Building permits, zoning and septic rules in LaRue County, Kentucky

Unincorporated LaRue County requires a building/zoning permit for dwellings, structures and other buildings, and the permit is valid for 6 months unless renewed for cause¹. New single-family, two-family and multiple-family dwellings also require a certificate of occupancy¹. The building and zoning permit fee varies with building square footage; ask Planning & Zoning for the current amount⁴. LaRue County has adopted the Kentucky Residential Code for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses within its scope¹. Kentucky adopted its 2018 Building and Residential Codes in 2019; ask Planning & Zoning which edition and inspection program apply to the proposed building^4,8. Agricultural structures in the A-1 district are exempt when built for agricultural purposes, but dwellings still need a building/zoning permit¹. For land outside city sewer service, obtain the septic permit before applying for the building permit⁴.

The LaRue County Planning & Zoning Office handles building and zoning permits from the courthouse at 209 West High Street, Hodgenville, KY 42748; call 270-358-0830, and look for the office on the second floor of the main building⁴. The LaRue County Health Center Environmental Department handles the separate on-site sewage process at 215 East Main Street, Hodgenville, KY 42748; call 270-358-3844⁷. Plumbing permits are available through the Environmental Office only on Wednesdays from 8 to 9:30 a.m., and Wednesday inspections require an appointment by calling 270-358-8665 before 9:30 a.m⁴.. For a county-road entrance, the Road Department inspects driveway entrances and can be reached at 270-766-9857⁹.

LaRue County zoning governs land use and structures in unincorporated areas¹. Inside city limits, Hodgenville adopts its own zoning regulations; septic evaluations and installation permits for property without city sewer remain with Lincoln Trail District Health Department through the LaRue County Environmental Office^2,10. The ordinance publishes permitted and conditional uses for A-1, R-1A, R-1B and other districts¹. Lot size, setbacks, lot coverage and building height vary by district and utility service; for example, the R-1A maximum lot coverage is 35%, and the residential maximum building height is 35 feet¹. A building cannot cross a setback line without a variance, and neighboring zoning can affect the required setback¹. Agricultural land divisions may qualify for a conditional subdivision exemption when no lot is smaller than 5 acres and no new street is constructed, but a dwelling still needs a building/zoning permit^1,11. The county treats doublewide and modular homes as mobile homes for permitting⁴. We could not confirm a general minimum dwelling floor area or accessory-dwelling rule; ask Planning & Zoning before choosing a structure⁴.

The Lincoln Trail District Health Department Environmental Office administers on-site sewage permits and inspections for LaRue County³. The LaRue County septic site evaluation costs $300; after a suitable or provisionally suitable result, a certified installer may apply to the Health Department for the installation permit³. After installation, the installer must request an inspection before any work is covered³. Existing systems may also need inspection for a sale, addition or rebuilding after a natural disaster; that inspection costs $100, with a 5% card-payment fee³. A qualifying homeowner may obtain a septic permit and personally install or alter the system serving the homeowner's single-family residence, subject to the application, fee, inspection and frequency conditions⁶. The LaRue County Health Center Environmental Department is at 215 East Main Street in Hodgenville; call 270-358-3844⁷. Only about 32.1% of county soils lack severe limits for a conventional drain field, so settle septic feasibility before fixing the house location¹².

We could not confirm a countywide rule for long-term RV occupancy on private land in unincorporated LaRue County; ask Planning & Zoning about the parcel and proposed stay⁴. Inside Hodgenville, the B-4 Recreational Business District allows temporary RV-site rentals for no more than 14 consecutive days, requires at least 1,500 square feet per RV space, and does not apply in the county outside the city¹. Tents at those Hodgenville RV sites require a conditional-use permit and designated sanitary facilities¹. We also could not confirm a complete tiny-home occupancy rule or minimum dwelling floor area⁴. A tiny-home proposal still must fit the parcel's published zoning use and district-specific lot, setback, coverage and height rules^1,4. A dwelling without city sewer must complete the local septic process before a plumbing permit can be issued⁴.

1. Ask Planning & Zoning to confirm the parcel's district, proposed use and dimensional standards, and whether an agricultural-use affidavit applies¹.

1. If the site is not on city sewer, apply for the on-site sewage evaluation and obtain the septic installation permit³.

1. Establish the entrance permanently so an address can be assigned, and get county approval for driveway location and drainage⁴. A new farm or single-family driveway connecting to a state highway requires a written application to the Kentucky district engineer¹³.

1. Prepare the site plan, floor plan and riser diagram, then apply for the building/zoning permit; the fee depends on the building's square footage⁴.

1. Obtain the plumbing permit before work begins; a homeowner may personally do plumbing, sewerage or drainage work in a home the homeowner occupies or built for personal residential use after filing the required permit application and affidavit⁵.

1. Have the septic system inspected before covering the work, then complete the required certificate-of-occupancy process^1,3.

Verify the zoning district, allowed home type, minimum lot size, setbacks, lot coverage and height before closing¹. If a seller proposes to split the tract, confirm commission plat approval before recording or closing¹⁴. Test septic feasibility early because only about 32.1% of county soils lack severe limits for a conventional drain field¹². Consult the official Flood Insurance Rate Map before choosing a building site: LaRue County regulates development in designated floodplains and advises avoiding flood-hazard areas where possible¹⁵. Development in, along or across a stream also requires a Kentucky Division of Water floodplain permit¹⁶. Confirm driveway approval and drainage with the county for a county road or the Kentucky district engineer for a state highway^9,13. About 80.5% of county land has a slope of 15% or less, while 38.8% is wooded, useful context for comparing clearing and grading among parcels¹².