Zoning, building permits and septic rules in London, Kentucky

London’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building work inside London city limits, including new residential buildings, additions and alterations

  • Permit issued under London city ordinance no. 2020-08, sections 200.1 and 200.2, per the city's application form.
  • Authorization to construct lapses if construction does not begin within six months of permit issuance.
  • The application form lists project types including new building, addition, alteration, repair, moving and foundation work; the exact list of exempt minor work was not confirmed.

  “(london city ordinance no. 2020-08 sections 200.1 & 200.2)”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  New construction and alterations inside London city limits

  • The city adopts the state building codes by its own ordinance (Ord 2023-19); the code text itself is issued by the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction.
  • The city's Department of Housing, Buildings & Construction, Division of Building Code Enforcement administers it (per the city permit application).

  “ord 2023-19 building code an ordinance relating to 815 kar 7:120 kentucky building code and 815 kar 7:125 kentucky residential code, as adopted by the department of housing, building and construction of the commonwealth of kentucky”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted new or altered structures and new uses inside London city limits

  • Final inspection is requested by the owner or contractor when the building interior and all exterior components are complete.
  • Other inspection stages were not confirmed.

  “final inspection: a representative of the owner or contractor will notify the building inspector of the date on which any new or altered structure or new use of the premises will be ready to commence.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Permitted buildings inside London city limits before occupancy

  • Site work (sidewalks, decks, porches, parking, grading) must be completed before a certificate of occupancy is given.
  • Fee and issuance timing not confirmed.

  “before a certificate of occupancy is given the sidewalks, decks, porches, parking areas and site grading shall be completed.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside London city limits (City of London, Laurel County, KY)

  • The city's own Development Ordinance (Ord 2016-04, as amended) is listed in the city's official ordinance directory with status 'amended'.
  • A 2025 Streamlined Development Ordinance (Ord 2025-04) that would rescind and replace it is listed as 'draft' in the directory and was not confirmed as adopted; it is not relied on here.
  • Zoning map changes are made by ordinance (e.g., Ord 2025-07 rezoning from R1 to C2).

  “ord 2025-07 rezoning property owned by todd white and deanna lea white from residential (r1) to commercial (c2)”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Zoned land inside London city limits

  • Districts named in the directory include residential (R1) and commercial (C2); a complete district list and map were not located.
  • The permit application includes a 'zoning district' field.

  “ord 2025-07 rezoning property owned by todd white and deanna lea white from residential (r1) to commercial (c2)”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit process inside London city limits

  • A written application is required, and plans are submitted for plan review.
  • Review timelines, fee schedule and submission checklist were not found on an official page.

  “a complete set of construction plans must be submitted for plan review”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption inside London city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the main single-family residential district (R1) inside London city limits
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in the main single-family residential district (R1) inside London city limits
• Setbacks — Front, side and rear setbacks in the main single-family residential district (R1) inside London city limits
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage in the main single-family residential district (R1) inside London 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.