Taylor County, Kentucky Building Permit Guide

The Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (HBC) lists no local building inspector for Taylor County. Under HBC’s rules, commercial, apartment (three or more units) and other non-residential projects must be submitted to the state for plan review before work starts (502-573-0373), and the published sources show no county building permit for houses. The fiscal court is at 203 North Court Street, Campbellsville (270-465-7729); inside Campbellsville, the city’s Planning and Zoning office issues building permits under its zoning ordinance.

What requires a building permit in Taylor County?

Outside Campbellsville, the answer depends on what you build, because the county runs no building inspection program of its own:

For a modular building, HBC’s site placement review asks for a site plan, pier or foundation details, tie-down details and all site-built stairs and ramps. Manufactured homes have their own state inspector on HBC’s Taylor County sheet.

What the county decides and what the state holds

A Kentucky county chooses whether to run a building inspection program; it cannot change the code. Taylor County’s fiscal court website lists its offices (clerk, property valuation administrator, road department, emergency management, solid waste, animal shelter, airport and others) but no building, planning or zoning office, and the state sheet, updated June 10, 2025, names no local building inspector. HBC’s jurisdiction page says that where there is no local program, all projects except single-family dwellings go to its Division of Building Code Enforcement; the adopted Kentucky Building Code (Section 104.16) words that exception as dwellings built under the Kentucky Residential Code, which takes in one- and two-family homes and townhouses. Sections 104.15 and 104.16 of the Kentucky Building Code set out the split where a local program does exist.

Taylor County building department: who handles permitting

HBC’s Taylor County contact sheet lists the state building inspector, manufactured housing inspector, electrical inspector, elevator inspector, HVAC inspector, plumbing inspector and boiler inspector assigned to the county, plus two local electrical inspectors. The county offices that touch a building project are listed below.

Campbellsville

Taylor County permit types

Residential permits

Building a house in the unincorporated county means collecting the permits that apply to every home rather than a county building permit: an onsite sewage permit from the Taylor County Health Department where there is no sewer, an electrical permit with inspection by a certified electrical inspector, a state plumbing permit, and a state HVAC permit bought by a licensed contractor. A modular home built to the Kentucky industrialized building program needs HBC’s site placement approval, and a manufactured home is inspected under the state’s manufactured housing program. Inside Campbellsville, the city’s own building permit is required for houses, additions and accessory buildings.

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

Commercial permits

Commercial and other non-residential projects anywhere in the county go to HBC’s Building Codes section for plan review and approval before construction, through the department’s SmartGov portal; questions about whether HBC has jurisdiction go to 502-573-0373. HBC’s state building inspector for Taylor County then inspects the work. A Campbellsville site also needs the city’s zoning-based permit, fire and engineering review of the plot plan, and the city’s stormwater permit.

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

• Zoning. The fiscal court’s website shows no county zoning office; Campbellsville has a planning commission, zoning ordinance and Board of Zoning Adjustment for land inside the city.
• Septic. Apply to the health department at 1880 North Bypass Road before building on an unsewered lot.
• Roads. An entrance on a state highway needs a KYTC encroachment permit from District 4; county road questions go to the road department on Pleasant Drive.
• Floodplain. Taylor County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, so check the flood map before building near a stream and ask the fiscal court office how the county handles floodplain development.
• Records. Deeds and plats are recorded with the county clerk, and parcel data is kept by the property valuation administrator, both at 203 North Court Street.

Taylor County permit fees

Because the county runs no building permit program, it publishes no building permit fees. The fees on a Taylor County project are the state’s and those of the health department:

Worked example. A new house in the county with 12 plumbing openings pays HBC $50 + 12 × $14 = $218 for the plumbing permit. A house with 20 openings pays $50 + 20 × $14 = $330. There is no county building permit fee to add.

Trade permits and who may pull them

• Electrical. Electrical work needs a permit and an inspection by a certified electrical inspector. HBC’s Taylor County sheet lists two local electrical inspectors as well as the state electrical inspector; ask either for the permit. HBC licenses electrical contractors and electricians, and a homeowner may do the electrical work on their own home with a permit.
• Plumbing. HBC’s plumbing inspector for the county keeps office hours at the health department on Wednesday (8 to 9 a.m.) and Friday (8 to 9:30 a.m.). HBC’s plumbing division issues permits to licensed master plumbers, or to homeowners for plumbing in their own personal residence; other plumbing work must be done by a licensed journeyman under a licensed master plumber.
• HVAC. Licensed HVAC contractors buy permits through HBC’s SmartGov portal; the state HVAC inspector for the county inspects.
• Elevators and boilers. Each has its own state inspector on the sheet.

How to get permits for a Taylor County project

Review, corrections and what causes delay

The biggest risk is starting a non-residential building without HBC approval on the assumption that no county office means no review: HBC’s rule is that such projects are submitted before construction begins. Another is building a house without the septic permit or the trade inspections, which still apply where there is no county permit. For a project near Campbellsville, confirm whether the lot is inside the city limits before you file, because the city’s permit, fire and engineering review and stormwater permit apply only inside.

Inspections in Taylor County

For buildings HBC approves, the state building inspector assigned to Taylor County makes the inspections. Electrical inspections are made by a certified electrical inspector (local or state), plumbing by the state plumbing inspector, and heating and air by the state HVAC inspector; schedule each one through the inspector who covers the county on HBC’s sheet. Modular units are inspected in the factory by an approved third-party agency, and each placement needs HBC’s approval. Inside Campbellsville, the city’s Building Inspector makes a final inspection within three days of notice and issues the certificate of occupancy.

Kentucky building code in Taylor County

With no local program, HBC enforces the 2018 Kentucky Building Code on Taylor County’s non-residential buildings directly. FEMA’s Community Status Book lists both Taylor County and Campbellsville as participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, on flood maps dated May 24, 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

Taylor County permit search and official resources

For state-reviewed buildings, HBC’s Building Codes section offers an online plan search, and state applications are filed through its SmartGov portal. County records (deeds, plats, parcel data) are at the clerk’s and PVA offices at 203 North Court Street; a request for fiscal court records goes to the fiscal court office.

• Taylor County Fiscal Court
• Taylor County office directory
• Fiscal court members and contacts
• City of Campbellsville Planning and Zoning
• Campbellsville zoning ordinance
• HBC Taylor County inspector contact sheet
• HBC Building Codes: state and local jurisdiction
• HBC Division of Building Code Enforcement
• HBC SmartGov portal
• HBC Division of Plumbing
• HBC Division of HVAC
• KYTC district permit contacts
• FEMA Community Status Book, Kentucky

Taylor County permit FAQs

Does Taylor County issue building permits?

The published sources show no county building inspection program: HBC’s contact sheet names no local building inspector, and the county’s website lists no building office.

Do I need a permit to build a house in the county?

No county building permit is shown for a single-family home, and HBC does not review houses. You still need septic, electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits.

Who reviews a commercial building in Taylor County?

HBC’s Division of Building Code Enforcement, before construction starts (502-573-0373, SmartGov portal).

What about Campbellsville?

The city requires its own building permit for any building, including accessory buildings; apply at Planning and Zoning, 109 W. Main Street (270-465-7011).

Where do I get a septic permit?

The Taylor County Health Department, 1880 North Bypass Road, Campbellsville (270-465-4191).

Can I do my own plumbing?

Yes, in your own residence, with a homeowner plumbing permit from HBC.

Who inspects electrical work?

A certified electrical inspector; HBC’s sheet lists two local electrical inspectors and the state electrical inspector for the county.

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