Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-10-10
120 of Kentucky's 120 counties — 100% — let an owner build their own home without a licensed contractor. That is the 4th-largest count of any state. The strongest of them on the Bolthole Index is Wayne County (75/100). Every entry below cites the county’s own official source.
Rules change, and cities inside these counties set their own — treat this as a verified starting point, not legal advice. All 2952 counties nationwide → Kentucky: no building codes → Kentucky: no zoning → Kentucky: no codes, no zoning → Kentucky: rv living → Kentucky: tiny homes → Kentucky: no minimum home size → Full Kentucky profile →
120 of 120 Kentucky counties · sorted by Index score
Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Because Lee County has no local building inspection program, owner-builders of one- and two-family dwellings face no local building permit or inspection requirement, though the …
Kentucky DHBC - Lee County Inspector Listing ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner performing plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in an occupied home or a home being constructed for the homeowner's own personal residential use in R…
Plumbing Frequently Asked Questions ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner performing HVAC installation, construction, or alteration in the homeowner's legal residence or in a home constructed by the homeowner for personal r…
815 KAR 8:070 Installation permits ↗Unincorporated Butler County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, plu…
Butler County FAQ ↗Statewide rule. Homeowners personally performing plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in a home they occupy or a home constructed for their own personal residential use, includi…
Frequently Asked Questions (Plumbing) ↗Statewide rule. Homeowner-performed plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in a personally occupied or personally constructed home The application must be made before work begins.…
Frequently Asked Questions (Plumbing) ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner constructing or altering an on-site sewage disposal system serving a single-family residence in Morgan County under Kentucky statewide requirements. …
902 KAR 10:110. Issuance of on-site sewage disposal system permits ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner personally installing an HVAC system in the homeowner's legal residence or in a home constructed by the homeowner for personal residential use. The p…
Title 815 Chapter 8 Regulation 070 ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner performing HVAC work in Webster County on the homeowner's legal residence or on a home the homeowner constructs for personal residential use, includi…
815 KAR 8:070 Installation permits ↗With no county building permit required in unincorporated areas, an owner may build their own residence; septic must still be permitted through the district health department.
Marion County, Kentucky (county government) ↗Statewide rule. Owner-performed plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in a home in Estill County, including a home actually occupied by the owner or a home being constructed by t…
Frequently Asked Questions (Plumbing) ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner constructing, installing, or altering plumbing, sewerage, or drainage in a home occupied by the homeowner or constructed by the homeowner for the hom…
815 KAR 20:050. Installation permits ↗Statewide rule. Homeowners performing plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in a home they occupy or a home they construct for their own personal residential use, including in Cr…
Frequently Asked Questions (Plumbing) ↗Statewide rule. Homeowner-performed plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in Bath County, including a home actually occupied by the homeowner or a home constructed by the homeown…
Frequently Asked Questions (Plumbing) ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner installing or altering an HVAC system in the homeowner's legal residence or in a home constructed by the homeowner for personal residential use, incl…
815 KAR 8:070 Installation permits ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. Homeowner-performed HVAC installation, construction, or alteration in Breckinridge County under Kentucky statewide rules. The homeowner must install the HVAC sys…
815 KAR 8:070. Installation permits ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. Owner-performed plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in a personal residence in Menifee County under Kentucky statewide plumbing rules. The home must be actually…
Frequently Asked Questions (Plumbing) ↗Statewide rule. Kentucky homeowner permits for constructing, installing, or altering plumbing, sewerage, or drainage in a home occupied by the homeowner or constructed by the ho…
Frequently Asked Questions (Plumbing) ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner personally performing plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in a home actually occupied by the homeowner or in a home being constructed by the homeown…
Frequently Asked Questions (Plumbing) ↗Statewide rule. Homeowners personally installing HVAC systems in their legal residence or a home constructed for their personal residential use, including Clinton County. The ap…
815 KAR 8:070, HVAC Permits and Fees ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner constructing, installing, or altering plumbing, sewerage, or drainage in a home occupied by the homeowner or constructed by the homeowner for the hom…
Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction — Homeowner plumbing permits and farmstead exemption ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. Homeowner-performed plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in a home actually occupied by the owner or a home the owner is constructing for personal residential us…
Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction Frequently Asked Questions ↗Because Leslie County has no local building inspection program, owner-builders of one- and two-family dwellings face no local building permit or inspection requirement, though t…
Kentucky DHBC - Leslie County Inspector Listing ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner constructing, installing, or altering an on-site sewage disposal system serving the homeowner's single-family residence in Owsley County. The homeown…
902 KAR 10:110. Issuance of on-site sewage disposal system permits ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner personally performing plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in a home occupied by the homeowner or constructed by the homeowner for the homeowner's ow…
Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction frequently asked questions ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Unincorporated Pulaski County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, pl…
County Government – Pulaski County Government ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner personally performing plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in a home actually occupied by the homeowner or in a home being constructed for the homeow…
Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction Frequently Asked Questions ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. Homeowners seeking a Kentucky homeowner permit to construct, install, or alter plumbing, sewerage, or drainage in a home they occupy or a home they construct for…
Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction homeowner plumbing permits ↗A homeowner installing electrical wiring in a dwelling in Hart County. The homeowner must certify that the homeowner installed the wiring in accordance with Kentucky State Codes…
Hart County Electrical Permit and/or Application ↗Statewide rule. A Kentucky homeowner constructing, installing, or altering plumbing, sewerage, or drainage in a home occupied by the homeowner or constructed by the homeowner fo…
Title 815 Chapter 20 Regulation 050 - Installation permits ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner personally performing plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in a home actually occupied by the homeowner or in a home to be constructed by the homeown…
Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction plumbing frequently asked questions ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Farm dwellings and other buildings or structures located on farms outside a municipality when the property owners reside on the agricultural land and the structure is incidental…
Agricultural Exemption Affidavit ↗Statewide rule. Homeowner-performed plumbing in the homeowner's own personal residence in Kentucky, including Carlisle County. A plumbing construction permit is required before …
Division of Plumbing ↗Unincorporated Washington County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical,…
washingtoncountyky.com ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. Homeowner-performed plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in Graves County, including a home occupied by the homeowner or a home constructed by the homeowner for …
2023 Kentucky State Plumbing Law, Regulations and Code Book ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. Kentucky homeowner permits to construct, install, or alter plumbing, sewerage, or drainage in a home occupied by the homeowner or constructed by the homeowner fo…
Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction Frequently Asked Questions ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner constructing, installing, or altering plumbing, sewerage, or drainage in a home occupied by the homeowner or constructed by the homeowner for the hom…
Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction — Plumbing FAQs ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner performing permitted HVAC or plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in the homeowner's legal residence or in a home constructed by the homeowner for pe…
815 KAR 8:070 — Installation permits ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner constructing, installing, or altering an on-site sewage disposal system in Johnson County, Kentucky, under the statewide Kentucky rule. The applicant…
902 KAR 10:110. Issuance of on-site sewage disposal system permits ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner personally installing plumbing, sewerage, or drainage in a home occupied by the homeowner or being constructed for the homeowner's own personal resid…
Frequently Asked Questions (Plumbing) — Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. Homeowner-performed plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in a home actually occupied by the homeowner or a home to be constructed by the homeowner for personal r…
Frequently Asked Questions (Plumbing) ↗Statewide rule. Kentucky homeowner-performed plumbing work for a home actually occupied by the owner or a home to be constructed by the owner for personal residential use, and t…
Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction Frequently Asked Questions (Plumbing) ↗Statewide rule. A Kentucky homeowner seeking an HVAC permit for the homeowner's legal residence or a home constructed by the homeowner for personal residential use, including Gr…
Title 815 Chapter 8 Regulation 070 — HVAC permits ↗The county residential building permit application includes an owner-builder certification allowing a homeowner to perform all work on the project without employing additional w…
Community Development Services - Christian County KY Residential Building Permit Application ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner personally performing plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in a home occupied by the homeowner or constructed by the homeowner for the homeowner's ow…
Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction frequently asked questions ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. Homeowner-performed HVAC installation, construction, or alteration in Bell County under Kentucky's statewide HVAC-permit rule. The work must concern the homeowne…
815 KAR 8:070, Installation permits ↗Statewide rule. Homeowner HVAC installation permits for the homeowner’s legal residence or a home constructed by the homeowner for personal residential use in Knox County, Kentu…
815 KAR 8:070 — Installation permits ↗Unincorporated Boyd County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, plumb…
Construction, Permits & Inspection Contacts ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. Homeowner-performed construction, installation, or alteration of plumbing, sewerage, or drainage in a qualifying home in LaRue County. The permit may be issued t…
815 KAR 20:050. Installation permits ↗Farmstead exemption from the county building-permit requirement for a house built on a qualifying farm in Garrard County. The Fiscal Court minutes state that the state defines a…
Garrard County Fiscal Court Regular Meeting Minutes, June 9, 2025 ↗Statewide rule. Homeowner-performed plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in a home occupied by the homeowner or constructed by the homeowner for the homeowner's own personal res…
Title 815 Chapter 20 Regulation 050 — Installation permits ↗Statewide rule. Homeowner-performed heating, ventilation, or air-conditioning installation or alteration in the homeowner's legal residence or a home constructed for personal re…
815 KAR 8:070. Installation permits ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner personally performing plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in a home occupied by the homeowner or constructed by the homeowner for the homeowner's ow…
Homeowners Information ↗Farmstead Exemption for a homeowner constructing a home or agricultural structure on qualifying farm property outside the municipal context identified by the applicable state ru…
Farmstead Exemption Application ↗A farm owner constructing a dwelling or qualifying farm-incidental building on an unincorporated Trimble County parcel. The specific tract must qualify as a farm through registr…
Trimble County Farmstead Building Exemption Form ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. Homeowner construction, installation, or alteration of an on-site sewage disposal system serving the homeowner's residence or a residence the homeowner construct…
902 KAR 10:110. Issuance of on-site sewage disposal system permits ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗An individual applicant using Henderson County’s building-permit process who seeks exemption from Kentucky workers’ compensation insurance requirements. The official county form…
Affidavit of Exemption from the Kentucky Workers’ Compensation Act (Individual) ↗Statewide rule. Homeowner-performed plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in a home actually occupied by the homeowner or a home the homeowner will construct for personal residen…
Frequently Asked Questions (Plumbing) ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner personally performing plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in a home occupied by the homeowner or constructed by the homeowner for the homeowner's ow…
815 KAR 20:050. Installation permits ↗Statewide rule. Homeowner-performed HVAC work in the homeowner's legal residence or a home constructed by the homeowner for personal residential use, including Barren County. Th…
815 KAR 8:070 — Installation permits ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner in Lyon County constructing, installing, or altering an on-site sewage disposal system for a qualifying single-family residence for personal use and …
902 KAR 10:110 — Issuance of on-site sewage disposal system permits ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner installing a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning system in the homeowner's legal residence or in a home constructed by the homeowner for person…
815 KAR 8:070 Installation permits ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner personally performing plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in the homeowner's occupied home or a home constructed for the homeowner's own personal re…
Title 815 Chapter 20 Regulation 050 ↗Statewide rule. Homeowner-performed HVAC installation, construction, or alteration in the homeowner's legal residence or a home constructed for personal residential use, includi…
815 KAR 8:070 — HVAC Permits ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner personally installing HVAC in the homeowner's legal residence or in a home constructed by the homeowner for personal residential use, including in Ne…
815 KAR 8:070 Installation permits ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. A builder or permit applicant in Clark County, Kentucky seeking exemption from providing workers' compensation coverage proof for a building permit under Kentuck…
120 KAR 1:210 — Affidavit of exemption from KRS Chapter 342 ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. A Kentucky homeowner personally installing plumbing, sewerage, or drainage in a home actually occupied by the homeowner or in a home the homeowner is constructin…
Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction Homeowners Information ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner personally performing plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in a home actually occupied by the homeowner or in a home the homeowner will construct for…
Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction — Frequently Asked Questions (Plumbing) ↗Statewide rule. A homeowner in Mercer County seeking a Kentucky plumbing permit to construct, install, or alter plumbing, sewerage, or drainage in a home occupied by the homeown…
Title 815 Chapter 20 Regulation 050 ↗Statewide rule. Homeowner permits for plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in a home occupied by the owner or to be constructed by the owner for the owner's personal residential…
Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction FAQ ↗Statewide rule. Owner-builders performing plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in a home they occupy or construct for their own personal residential use in Spencer County, under…
Frequently Asked Questions (Plumbing) ↗Owner-build residential construction permit applications in the unincorporated portion of Jessamine County. Owner-build business registration is listed as not applicable. The ow…
Building Permit Application - Residential ↗Owner installation of an onsite sewage system in Bullitt County. The homeowner may apply only if the system will be installed by the homeowner. If the homeowner does not install…
Sewage ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Owner-claimed farmstead exemption from the Kentucky State Building Code for qualifying farm construction in Scott County outside municipal corporate limits. The specific tract, …
Farmstead Exemption ↗Statewide rule. Homeowner permits for plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in a personally occupied or personally constructed residence. Application must be made before work beg…
Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction Frequently Asked Questions ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies. The exemption applies to KR…
KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions ↗Every county here has a full profile — water, land prices, hazard safety, seclusion, and the rest of its building rules. See the Kentucky state page for all 120 counties ranked, or go back to the national list.
Off-grid gear
Building on land in one of these Kentucky counties? The kit we'd start with:
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General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.
