Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Russellville, Kentucky

Russellville’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, enlargement, alteration, move or demolition of structures inside Russellville city limits

  • Also required: a building permit for a change of occupancy requiring greater strength, new exits or sanitary sewer discharge, or a change to another or alternate use.
  • Electrical permits: electrical permits are required to do any type electrical work other than general repair to existing circuits.
  • Plumbing permits are handled through the plumber's license and the state plumbing inspector; HVAC permits are obtained through the state HVAC inspector (one- and two-family applications can be made directly to the state HVAC inspector).
  • A site plan must be approved by the building official before any new construction, alteration, addition, demolition or excavation.
  • Work must conform to the current zoning regulations.

  permit validity: 12 months (from date of issuance unless revoked; may be extended up to six months with a written request and additional fees if work is progressing with reasonable diligence)

  “a building permit is required to construct, enlarge, alter move or demolish any structure”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Russellville city limits

  • The city page names the current International Building Code for commercial projects and the current International Residential Code for one- and two-family housing; it does not state the edition year.
  • The page states the Commonwealth of Kentucky has adopted building code amendments to the Kentucky Building Code that may not agree with the IBC and may add steps to application and review.

  “the city of russellville has adopted the current international building code (ibc) for all commercial projects and the current international residential building code (irbc) for one and two family housing.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction work done under a city building permit inside Russellville city limits

  • Footer and foundation inspections are to be requested in advance as early as possible.
  • Rough-in and final inspections shall be requested at least twenty four hours in advance of the actual inspection date requested.
  • Inspection requests are made directly to the building official by phone or in person.
  • Electrical, plumbing and HVAC inspection responsibilities are described in the building permit page's trade-permit paragraphs.

  “inspections are required on all construction work undertaken pursuant to the building permit”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupancy or change in use of land or buildings inside Russellville city limits

  • A certificate of occupancy will not be issued until all inspections are final and the landscape around the building is complete or in a state of compliance.
  • A temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued by the building official providing the applicant can show that a hardship exists.

  “no land or buildings or any part thereof can be occupied or put to use or undergo a change in use until a certificate of occupancy is first obtained from the building official for the use as specified by the zoning ordinance and building code.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Russellville city limits and its jurisdiction area (City of Russellville, Logan County, KY). The city adopted and administers its own zoning ordinance and zoning map.

  • The adopting ordinance was passed on second reading on 21 November 2000 and amends Ordinance 84-4 (the 1984 zoning ordinance); the ordinance text states the 1972 Russellville zoning ordinance is repealed to the extent of conflict.
  • The ordinance itself states it adopts the attached updated zoning regulations; that attachment was not readable in the captured text, so district standards were not verified.
  • Zoning map amendments are adopted by ordinance after review by the Logan Joint Cities-County Planning Commission (per city ordinance listing titles).

  “the russellville, kentucky, zoning ordinance, and zoning map - - russellville, kentucky, be adopted for the city of russellville and areas within its jurisdiction”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Russellville city limits

  • The city posts a Russellville Zoning Regulations Book and a Russellville zoning map on its Building & Zoning page.
  • The zoning regulations text was not readable in the captured content, so district names and standards are not listed here.

  “russellville zoning regulations book click here to view this document full screen”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions inside Russellville city limits and its jurisdiction area

  • The city adopted subdivision regulations by ordinance 84-3, listed on the city's ordinance page; the subdivision standards themselves were not read.

  “84-3 - an ordinance adopting the subdivision regulations of the city of russellville, kentucky, for the city of russellville and areas within its jurisdiction, as previously adopted”

• Permit processPublished

  Building permit application process inside Russellville city limits

  • Site plan review by the building official precedes new construction and excavation.
  • A permit may be extended for up to six months with a written request and additional fees.
  • Fee amounts are not stated on the captured page.

  “an application for a building permit shall be made in writing to the city building official and shall be accompanied by the appropriate supporting documents and fees.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Russellville city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Russellville city limits
• Minimum lot size — Main single-family residential district (R-1 or equivalent) inside Russellville city limits
• Setbacks — Main single-family residential district (R-1 or equivalent) inside Russellville city limits
• Lot coverage — Main single-family residential district (R-1 or equivalent) inside Russellville 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.