Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Jeffersontown, Kentucky

Jeffersontown’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  In-ground swimming pool construction (and associated electrical work) inside Jeffersontown city

  • Metro health department approval must come first, then the city permit.
  • Pools must be in a rear yard and not in an easement.

  “after approval by the health dept., a permit from the city of jeffersontown is required for the construction of the in ground pool and for associated electrical work”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Not required — Residential yard fences inside Jeffersontown city

    “a permit is not required at this time from the city of jeffersontown.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the city limits of Jeffersontown city, KY (Jefferson County). Not the unincorporated county area.

  • Zoning changes and waivers must first be filed with Louisville Metro Planning and Design, then acted on by the Jeffersontown city council; variances, conditional use permits and appeals are decided by the Jeffersontown Board of Adjustments.
  • Adopted by Ordinance 1415, Series 2021 per the LDC cover page.

  “the city of jeffersontown uses the 2021 land development code (ldc) adopted may 4, 2021 to administer, regulate, and enforce planning and zoning within our city.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts established by the Jeffersontown Land Development Code inside Jeffersontown city

  • The table of contents lists residential districts R-R through R-8A, office/residential, commercial, industrial, special purpose and planned development districts. The district text itself (Part 2) was not opened.

  “residential zoning districts (r-r - r 8a) office/residential zoning districts (or, or-1, or-2, or-3, otf)”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Private swimming pools inside Jeffersontown city only; not principal dwellings

  • Pools only in rear yards and not in an easement.
  • Five-foot minimum from side and rear yard lines.

  minimum distance from side and rear yard lines: >= 5 feet

  “all swimming pools must be at least five (5) feet from the side yard and rear yard lines.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions inside Jeffersontown city under LDC Chapter 7 (major and minor subdivisions)

  • Major subdivisions go through preliminary plan, construction plan and record plat; minor subdivisions have their own part (Part 8).
  • Chapter 7 text was not opened.

  “chapter 7 subdivision regulations ldc version update update update may 2021”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning-related review and approval steps inside Jeffersontown city

  • Most zoning reviews are done in house, within a few days, per the city page.
  • Zoning changes and waivers go first to Louisville Metro Planning and Design, then to the Jeffersontown city council.
  • Variances, conditional use permits and appeals go to the Jeffersontown Board of Adjustments.

  “variances, conditional use permits, and appeals of the ldc are approved only by the jeffersontown board of adjustments.”

Rules another office applies inside Jeffersontown

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

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Residential and nonresidential construction inside Jeffersontown city (the state code applies there, administered by the city)

  • Kentucky statewide codes; the city's own page states they apply within the city limits.

  “the kentucky residential code and the kentucky building code regulate the construction of residential and nonresidential property within the city of jeffersontown.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for homeowners building on their own land inside Jeffersontown city
• Inspections — Building inspections for residential construction inside Jeffersontown city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Jeffersontown city
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for single-family homes inside Jeffersontown city (main residential district)
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for the main single-family residential district and any rural-residential district inside Jeffersontown city

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.