Zoning, building permits and septic rules in New Castle, Kentucky

Rules another office applies inside New Castle

New Castle 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 New Castle city limits, under the joint Henry County Zoning Ordinance whose official zoning map covers New Castle city. This is a county-adopted ordinance extended to the city, not a separate New Castle city zoning code.

  • The ordinance certifies its official zoning map for Henry County and the cities of Eminence, New Castle, Campbellsburg, Pleasureville and Smithfield.
  • The ordinance defines the legislative body of each municipality as the city council, so city approval is contemplated.
  • The excerpt reviewed does not separately show New Castle city council adoption of the ordinance; that is unconfirmed.

  “"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, henry county, kentucky, and as amended.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts in the joint Henry County Zoning Ordinance, applicable inside New Castle city limits as shown on the official zoning map that covers the city.

  • The ordinance text lists residential districts R-1, R-2 and R-3, business districts B-1 to B-3, industrial districts and agricultural district A-3.
  • The official zoning map is a separate certified document and was not opened.

  “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 sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family R-1 district under the joint Henry County Zoning Ordinance, including inside New Castle city limits.

  • Dimensions and area regulations for R-1 are in the schedule of section 680, which was not extracted, so no numeric lot area is recorded here.
  • R-2 has its own district dimension rules, also in section 680.

  “dimensions and area regulations in r-1 districts 1. ii. see section 680”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicle parks (not private-land RV occupancy) under the joint Henry County Zoning Ordinance, including inside New Castle city limits.

  • RV parks are conditional uses in R-3, B-2 and A-3 districts.
  • The ordinance requires RV parks to meet listed criteria and receive planning commission approval.
  • Occupancy of an RV on private land is not addressed in the excerpt reviewed.

  “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”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile home subdivisions as conditional uses in R-1 and R-2 zoning districts under the joint Henry County Zoning Ordinance, including inside New Castle city limits.

  • Mobile home subdivisions are conditional uses, not permitted by right, in R-1 districts.
  • Mobile home parks are also listed as conditional uses in other districts and are not answered here.

  “conditional uses in r-1 districts d. 1. schools, churches, cemeteries, libraries, parks, recreational facilities, hospitals, funeral homes 2. renting of sleeping rooms 3. home occupations as approved by the board of adjustments. 4. mobile home subdivisions.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Onsite septic systems inside New Castle city limits, administered by the local health department under the Kentucky onsite sewage program.

  • The state program sends site evaluations and permits through local health departments.
  • The Henry County health department's identity and service area for New Castle were not confirmed on an official page.

  “the onsite sewage disposal systems program is administered through local health departments and begins with the use of onsite evaluations to determine if site and soil conditions are suitable for onsite wastewater systems.”

• Septic permitRequired

  A homeowner installing an onsite septic system on land inside New Castle city limits.

  • The permit is a homeowner's permit issued through the local health department.
  • Systems installed by a certified installer are handled differently and were not checked here.

  “a homeowner who wishes to install his or her own system must obtain a homeowner's permit through the local health department.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Onsite septic systems inside New Castle city limits.

  • Inspections are performed by local health department onsite septic inspectors.

  “the local health department onsite septic system inspectors perform site evaluations and inspections in kentucky.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Planned unit developments and plat approval under Henry County subdivision regulations, as referenced by the joint zoning ordinance for land inside New Castle city limits.

  • The ordinance refers plat preparation and subdivision approval to the separate Henry County subdivision regulations, which were not opened.
  • Whether those regulations apply inside New Castle city limits was not confirmed.

  “all proposed planned unit developments shall follow procedure for zoning change approval, plat preparation and subdivision approval, as set forth in the henry county subdivision regulations.”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning and building permit process under the joint Henry County Zoning Ordinance, including land inside New Castle city limits.

  • The planning commission sets a fee and collection schedule by resolution.
  • The ordinance states that building permits expire one year after approval, per the ordinance text.
  • The full procedure and the posted fee schedule were not located online.

  “building permits approved relating to permission to build expires one year after the date of issuance.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside New Castle city limits
• Inspections — Building inspections inside New Castle city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside New Castle city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside New Castle city limits
• Setbacks — Setbacks inside New Castle 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.