Muhlenberg County, Kentucky Building Permit Guide

The state Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction’s contact sheet for Muhlenberg County, updated November 14, 2025, lists a local building inspector (office 270-339-4188) and two local electrical inspectors, with state inspectors for HVAC, plumbing and manufactured housing. Call that office before you build to learn what the local program covers and charges. Inside Central City, the city’s zoning ordinance requires a city building permit from its enforcement officer.

What requires a building permit in Muhlenberg County?

Kentucky law makes every building in the county subject to the state building code; what varies is who reviews and inspects it. Because the state sheet names a local building inspector for Muhlenberg County, buildings within that local program’s scope are reviewed locally, and the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (HBC) reviews the larger buildings listed in section 104.16 of the Kentucky Building Code. A single-family house needs a local building permit only where a county or city ordinance extends the program to houses. Ask the local inspector’s office whether the county program covers your house or addition.

HBC’s building-codes page explains what happens on a house lot with no single-family inspection program: the builder must still meet the Kentucky Residential Code, but the only inspections are of the mechanical systems by the state HVAC division and of the wiring by the electrical inspector.

What the county decides and what the state holds

Whether the local program covers houses is set by the ordinance behind it, so ask the inspector’s office. The Fiscal Court also sets county-wide rules outside the building code, such as its solid waste ordinance, adopted May 8, 2025, which applies in the cities too and bars construction and demolition debris from household garbage containers. HBC keeps state plan review for the buildings section 104.16 assigns to it, the HVAC and plumbing permits, manufactured-home installation oversight and the trade licenses.

Who handles Muhlenberg County building permits?

The county’s own site lists the Judge/Executive’s office, public works, emergency management and the solid waste program, but no building or planning department, so the state sheet is the main guide to who inspects. It gives an office number for the local building inspector and names two local electrical inspectors; for the electrical inspectors’ contact details, open the sheet linked below.

Cities in Muhlenberg County

Muhlenberg County permit types

The permit process starts with a call to the local inspector’s office. State-handled permits use HBC’s SmartGov portal.

Residential permits

For a house in the unincorporated county, ask the local inspector whether a building permit applies; the electrical, HVAC and plumbing permits apply either way. In Central City, the enforcement officer needs an application with a plan drawn to scale showing the lot dimensions, the outside dimensions of every structure and the yard depths, plus the state plumbing inspector’s certificate approving the water and sewer arrangements. The city must act within two weeks or explain the delay to the City Council, and a permit lapses after six months without substantial progress, though it can be renewed free before it lapses.

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

Commercial permits

Commercial plans go to the local building program or to HBC, depending on size and use. HBC’s plan review fee is calculated on the building’s floor area by occupancy (15 or 16 cents per sq ft for most uses, 13 cents for utility buildings, 10 cents for production greenhouses), with a $285 minimum, and checks are payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer. HBC issues no construction approval until its fees are paid.

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

• Septic. A site evaluation and permit from the health department in Central City where there is no sewer.
• Zoning. In Central City, the zoning ordinance and its Board of Zoning Adjustments for variances; elsewhere, ask the city or the Judge/Executive’s office.
• Utilities. Central City’s ordinance bars utilities from serving a new structure, including a mobile home, until the city building permit is issued and shared with the provider.
• State highway access. A Kentucky Transportation Cabinet encroachment permit for a driveway onto a state route, through District 2.
• Manufactured homes. Certified installers and HBC’s Manufactured Housing section.

Central City site rules. The city’s zoning ordinance adds several rules that shape a house plan before the permit: no building may go up without water and sewage facilities approved by the state plumbing inspector, and a building must connect to the sewer wherever a main is accessible. Accessory buildings are allowed only in rear yards, never in front yards. Generally only one dwelling building may stand on a lot, nothing on a corner lot may block drivers’ view of the intersection, and signs and outdoor advertising displays need a building permit, except pennants and special-event signs.

Muhlenberg County permit costs and fees

Ask the local inspector’s office or Central City Hall for the current local building fees before you budget. The state fees that apply in the county are published by HBC:

Example from the state table: a new 6,000 sq ft retail building reviewed by HBC would pay 6,000 x 15 cents = $900 in plan review fees, well above the $285 minimum. Central City’s ordinance renews a building permit without a fee if the renewal is made before the permit lapses.

Trade permits and who may pull them

• Electrical. The state sheet lists two local electrical inspectors for the county as well as the state electrical inspector, so wiring permits and inspections go through a certified local inspector. Electricians and electrical contractors hold HBC licenses; a homeowner may wire their own home with a permit.
• HVAC. HBC’s Division of HVAC requires a permit for all new construction and sells it through SmartGov only to licensed or authorized people. No local HVAC program is listed for the county.
• Plumbing. A state permit from HBC’s Division of Plumbing. Licensed master plumbers can obtain it, and so can homeowners doing the plumbing in their own personal residence; everyone else’s work must be done by a licensed journeyman under a master plumber. The state inspector keeps Wednesday morning office hours at the health department in Central City.
• Contractors. Kentucky has no general contractor license, and no county contractor license appears in the county’s ordinances.

How to apply for a Muhlenberg County building permit

Review, corrections and what causes delay

For state-reviewed commercial buildings, HBC holds construction approval until every fee is paid. In Central City, the enforcement officer must decide within two weeks, refusals come in writing with the reasons, and a new home cannot be hooked up to utilities without the city permit. Lots without sewer wait on the health department’s site evaluation, and a missing state plumbing inspector’s certificate holds up a Central City application.

Inspections in Muhlenberg County

Building inspections are scheduled with the office that issued the permit: the local building inspector, Central City’s enforcement officer, or HBC for state-reviewed buildings. Wiring is inspected by the certified electrical inspector, heating and air by the state HVAC inspector, and plumbing by the state plumbing inspector. In Central City nothing newly built or altered may be used until the enforcement officer issues a certificate of occupancy, and the officer must make the final inspection within three days of being told the building is ready.

Kentucky building code in Muhlenberg County

FEMA’s Community Status Book lists Muhlenberg County as a participant in the National Flood Insurance Program, with a current flood map dated October 16, 2013. Ask the Judge/Executive’s office whether a lot is mapped and what local floodplain approval applies.

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

Permit search and official resources

For permit records, ask the office that issued the permit; Greenville posts an open records request page, and Central City accepts open records requests through its forms page by e-mail, mail or in person. State plan approvals can be looked up through HBC’s SmartGov portal.

• State contact sheet for Muhlenberg County inspectors
• Muhlenberg County Judge/Executive
• Muhlenberg County departments
• Solid waste ordinance (2025)
• Central City ordinances
• Central City Zoning Ordinance 2025
• Central City zoning, Article XI: building permits
• Central City forms
• Central City Hall contact
• Greenville City Hall
• Greenville open records request
• HBC building codes and jurisdiction
• HBC SmartGov portal
• HBC HVAC permits
• HBC plumbing permits and fees
• HBC manufactured housing
• 2018 Kentucky Building Code, 4th edition
• Kentucky Transportation Cabinet permit contacts
• FEMA Community Status Book, Kentucky

Muhlenberg County building-permit FAQ

Who do I call about a building permit in Muhlenberg County?

The local building inspector’s office on the state sheet, 270-339-4188, for the county. In Central City, City Hall at 270-754-5097.

Do I need a permit to build a house?

You need electrical, HVAC and plumbing permits in every case. Whether a house also needs a local building permit depends on the local program’s scope, so ask the inspector’s office. Inside Central City the zoning ordinance requires a city building permit.

Do I need a permit to replace windows or a roof in Central City?

No. Central City’s ordinance exempts siding, doors, windows, roofing and similar exterior work that does not appreciably enlarge the building, along with interior alterations.

Where do I get a septic permit?

From the Muhlenberg County Health Department, 105 Legion Drive, Central City (270-754-1208).

Can a homeowner pull a plumbing permit?

Yes, for plumbing in their own personal residence; HBC issues it. A house permit is $50 plus $14 per opening.

Who reviews plans for a large commercial building?

HBC reviews the buildings section 104.16 of the Kentucky Building Code assigns to the state, charging by floor area with a $285 minimum; smaller commercial buildings go through the local program.

How do I dispose of construction debris?

Not in household garbage containers: the county’s 2025 solid waste ordinance bars construction and demolition waste from them.

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