Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Riverwood, Kentucky

Riverwood’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New homes, additions and detached garages on lots inside Riverwood city

  • Approval is by Louisville Metro Government and the City of Riverwood jointly, in writing, before erection.
  • Riverwood also requires a deposit of no more than $500 at approval (see permit-fees-riverwood-deposit).

  “no building or addition shall be erected on any lot until construction plans, specifications, and a plan showing the grade elevation and location of the structure are approved in writing by louisville metro government and the city of riverwood.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Parking or keeping campers, trailers, camping vehicles, trucks, commercial vehicles and boats on lots inside Riverwood city limits

  • Allowed on a lot only if housed in a garage or basement.
  • Street parking of a trailer, boat, truck or other vehicle is limited to 24 hours.

  street parking limit: <= 24 hours

  “no trailer, truck, commercial vehicle, camper trailer, camping vehicle or boat shall be parked or kept on any lot at any time unless housed in a garage or basement.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Prohibited — Using a trailer or other RV as a residence on any lot inside Riverwood city limits

    “no outbuilding, trailer, basement, tent, shack, garage, or barn shall at any time be used as a residence temporarily or permanent.”

• Camping on your landProhibited

  Living in a tent or trailer, temporarily or permanently, on any lot inside Riverwood city limits

  • Covers residential use only; camping vehicles parked on a lot are separately restricted (see rv-parking-riverwood).

  “no outbuilding, trailer, basement, tent, shack, garage, or barn shall at any time be used as a residence temporarily or permanent.”

• Accessory dwellingsProhibited

  A separate living unit in an outbuilding, garage, barn or similar accessory structure on a lot inside Riverwood city limits

  • The sentence does not address an attached or internal accessory unit in the main house; no such rule was found.

  “no outbuilding, trailer, basement, tent, shack, garage, or barn shall at any time be used as a residence temporarily or permanent.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Construction approval deposit for new homes, additions and detached garages inside Riverwood city limits

  • Deposit is a ceiling ('no more than'); the page does not state the exact amount or refund terms.
  • Louisville Metro's own construction permit fees were not confirmed.

  construction approval deposit: <= 500 USD

  “at the time of approval, the owner shall deposit an amount of no more than five hundred dollars with the city of riverwood to insure that the finished construction complies with all regulations.”

• Permit processPartial

  Permit process for new homes, additions and detached garages inside Riverwood city limits, combining Riverwood approval with Louisville Metro review

  • Riverwood also runs an architectural review for exterior renovations and additions (contact listed on page).
  • The order and timing of the Riverwood and Louisville Metro steps are not published on the pages read.

  “contact information for the city of riverwood's architectural review committee is below.”

Rules another office applies inside Riverwood

Riverwood 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)

  Construction inside Riverwood city limits, which lies in Jefferson County within the Louisville Metro construction review area

  • Riverwood's own written approval of construction plans is also required (see building-permit-riverwood-approval).
  • Louisville Metro coordinates reviews with small cities that do not have expanded construction jurisdiction. The page does not say whether Riverwood has expanded jurisdiction.

  “adopts the kentucky building code and kentucky residential code in full, making them the official standards for all construction and permitting within the metro area”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems on lots inside Riverwood city limits (Riverwood is in Jefferson County; the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness administers the permit)

  • The Metro sewer code gives the Department of Public Health and Wellness authority over sewer connection orders on Jefferson County lots (see utility-connection-sewer).
  • No Riverwood-specific septic authority was found.

  “all work done to onsite sewage treatment & disposal system requires a permit from the louisville metro department of public health and wellness (lmphw).”

• Septic permitRequired

  New or altered onsite sewage systems on lots inside Riverwood city limits

  • Applies where the home uses an onsite system rather than a public sewer connection.
  • Building plans cannot be stamped until the onsite construction permit is issued.

  “building/construction plans cannot be stamped until an onsite sewage disposal system construction permit has been issued.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Installed onsite sewage systems on lots inside Riverwood city limits

  • Inspection is required before the system is covered with soil; cover soil must be approved before use.

  “once onsite sewage disposal system is installed all components must be inspected prior to being covered with soil.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Human waste disposal on lots inside Riverwood city limits

  • Where a public sewer and water supply are available, disposal must be by water closets connected to them.
  • Where no public sewer is available, an onsite system is allowed only under the Department of Public Health and Wellness permit (see septic-permit-louisville-metro).

  “where there is a public sewer and water supply available for use of such unit, any system of disposal of human excrete except by means of water closets connected with such sewer and water supply.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New homes on lots inside Riverwood city limits where a public sewer is available in the street, alley or easement

  • Connection is required within 12 months of notice that the sewer is available, or as ordered by the health department.
  • Exemption: lot of 4.5 acres or larger, home more than 400 feet from the sewer connection, and an onsite system found functioning on inspection.
  • No Riverwood-specific or water-connection rule was found on the pages read.

  sewer connection deadline after notice: 12 months (or as otherwise ordered by the department of public health and wellness or the board of health)

  “it shall be the duty of the owner or owners of every lot, subdivisional lot or parcel of ground required to be connected with the public sewer, to so connect such lot or parcel within 12 months of notification that such sewer connection is available or as otherwise ordered by the department of public health and wellness or the board of health.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for work inside Riverwood city limits
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Riverwood city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for homes inside Riverwood city limits
• Local zoning — Zoning inside Riverwood city limits
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Riverwood 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.