Bolthole Index

Pulaski County, Kentucky

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Somerset, Kentucky

Somerset is a city in Pulaski County, Kentucky. Somerset adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Somerset’s rules apply, not the county’s. 23 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on November 3, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the Pulaski County page.

Answers from the rulebook for Somerset

Somerset’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Erecting, moving, adding to or structurally altering any building inside Somerset city limits

    • Permit is issued by the city's administrative official under the zoning ordinance
    • Building-code permit steps under the Kentucky Building Code were not separately reviewed
    “no building or other structure shall be erected, moved, added to, or structurally altered without a permit therefore, issued by the administrative official.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Use or occupancy of buildings or premises, or parts, created, changed or altered inside Somerset city limits

    • Applies when a certificate of occupancy is required under the Kentucky Building Code
    • Covers new, changed, converted or altered uses; non-conforming uses also need a building permit before renewal or change
    “it shall be unlawful to use or occupy or permit the use or occupancy of any building or premises, or both, or part thereof hereafter created, erected, changed, converted, or wholly or partly altered or enlarged in its use or structure until a certificate of occupancy shall have been issued in accordance with kentucky building code when such certificate of occupancy is required.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Somerset city limits. The city's own zoning ordinance applies, administered by the city's Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustment.

    • The ordinance copy reviewed is the 2020 version by filename (ZONE_ORD-9-03-2020.pdf); the city has amended its base ordinance (Ordinance 00-18), including Ordinance 24-05, so current text must be checked.
    “the planning and zoning commission and the board of adjustments are the governing bodies that regulate the use of land in the city of somerset.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts of Somerset city

    • Districts: R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-3, B-1, B-2, B-3, I-1, I-2, P, plus agriculture, conservation, flood plain, historic overlay and planned unit development special zones
    “schedule of zones r1 single family residential r-1a single family residential (small lot) r-2 single family residential (duplex low moderate) r-3 medium-high density residential b-1 central business district b-2 highway oriented commercial b-3 neighborhood commercial i-1 light industrial i-2 heavy industrial p public and semi-public”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Dwellings in the R-3 medium density residential district inside Somerset city limits

    • Applies to the R-3 district only; R-1 and R-1A minimum living area was not captured

    minimum living area: >= 960 square feet (also the minimum size of the base floor)

    “minimum living area - 960 square feet (this is also the minimum size of the base floor).”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single family residential (small lot) R-1A district inside Somerset city limits

    • Lot maximum shown in the same block; no lot-coverage limit for this district

    minimum lot size: >= 4000 square feet · maximum lot size: <= 6500 square feet

    “minimum lot size - 4,000 square feet maximum lot size - 6,500 square feet minimum lot frontage - 40 feet”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Single family residential (small lot) R-1A district inside Somerset city limits

    • Side yard: not less than 6 feet at any point between single family residences; zero lot line allowed with 6 feet required on opposite side
    • Accessory uses only in the backyard, at least 5 feet from an adjoining side or back lot boundary and at least 20 feet from principal structure

    minimum front yard depth: >= 20 feet · minimum side yard depth: >= 6 feet · minimum rear yard: >= 10 feet

    “minimum front yard depth - 20 feet minimum side yard depth - 6 feet* minimum rear yard - 10 feet”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Medium density residential R-3 district inside Somerset city limits

    • Duplex and triplex lots: 33 percent

    maximum lot coverage, single family: <= 27 percent · maximum lot coverage, duplexes and triplexes: <= 33 percent

    “maximum lot coverage - 27% for single family; 33% for duplexes and triplexes”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    Medium density residential R-3 district inside Somerset city limits

    • Height limited to 30 feet if the lot adjoins an R-1, R-1A or R-3 district

    maximum height of building: <= 50 feet (30 feet if lot adjoins r-1, r1-a or r-3 district)

    “maximum height of building - 50 feet, 30 feet if lot adjoins r-1, r1-a or r-3 district.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory living quarters on a lot in the R-1 low density residential district inside Somerset city limits

    • Allowed only as an accessory use to the single-family residence
    • Living quarters must not have cooking facilities and must not be rented to guests or employees
    • Other districts' accessory dwelling rules were not checked
    “living quarters without cooking facilities and not rented for guests and employees of the premises.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    New primary structures inside Somerset city limits, depending on distance to public water and sewer lines

    • Water: connection required for primary structures within 200 feet of the city's public water lines
    • Sewer: residential connection required within 200 feet of the city's sewage collection lines unless a written exemption is obtained from the manager of the Somerset utility department; exemption only where physical obstructions, surface elevations or other factors prohibit service
    • Outside 200 feet, individual systems must meet state regulations and the county health department certificate applies

    distance to public water line: <= 200 feet (primary structures; connection required) · distance to sewage collection line: <= 200 feet (residential structures; written exemption from utility manager)

    “all primary structures located within 200 feet of the city's public water lines shall be connected to the public water system.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Land used solely for agricultural, farming, dairying, stock-raising or similar purposes inside Somerset city limits

    • Agricultural buildings are exempt from building permit, certificate of occupancy, height, yard, location and court requirements, subject to listed exceptions
    • Animal feeding or sheltering structures must be at least 100 feet from any dwelling or street
    • Setback lines may be required to protect existing and proposed streets and highways; no buildings in a floodway
    “no structure for feeding or sheltering of animals or poultry shall be located within 100 feet of any dwelling or street;”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Final plats of land divisions inside Somerset city limits

    • Final plats are approved by the planning commission and recorded with the county court clerk
    • City subdivision regulations (linked from the planning page) were not opened
    “all final plats approved by the planning commission and all variances and conditional use permits approved by the board of adjustment shall be recorded at the expense of the applicant in the office of the county court clerk.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Structures on agricultural land inside Somerset city limits that falls in the 100-year floodplain or floodway

    • Applies within the agricultural-land provision; the zoning ordinance also lists a flood plain district special zone whose rules were not read
    “no building or structures shall be constructed in the 100 year floodplain which will increase flood heights or obstruct the flow of flood water;”
  • Permit processPartial

    Zoning-based building permit issuance inside Somerset city limits

    • Permits issued only in conformity with the zoning ordinance, unless the board of adjustment grants an administrative review, conditional use permit or variance
    • Application requirements (section 8.31) and fee schedule (section 8.8) were not reviewed
    “no building permit shall be issued by the administrative official except in conformity with the provisions of this zoning ordinance”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for building permits inside Somerset city limits
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Somerset city limits
  • Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Somerset city limits
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Somerset city limits
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Somerset city limits
7 more unanswered
  • Manufactured homes
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Somerset publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Pulaski County’s page lists the county offices to call.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Somerset means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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