Bolthole Index

Butler County, Kentucky

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Butler County, Kentucky

74Index Score / 100
#5 of 120 in Kentucky

Unincorporated Butler County, Kentucky does not require a building permit for a single-family dwelling, but other construction approvals may still apply12. Inside Morgantown, the city requires a zoning administrator permit before covered building work; septic permits remain with the Butler County Health Department34. We could not confirm zoning for unincorporated Butler County; ask Butler County Fiscal Court before relying on a parcel’s advertised uses5.

At a glance

Building permit
Not required for a single-family dwelling in unincorporated Butler County61
RV living
Unconfirmed outside Morgantown; Morgantown prohibits an RV as the principal structure or permanent residence78
Zoning
Unincorporated-county zoning remains unconfirmed; ask Butler County Fiscal Court5
Septic permits
Butler County Health Department (Barren River District Health Department)94
Well permits
No fee or permit application required of the property owner; the certified driller handles state documentation10
Owner-builder
You may build your own home; state trade-licensing requirements may still apply11
State building code
The Kentucky Residential Code applies to single-family homes even where no local inspection program exists12

Who to call

Septic permits

Butler County Health Department

Onsite sewage (septic) permitting, site evaluations and installation inspections for Butler County

270-526-3221

104 North Warren Street, Morgantown, KY 42261

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Butler County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Do you need a building permit in Butler County, Kentucky?

Unincorporated Butler County does not require a building permit for a single-family dwelling; the county FAQ does not resolve plumbing, electrical, septic, floodplain or municipal approvals12. Kentucky does not require single-family building inspections or certificates of occupancy unless a local ordinance requires them1314. The Kentucky Residential Code still applies, and where no local single-family inspection program exists, mechanical-system and local electrical inspections remain separate15. Inside Morgantown, covered construction, excavation and alterations require a zoning administrator permit before work begins; septic permits remain with the Butler County Health Department34.

Who issues building permits and septic permits in Butler County?

Butler County's published process says no building permit is needed for a single-family dwelling, but it does not identify a county building office or dispose of the other approvals a project may need2. The Butler County Health Department, at 104 North Warren Street in Morgantown, phone 270-526-3221, handles onsite sewage permitting and inspection164. A private well requires no permit application or fee from the property owner; a Kentucky Certified Water Well Driller constructs it and files the state documentation10. A new driveway onto a state-maintained highway requires a written application to the Kentucky Department of Highways District Engineer17.

Does Butler County, Kentucky have zoning?

We could not confirm whether zoning applies in unincorporated Butler County; ask Butler County Fiscal Court about the proposed use, setbacks, dwelling size and lot size before designing5. Within a Kentucky planning-unit jurisdiction, subdivision requires planning-commission approval before the plat can be recorded; ask Butler County Fiscal Court which planning authority, if any, covers a proposed lot split18. Agricultural zoning protection is conditional: road setbacks, floodplain structures, dwellings and specified conditional uses may still be regulated wherever zoning applies19.

How do septic permits work in Butler County, Kentucky?

Kentucky law requires an onsite sewage disposal permit from the local health department before construction, installation or alteration of a septic system, and in Butler County that means the Butler County Health Department2016. A licensed professional engineer can perform the site evaluation and design, but the final installation inspection must still come from the local health department21. Farmstead owners may obtain a septic permit and install a system on their own property; otherwise installation requires a Cabinet-certified installer20. Only about 7% of Butler County's soils carry no severe limitation for a conventional drainfield, so plan for a site evaluation and be ready for the health department's greywater or alternative-system framework if a conventional field won't work2223.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Butler County?

We could not confirm residential RV or tiny-home occupancy on an individual parcel in unincorporated Butler County; ask Butler County Fiscal Court before buying for that use5. In Morgantown, an RV cannot be the principal residential or commercial structure, permanent placement and occupancy are prohibited, and incidental or accessory use is limited to 14 days7824. Kentucky’s exclusion for event-related RV parking of up to 30 days does not authorize long-term residential occupancy25. Special-event camping in a regulated RV community requires notice to the local health department at least 20 days beforehand and is tied to an event lasting no more than 14 consecutive days per calendar year; that rule does not authorize camping on an individual private parcel26.

How do you build a home in Butler County, step by step?

  1. Call the Butler County Health Department at 270-526-3221 for a septic site evaluation before fixing the house location1620.
  2. Confirm the parcel’s jurisdiction: Morgantown requires a zoning administrator permit for covered building work, while septic approval stays with the county health office327.
  3. Design a single-family home to the Kentucky Residential Code despite the county’s building-permit exemption128.
  4. Obtain a Division of Water floodplain permit before development within a floodplain or in, along or across a stream; consult the local floodplain coordinator about local approval, and check whether stream or wetland work requires Water Quality Certification2930.
  5. Use a Kentucky Certified Water Well Driller for a new well10.
  6. Apply in writing to the Department of Highways District Engineer before building a driveway onto a state-maintained road17.

Are farm buildings exempt from building codes in Butler County?

Kentucky excludes qualifying farm dwellings and buildings incident to farm operation and maintenance from its statutory definition of a building when they are outside municipal boundaries, are not used in retail trade, and are not a place of regular employment for 10 or more people31. Buying farmland does not make every proposed building exempt: agritourism buildings generally must comply with the Kentucky Building Code, with limited seismic and architect-service exemptions for qualifying buildings built before December 31, 201632. Before closing, also arrange a septic site evaluation: only about 7% of Butler County soils have no severe limitation for a conventional drainfield2216.

Watch-outs

  • Butler County's single-family no-permit answer is narrow; plumbing, electrical, septic, floodplain and municipal approvals must be checked separately2.
  • Morgantown prohibits permanent RV placement and occupancy, and incidental or accessory RV use is limited to 14 days824.
  • Development in a floodplain or in, along or across a stream requires a state floodplain permit; local floodplain approval may also apply29.

Sources

  1. Butler County FAQ, quoted and re-checked
  2. Butler County FAQ, quoted and re-checked
  3. Morgantown: § 80.401 Zoning Permits Required; Fees (Butler County), quoted and re-checked
  4. Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems Program, quoted and re-checked
  5. Butler County, KY Official Website (2026 county census)
  6. Butler County FAQ (2026 county census)
  7. City of Morgantown, Kentucky Code of Ordinances, § 80.237 Recreational Vehicles and RV Parks, quoted and re-checked
  8. City of Morgantown, Kentucky Code of Ordinances, § 80.200 Mobile Homes and Mobile Home Parks, quoted and re-checked
  9. Barren River District Health Department - Onsite Sewage (2026 county census)
  10. Water Well Information for Home Owners, quoted and re-checked
  11. Kentucky law on county zoning and building authority
  12. 815 KAR 7:125 Kentucky Residential Code, quoted and re-checked
  13. 815 KAR 7:125. Kentucky Residential Code, quoted and re-checked
  14. 815 KAR 7:125. Kentucky Residential Code, quoted and re-checked
  15. 815 KAR 7:125 Kentucky Residential Code, quoted and re-checked
  16. Butler County Health Department (barrenriverhealth.org)
  17. KYTC Permits Branch, quoted and re-checked
  18. KRS 100.277 — Commission approval required for subdivisions, quoted and re-checked
  19. KRS 100.203 — Content of zoning regulations, quoted and re-checked
  20. KRS 211.350 On-site sewage disposal systems, quoted and re-checked
  21. KRS 211.350 On-site sewage disposal systems, quoted and re-checked
  22. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems Program, quoted and re-checked
  24. City of Morgantown, Kentucky Code of Ordinances, § 80.237 Recreational Vehicles and RV Parks, quoted and re-checked
  25. KRS 219.410 — Units for personal or farm use excluded; exclusions for parks, festivals, and publicly announced events lasting less than 30 days; standards for installation, quoted and re-checked
  26. 902 KAR 15:020. Recreational Vehicle Communities, quoted and re-checked
  27. Morgantown: § 80.053 Water Supply and Sewage Disposal Approval (Butler County), quoted and re-checked
  28. 815 KAR 7:125 — Kentucky Residential Code, quoted and re-checked
  29. Environmental Permitting in Kentucky, quoted and re-checked
  30. Find Your Flood Zone, quoted and re-checked
  31. KRS 198B.010 — Definitions for chapter, quoted and re-checked
  32. KRS 198B.085 — Agritourism building exemptions, quoted and re-checked

Written October 12, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Found land here? Start a Property Hunt →

Compared with neighboring counties

Unlike 5 of its 6 neighbors, Butler County requires no county building permit for a home.

RuleButler CountyOhio CountyWarren CountyEdmonson CountyGrayson CountyMuhlenberg CountyLogan County
Building permitNot requiredNot requiredRequiredRequiredRequiredLimitedLimited
County zoningNoNoYesYesYesNoNot published
Septic permitsBarren River District Health Dept.Green River District Health Dept.Barren River District Health Dept.Barren River District Health Dept.County Health Dept.County Health Dept.County Health Dept.

County locator

Butler County in Kentucky

74
County map
Butler County highlighted among the Kentucky counties · colored by Index score

How Butler County scores

Seclusion55100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency69100% ev.
Admin Boringness83100% ev.
Durability68100% ev.
Property Autonomy33100% ev.
Carry Cost86100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$184kTypical home
0.6%Property tax
$4,286Land / acre
52"Annual rain
3.3% of yrsSevere drought
10.8 / yr (+9.9)Mid-century 100°F days
14.4 daysMid-century dry spell
2.36" (+7.6%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.72×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,596Home insurance / yr
-0.2% / yrInsurance growth
0.31%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
14,602People within 30 min
3,697,881People within 2 hr
29,228Radius comparison (15 mi)
29People / sq mi
0.1%Federal land
49.1%Land at 15% slope or less
6.9%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
18,236 acWorkable land screen
63.5%Wooded land
50.8 tonsBiomass / forest ac
57.7°FAvg temp

Scout Butler County

Camp here before you commitBook a few nights nearby on Hipcamp →Already own land here?Earn money hosting campers — get $100 when you become a Hipcamp host →

Some links are affiliate or referral links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you.

Property hunt

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Search live inventory elsewhere, then cost and vet each candidate here. No copied listings, account, or paid data feed.

View your full hunt →
ZillowLand & lotsRealtor.comLand listingsLandSearchRural & vacant land

Each button opens a current land search for Butler County. Listing sites control their own results and filters.

Analyze a property
Add setup-cost allowances

Use rough quotes or placeholders. Blank fields count as $0.

Working estimate

—land + entered setup costs
Asking $ / acre
—
Setup allowance
—
All-in $ / acre
—

A planning estimate, not a valuation or contractor quote. The USDA benchmark includes farm land and buildings; it is context, not a parcel comp.

Before an offer

Parcel due diligence

0/8 checked

Saved properties and checklist progress stay on this device. Bolthole Index does not receive them.

Cities and towns in Butler County

Inside a city or town, that city usually issues building permits and sets zoning; the county’s rules above cover unincorporated land. Septic, wells and floodplain rules usually stay with the county or state everywhere.

Not yet researched: Rochester · Woodbury

Answers from the rulebook for Butler County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Butler County rules

  • Building permitNot required

    Construction of a single-family dwelling in Butler County.

    “Q: Do I have to have a building permit to build a house? A: No. You do not need a permit for a single family dwelling.”
  • Owner-builder exemption · follows from the permit answerNot needed

    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, plumbing and HVAC work may still apply.

    “Q: Do I have to have a building permit to build a house? A: No. You do not need a permit for a single family dwelling.”
  • Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

    Onsite sewage regulation and administration for Butler County through the Barren River District Health Department.

    • Kentucky's onsite sewage program is administered through local health departments.
    • The Barren River District Health Department page identifies an associated staff member for Butler County, Logan, and Simpson Counties.
    • The health department's role includes site evaluations, review of installation drawings, permit issuance, post-installation inspections, and enforcement when violations or health hazards arise.
    “Barren River District Health Department - serving Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Hart, Logan, Metcalfe, Simpson and Warren counties”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction, installation, or alteration of an onsite sewage disposal system subject to Kentucky Cabinet regulation in Butler County.

    • A permit from the local health department must be obtained before construction, installation, or alteration.
    • The statute excludes systems with a surface discharge from the Cabinet's regulation under subsection (1).
    • A licensed professional engineer may perform site evaluations and approve system designs and apply for the permit, but the final systems installation inspection must be performed by the local health department as soon as practicable.
    • A farmstead owner retains the right to obtain a permit.
    • Except for farmstead owners on their own property, construction, installation, or alteration must be performed by a person certified by the Cabinet pursuant to KRS 211.357.
    • Permit applications must include plans and specifications, soil-test results, and other information directed by regulation; denials are appealable under KRS Chapter 13B.
    • The statute states an effective date of June 29, 2017.

    site evaluation deadline: 15 working days (The local health department has an additional 10 working days after receipt of requested additional information.)

    “without having first obtained an on-site sewage disposal permit from the local health department.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Installation inspections for regulated onsite sewage disposal systems in Butler County.

    • The final systems installation inspection must be performed by the local health department as soon as practicable.
    • A licensed professional engineer may perform site evaluations and approve system designs in lieu of local-health-department inspection and certification for those activities, but not the final systems installation inspection.
    • The local health department or other authorized inspector may prohibit continued use when the system was not constructed, installed, or altered in conformance with the permit and Cabinet regulations.
    • For farmstead systems installed before July 15, 1992, Cabinet inspection or enforcement is limited unless a written, verified complaint establishes that action is necessary to prevent imminent harm or damage to safety, life, or health.
    “The local health department onsite septic system inspectors perform site evaluations and inspections in Kentucky.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Single-family dwellings in Butler County, Kentucky, within the scope stated by the Butler County FAQ.

    • The official FAQ states only that a permit is not needed for a single-family dwelling; it does not resolve other construction, plumbing, electrical, septic, floodplain, or municipal requirements.
    “A: No. You do not need a permit for a single family dwelling.”
  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    No county planning or zoning ordinance or planning commission is referenced on Butler County's official site; the county appears among rural Kentucky counties that have not adopted zoning under KRS Chapter 100.

    Butler County, KY Official Website ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Kentucky rules that apply here

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction in Butler County subject to Kentucky's statewide building and residential codes, including single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, townhouses, and other residential occupancies.

    • The 2015 International Residential Code for One (1) and Two (2) Family Dwellings is mandatory for single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, and townhouses constructed in Kentucky.
    • The Kentucky amendments in the 2018 Kentucky Residential Code supersede conflicting provisions in the 2015 International Residential Code.
    • The current incorporated Kentucky Residential Code is the Third Edition, August 2024.
    • Permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy are not required for a single-family dwelling unless required by local ordinance.
    • Residential occupancies that are not single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, or townhouses must comply with the 2015 International Building Code and the 2018 Kentucky Building Code.
    • Plans for single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, and townhouses must be designed and submitted to conform to 815 KAR 7:125.

    base residential code: 2015 International Residential Code for One (1) and Two (2) Family Dwellings (Kentucky amendments in the 2018 Kentucky Residential Code supersede conflicting provisions) · Kentucky Residential Code edition: Third Edition, August 2024 · current regulation effective date: 2024-12-03

    “Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the 2015 International Residential Code for One (1) and Two (2) Family Dwellings (IRC) shall be the mandatory state residential building code for all single-family dwellings, two (2) family dwellings, and townhouses constructed in Kentucky, except that the Kentucky amendments in the 2018 Kentucky Residential Code shall supersede any conflicting provision in the 2015 IRC.”
    5 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Construction of single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, and townhouses in Butler County and throughout Kentucky; other residential occupancies are subject to the Kentucky Building Code provisions stated in the regulation.
      “Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the 2015 International Residential Code for One (1) and Two (2) Family Dwellings (IRC) shall be the mandatory state residential building code for all single-family dwellings, two (2) family dwellings, and townhouses constructed in Kentucky, except that the Kentucky amendments in the 2018 Kentucky Residential Code shall supersede any conflicting provision in the 2015 IRC.”
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Construction in Butler County subject to Kentucky's statewide building and residential codes
      “KRS 198B.040(7) and 198B.050 require the department to promulgate a mandatory uniform state building code that establishes standards for the construction of all buildings in the state.”
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Construction in Butler County under Kentucky's statewide building-code framework, subject to the local inspection-program and occupancy rules stated by Kentucky law and the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction.
      “The Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction adopted the 2018 Kentucky Building Code, Second Edition and the 2018 Kentucky Residential Code, Second Edition on August 3, 2019.”
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Buildings constructed statewide in Kentucky, including residential and nonresidential construction subject to the Kentucky Building Code and Kentucky Residential Code.
      “Building Code. The 2015 International Building shall be the mandatory state building code for all buildings constructed in Kentucky except that: (1) The Kentucky amendments in the 2018 Kentucky Building Code shall supersede any conflicting provision in the 2015 International Building Code; (2) One (1) family dwellings, two (2) family dwellings, and townhouses shall be governed by 815 KAR 7:125; and (3) Manufactured homes shall be governed by KRS 227.550 through 227.665.”
    • Adopted — Mandatory Kentucky residential building-code standards for single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, and townhouses constructed statewide, including unincorporated areas.
      “Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the 2015 International Residential Code for One (1) and Two (2) Family Dwellings (IRC) shall be the mandatory state residential building code for all single-family dwellings, two (2) family dwellings, and townhouses constructed in Kentucky, except that the Kentucky amendments in the 2018 Kentucky Residential Code shall supersede any conflicting provision in the 2015 IRC.”
  • InspectionsNot required

    Single-family dwellings in Kentucky, including Butler County.

    • The exception applies unless required by local ordinance.
    • The regulation defines a single-family dwelling as a single unit with complete independent living facilities that is not connected to any other unit or building.
    • The regulation separately provides that residential occupancies other than single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, or townhouses must comply with the Kentucky Building Code.
    “Permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy shall not be required for a single-family dwelling unless required by local ordinance.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Not required (with conditions) — Single-family dwellings constructed in Kentucky under the Kentucky Residential Code.
      “Permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy shall not be required for a single-family dwelling unless required by local ordinance.”
  • Certificate of occupancyNot required

    Single-family dwellings in Kentucky, including Butler County.

    • The exception applies unless required by local ordinance.
    • The regulation defines a single-family dwelling as a single unit with complete independent living facilities that is not connected to any other unit or building.
    • The regulation separately provides that residential occupancies other than single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, or townhouses must comply with the Kentucky Building Code.
    “Permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy shall not be required for a single-family dwelling unless required by local ordinance.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Not required (with conditions) — Single-family dwellings constructed in Kentucky under the Kentucky Residential Code.
      “Permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy shall not be required for a single-family dwelling unless required by local ordinance.”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Kentucky's statewide statutory framework for zoning-district texts and maps adopted by local planning units; the statutes do not provide a statewide inventory of individual district names or boundaries.

    • Zoning is enacted by a city or county under KRS Chapter 100 rather than automatically imposed statewide.
    • The zoning text must list the types of zones that may be used and the regulations for each zone.
    • The zoning map must show the boundaries of the area to be zoned and the boundaries of each zone.
    • Before enactment, the planning commission must prepare the zoning text and map and hold at least one public hearing.
    • After the hearing, the planning commission submits the approved text and map with its recommendation to legislative bodies and fiscal courts for adoption; passage requires a majority of the entire legislative body or fiscal court.
    • Planning units may be independent city or county units, joint city-county units, or regional groups of counties and cities.
    • Joint city-county and regional planning-unit jurisdiction is coterminous with political boundaries; an independent city planning unit may exercise consent-based extraterritorial jurisdiction up to five miles for subdivision and other regulations, subject to statutory limits.
    • KRS 100.203 states an effective date of July 13, 2004; KRS 100.207 states an effective date of July 15, 1988; those dates are included as source-stated statutory effective dates, not as dates for any particular local zoning map.
    “Cities and counties may enact zoning regulations which shall contain: (1) A text, which shall list the types of zones which may be used,”
  • Living in an RVTemporary only

    Temporary parking of recreational vehicles on public or private property in Butler County when associated with festivals, fairs, sporting events, yard sales, or other publicly announced events.

    • The parking may not exceed thirty (30) days.
    • The event must be a festival, fair, sporting event, yard sale, or other publicly announced event.
    • This claim reflects the statutory exclusion from KRS 219.310 to 219.410 and does not establish a general authorization for long-term residential RV occupancy.

    maximum event-related parking duration: <= 30 days

    “Nothing in KRS 219.310 to 219.410 shall be construed to apply to the temporary parking of recreational vehicles on public or private property, for not more than thirty (30) days, associated with festivals, fairs, sporting events, yard sales, or other publicly announced events.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping or sleeping in the specified public and private pedestrian or vehicle-use areas statewide.

    • The person must knowingly enter or remain in a listed area with intent to sleep or camp.
    • The area must not have been designated for sleeping or camping, or the individual must lack authorization to sleep or camp there.
    • The listed areas include streets, sidewalks, areas under bridges or underpasses, paths, parks, cemeteries, and other areas designated for pedestrians or vehicles, including ingress or egress areas to businesses, homes, or public buildings.
    • The first offense is a violation; a second or subsequent offense, or a first offense where the person refuses to cease, is a Class B misdemeanor.
    • The section does not prohibit customary and temporary use of recreational camping areas, rest areas, or other properties specifically designated for resting or sleeping.
    • Temporary sleeping in a vehicle parked lawfully on a public road, street, or parking lot is not prevented when sleeping and parking occur for less than twelve (12) hours.

    temporary vehicle sleeping period: < 12 hours (The vehicle must be parked lawfully on a public road, street, or parking lot.)

    “A person is guilty of unlawful camping when he or she knowingly enters or remains on a public or private street, sidewalk, area under a bridge or underpass, path, park, cemetery, or other area designated for use by pedestrians or vehicles, including areas used for ingress or egress to businesses, homes, or public buildings, with the intent to sleep or camp in that area, when the area has not been designated for the purpose of sleeping or camping or the individual lacks authorization to sleep or camp in the area.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Temporary and special-event camping in regulated recreational vehicle communities in Butler County, Kentucky.
      “"Special Event" is a nonroutine activity within a community not to exceed fourteen (14) consecutive days in a calendar year. [...] "Special Event Camping" is camping that is in conjunction with a special event. [...] Special Event Camping. A recreational community shall notify the local health department of the intention to operate at least twenty (20) days prior to each special event.”
    • Allowed (with conditions) — Temporary camping locations for unsheltered homeless individuals designated by local governments under Kentucky law.
      “A local government may designate indoor or outdoor areas with defined boundaries in an area zoned for commercial or industrial use, separate from any area frequently used for public purposes, as a temporary camping location for unsheltered homeless individuals.”
    • Limited — Temporary parking of recreational vehicles on public or private property associated with specified publicly announced events.
      “Nothing in KRS 219.310 to 219.410 shall be construed to apply to the temporary parking of recreational vehicles on public or private property, for not more than thirty (30) days, associated with festivals, fairs, sporting events, yard sales, or other publicly announced events.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory dwelling units on lots containing a single-family home in a county containing a consolidated local government, when a new lease is initiated after June 27, 2025 and the lot is in a traditional single-family home zone.

    • The owner may not lease or allow the accessory dwelling unit to be occupied unless the owner primarily resides in the single-family home, multifamily housing unit, or accessory dwelling unit on the lot.
    • The restriction applies only in a county containing a consolidated local government.
    • A traditional single-family home zone is a zone that, as of January 1, 2025, did not include multifamily homes as a permitted use.
    • The restriction does not apply to a lot containing only one single-family home and no accessory dwelling unit.
    • The statutory effective date is June 27, 2025.

    new lease applicability date: > 2025-06-27 (The statute applies to new leases initiated after June 27, 2025.)

    “In a county containing a consolidated local government, for new leases initiated after June 27, 2025, a property owner shall not lease or allow to be occupied any single-family home, multifamily housing unit, or accessory dwelling unit located on a lot that contains a single-family home and that is located in a traditional single-family home zone, unless the owner primarily resides in the single-family home or multifamily housing unit or an accessory dwelling unit on the lot.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Off-grid wastewater disposal using regulated onsite sewage or greywater systems for properties not connected to a municipal sewer system in Butler County.

    • The Barren River District Health Department describes onsite sewage services for homes and businesses not connected to a municipal sewer system.
    • The system must satisfy site and soil evaluation requirements and obtain an onsite sewage disposal permit before construction, installation, or alteration when subject to Cabinet regulation.
    • A certified Kentucky onsite septic installer must install the system based on the site evaluation, subject to the farmstead-owner exception in KRS 211.350.
    • Greywater systems used to reduce daily waste flows are included in the permit framework.
    • A licensed professional engineer may perform site evaluations and approve system designs, but the final installation inspection remains with the local health department.
    • The sources do not establish authorization for every form of off-grid sanitation, including composting toilets or hauled-waste systems.
    “our role is to ensure safe and effective wastewater management for homes and businesses not connected to a municipal sewer system.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — Use of an approved private onsite sewage disposal system for a building where a public sewer is unavailable.
      “If a sewer is not available, the house drain from a building shall connect with an approved private sewage disposal system.”
    • Prohibited — Use of seepage pits, cesspools, or dry wells as onsite sewage disposal systems statewide in Kentucky, subject to the Section 13 exception.
      “Except as provided in Section 13 of this administrative regulation, use of seepage pits, cesspools, or dry wells;”
  • Well permitNot required

    Construction or abandonment of a private water well by a property owner statewide in Kentucky.

    • Construction, modification, and abandonment must be performed by a Kentucky Certified Water Well Driller.
    • The certified driller must complete and submit required documentation within sixty days after completion.
    • The conclusion concerns owner permitting applications and fees; it does not eliminate the separate driller-certification requirement.

    well documentation submission deadline: 60 days after completion

    “there are no permitting applications or fees for constructing or abandoning a water well required of the property owner.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Not required — Construction or abandonment of a private water well by a property owner in Butler County.
      “there are no permitting applications or fees for constructing or abandoning a water well required of the property owner.”
    • Limited — Construction, alteration, repair, or abandonment of water supply wells in Kentucky.
      “A person shall not construct, alter, repair, or abandon a water well without first obtaining a water well driller or water well driller assistant certificate”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Buildings subject to the Kentucky State Plumbing Code.

    • A building must have an independent connection to either a public or private sewer or sewer system.
    • If a sewer is not available, the house drain must connect to an approved private sewage disposal system.
    • The cited rule does not establish a universal requirement to connect to public water service.
    “If a sewer is not available, the house drain from a building shall connect with an approved private sewage disposal system.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Agritourism buildings in Butler County, Kentucky, meaning buildings or structures or portions thereof used for one or more agritourism activities.

    • An agritourism building must otherwise comply with the Kentucky Building Code.
    • The building must have been built prior to December 31, 2016, to receive the listed exemptions.
    • A qualifying pre-December 31, 2016 building is exempt from Kentucky Building Code seismic requirements.
    • For the architect exemption, the statutory capacity condition is a capacity of four hundred (400) persons; the statute does not state a less-than-or-equal-to-four-hundred capacity condition.
    • For the architect exemption, the alternative floor-area condition is six thousand (6,000) square feet or less.
    • The architect exemption applies only to the requirement for services of an architect licensed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

    construction date: < December 31, 2016 (Building must be built prior to this date.) · capacity: 400 persons (Alternative to the square-footage condition for the architect exemption.) · floor area: <= 6000 square feet (Alternative to the capacity condition for the architect exemption.)

    “If an agritourism building has a capacity of four hundred (400) persons or is six thousand (6,000) square feet or less”
    5 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Conditional — Agricultural land subject to a Kentucky city or county zoning regulation, including potentially regulated agricultural land in Butler County.
      “Text provisions to the effect that land which is used for agricultural purposes shall have no regulations except that:”
    • Conditional — Farm dwellings and other farm buildings and structures incident to farm operation and maintenance in Butler County, including unincorporated areas.
      “farm structures are located outside the boundary of a municipality [...] not used in [...] retail trade or [...] regular employment for ten (10) or more people”
    • Conditional — Agritourism buildings as defined in KRS 247.801 in Butler County, Kentucky.
      “An agritourism building built prior to December 31, 2016, shall be exempt from the following requirements within the Kentucky Building Code:”
    • Conditional — Division of land for agricultural use under Kentucky subdivision law.
      “provided that a division of land for agricultural use and not involving a new street shall not be deemed a subdivision.”
    • Conditional — Agritourism buildings subject to the Kentucky Building Code.
      “An agritourism building built prior to December 31, 2016, shall be exempt from the following requirements within the Kentucky Building Code: (a) An agritourism building built prior to December 31, 2016, shall not be required to comply with the seismic requirements within the Kentucky Building Code; and (b) If an agritourism building has a capacity of four hundred (400) persons or is six thousand (6,000) square feet or less, an agritourism building built prior to December 31, 2016, shall not require the services of an architect licensed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land within a Kentucky planning-unit jurisdiction, including applicable land in Butler County.

    • All subdivision of land must receive commission approval.
    • A person may not subdivide land before securing planning-commission approval of a plat designating the area to be subdivided.
    • A subdivision plat may not be recorded by the county clerk until approved by the planning commission and written approval is entered by an authorized officer.
    • A lot or parcel in a subdivision generally may not be transferred or sold by reference to an unapproved or unrecorded plat before final approval and recording.
    • A street built under subdivision regulations or ordinance is automatically accepted for maintenance by the legislative body forty-five days after inspection and final approval.
    • The subsection 5 exception does not apply to transactions affecting property in counties containing cities of the first class, consolidated local governments under KRS Chapter 67C, or urban-counties under KRS Chapter 67A.

    street acceptance after inspection and final approval: 45 days

    “All subdivision of land shall receive commission approval.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Subdivision of land within a Kentucky planning-unit jurisdiction.
      “All subdivision of land shall receive commission approval. No person or his agent shall subdivide any land before securing the approval of the planning commission of a plat designating the areas to be subdivided, and no plat of a subdivision of land within the planning unit jurisdiction shall be recorded by the county clerk until the plat has been approved by the commission and the approval entered thereon in writing by the chairman, secretary, or other duly authorized officer of the commission.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    New or additional private farm or single-family dwelling driveway approaches on Kentucky Department of Highways rights-of-way.

    • The owner or occupant must make formal written application to the District Engineer of the Department of Highways.
    • The applicant must furnish required drainage pipe, tile, or other drainage structure at the applicant's own expense.
    • The Department may participate up to $300 for specified construction work.
    • No indemnity bond or other security is required unless estimated construction cost within the right-of-way exceeds $300.
    • The District Engineer may approve or disapprove the application.

    department participation maximum: <= 300 USD (specified drainage, grading, and surfacing work within right-of-way limits)

    “The owner or occupant of property, who desires to construct new or additional private farm or single family dwelling driveway approaches, shall make formal application in writing, to the District Engineer of the Department of Highways.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — A new or reconstructed driveway or other entrance providing access to a Kentucky state highway or involving state highway right-of-way in Butler County.
      “Any firm, individual, or governmental agency that wants access to a road on the state highway system or wants to conduct any type of work activity on the right-of-way, must obtain a permit from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.”
    • Required — New, additional, relocated, or modified driveway entrance approaches serving commercial property or property used for a purpose other than farming or a single-family dwelling.
      “The owner or occupant of property, used for commercial or any purpose other than farming or single family dwelling, who desires to construct new or additional driveway entrance approaches, to relocate, or make other changes in existing driveway entrance approaches thereto, shall make application for a permit to the District Engineer of the Department of Highways upon standard forms furnished by the Transportation Cabinet.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Construction, demolition, renovation, or other development in, along, or across a stream or within a floodplain in Butler County, Kentucky.

    • Kentucky law requires a state floodplain permit before starting construction, demolition, or renovation within a floodplain.
    • Any type of development in, along, or across a stream requires a Division of Water floodplain permit.
    • The Division of Water issues General Permits and Individual Permits.
    • General Permits cover eligible low-impact activities that do not change the Base Flood Elevation and have minimal flood-risk potential.
    • General Permits do not cover new structures, water-impounding projects, or developments in special use waters, exceptional waters, or outstanding state resource waters.
    • Projects that do not meet General Permit eligibility requirements or could change the Base Flood Elevation require an Individual Permit.
    • Projects affecting streams or wetlands may require Water Quality Certification.
    • NFIP-participating communities must issue local floodplain permits in addition to state permits and may adopt stricter standards.

    nonsubstantial improvement cost threshold: less than 50% of structure valuation (Applies to the cited nonsubstantial-improvement General Permit.)

    “requires a state floodplain permit before starting any construction, demolition, or renovation within a floodplain.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Construction, demolition, renovation, and other development in identified floodplains in Butler County, Kentucky.
      “Any development in an identified floodplain in Kentucky requires a state and a local floodplain permit. ​Talk to your community's local floodplain coordinator about permits and about your local development requirements.”
    • Required — Development in an identified Kentucky floodplain, including development in mapped A and AE zones.
      “Any development in an identified floodplain in Kentucky requires a state and a local floodplain permit.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Kentucky state plumbing installation permits administered by the Division of Plumbing.

    • Residential one- and two-family permits use a $50 base fee plus $14 per opening.
    • Domestic water heater-only permits are $50.
    • Commercial permits use a $50 base fee plus $20 per opening.
    • Medical gas piping permits use a $50 base fee plus $20 per opening.
    • The fee schedule is stated as effective March 1, 2022.

    residential base permit fee: 50 USD (one- and two-family permits) · residential opening fee: per 14 USD (opening) · commercial base permit fee: 50 USD (commercial permits) · commercial opening fee: per 20 USD (opening)

    “FEE CHANGE - Effective March 1, 2022, Plumbing installation permit fees will be as follows: Residential (One and Two Family) Permits: $50 base permit fee, $14 per opening fee Domestic Water Heater Only Permits: $50 Commercial Permits: $50 base permit fee; $20 per opening fee Medical Gas Piping Permits: $50 base permit fee; $20 per opening fee”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — State Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction plan-review and inspection fees applicable to covered building work in Kentucky, including Butler County when state department review or inspection is required.
      “State Plan Review and Inspection Fees. The fees required by this section shall apply for plan review and inspection by the department. [...] The minimum fee for review of plans pursuant to this subsection shall be $285. [...] Residential | 15 cents”
  • Campground & park staysTemporary only (with conditions)

    Sleeping temporarily in a recreational vehicle or other vehicle in a vehicle-based location covered by KRS 511.110.

    • The vehicle must be parked lawfully on a public road, street, or parking lot.
    • Sleeping and parking at the location must occur for less than twelve (12) hours.
    • This provision does not establish permission for long-term or permanent RV occupancy on private land.
    • KRS 511.110 separately prohibits camping in specified areas when the area has not been designated for sleeping or camping or the person lacks authorization.

    maximum sleeping and parking period: < 12 hours

    “Nothing in this section shall prevent a person from sleeping temporarily in his or her vehicle parked lawfully on a public road, street, or parking lot, where the sleeping and parking of the vehicle at the location occur for a period of less than twelve (12) hours.”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    Kentucky counties' statutory authority to enact zoning regulations, including county-regulated areas outside incorporated municipalities as determined by the applicable planning-unit and political-boundary structure.

    • The statute expressly authorizes both cities and counties to enact zoning regulations.
    • A zoning regulation must contain text listing the types of zones and regulations applicable in each zone, uniform throughout the zone, and provisions for variances, conditional-use permits, and nonconforming uses.
    • Authorized subjects include land activities, structure dimensions and locations, open-space and distance requirements, density, special-interest districts, fringe areas, and activities or structures near thoroughfares, water bodies, public facilities, aircraft facilities, unique places, and floodplains.
    • Agricultural land must have no regulations except that setback lines may be required for streets and highways; floodway or floodplain buildings or structures may be fully regulated; mobile homes and other dwellings may be regulated; and uses under KRS 100.111(2)(c) may be regulated as conditional uses.
    • The applicable planning unit and political boundaries determine the area governed by a county zoning regulation.
    “Cities and counties may enact zoning regulations which shall contain:”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • General — Kentucky counties may adopt permanent land-use regulations, including zoning, through the applicable planning-unit process; this authority reaches county jurisdiction, including unincorporated areas, subject to the statutory planning prerequisites.
      “When all required elements of the comprehensive plan have been adopted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, then the legislative bodies and fiscal courts within the planning unit may enact permanent land use regulations, including zoning and other kinds of growth management regulations”
  • county building authorityGeneral

    Kentucky fiscal courts may adopt and enforce construction regulations and may require building permits for construction in the county, including residential construction in unincorporated areas.

    • The construction regulations must be adopted by county order or resolution.
    • The regulations operate pursuant to KRS 198B.060 and the Uniform State Building Code framework.
    • A county building inspector may administer the regulations.
    • No person may build, erect, construct, reconstruct, remodel, relocate, alter, or repair a building within the county without first obtaining a building permit from the building inspector when the county permit system applies.
    • Permit fees must be reasonable and may not exceed the cost of the service provided.
    • A person aggrieved by the building inspector's ruling, order, or decision may appeal under KRS 198B.070.

    permit fee ceiling: <= cost of the service provided

    “The fiscal court of any county shall have authority, by order or resolution, to adopt, and to enforce, regulations governing construction as defined by KRS 198B.010 pursuant to the provisions of KRS 198B.060.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • General — Kentucky county authority, as a local government, to enforce the Uniform State Building Code and issue building permits within its jurisdiction, including unincorporated residential construction.
      “Each local government shall employ a building official or inspector and other code enforcement personnel as necessary, or shall contract for inspection and code enforcement services in accordance with subsections (8) and (11) of this section to enforce the Uniform State Building Code within the boundaries of its jurisdiction, except that permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy shall not be mandatory for single-family residences unless a local government passes an ordinance requiring inspections of single-family residences.”

Inside cities and towns in Butler County

Municipal rules found while researching the county. They apply inside that city or town, not to unincorporated land.

  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Zoning administration within the incorporated City of Morgantown, Butler County, Kentucky.

    • The evidence establishes municipal zoning administration for Morgantown only; it does not establish zoning rules for Butler County unincorporated areas or the other municipalities.
    • Specific parcel-level permissions, districts, setbacks, and other standards require review of the applicable Morgantown zoning ordinance and map.
    “Planning and Zoning Commission Danny Cardwell - Chairperson”
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    Permanent placement and occupancy of recreational vehicles within the City of Morgantown.

    • Vehicles used for travel that do not exceed twenty-four (24) feet may be stored in the rear yard of a residential lot if the zoning chapter's yard-lot requirements are maintained; the text describes storage, not residential occupancy.

    maximum vehicle length for rear-yard storage exception: <= 24 feet (rear-yard residential-lot storage only; yard-lot requirements must be maintained)

    “By definition, the permanent placement of recreational vehicles is prohibited.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area or minimum dwelling size for residential dwellings in Butler County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum residential lot size in Butler County.
  • Setbacks — Residential setbacks in Butler County.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage limits in unincorporated Butler County, Kentucky.
  • Building height — Building-height limits in unincorporated Butler County, Kentucky.
3 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Living off-grid in Butler County, Kentucky

Is Butler County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Butler County scores 74/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and low administrative friction for a quiet rural property. Watch-outs: a weaker property-autonomy legal backdrop.

Do you need a building permit in Butler County, Kentucky?

Butler County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Barren River District Health Department. Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Butler County?

Living in an RV on your own land in Butler County is allowed on a temporary basis only: Statewide rule. Temporary parking of recreational vehicles on public or private property in Butler County when associated with festivals, fairs, sporting events, yard sales, or other publicly announced events. The parking may not exceed thirty (30) days. The event must be a festival, fair, sporting event, yard sale, or other publicly announced event. Confirm with the county before relying on it.

How much does land cost in Butler County, Kentucky?

Land in Butler County runs about $4,286 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Butler County?

Butler County gets about 52" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 3.3% of years.

How remote is Butler County?

A representative private-land location has about 14,602 people within a 30-minute drive and 3,697,881 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

How Butler compares in Kentucky

Compare side-by-side →See all 120 Kentucky counties ranked →