Harrison County, Kentucky Building Permit Guide

Harrison County has a local building inspection program run jointly with its two cities. The Cynthiana-Harrison County-Berry Joint Planning Commission, on the second floor of the courthouse at 111 South Main Street, Suite 202, Cynthiana (859-234-7165), issues building permits for houses and smaller commercial buildings, the electrical permits the state requires, and placement permits for farm buildings; HBC’s county contact sheet, updated September 10, 2026, lists its chief building inspector as the county’s local inspector. The office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed from noon to 1 p.m. Starting work without a permit triples the fee.

What requires a building permit in Harrison County?

The planning office quotes the building code’s rule that no structure may be built, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, converted or demolished without a separate permit for each building, and then gives its own examples, noting the list is not complete.

The placement permit sheet sets out the test in order: a dwelling or an addition to one always needs a building permit; a non-agricultural structure needs one too; an agricultural structure needs one on less than 10 acres, and a placement permit on 10 or more acres listed as a farm.

What the county decides and what the state holds

The fiscal court and the two city governments share one planning commission of seven members (three appointed by the county judge/executive, three by Cynthiana’s mayor and one by Berry’s), with zoning maps for the county and each city and separate boards of adjustment. The state reviews the bigger buildings under section 104.16 of the 2018 Kentucky Building Code: assembly, business, factory and mercantile buildings for more than 100 people (church buildings only above 400 people and 6,000 square feet), every educational, high-hazard and institutional building, anything over three stories or 20,000 square feet, and state property. The planning office’s page sums up the state’s share in its own words (buildings of 10,000 square feet or more, 100 or more occupants, places needing a liquor license, churches seating 300 or more), so ask staff where a project sits near either line.

Harrison County building department: who handles permitting

The planning office is the front door for almost everything. The inspector is often in the field, so call before visiting to talk with the inspector in person. Bonnie Skinner is the Director of Planning & Community Development.

Cities in Harrison County

Harrison County permit types

The office posts separate applications for a residential building, residential deck, residential solar, accessory structure, accessory dwelling unit, commercial building, demolition, electrical work, manufactured home, pool, sign and temporary structure, plus the farmstead exemption form and a contractor and license list.

Residential permits

The residential plan review checklist asks for two sets of plans drawn to scale (one stamped set comes back with the permit), a site plan or survey showing setbacks (an engineer’s site plan, though lots of five acres may be hand drawn), elevations, footing, foundation and framing details, floor plans showing emergency escape windows, stair details with 6 feet 8 inches of headroom, joist, girder and roof framing details, deck and retaining wall locations, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, truss manufacturer data, unit separation for duplexes and townhouses, energy compliance by the Kentucky prescriptive package or ResCheck, proof of workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance, the contractor list form and an electrical permit.

Manufactured and modular homes use the manufactured housing application, marked city or county. A modular home needs the state K.I.B.S. letter and a foundation section drawing, and the owner schedules the foundation inspections; a mobile home needs its seal number and a final inspection to confirm it sits where the site plan shows. Article 15.4 of the zoning ordinance sets appearance standards once installed: masonry block skirting, a gable roof, non-reflecting siding and a landing with steps and rails at the doors. Any deck must be sketched, inspected and approved, and a home not on sewer needs a copy of its sewage permit.

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

Commercial permits

Commercial buildings have their own application and checklist, which add an engineer’s site plan or completed development plan showing parking, drainage and setbacks, accessibility details such as restroom layouts, grab bars, seating and door hardware, exit sign and emergency lighting locations, and energy compliance by the Kentucky prescriptive package or ComCheck. Where a project needs a development plan, the preliminary plan goes to the planning commission’s monthly meeting (third Monday, 5 p.m.) and the final plan is signed off by the director; no building permit can issue until the building official has the approved final development plan. Buildings within HBC’s jurisdiction go to the state.

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

What comes before the building permit

• Septic approval. A property on a septic system needs health department approval first, and a copy of the site permit and septic permit goes with the application.
• 911 address letter from the PVA office or the 911 coordinator.
• Culvert or entrance letter from the county road department, or a Transportation Cabinet encroachment permit on a state road.
• Floodplain letter from the floodplain coordinator at Emergency Management.
• Plumbing permit or farmstead exemption through the health department.
• Zoning. Variances, conditional uses and home occupations go to the Harrison County Board of Adjustment on the fourth Monday at 6 p.m.

Harrison County permit costs and fees

The Joint Planning Commission posts its building inspection fees on its building inspection page. Fees are non-refundable, and no permit issues until every fee is paid. Payment is by check or money order, calculated when the plans are dropped off.

The same page lists commercial, institutional and industrial work under “State Fees Adopted”. The placement permit information sheet prices a farm placement permit at a flat $75, while the fee table lists accessory building location placement at $100; ask which applies to your structure.

Worked example: a new house of 2,000 square feet across all floors, attic and basement costs 2,000 × $0.20 = $400 for the permit; a 500-square-foot attached garage adds 500 × $0.16 = $80. Each required inspection is $32 more, and the certificate of occupancy $65.

Planning fees are separate: a zoning certification is $65, a zone change $450, a minor subdivision final plat $130 plus $4 a lot, and a variance or conditional use $300.

Trade permits and who may pull them

• Electrical. The planning office handles all electrical permitting the state requires, at $32 a permit, with the inspection fee charged separately; the office’s page names the local electrical inspector to call with questions. The application, issued under Chapter 27 of the 2018 Kentucky Building Code, asks for the master electrician’s name and license numbers and the health department release number. A homeowner may do his or her own wiring with a permit.
• Plumbing. State permits through the health department, where the state plumbing inspector keeps office hours on Tuesday from 8 to 9 a.m. HBC issues plumbing permits to licensed master plumbers and to homeowners for their own residence.
• Heating and air conditioning. State HVAC permits from HBC; a homeowner may install his or her own system with a permit.
• Contractors. Kentucky has no general contractor license. The county wants a completed contractor list form with each residential application and proof of workers’ compensation.

How to get a building permit in Harrison County

Review, corrections and what causes delay

The office will not process a permit until all six submittal items are in. The other common hold is the chain of letters from other offices: septic, address, road entrance and floodplain approvals must all be obtained before the building permit can issue. Development projects also wait for the planning commission’s monthly meeting and the director’s sign-off on the final development plan.

Inspections in Harrison County

A house is inspected at up to six stages: footer, foundation, slab, frame, insulation and final, at $32 each. Re-inspections are charged $52 from the third time on. A certificate of occupancy ($65) follows the final, and moving in without a final inspection costs $150 plus $50 a day. The electrical inspection is arranged on the electrical permit.

Kentucky building code

The joint office enforces the 2018 Kentucky Residential Code and Kentucky Building Code; its page still lists the 2018 changes, such as the new tiny house and storm shelter sections. Harrison County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (community 210329), with a current effective flood map dated February 28, 2025.

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

Harrison County permit search and official resources

No online permit search is posted. Permit, zoning and plat files are kept at the planning office in the courthouse; ask for them by e-mail at office@harrisonplanning.com or by phone. Copies cost 10 cents a page under the commission’s fee list.

• Cynthiana-Harrison County-Berry Joint Planning Commission
• Building inspection: forms, fees and checklists
• Residential plan review checklist
• Commercial checklist
• Residential building application
• Placement permit or building permit?
• Farmstead exemption form
• Manufactured housing building permit application
• Electrical permit application
• Planning commission and fees
• Boards of adjustment
• Zoning ordinance
• Zoning and land use maps
• Staff and boards
• Harrison County Road Department
• Emergency Management and floodplain coordinator
• HBC county contact sheet, Harrison County (updated September 10, 2026)
• HBC building codes: state and local jurisdiction
• 2018 Kentucky Building Code, Fourth Edition
• HBC Division of Plumbing
• HBC SmartGov portal
• Kentucky Transportation Cabinet permits
• FEMA Community Status Book, Kentucky

Harrison County permit FAQs

Who issues building permits in Harrison County?

The Cynthiana-Harrison County-Berry Joint Planning Commission, at 111 South Main Street, Suite 202, for the county and both cities.

How much does a permit for a new house cost?

20 cents per square foot of all floors, attic, bonus room and basement, plus $32 for each inspection and $65 for the certificate of occupancy. A 2,000-square-foot house is $400 before inspections.

Do farm buildings need a permit?

On 10 or more acres listed as a farm, an agricultural structure needs only a placement permit for setbacks and zoning. On less than 10 acres, or for anything not agricultural, a building permit is required.

What happens if I build without a permit?

The fee triples, and you also pay the inspection and occupancy fees; the office also says it charges a fine for starting work without a permit.

How do I get an electrical permit?

Through the planning office, for $32; the inspection fee is extra. Homeowners may do their own wiring with a permit.

Can I do my own plumbing?

Yes, in your own residence: HBC issues plumbing permits to homeowners as well as to master plumbers. Ask at the health department on Oddville Avenue.

Where do I go for a variance?

The Harrison County Board of Adjustment, which meets the fourth Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in the courthouse; a variance costs $300.

Simplify Harrison 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 Harrison County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.