Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Paducah, Kentucky

Paducah’s own rules

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in R-1 Low Density Residential Zone, Paducah city

  • Exclusive of porches, breezeways, terraces, garages and stairways.

  minimum ground floor area: >= 1200 sq ft

  “no building shall be erected for residential purposes having a ground floor area of less than one thousand, two hundred (1,200) square feet, exclusive of porches, breezeways, terraces, garages and stairways.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwellings in R-2 Low and Medium Density Residential Zone, Paducah city

    “no building shall be erected for residential purposes having a ground floor area of less than one thousand (1,000) square feet, exclusive of porches, breezeways, terraces, garages and stairways.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in R-1 zone, Paducah city

  • ADUs may be on lots below minimum area or width (Sec. 126-98).

  minimum lot area: >= 12000 sq ft · minimum lot width: >= 75 ft

  “minimum lot area: twelve thousand (12,000) square feet. 2. minimum lot width: seventy-five (75) feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwellings in R-2 zone, Paducah city

    “minimum lot area: ten thousand (10,000) square feet. 2. minimum lot width: sixty (60) feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in R-1 zone, Paducah city

  • Corner lots: 15-foot front-yard reduction on secondary street if side yard stays at least 25 feet.

  front yard: >= 40 ft · side yard: >= 8 ft · rear yard: >= 25 ft

  “front yard: forty (40) feet. 2. side yard: eight (8) feet. 3. rear yard: twenty-five (25) feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwellings in R-2 zone, Paducah city

    “front yard: twenty-five (25) feet. 2. side yard: six (6) feet. 3. rear yard: twenty-five (25) feet.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in R-1 zone, Paducah city

  maximum building height: <= 35 ft

  “maximum building height: thirty-five (35) feet.”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwellings in R-2 zone, Paducah city

    “maximum building height: thirty-five (35) feet.”

  • Specified — Single-family dwellings in R-3 zone, Paducah city (R-4 single-family follows R-3)

    “maximum building height: thirty-five (35) feet.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  RVs and trailers inside Paducah city: R-1 zone, and the downtown business district under Chapter 110

  • R-1: trailers/vehicles may be stored in rear or side yard only if not used as a dwelling; not allowed in any front yard.
  • Sec. 110-83 (downtown business district division) bars human occupation of any recreational vehicle.
  • Other zones not covered here.

  “all trailers, campers, motor homes and boats shall not be allowed in any front yard.”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  Accessory dwelling units in every zone inside Paducah city

  • One ADU per single-family dwelling per lot; owner must reside in principal dwelling or ADU.
  • Rear yard only; max size 50 percent of rear yard, not exceeding ground floor area of principal dwelling.
  • Height not above principal dwelling; one additional parking space; underlying setbacks apply.
  • May be used as short-term rental subject to zoning ordinance.

  “accessory dwelling units (adus) shall be principally permitted in every zone in the city.”

• Subdividing landLimited

  Subdivision proposals in flood hazard areas inside Paducah city; general subdivision regulations not opened

  • Only flood-related standards verified; Planning Commission subdivision regulations not reviewed.

  “All subdivision proposals shall identify the flood hazard area and the elevation of the base flood and be consistent with the need to minimize flood damage.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  New residential construction or substantial improvement in Special Flood Hazard Areas with base flood elevation data inside Paducah city

  • Lowest floor must be at least one foot above base flood elevation; AO zone and A zone variants differ.
  • Elevation certified by registered engineer or surveyor and verified by the Community Building Inspection Department.

  freeboard above base flood elevation: >= 1 ft (AO Zones use depth number or 2 ft above highest adjacent grade)

  “New construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure or manufactured home shall have the lowest floor, including basement, mechanical equipment, and ductwork elevated no lower than one (1) foot above the base flood elevation.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Short-term rentals inside Paducah city

  • Short-term rentals are a conditional use in R-2 and R-3; principal permitted in R-4 and A-1.
  • Special event short-term rentals are principal permitted in R-1 through R-3.
  • ADUs may be used as short-term rentals subject to the zoning ordinance.

  “j. short-term rentals (includes special event short-term rentals);”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits inside Paducah city
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Paducah city
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Paducah city
• Inspections — Building inspection inside Paducah city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Paducah 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.