Hart County, Kentucky Building Permit Guide

Hart County runs a local building inspection program. HBC’s county contact sheet, updated June 12, 2026, lists a local building inspector who is also the local HVAC inspector for Hart County, points to the county website for contact details, and lists the state inspectors assigned to the county. The state’s Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (HBC) still reviews the large and high-risk buildings named in the building code. Plumbing permits and septic systems go through the Hart County Health Department in Munfordville, part of the Barren River District Health Department, where the state plumbing inspector keeps office hours on Thursday mornings.

What requires a building permit in Hart County?

Where a local inspection program exists, HBC says, single-family homes are reviewed and inspected by the local county or city building official. HBC’s sheet lists such an official for Hart County, so building work starts with the county inspector; bigger buildings also need the state.

What the county decides and what the state holds

The county decides how its local inspection program runs and what it charges; the cities decide their own zoning. Munfordville’s zoning ordinance, No. 13-021, amended the city’s earlier Ordinance 008-87 and sets zoning regulations in accordance with the Hart County Comprehensive Plan.

The state holds the building code and the large buildings. Under section 104.16 of the 2018 Kentucky Building Code, HBC reviews church buildings for more than 400 people and over 6,000 square feet; assembly, business, factory and mercantile buildings for more than 100 people; all educational, high-hazard and institutional buildings; any other building over three stories or 20,000 square feet; and state-owned property, wherever they are built.

Hart County building department: who handles permitting

HBC’s contact sheet is the published list of who inspects in Hart County: the local building and HVAC inspector, the state building, manufactured housing, electrical, elevator, plumbing and boiler inspectors, and the health department office. HBC’s Building Codes line (502-573-0373) answers questions about which office has jurisdiction over a project.

Cities in Hart County

The HBC sheet lists one local building inspector, for Hart County, and does not name a separate inspector for any city.

Hart County permit types

A Hart County project typically involves the local building inspector, an HVAC permit, state plumbing and electrical permits and, off sewer, a septic permit.

Residential permits

For a new house, contact the local building inspector listed on HBC’s sheet before construction for the county’s application, plan requirements and fee. Plan the septic system with the health department’s environmental staff (270-524-2511) before choosing the house site, since lots without public sewer need a septic permit. Heating and cooling need an HVAC permit, inspected by the inspector the sheet lists as Hart County’s HVAC inspector. Manufactured homes are set by HBC-certified installers, and the state manufactured housing inspector for the county is on the sheet.

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

Commercial permits

Smaller commercial buildings go through the local program. Buildings over the state thresholds in KBC 104.16 (for example a store or restaurant for more than 100 people, any school or day care, or a building over 20,000 square feet) are submitted to HBC through its SmartGov portal, and the state’s plan review fee must be paid before HBC issues construction approval.

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

What comes before the building permit

• Septic or sewer. Health department septic permit, or a sewer connection from the city utility (Munfordville runs its own municipal water and sewer company). The Barren River District Health Department’s onsite sewage program takes the site evaluation application (form DFS-319), the district’s owner affidavit and a drawing of the lot showing property lines, the house and septic locations, wells, ponds, streams and sinkholes. The owner arranges two backhoe pits in the proposed septic area, 40 to 50 feet apart, 42 inches deep where soil allows and at least 24 inches wide. After the evaluation a certified installer lays out the system, the inspector issues the construction permit, and work must begin within one year or the permit expires. Munfordville’s city services page adds that a new water meter setting needs a plumbing permit; a homeowner’s permit is possible for an owner who installs the line from a new meter to existing plumbing.
• City zoning. Inside Munfordville, zoning approval under Ordinance 13-021 at City Hall.
• Flood zones. Hart County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, so building in a mapped flood hazard area falls under local floodplain rules.
• Road access. A Transportation Cabinet permit for any driveway onto a state highway.

Hart County permit costs and fees

The local inspector quotes the county building permit fee with the application. The state fees below apply to buildings HBC reviews, under section 121 of the 2018 Kentucky Building Code, and to state electrical inspections.

Worked example: a new 22,000-square-foot warehouse (storage occupancy, over the 20,000-square-foot line) reviewed by HBC owes 22,000 × 15 cents = $3,300 in state plan review fees. Local, HVAC, plumbing and septic fees are separate.

HBC’s Division of Plumbing lists its installation permit fees, effective March 1, 2022: a one- or two-family house pays a $50 base fee plus $14 per opening, a water-heater-only permit is $50, and commercial work is $50 plus $20 per opening. Septic fees are the health district’s: its posted onsite sewage installation guide (dated December 1, 2009) lists a $230 site evaluation fee and a $315 construction permit fee, so confirm the current amounts with the health department before you pay.

Trade permits and who may pull them

• Electrical. HBC’s sheet sends applicants to the County Judge/Executive’s office, or the city office where the work is done, for the local electrical inspector; the state electrical inspector for the county is also listed. Electricians hold HBC licenses; a homeowner may wire his or her own home with a permit.
• Plumbing. State permits and inspections. The state plumbing inspector keeps office hours at the Hart County Health Department on Thursdays from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Central (270-524-3509). HBC issues plumbing permits to licensed master plumbers and to homeowners for plumbing in their own residence.
• Heating and air conditioning. Kentucky requires an HVAC permit for all new construction, applied for by a licensed or authorized person. In Hart County the sheet lists the local inspector as HVAC inspector, alongside a state HVAC inspector; a homeowner may do his or her own HVAC work with a permit.
• Contractors. Kentucky has no general contractor license. Munfordville’s forms page carries a city business license application and an employer’s quarterly occupational license fee form.

How to get permits for a Hart County project

Review, corrections and what causes delay

Two offices meet only at set times: the state plumbing inspector’s local office hours are a single morning a week, and the health department’s septic evaluation has to come before building on a lot without sewer. On large buildings, HBC issues no construction approval until its fee is paid.

Inspections in Hart County

The local building inspector makes the building inspections on county permits and, as the listed HVAC inspector, inspects heating and cooling. Plumbing is inspected by the state plumbing inspector and wiring by the electrical inspector. Buildings HBC reviews are inspected by the state building inspector assigned to the county, and elevators and boilers have their own state inspectors listed on the sheet.

Kentucky building code

Hart County’s local program enforces the Kentucky Building Code and Kentucky Residential Code. FEMA’s Community Status Book lists Hart County (community 210257) as participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, with a current effective flood map dated July 18, 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

Hart County permit search and official resources

No online permit search is published for county permits; ask the local inspector or the county office for a file. Munfordville takes open records requests on its own form, posted on the city’s forms page, and keeps the full text of its zoning ordinance at City Hall.

• HBC county contact sheet, Hart County (updated June 12, 2026)
• HBC Division of Building Code Enforcement
• HBC building codes: state and local jurisdiction
• 2018 Kentucky Building Code, Fourth Edition
• HBC SmartGov portal
• HBC Division of HVAC
• HBC Division of Plumbing
• HBC Electrical Division
• City of Munfordville
• Munfordville ordinances (zoning ordinance 13-021)
• Munfordville zoning ordinance, part 1
• Munfordville forms (open records, business license)
• Munfordville city services
• Hart County Health Department (Barren River District)
• Onsite sewage program and forms
• Onsite sewage installation guide (2009)
• Kentucky Transportation Cabinet permits
• FEMA Community Status Book, Kentucky

Hart County permit FAQs

Does Hart County have a building inspector?

Yes. HBC’s contact sheet, updated June 12, 2026, lists a local building inspector for Hart County, who is also listed as the local HVAC inspector.

Who reviews a new school, church or large store?

HBC, under section 104.16 of the Kentucky Building Code, with a plan review fee of 15 or 16 cents a square foot for most such buildings and a $285 minimum.

Where do I get a septic permit?

From the Hart County Health Department, 500 A.A. Whitman Lane, Munfordville (270-524-2511), part of the Barren River District Health Department. Apply for a site evaluation first; the construction permit comes after a certified installer’s layout is approved.

Can I do my own plumbing?

Yes, in your own home: HBC issues plumbing permits to homeowners for their own residence. The state plumbing inspector is at the health department on Thursdays from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Central.

Who do I call for an electrical inspection?

The County Judge/Executive’s office, or the city office where the work is done, for the local electrical inspector, per HBC’s sheet.

Does Munfordville have zoning?

Yes. Ordinance 13-021 sets Munfordville’s zoning regulations in line with the Hart County Comprehensive Plan; the full text is at City Hall, 111 Main Street, and on the city’s ordinances page.

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