Zoning, building permits and septic rules in McHenry, Kentucky

Rules another office applies inside McHenry

McHenry does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building permitLimited

  New construction inside McHenry city limits. A building permit from the local building official is required, but for single-family dwellings only if a local building inspection program has been established.

  • Permit required for construction of buildings generally under KRS 198B.060.
  • For single-family dwellings, the permit requirement applies only if the local government has established a building inspection program; whether McHenry city has done so was not verified.
  • Permit issued by the local building official or the state department when the proposed building meets the uniform state building code.

  “nothing in this subsection shall require a single-family dwelling to be permitted or inspected unless a local government has established a building inspection program as set out in this section.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside McHenry city limits: the Kentucky Residential Code (815 KAR 7:125) for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses, as a statewide rule

  • The statute cited for the statewide code (KRS 198B) requires the Kentucky building code to be enforced by a local building official or the state department; McHenry city's own enforcement program was not verified.
  • Commercial and other non-residential building code coverage was not opened in this run.

  “this administrative regulation establishes the basic mandatory uniform statewide code provisions relating to construction of one (1) and two (2) family dwellings and townhouses.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Inspections of single-family residences inside McHenry city limits

  • Under KRS 198B.060, permits, inspections and certificates of occupancy are not mandatory for single-family residences unless a local government passes an ordinance requiring inspections of single-family residences; McHenry city ordinance status not verified.
  • Each local government must employ a building official or inspector or contract for inspection services to enforce the uniform state building code within its jurisdiction (KRS 198B.060).

  “permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy shall not be mandatory for single-family residences unless a local government passes an ordinance requiring inspections of single-family residences.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Certificate of occupancy for buildings inside McHenry city limits; for single-family dwellings only if McHenry city has established enforcement jurisdiction

  • Certificate of occupancy is required before occupancy of a building constructed under the uniform state building code (KRS 198B.060).
  • Single-family dwellings are excluded unless a local government has established enforcement jurisdiction; McHenry city status not verified.

  “nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require a certificate of occupancy to be issued for any single-family dwelling unless a local government has established jurisdiction for the enforcement of the uniform state building code under this section.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a home inside McHenry city limits
• Local zoning — Whether McHenry city (Ohio County, KY) adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts for McHenry city
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside McHenry city limits
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size inside McHenry 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.