Carter County, Kentucky Building Permit Guide

The state’s contact sheet for Carter County lists one local building inspector, whose coverage includes the City of Grayson and excludes Olive Hill; that inspector is Grayson’s code enforcement officer, based at Grayson City Hall, 302 East Main Street (606-474-6651). For commercial construction the sheet sends applicants to the state Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (HBC) for building permits, and plumbing and HVAC permits are also the state’s.

What requires a building permit in Carter County?

HBC’s Carter County contact sheet, updated June 12, 2026, sets out who inspects here, splitting the work between a local inspector and the state:

The sheet does not spell out which house projects the local inspector permits outside Grayson, so call the inspector’s office before building a house, addition or garage in the unincorporated county.

What the county decides and what the state holds

Kentucky’s building and residential codes apply everywhere in the county; local governments enforce them and run zoning, but cannot change them. HBC reviews and inspects the larger and higher-risk buildings in every county, and its own guidance says that a single-family home is inspected locally where a local program exists, while without one only the HVAC and electrical work is inspected. Grayson, a home rule city since January 1, 2015, has its own Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustments for land inside the city.

Carter County building department: who handles permitting

Grayson employs a code enforcement officer who typically serves the city as building inspector and floodplain coordinator, with an office at City Hall. The HBC sheet lists that same officer as Carter County’s local building inspector, along with the state building, manufactured housing, electrical, elevator, HVAC, plumbing and boiler inspectors for the county.

Cities in Carter County

Carter County permit types

Grayson’s pages name building and zoning permits together: questions about either go to the code enforcement officer. Applications are taken at City Hall, 302 East Main Street.

Residential permits

For a house in Grayson, the code enforcement officer handles the building and zoning permit and the inspections. In the unincorporated county, ask the same office what the local program requires. A new house also needs an HVAC permit bought by a licensed contractor through HBC, a state plumbing permit, an electrical inspection by a certified electrical inspector, and on an unsewered lot a septic permit through the county health department.

Building or remodeling a home here? Alliance handles home building permits, so the crew isn't waiting on the counter.

Commercial permits

Commercial construction anywhere in the county goes to HBC for building permits, as the sheet states. HBC’s Building Codes section handles plan submittals and approvals (502-573-0373), and its state building inspector for Carter County inspects the work.

For tenant improvements and new commercial builds, Alliance handles commercial permit filing through issuance. More on this: commercial building permits explained.

What comes before the building permit

• Zoning in Grayson. The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustments decide zoning changes and variances inside Grayson.
• Floodplain. Grayson’s code enforcement officer is its floodplain coordinator; Carter County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, so building in a mapped flood zone requires local floodplain approval.
• Septic. The health department’s environmentalist (606-474-4115) handles onsite sewage permits.
• State roads. An entrance on a state highway, or any work in its right of way, needs a Kentucky Transportation Cabinet permit.
• Business license. Grayson issues occupational and business licenses through City Hall.

Carter County permit fees

For the local building permit fee, ask the code enforcement officer at 606-474-6652 before you apply. The state trade fees are published by HBC.

Trade permits and who may pull them

• Electrical. The HBC sheet tells applicants to contact the Judge/Executive’s office or the city office where the work is done to reach the local electrical inspector; a state electrical inspector is also assigned to the county. HBC licenses electricians and electrical contractors.
• HVAC. Statewide HVAC permitting began on January 1, 2011; permits are bought through HBC’s SmartGov portal by licensed or authorized applicants, and a state HVAC inspector covers Carter County.
• Plumbing. HBC’s Division of Plumbing permits and inspects all plumbing; permits go to licensed master plumbers or to homeowners for plumbing in their own residence. The inspector’s office hours are Friday mornings, 8 to 9:30.
• Licensing. The trade licenses are the state’s; Grayson’s pages show no separate local contractor license beyond the city business license.

How to apply for a Carter County building permit

Review, corrections and what causes delay

The common mistake is filing in the wrong place: a commercial project taken to the local inspector instead of HBC, or an Olive Hill project taken to Grayson. Zoning matters in Grayson that need the Planning and Zoning Commission or the Board of Adjustments add a hearing to the timeline. A lot in a flood zone needs the floodplain review before construction.

Inspections in Carter County

The local building inspector inspects the work the local program permits; call City Hall to book. The state plumbing inspector checks rough-in and final plumbing, the state HVAC inspector checks heating and cooling installations, and electrical work is inspected by the local electrical inspector. On commercial buildings, HBC’s state building inspector for the county does the building inspections. Manufactured homes have their own state inspector on the HBC sheet.

Kentucky building code

Every project in Carter County is built to the 2018 Kentucky Building Code or Kentucky Residential Code. FEMA’s Community Status Book lists Carter County as participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, on a flood map dated June 2, 2011.

Kentucky has one mandatory statewide building code that local governments may not add to. Cities and counties enforce it and run zoning. The state reviews plans for larger and higher-risk buildings, and the local program reviews smaller ones. Kentucky rules

Carter County permit search and official resources

No online permit search is published. Grayson asks anyone who wants to review or copy a city record to contact the city clerk at 606-474-6651 or visit the clerk’s office at City Hall, 302 East Main Street. State plan approvals for commercial buildings are handled through HBC’s Building Codes section and SmartGov portal.

• HBC Carter County inspector contact sheet
• Grayson Code Enforcement (building inspector, floodplain)
• Grayson FAQ: building and zoning permits, hours
• Grayson boards and commissions
• Grayson administration contacts
• Grayson ordinances and city records
• HBC Building Codes: state and local jurisdiction
• HBC Division of Plumbing: permits and fees
• HBC Division of HVAC
• HBC SmartGov portal
• KYTC Permits Branch
• FEMA Community Status Book, Kentucky

Carter County permit FAQs

Who is the building inspector for Carter County?

The HBC sheet lists Grayson’s code enforcement officer, at Grayson City Hall (606-474-6651), with coverage that includes Grayson and excludes Olive Hill.

Where do I get a permit for a commercial building?

From the state Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, as the HBC sheet directs.

Does the local inspector cover Olive Hill?

No. Olive Hill is excluded on the sheet; ask the City of Olive Hill.

Who issues plumbing permits?

HBC’s Division of Plumbing; the inspector’s office hours are Friday, 8 to 9:30 a.m.

Where do I get a septic permit?

Through the county health department’s environmentalist, 606-474-4115.

Is Carter County in the flood insurance program?

Yes, on a flood map dated June 2, 2011; Grayson’s code enforcement officer is the city’s floodplain coordinator.

Simplify Carter County permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Kentucky. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Carter County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.