Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Eminence, Kentucky

Rules another office applies inside Eminence

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

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Eminence city limits, covered by the Henry County zoning ordinance that the official zoning map certifies for Henry County and the City of Eminence. Administered by Henry County Planning and Zoning, not by a separate Eminence ordinance.

  • The ordinance is a joint county-city document. The map certification names the City of Eminence, but this research did not open a separate Eminence adoption page, so whether Eminence council adopted the text separately is unverified.
  • Sections 1115 and 1125 on signs apply only to the City of Eminence, so the ordinance does contain Eminence-specific provisions.

  “this is to certify that this is official zoning map for henry county and the cities of eminence, new castle, campbellsburg, pleasureville and smithfield kentucky, referred to section 100 of the zoning ordinance”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts for land inside Eminence city limits under the Henry County zoning ordinance and official zoning map

  • District boundaries are on the official zoning map, which is certified for Henry County and the City of Eminence.
  • The district list includes R-1, R-2, R-3, A-1, A-2, A-3 and business and industrial classes; section 680 dimensional table and map image were not read.

  “the boundaries of the zoning districts are hereby established as shown on the zoning map, which, with all notations, references and other matters shown thereon, shall be a part of this ordinance.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots inside mobile home subdivisions in Henry County, including Eminence city limits. This is not the main R-1 single-family lot rule.

  • Applies only to mobile home subdivisions.
  • The lead-in sentence listing the exceptions before the lot standard was not captured.

  minimum lot area without public sewer: >= 20000 square feet · minimum lot area with public sewer: >= 6000 square feet · minimum street frontage at building line: >= 70 feet

  “no lot in a mobile home subdivision shall contain less than 20,000 square feet of land where public sewers are not available, or less than 6,000 square feet of land where public sewers are available. all lots shall front on a public street and have a minimum width at the building line of 70 feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Mobile home subdivisions in Henry County, including Eminence city limits. Not the main R-1 or A-1 district.

  • Applies only to mobile home subdivisions.

  front setback from street right-of-way: 15 feet · side yard each side: 10 feet · rear yard: 15 feet

  “the minimum setback line from the street right-of-way shall be 15 feet; the minimum side yard on each side shall be 10 feet; and the minimum rear yard shall be 15 feet.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Living in or using a recreational vehicle as a residence in Henry County, including land inside Eminence city limits under the joint zoning ordinance

  • Manufactured homes are exempt from this ban and remain governed by article XV.
  • RV parks are a separate conditional use (see temporary_camping claim).

  “it shall be unlawful in henry county to live in or use any of the following for a residential purpose or residential dwelling: a portable building, boat, automobile, storage container, camper, recreational vehicle, or similar type equipment.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Recreational vehicle parks and campgrounds for short stays inside Henry County, including Eminence city limits, where the zoning districts allow them

  • Permitted only as a conditional use in R-3, B-2 and/or A-3 districts, approved by the commission.
  • Minimum park size is five acres; minimum lot area per space is 2,500 square feet, with 20 percent of lots allowed at 1,200 square feet for tent campers only.

  minimum park size: >= 5 acres

  “recreational vehicle parks may be permitted as conditional use in r-3, b-2 and/or a-3 districts provided they meet the following criteria, and provided further that they are approved by the commission”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions in Henry County, including land inside Eminence city limits, under the Henry County subdivision regulations

  • Subdivision regulations are separate from the zoning ordinance and were not opened.
  • Section 770 family-division conveyances must meet the zoning ordinance and the subdivision regulations.

  “the henry county subdivision regulations shall be the minimum standards, requirements and procedures governing the filing, designing, utilities, facilities and other improvements or physical complements of mobile home subdivisions.”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning and building permit application process inside Eminence city limits

  • Application needs a dimensional plan showing lot area, parking and water and sewage facilities, plus the county health officer certificate.
  • Zoning enforcement officer approves or disapproves within a reasonable time; three days is treated as reasonable under normal circumstances.
  • Applicant then takes the approved copy to the city/county building inspector (if applicable) for the building permit under the locally adopted state building code.

  reasonable review time: 3 days (under normal circumstances)

  “all applications for permission to build or replace a structure shall be accompanied by a dimensional drawing of the building plan in duplicate showing the location of buildings and structures, lot area to be used, auto parking areas, and water supply and sewage disposal facilities. the county health officer’s certificate preliminarily approving proposed water and sewage facilities must accompany applications.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for building permits inside Eminence city limits
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Eminence city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Eminence city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Eminence city limits
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Eminence 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.

Off-grid gear

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

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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