Rowan County is one of the Kentucky counties that enforces the state building codes itself. Chapter 154 of the county code, passed by the Fiscal Court on December 19, 2023, names the County Building Inspector as the local enforcement agent and sets up a program covering buildings under the Kentucky Building Code plus plan review and inspection of houses under the Kentucky Residential Code. The office is in the County Services Building at 200 American Legion Way, Morehead, open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the Judge/Executive’s office in the courthouse (606-784-5151) is the switchboard for the county. Plumbing and HVAC remain state permits, septic systems go through the health department, and building in Morehead starts with the city.
What requires a building permit in Rowan County?
The ordinance applies the program to every building the Kentucky Building Code covers and adds plan review and inspections for structures under the residential code, so a new house needs a county permit. The fee schedule in the same chapter lists the work the county charges for, and every inspection must be done by someone the state’s Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (HBC) has certified.
County building permit
- New one-family homes (free to an individual homeowner building 1,200 sq ft or less)
- Two-family dwellings
- Additions over 600 sq ft
- Modular homes over 1,200 sq ft
- Attached decks over 200 sq ft and above 30 inches
- Buildings under the Kentucky Building Code that fall to the local program
Separate approvals
- County flood development permit inside a mapped flood area
- County electrical permit before power is connected
- State HVAC and plumbing permits
- Health department septic permit where there is no sewer
- In Morehead’s utility area, a land disturbance permit for more than 5,000 sq ft of soil disturbed
Since Ordinance 09-25 (August 19, 2025), no county alcohol license is granted or renewed until the County Building Inspector has certified the premises.
What the county decides and what the state holds
Besides the building program, the Fiscal Court runs flood permits, the subdivision coordinator, county roads and 911 addressing. It has also used moratoria: Resolution 10-25 (September 16, 2025) paused large-scale solar energy systems while land use rules are studied, and Resolution 09-26 (August 18, 2026) paused large-scale data centers “until appropriate local safeguard and regulations can be established.” Neither gives an end date. Biodigesters must sit at least 1,500 feet from homes, schools and similar uses under Ordinance 17-25 (November 18, 2025). HBC keeps plan review of the larger and higher-risk buildings its code reserves to the state, HVAC and plumbing permits, manufactured home installation, elevators, boilers and trade licensing.
Who handles Rowan County building permits?
The county’s August 2026 newsletter reported that its first building inspector had moved to Road Foreman and that the Fiscal Court had contracted an inspector to carry on the duties. The program’s web page still shows the number from before that change, (606) 548-1148; if it does not reach the program, call the Judge/Executive’s office.
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Get a free quote →| Office | Contact |
|---|---|
| Building Inspection Program | County Services Building, 200 American Legion Way, Morehead, KY 40351; (606) 548-1148; Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–4 p.m. |
| Judge/Executive’s office | 600 West Main Street, Suite 158, Morehead; (606) 784-5151 |
| Solid Waste and Floodplain (flood permits, electrical permits) | 325 Triplett St., Morehead; (606) 784-6345 |
| Subdivision Coordinator | 200 American Legion Way; (606) 548-4456 |
| E-911 Addressing | 133 E. First Street, Morehead; (606) 780-0704 |
| Road Department | 200 American Legion Way; (606) 784-4492; after hours (606) 784-7511 |
| Health department (septic; state plumbing desk) | State sheet: 105 East Main St., 606-784-6408 ext. 150; Gateway District: 730 West Main Street, 606-784-8954 |
| KYTC District 9 permits | P.O. Box 347, Flemingsburg, KY 41041; 606-845-2551 |
Cities in Rowan County
| City | Who to ask about building permits |
|---|---|
| Morehead (6,776), county seat | HBC’s sheet (updated November 14, 2025) lists the local building inspector under “City of Morehead”; start at City Hall, 314 Bridge Street, (606) 784-8505. |
| Lakeview Heights (271) | Not named on the state sheet; the county pages do not say whether the county inspector works there, so ask the city. |
The two cities and the county share the nine-member Joint Planning Commission of the City of Morehead, Rowan County and the City of Lakeview Heights.
Rowan County permit types and supporting documents
Applications are picked up at the inspector’s office or from the county website and returned to the office for review; the county reported in July 2026 that online building permit applications were in limited, beta use.
Residential permits
New houses, two-family dwellings, larger additions, modular homes and raised decks need the county permit and its plan review. A manufactured home is installed under HBC’s manufactured housing section (502-573-1795) and still needs the county electrical permit; a modular unit also needs HBC site placement approval. The county’s manufactured home park chapter is being replaced with rules that follow state law: first reading August 18, 2026, second reading set for September 15, 2026, result not yet in the posted minutes.
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Commercial permits
A store, office or other commercial building goes to the county program unless the code assigns it to HBC, which reviews those through SmartGov; HBC’s Building Codes section (502-573-0373) answers jurisdiction questions. The county schedule lists no commercial rate, so ask the inspector’s office.
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What comes before the building permit
- Lot creation. Outside Morehead and Lakeview Heights, splitting land into three or more parcels goes through the county subdivision regulations. Exempt splits, such as five-acre tracts or family gifts with no new public road, still need a plat signed by the subdivision coordinator before recording. Subdivision lots without public sewer must be at least half an acre.
- Septic. A health department site evaluation (location map and site drawing; backhoe pits may be required), then a separate construction permit.
- Address. A 911 address from E-911 Addressing; private road names are approved by the E-911 coordinator.
- Floodplain. A county development permit before any work in a special flood hazard area.
- Road access. A KYTC encroachment permit through District 9 for an entrance on a state route; on county roads, subdivision driveways need a culvert at least 15 inches across and 24 feet long unless the Road Department sets otherwise.
- Morehead utilities. Taps and, on larger sites, a land disturbance permit from the Morehead Utility Plant Board.
Rowan County building-permit costs and fees
Section 154.04 of the county code sets one-time fees that cover the permit and its inspections (Ordinance 19-23, December 19, 2023):
| Work | Fee |
|---|---|
| New home, 1,200 sq ft or less (individual homeowner) | $0.00 per sq ft |
| New home over 1,200 sq ft | $0.12 per sq ft |
| Addition over 600 sq ft | $0.12 per sq ft, $100 minimum |
| Two-family new construction | $0.15 per sq ft |
| Modular home over 1,200 sq ft | $100 |
| Attached deck over 200 sq ft and above 30 in. | $0.12 per sq ft |
Worked examples. A 2,400 sq ft two-family dwelling: 2,400 × $0.15 = $360. An 800 sq ft addition works out to $96, so the $100 minimum applies. A 300 sq ft raised deck: 300 × $0.12 = $36. A 2,000 sq ft house: 2,000 × $0.12 = $240; the schedule does not say which areas (garage, basement, porch) are counted, so confirm the measured area with the office.
State plumbing permits cost a $50 base fee plus $14 per opening for one- and two-family work, or $20 per opening for commercial work (in effect since March 1, 2022); HVAC fees appear in SmartGov when the contractor buys the permit. Septic fees are set by the health department.
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →Utility and stormwater charges
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Morehead Utility Plant Board residential taps (revised Sept. 1, 2009) | Water $800; gas $700; sewer $800; grinder sewer $5,500; road cut $1,000 |
| MUPB non-residential sewer tap | $800 for the first 20 fixture units, then $20 per unit |
| MUPB land disturbance plan review | 400–5,000 sq ft $100; Type 1 $300; Type 2 $500 |
| Rowan Water, Inc. meter tap (outside Morehead) | 5/8-inch residential $1,000; 2-inch $3,500; move a meter $500 |
New Morehead sewer connections also pay a wastewater impact fee under City Ordinance 19:2024 (effective July 1, 2024), at a per-unit rate the utility board sets by resolution; home additions that add no dwelling unit are exempt. Ask the utility, (606) 784-5538, for the amount.
Trade permits and who may pull them
- Electrical. Rowan County issues electrical permits through its Solid Waste and Floodplain office, and a permit is required before power is turned on for a new home, a service upgrade, a mobile home or a commercial building. HBC’s sheet sends applicants to the Judge/Executive’s office or the city office where the work is.
- HVAC. Neither the county nor Morehead is on HBC’s list of local HVAC jurisdictions (updated May 13, 2025), so new heating and cooling systems need an HBC permit, bought in SmartGov by a licensed or authorized person and inspected by the state HVAC inspector for the county.
- Plumbing. HBC permits and inspects plumbing. The state plumbing inspector keeps desk hours on Tuesdays and Fridays, 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. Eastern, at the health department (606-784-6408, ext. 150). A homeowner may take out the permit for plumbing in a home they live in or are building for themselves, filing an affidavit before work starts; one new-home homeowner permit is allowed per person in five years. Farm dwellings on 10 acres or more outside city limits, registered with the PVA as farmland, can qualify for the state’s farmstead exemption.
- Septic installers. Septic systems are installed by health-department certified installers; the Gateway District’s 2024 list names 13 for Rowan County.
- Licenses. Electrical, plumbing and HVAC licenses are issued by HBC; the county’s pages show no local contractor license or registration.
Rather not deal with the Rowan County building department?
Get a free quote →How to apply for a Rowan County building permit
Outside the cities, the county program applies; inside Morehead, call City Hall first.
Get a plat signed by the subdivision coordinator if land is being split, and a 911 address.
Apply for the septic evaluation, a flood development permit if mapped, and any KYTC entrance permit.
Pick it up at 200 American Legion Way or use the county’s online form.
Hand in the application and listed documents; the office tells you the permit status and fee.
Pay and pick up the permit, buy HVAC and plumbing permits, and apply for the electrical permit.
Review, corrections and what causes delay
The county publishes no review deadline, and with a new contract inspector since August 2026 and a beta online form, call before sending documents. In a flood zone, the county development permit and the floodplain administrator’s sign-off come first, because the county ordinance requires the local administrator’s endorsement before a state floodplain construction permit can be processed. On a split lot, the plat must be signed and recorded before the parcel is sold; transferring a lot in an unapproved subdivision carries a $500 penalty per parcel.
Rowan County inspections and certificate of occupancy
The county tells each permit holder which inspections the job needs, and the holder calls the inspector to book them. After a satisfactory final inspection the county issues a certificate of occupancy for the property. In a flood zone, the lowest-floor elevation must be certified as built by a licensed surveyor or engineer as soon as the floor is placed, before work continues. State inspectors check HVAC and plumbing on their permits. On a site with a Morehead land disturbance permit, the permittee inspects erosion controls at set stages, every seven days after areas are stabilized and within 24 hours of a half-inch rain, and keeps the reports on site.
Kentucky building code in Rowan County
FEMA’s Community Status Book lists Rowan County as a participant in the National Flood Insurance Program, with a current flood map effective April 18, 2011 and a Community Rating System class of 10 (no premium discount). The county’s flood ordinance (Ordinance 01-11, passed March 15, 2011) adopts FEMA’s April 18, 2011 flood study and maps, kept at the courthouse. Its construction standards put a home’s lowest floor one foot above the base flood elevation, or at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade in an AO zone with no depth number, and the county’s floodplain page adds that nothing can be done in a floodway.
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
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Get a free quote →Permit search and official resources
The county posts no online permit search. Ask for permit records on the county’s Request to Inspect Public Records form; the custodian is the County Treasurer, 600 West Main Street, Suite 154 ((606) 784-4211). Fiscal Court minutes, with fee and moratorium votes, are posted online; the Court meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 8:00 a.m. Recorded plats are at the County Clerk (Suite 102, (606) 784-5212) and property maps at the PVA ((606) 784-5512). State HVAC and plumbing permits are tracked in SmartGov.
- Rowan County website
- Rowan County Building Inspection Program
- County code ch. 154: building codes and permit fees
- Solid Waste and Floodplain office: flood and electrical permits
- County code ch. 150: flood damage prevention
- Subdivision Coordinator and Joint Planning Commission
- Rowan County subdivision regulations
- Rowan County Code of Ordinances
- Fiscal Court meetings and minutes
- Data center moratorium, Aug. 18, 2026
- County code ch. 114: biodigestion sites
- Open records request form
- State contact sheet for Rowan County inspectors (Nov. 14, 2025)
- HBC Building Codes and jurisdiction
- HBC SmartGov permit portal
- HBC plumbing permits and fees
- Gateway District Health Department offices
- Septic site evaluation application
- Morehead Utility Plant Board tap fees
- MUPB stormwater and land disturbance permits
- Rowan Water, Inc. tap fees
- Kentucky Transportation Cabinet permit offices
- FEMA Community Status Book, Kentucky
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Rowan County building permit FAQ
Do I need a county permit to build a house in Rowan County?
Yes. Chapter 154 includes plan review and inspection of homes under the Kentucky Residential Code, and the fee schedule charges 12 cents per square foot for homes over 1,200 square feet.
Is a small house free?
Yes for an individual homeowner building a new home of 1,200 square feet or less ($0.00 per square foot), though the permit and inspections still apply.
Does a deck need a permit?
The county charges for attached decks over 200 square feet and more than 30 inches high, at 12 cents per square foot. Ask the inspector about smaller decks.
How do I get power connected to a new home or mobile home?
Get a county electrical permit through the Solid Waste and Floodplain office ((606) 784-6345); it is required before the electricity is turned on.
Can I build in the floodplain?
Only with a county development permit, and not in a floodway; a home’s lowest floor must be one foot above the base flood elevation.
Can a large solar farm or data center be built now?
Not while the Fiscal Court’s moratoria stand: large-scale solar since September 16, 2025, and large-scale data centers since August 18, 2026, with no end dates set.
Where do I get a septic permit?
From the Rowan County Health Department; the state sheet lists 105 East Main St. and the district lists 730 West Main Street, 606-784-8954, so call first.
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Read guide →This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Rowan County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.