical permits before work begins, and a zoning permit may also be required¹. Before occupying a regulated tiny-home structure, the county requires a certificate of occupancy showing code and zoning compliance and approved utilities, including septic or sewer where applicable¹.

1. Identify whether the parcel is unincorporated or inside a municipality, then confirm its zoning and proposed use with the office that governs that location⁹.
2. If the property needs septic, submit the Health Department site-evaluation request and $300 fee before fixing the house location⁷.
3. Submit the completed county building-permit form, affidavit and an aerial photo showing the structure and distances from property lines²². Building and electrical applications go to the Planning & Development Commission in person before work begins^1,21.
4. Qualifying homeowners and farmers may perform electrical work on their own premises under a licensing exemption, but electrical permits and applicable inspections still apply¹⁵. Personally performed plumbing and septic work have separate affidavit, permit and inspection conditions^16,17. A building-permit applicant who qualifies for the workers' compensation exemption submits the applicable affidavit instead of proof of coverage²⁶.
5. If the driveway meets a state highway, apply in writing to the state district engineer before building the approach¹².
6. Schedule building and electrical inspections, and complete the septic inspection before backfilling^10,21,23.
7. Obtain the county certificate of occupancy after the required approvals are complete¹.

Start with jurisdiction and zoning: the county regulates unincorporated land, incorporated municipalities run separate zoning systems, and the official county map in the planning office controls for county-zoned parcels^2,9,24. Check septic feasibility before choosing a building site, because only about 32.1% of Hardin County soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional drain field²⁵. Flood-damage-prevention requirements and development-permit provisions apply in special flood-hazard and other flood-prone areas of unincorporated Hardin County²⁷; development in an identified Kentucky floodplain also needs a state floodplain permit¹⁴. For a private well, Kentucky requires no permit application or fee from the property owner, but a Kentucky Certified Water Well Driller must do the work²⁸. Confirm legal road access because a new farm or single-family driveway onto a state highway requires a written application to the state district engineer¹². Subdivision proposals in unincorporated special flood-hazard areas must identify the flood-hazard area and base-flood elevation and place utilities to minimize flood damage²⁹. We could not confirm the full subdivision-approval process; ask the Planning & Development Commission before dividing land.