Bolthole Index

Jefferson County, Kentucky

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Hurstbourne, Kentucky

Hurstbourne, Kentucky has a city building and property-improvement approval process; applicable Louisville Metro building permits remain separate requirements.1 Hurstbourne adopts and administers zoning through referenced Jefferson County Land Development Code provisions.2 Septic systems inside Hurstbourne stay with the local health department, Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness.34

At a glance

Building approval
City approval plus applicable Louisville Metro building permits1
Zoning
Hurstbourne adopts referenced Jefferson County Land Development Code provisions2
Building codes
Kentucky Building and Plumbing Codes adopted; Jefferson County Building Inspector is building-code enforcement agent5
Septic permits
Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness; site evaluation comes first43
Owner-installed septic
Homeowner's permit required through the local health department6
Private wells
No property-owner state application or fee for construction or abandonment; certified driller required7

Who to call

Building permits

City of Hurstbourne

City building and property-improvement applications; contact the city for zoning questions.

(502) 426-4808

[email protected]

200 Whittington Pkwy. Suite 100, Louisville, KY 40222

Online permits →

Septic permits

Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness — Onsite Septic System Program

Septic site evaluations, construction permits and inspections for property using onsite wastewater disposal.

502-574-6655

400 East Gray St 2nd floor, Louisville KY 40202

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does Hurstbourne have zoning, and what about lot size and setbacks?

Hurstbourne has municipal zoning: the city adopts specified Jefferson County Land Development Code provisions by reference, excluding the appendices.2 Hurstbourne's home-occupation regulations supersede the referenced Metro provisions identified in the city code.2

Before choosing a house footprint or buying a lot for a particular use, ask the City of Hurstbourne to identify the parcel's zoning district and confirm its lot-size, setback, height and lot-coverage requirements.2 We could not confirm Hurstbourne's district-specific dimensional schedules or minimum dwelling size; request the applicable schedule from the city before relying on a proposed layout.2

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

Hurstbourne publishes a city building and property-improvement application, and city approval does not replace applicable Louisville Metro building permits.1 Hurstbourne's code names the Jefferson County Building Inspector as the Kentucky Building Code enforcement agent and the State Plumbing Inspector as the Kentucky Plumbing Code enforcement agent.5

Start with the city's building application and ask which city approvals and Metro building permits your project needs.1 The City of Hurstbourne lists (502) 426-4808 and [email protected] for contact.8 Prepare a scaled drawing on a surveyed plot plan, material details and the applicable Metro contractor license number.1 City approval covers Hurstbourne ordinances only; other government requirements and applicable HOA restrictions remain relevant.1

How do septic permits work inside Hurstbourne?

For a Hurstbourne property using onsite wastewater disposal, Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness requires a septic permit for work on the system.4 The Metro program starts a new installation with a site-evaluation application and $375 payment; after submission, the septic installer schedules the evaluation with the department.4 The installer then designs the system and submits drawings with grade shots, and the applicant pays a $425 construction-permit fee.4

The Metro program says building/construction plans cannot be stamped until the onsite construction permit is issued, so resolve septic suitability before treating a house design as ready for approval.4 Installed components must be inspected before soil covers them.4 A homeowner installing their own Hurstbourne system still needs a homeowner's permit through the local health department.6

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Hurstbourne?

We could not confirm permission for residential RV occupancy, temporary camping, tiny homes, manufactured homes or accessory dwellings inside Hurstbourne; ask the City of Hurstbourne about the proposed use at the specific address before buying a vehicle or dwelling.2 Hurstbourne's adopted zoning and city approval process remain the starting points for that conversation.21

Kentucky's temporary vehicle-sleeping provision concerns lawful parking on public roads, streets or parking lots and does not establish permission for permanent RV living on private Hurstbourne land.9 If public sewer is unavailable, Kentucky allows an approved private sewage disposal system under the state plumbing rule; that does not authorize unregulated off-grid sanitation.10

Building a home in Hurstbourne: what are the steps in order?

  1. Ask Hurstbourne to confirm the parcel's zoning and whether the proposed residential use and layout comply with the adopted regulations.2
  2. Resolve wastewater disposal: when septic is proposed, submit the Metro site-evaluation application and coordinate with an installer before finalizing the system and building plans.4
  3. Prepare Hurstbourne's scaled surveyed-plot drawing, material descriptions and applicable contractor information, then submit the city application.1
  4. Obtain applicable Louisville Metro building permits and provide proof within 30 days of the city approval's issue date, as the city application requires.1
  5. Arrange the required septic inspection before backfilling an installed system.4

We could not confirm Hurstbourne's certificate-of-occupancy requirement or building-permit fee schedule; ask the city to specify both before construction starts.1

What stays with Jefferson County, and what should Hurstbourne buyers check?

Hurstbourne's city approval does not transfer septic administration to City Hall: onsite evaluations and inspections remain with the local health department.311 For land outside Hurstbourne, use the Jefferson County guide to distinguish county answers from Hurstbourne's municipal approval process.1

Kentucky does not require a property-owner application or fee for constructing or abandoning a private well, but the work must be performed by a Kentucky Certified Water Well Driller; ask Hurstbourne separately about local water-service requirements.7 Jefferson County's effective property-tax rate is 0.9%, a county-level reference rather than a Hurstbourne parcel quote.12 Before purchase, ask the city about public utility connections, floodplain review and any unresolved occupancy rules, and examine applicable HOA deed restrictions alongside the city application requirements.1

Watch-outs

  • Hurstbourne city approval covers city ordinances only; applicable Metro building permits and HOA restrictions still need attention.1
  • We could not confirm Hurstbourne RV or tiny-home occupancy permission; ask the city about the proposed address and use before committing.2
  • A new onsite septic system must be inspected before its components are covered with soil.4

Sources

  1. Building Permit (Hurstbourne), quoted and re-checked
  2. § 152.01 Zoning Regulations Adopted by Reference (Hurstbourne), quoted and re-checked
  3. Environmental Compliance FAQs (Hurstbourne), quoted and re-checked
  4. Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness — Onsite Septic System Program (louisvilleky.gov)
  5. § 150.01 Adoption of Kentucky Building Code; Enforcement Agents (Hurstbourne), quoted and re-checked
  6. Environmental Compliance FAQs (Hurstbourne), quoted and re-checked
  7. Water Well Information for Home Owners (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. City of Hurstbourne (hurstbourne.org)
  9. KRS 511.110 — Unlawful camping (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. 815 KAR 20:130. House sewers and storm water piping; methods of installation (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Environmental Compliance FAQs (Hurstbourne), quoted and re-checked
  12. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 12, 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 Hurstbourne

Hurstbourne’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction in Hurstbourne city, including single-family dwellings.

    • The Jefferson County Building Inspector is the local enforcement agent for the Kentucky Building Code.
    • The State Plumbing Inspector enforces the Kentucky Plumbing Code.
    “The Kentucky Building Code, as contained in Chapter 7, Title 815 of the Kentucky Administrative Regulations; the Kentucky Plumbing Code, as contained in Chapter 20, Title 815 of the Kentucky Administrative Regulations, together with any amendments, are hereby adopted by reference as if fully set forth in this code of ordinances.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Hurstbourne city limits; the city adopts and administers zoning through the referenced Jefferson County Land Development Code.

    • The adopted reference excludes the appendices and includes Section 4.4.2.
    • Home occupation regulations in Chapter 117 supersede the referenced Louisville Metro Land Development Code provisions identified by the editor's note.
    “The zoning regulations of the Land Development Code for Jefferson County, Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11, excluding the appendices, and Section 4.4.2 are hereby adopted by reference as if set out in full herein.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Hurstbourne building and property-improvement permit applications.

    • Provide a drawing to scale on a surveyed plot plan.
    • Provide a sample brochure, drawings and detailed description of materials.
    • Provide proof of applicable Louisville Metro permits within 30 days of issue.
    • Provide the Louisville Metro contractor license number if applicable.
    • Approval applies only to compliance with Hurstbourne ordinances; other Metro, state, federal, local and HOA requirements remain applicable.
    “CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL 1. Provide drawing to scale of improvements to property on Surveyed Plot Plan of property. 2. Provide sample brochure, drawings and detailed description of materials used. 3. Copy/proof of permit(s) from Louisville Metro within 30 days of issue date of this permit if applicable to your project type. 4. Provide Contractor License Number with Louisville Metro if applicable”

Rules another office applies inside Hurstbourne

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

  • Who permits septicLocal

    Kentucky onsite sewage disposal systems, including systems serving property in Hurstbourne when onsite sewage disposal is used; local health departments administer the program.

    • The local health department conducts site evaluations and inspections.
    • A homeowner installing their own system must obtain a homeowner's permit through the local health department.
    “The Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems Program is administered through local health departments and begins with the use of onsite evaluations to determine if the site and soil conditions are suitable for onsite wastewater systems.”
  • Septic permitLimited

    Onsite sewage systems in Hurstbourne when a homeowner installs the system or onsite sewage disposal is otherwise used.

    • A homeowner who installs their own system must obtain a homeowner's permit through the local health department.
    • The source does not establish that every septic installation in Hurstbourne follows the same permit category.
    “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 sewage systems in Kentucky, including applicable systems inside Hurstbourne city limits.

    • Local health department onsite septic inspectors perform site evaluations and inspections.
    • The source does not identify a Hurstbourne-specific inspection schedule.
    “Local health department onsite septic system inspectors will perform site evaluations and inspections in Kentucky.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Hurstbourne city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy or equivalent for land inside Hurstbourne city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Hurstbourne city limits under the adopted Jefferson County Land Development Code.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size inside Hurstbourne city limits under the adopted Jefferson County Land Development Code.
  • Setbacks — Setbacks inside Hurstbourne city limits under the adopted Jefferson County Land Development Code.
15 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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

← All of Jefferson County: county rules, score and offices