Bolthole Index

Crittenden County, Kentucky

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Crittenden County, Kentucky

71Index Score / 100
#15 of 120 in Kentucky

Crittenden County, Kentucky requires a building permit for regulated construction outside the City of Marion; the county's local inspection program does not cover Marion12. Marion administers zoning within the city, while no countywide zoning is reported for unincorporated land34. Septic site evaluations, permits and inspections countywide go through the Crittenden County Health Department in the Pennyrile District567.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for regulated construction outside Marion; code exemptions may apply12
Zoning
Marion has city zoning; no countywide zoning is reported for unincorporated land34
Septic permits
Site evaluation and permit required through the Crittenden County Health Department before construction8
Owner-builder work
A qualifying homeowner may personally do plumbing under a homeowner permit, affidavit and state code9
Building code
Kentucky's mandatory statewide code includes residential standards for single-family homes10
Septic soil difficulty
Only 5% of county soils are rated “not limited” for conventional drain fields; site evaluation is essential11
Driveway access
A new farm or single-family driveway onto a state highway needs written approval from the Kentucky Department of Highways District Engineer12
Subdivision / plat
Within a planning-unit jurisdiction, land splits need plat approval unless the agricultural-use exception applies1314

Who to call

Building permits

Crittenden County Local Building Inspector

Building-code permits, plan review and inspections for construction in Crittenden County outside the City of Marion; the county inspection program excludes Marion

270-619-0813

fwallace01@icloud.com

Septic permits

Crittenden County Health Department (Pennyrile District Health Department, Onsite Sewage Program)

Onsite sewage (septic) site evaluations, construction permits and inspections for Crittenden County

(270) 965-5215

190 Industrial Drive, P.O. Box 392, Marion, KY 42064

Roads & driveways

Crittenden County Road Department

General county road contact; ask here about access onto county-maintained roads before treating this as a confirmed driveway-permit office

270-965-0892

audi.maraman@crittendencountyky.org

1901 US Hwy 60 East, Marion, KY 42064

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

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

Yes. Crittenden County requires a building permit before regulated construction, alteration, repair, relocation or occupancy changes, as well as permits for regulated electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing-system work1. The local single-family inspection program applies outside the City of Marion2. The Kentucky Residential Code applies statewide to single-family residential construction15. Some small accessory structures, fences, retaining walls, tanks, driveways and sidewalks qualify for code exemptions, so describe the full project to the Local Building Inspector before starting work1. The building official receives applications, reviews plans, issues building permits and inspects permitted work16. The fiscal court sets county building-permit fees, which must be reasonable and cannot exceed the cost of the service17. We could not confirm Crittenden County's current fee schedule, application form or inspection sequence, so request them from the Local Building Inspector.

Who is the Crittenden County building department, and how do you reach them?

Crittenden County has a designated Local Building Inspector; call 270-619-0813 or email fwallace01@icloud.com about building permits, plan review and inspections outside the City of Marion18. The county program expressly excludes Marion, so ask the city which office issues a building permit there2. The local inspector handles single-family inspections where the county program applies, while other building types may fall under a different local or state program219. The building official receives applications, reviews construction documents, issues building permits and checks permitted work for compliance16. Septic authority does not shift to Marion: the Crittenden County Health Department handles onsite sewage site evaluations, septic permits and inspections throughout Crittenden County520. For county-road access, contact the Crittenden County Road Department at 270-965-0892; we could not confirm a county driveway-permit rule21.

Does Crittenden County have zoning?

The City of Marion has zoning administered by its Planning & Development Commission3. No countywide zoning is reported for unincorporated Crittenden County, but official county material did not confirm the limits of zoning coverage outside Marion4. Ask the County Judge Executive's office about the parcel before treating minimum dwelling size, minimum lot size, setbacks, lot coverage or building height as unrestricted. Marion buyers should take zoning questions to the city, while septic site evaluations, permits and inspections remain with the Crittenden County Health Department320. Land division is separate: subdivision within a planning-unit jurisdiction requires commission approval, and the plat must be approved before the county clerk records it22. Kentucky excludes a division for agricultural use that creates no new street from the statutory definition of a subdivision14. Confirm that a proposed split and future residential use fit the exception before relying on it.

How do septic permits work in Crittenden County?

Kentucky administers onsite sewage through local health departments, and the Crittenden County Health Department in the Pennyrile District is the local contact520. The department evaluates site and soil conditions, and a permit to construct, install or alter the onsite system must be obtained before any part of that work begins6. For a new home or business using subsurface discharge, the department may issue a permit only after finding the property suitable8. A certified installer must submit a drawing with grade shots before the permit can issue; a homeowner doing the installation needs a homeowner's permit from the local health department86. Every installed, altered or repaired onsite system requires inspection by a certified inspector7. Only 5% of Crittenden County soils are rated “not limited” for a conventional drain field; that does not make septic impossible, but supports making the site evaluation an early purchase contingency11.

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

We could not confirm a Crittenden County rule expressly allowing or prohibiting long-term RV or tiny-home occupancy on private land. The reported absence of countywide zoning in unincorporated Crittenden County does not by itself authorize residential occupancy in an RV or tiny home, and Marion has its own city zoning43. Outside Marion, ask the Local Building Inspector how a tiny home, manufactured home or utility connection will be classified; inside Marion, also ask the city about zoning approval183. A utility may not connect service to a permitted, code-regulated building or system until the building official and applicable licensed or certified people release it23. Off-grid living does not remove septic requirements: where sewer is unavailable, the residence needs an approved private sewage system after site evaluation and a septic permit from the local health department24.

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

  1. For a tract split within a planning-unit jurisdiction, confirm commission approval and an approved plat before recording22.
  2. Ask Marion about city zoning approval if the parcel is inside the city; for land outside Marion, ask the County Judge Executive's office to confirm parcel-specific land-use limits34.
  3. Have the Crittenden County Health Department evaluate the site; a septic permit depends on a suitable result8.
  4. Outside Marion, submit construction documents and apply for the building permit through the Local Building Inspector; inside Marion, ask the city which office issues the building permit16218.
  5. A homeowner personally doing plumbing must apply before work, file an affidavit and follow the state plumbing code; this is not an exemption from building, septic, electrical, HVAC or zoning requirements9.
  6. Apply to the Kentucky Department of Highways District Engineer before building a new farm or single-family driveway onto state right-of-way12.
  7. Arrange building and septic inspections, then obtain applicable utility releases and occupancy approval before moving in72325.

What should you check before buying land in Crittenden County?

Make septic feasibility a purchase contingency: only 5% of Crittenden County soils are rated “not limited” for a conventional drain field, and the Health Department must find a subsurface-system site suitable before issuing the septic permit118. Kentucky requires a state floodplain permit before construction, demolition or renovation within a floodplain26. Development in, along or across a stream—including a house, crossing, fill, excavation or grading—requires a Kentucky Division of Water floodplain permit; general permits exclude new structures, so a new house requires an individual permit27. NFIP-participating communities also require local floodplain permits; we could not confirm the local administrator for unincorporated Crittenden County, so ask the County Judge Executive’s office27. For a tract split within a planning-unit jurisdiction, confirm commission approval and plat recording before closing22. Confirm building-permit scope with the Local Building Inspector outside Marion; inside Marion, ask the city about building-permit authority and zoning approval123. Ask the Road Department about county-road access, or apply to the state District Engineer for a new farm or single-family approach onto state right-of-way2112.

Watch-outs

  • Crittenden County requires permits for regulated work outside Marion, but we could not confirm the county's published fee schedule; the fiscal court sets reasonable, cost-based county permit fees, so request the current schedule at 270-619-0813 or fwallace01@icloud.com121718.
  • A new house in, along or across a stream requires an individual Kentucky Division of Water floodplain permit because general permits exclude new structures; ask the County Judge Executive’s office who handles any additional local floodplain approval27.
  • We could not confirm Crittenden County’s private-well permit requirements; Kentucky requires a certified water well driller for construction, modification and abandonment, so ask the driller about the proposed well before buying28.

Sources

  1. 2018 Kentucky Building Code, quoted and re-checked
  2. Crittenden County, quoted and re-checked
  3. Marion: Planning And Zoning - City of Marion, KY (Crittenden County), quoted and re-checked
  4. City of Marion, KY - Planning Commission (2026 county census)
  5. Local Health Departments, quoted and re-checked
  6. Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems Program, quoted and re-checked
  7. Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems Program, quoted and re-checked
  8. Onsite Sewage Program for Pennyrile District, quoted and re-checked
  9. Frequently Asked Questions (Plumbing), quoted and re-checked
  10. Title 815 Chapter 7 Regulation 125, quoted and re-checked
  11. 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
  12. 603 KAR 1:020 Driveway approaches, entrances; construction and maintenance (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. KRS 100.277 — Commission approval required for subdivisions (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. KRS 100.111 — Definitions for chapter (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction — Building Codes, quoted and re-checked
  16. 2018 Kentucky Building Code, quoted and re-checked
  17. KRS 67.410 — County building inspectors; building permits; fees; appeals, quoted and re-checked
  18. Crittenden County Local Building Inspector (dhbc.ky.gov)
  19. Building Codes, quoted and re-checked
  20. Onsite Sewage Program for Pennyrile District, quoted and re-checked
  21. Crittenden County Road Department (crittendencountyky.org)
  22. KRS 100.277 Commission approval required for subdivisions, quoted and re-checked
  23. 2018 Kentucky Building Code, quoted and re-checked
  24. So, You Want to Build A House? Application & Permitting Process, quoted and re-checked
  25. 2018 Kentucky Building Code, quoted and re-checked
  26. Environmental Permitting in Kentucky, quoted and re-checked
  27. Understand Your Flood Hazards, quoted and re-checked
  28. Water Well Information for Home Owners (Kentucky statewide rule), 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.

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Compared with neighboring counties

Unlike 4 of its 6 neighbors, Crittenden County requires a building permit for a home.

RuleCrittenden CountyCaldwell CountyLivingston CountyLyon CountyUnion CountyHopkins CountyWebster County
Building permitRequiredLimitedNot requiredRequiredLimitedRequiredNot required
County zoningNoNoNoYesYesNot publishedNo
Septic permitsPennyrile District Health Dept.Pennyrile District Health Dept.Pennyrile District Health Dept.Pennyrile District Health Dept.Green River District Health Dept.County Health Dept.Green River District Health Dept.

County locator

Crittenden County in Kentucky

71
County map
Crittenden County highlighted among the Kentucky counties · colored by Index score

How Crittenden County scores

Seclusion68100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency71100% ev.
Admin Boringness5890% ev.
Durability57100% ev.
Property Autonomy33100% ev.
Carry Cost8996% ev.

Evidence strength: 98%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$125kTypical home
0.6%Property tax
$3,369Land / acre
49.8"Annual rain
4.8% of yrsSevere drought
12.7 / yr (+11.7)Mid-century 100°F days
15.9 daysMid-century dry spell
2.15" (+6.2%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.75×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,607Home insurance / yr
0.6% / yrInsurance growth
0.59%Nonrenewal rate
single ZIP shrunk to state medianInsurance basis
12,662People within 30 min
1,544,864People within 2 hr
18,286Radius comparison (15 mi)
24.9People / sq mi
0.8%Federal land
68.3%Land at 15% slope or less
5%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
10,760 acWorkable land screen
52.7%Wooded land
56.6 tonsBiomass / forest ac
57.5°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Crittenden 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.

Answers from the rulebook for Crittenden County

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

Crittenden County rules

  • InspectionsRequired

    Single-family homes in unincorporated Crittenden County where the listed local inspection program applies; the DHBC sheet expressly excludes the City of Marion.

    • The listed local building inspector is Frank Wallace.
    • The source expressly excludes the City of Marion.
    • The Kentucky Residential Code applies, and local inspection occurs if the local single-family inspection program exists.
    “Local Building Inspector: Frank Wallace (excludes City of Marion)”
  • Who permits septicLocal

    Onsite sewage systems serving Crittenden County through the Pennyrile District Health Department/local health department.

    • The Pennyrile District Health Department serves Crittenden County.
    • The program is administered through local health departments.
    “Pennyrile District Health Department - serving ​Caldwell, Crittenden, Livingston, Lyon and Trigg counties”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Local — Onsite sewage regulation and inspection for properties in Crittenden County within the Pennyrile District.
      “Here are the resources and programs we offer those in Lyon, Livingston, Caldwell, Crittenden and Trigg counties in Kentucky. [...] Before a facility is built, if it will not tie into a sewage system, the site must be evaluated by the health department. Also, all sewage disposal systems with a subsurface discharge must be inspected by the health department.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New homes or businesses using subsurface sewage discharge systems in Crittenden County.

    • A site evaluation must be completed before facility construction.
    • A permit may be issued only when the property is determined suitable for installation.
    • Certified septic installers must bring a drawing with grade shots to the environmentalist office before a permit can be issued.
    • A homeowner installing their own system must obtain a homeowner’s permit through the local health department.
    • A final inspection is conducted after installation is complete.
    • Applications must be complete and include required information and fee; incomplete applications may be returned or delayed.
    “When the property is determined suitable for installation, a permit to install the system may be issued to a certified septic installer. Certified septic installers must bring a drawing with grade shots into the environmentalist office before a permit can be issued. A homeowner who wishes to install his or her own system must obtain a homeowner’s permit through the local health department.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Onsite sewage installation in Crittenden County, including a homeowner installing the homeowner's own system.
      “After the site evaluation has been conducted, a permit to construct, install, or alter an on-site sewage disposal system shall be obtained prior to construction of any portion of that system.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Onsite sewage systems in Crittenden County.

    • The local health department performs site evaluations and inspections.
    • A certified Kentucky onsite septic installer must install the system based on the site evaluation results.
    “Every on-site sewage disposal system installed, constructed, altered, or repaired shall be inspected by a certified inspector.”
  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    Zoning is administered municipally (the City of Marion has a Planning Commission); no countywide zoning ordinance covers unincorporated Crittenden County.

    City of Marion, KY - Planning Commission ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Kentucky rules that apply here

  • Building permitNot required (with conditions)

    Single-family dwellings constructed in Kentucky under the Kentucky Residential Code.

    • A local ordinance may independently require a permit.
    • The 2015 International Residential Code and 2018 Kentucky Residential Code apply to the covered residential construction.
    • This claim does not determine municipal or county permit ordinances.
    “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
    • Required — Construction, alteration, repair, movement, occupancy change, or regulated system work subject to the Kentucky Building Code in Crittenden County.
      “Any owner or owner’s authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be performed, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    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 Crittenden County.

    • Application must be made before work begins.
    • The homeowner must file an affidavit agreeing to abide by the applicable terms.
    • All work must comply with the Kentucky State Plumbing Code.
    • All work must be personally performed by the owner.
    • Only one homeowner permit for construction of a new home may be issued to an individual in a five-year period.
    • This source establishes a plumbing homeowner-permit pathway, not a blanket exemption from all building, electrical, HVAC, septic, or zoning requirements.

    new-home homeowner permit frequency: 1 permit per individual per 5 years

    “Permits to construct, install or alter plumbing, sewerage or drainage may be issued to homeowners who desire to install plumbing in homes actually occupied by them or in a home to be constructed by them for their own personal residential use, if all the following requirements are met:”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Conditional — An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies.
      “KRS 198B.650 to 198B.689 shall not apply to: [...] (3) An individual owner of real property while practicing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on or within property owned and occupied by the individual;”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Buildings constructed statewide in Kentucky, including residential and nonresidential construction subject to the Kentucky Building Code and Kentucky Residential Code.

    • The 2015 International Building Code is the mandatory state building code for buildings constructed in Kentucky, subject to Kentucky amendments in the 2018 Kentucky Building Code.
    • One-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, and townhouses are governed by 815 KAR 7:125 and the 2015 International Residential Code with Kentucky amendments in the 2018 Kentucky Residential Code.
    • 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.
    • Manufactured homes are governed by KRS 227.550 through 227.665.

    base building code: 2015 International Building Code (Kentucky amendments in the 2018 Kentucky Building Code supersede conflicting provisions) · residential code: 2015 International Residential Code; 2018 Kentucky Residential Code amendments (Applies to single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, and townhouses under 815 KAR 7:125) · mandatory effective date: 2019-01-01

    “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.”
    4 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted — Kentucky commercial buildings and single-family dwellings, including applicable construction in Crittenden County.
      “The 2018 Kentucky Residential Code (KRC) went into effect Jan. 1, 2019.”
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Kentucky single-family residential construction, including applicable construction in Crittenden County.
      “The 2018 Kentucky Residential Code (KRC) went into effect Jan. 1, 2019.”
    • Adopted — Construction of buildings in Kentucky, including Crittenden County.
      “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 — 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.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Buildings subject to the Kentucky Building Code after inspection and compliance determination.

    • The certificate is issued after the building official inspects the building or structure and finds no code or applicable-law violations.
    • The code states that a certificate is required only where applicable.
    “After the building official inspects the building or structure and does not find violations of the provisions of this code or other applicable law, the building official shall issue a certificate of occupancy that contains the following:”
    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,”
  • 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.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • 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 sanitationProhibited

    Use of seepage pits, cesspools, or dry wells as onsite sewage disposal systems statewide in Kentucky, subject to the Section 13 exception.

    • The prohibition is subject to the exception provided in Section 13 of 902 KAR 10:085.
    • Section 13 permits limited repair or alteration of existing seepage-pit systems when municipal or public sewage treatment is unavailable and repair or alteration is required because of malfunction, damage, or upgrade.
    • A limited single-family vacant-lot exception applies to certain lots purchased on or before May 1, 1992, if bona fide construction began by December 25, 1992.
    “Except as provided in Section 13 of this administrative regulation, use of seepage pits, cesspools, or dry wells;”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Residential sewage disposal where a sanitary sewer connection is unavailable in Crittenden County.
      “If you do not have access to sanitary sewer you will be required to install a private sewage system. Many types of private sewage systems may be available depending upon where you live.”
    • 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.”
  • 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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • 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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Conditional — Utility connections to buildings or systems regulated by the Kentucky Building Code in Crittenden County.
      “A person shall not make connections from a utility, source of energy, fuel, or power to any building or system that is regulated by this code for which a permit is required, until released by the building official and applicable licensed or certified persons listed in Section 112.4.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Agritourism buildings subject to the Kentucky Building Code.

    • Except as otherwise provided, an agritourism building must comply with the Kentucky Building Code.
    • The exemption applies to an agritourism building built prior to December 31, 2016.
    • The pre-December 31, 2016 building is exempt from seismic requirements.
    • If the building has a capacity of 400 persons or is 6,000 square feet or less, it does not require the services of a Kentucky-licensed architect.

    construction date threshold: < December 31, 2016 · building capacity threshold: <= 400 persons (The statute states "has a capacity of four hundred (400) persons or is six thousand (6,000) square feet or less.") · building area threshold: <= 6000 square feet (The statute states "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 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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • 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.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land within a Kentucky planning-unit jurisdiction.

    • All subdivision of land must receive planning-commission approval.
    • A person may not subdivide land before securing approval of a planning-commission plat.
    • A subdivision plat may not be recorded by the county clerk until commission approval is entered on the plat.
    • The statute's agricultural-use exception is addressed separately in KRS 100.111(22).
    “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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • 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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • 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, or renovation within a floodplain in Crittenden County.

    • Kentucky law requires a state floodplain permit before starting work within a floodplain.
    • Projects affecting streams or wetlands may require Water Quality Certification.
    • Many local governments mandate separate permits.
    • Applicants may qualify for a general permit or may need an individual application.
    • General permits do not cover new structures, water-impounding projects, or developments in protected waters.
    • An individual permit is required if the project is ineligible for a general permit or could change the Base Flood Elevation.
    • NFIP-participating communities must issue their own local floodplain permits and may adopt stricter standards.
    “To protect structures from flood damage, Kentucky law (401 KAR 4:060​) requires a state floodplain permit before starting any construction, demolition, or renovation within a floodplain​.”
    4 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Development in, along, or across a stream, including residential and commercial structures, stream crossings, fill, stream alterations or relocations, excavation, grading, and small stream impoundments, including such development in Crittenden County.
      “Any type of development in, along, or across a stream requires a floodplain permit from the Division. Typical activities requiring a permit include, but are not limited to, residential & commercial structures, stream crossings, fill, stream alterations & relocations, excavation, gradin​g, and small stream impoundments.”
    • Required — Development in, along, or across a stream in Kentucky, including floodplain development in Crittenden County.
      “The Division of Water is authorized through KRS 151 to manage development in floodplains. Any type of development in, along, or across a stream requires a floodplain permit from the Division.”
    • Required — Construction, demolition, or renovation within a floodplain in Kentucky, including Crittenden County.
      “To protect structures from flood damage, Kentucky law (401 KAR 4:060​) requires a state floodplain permit before starting any construction, demolition, or renovation within a floodplain​.”
    • 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
    • Variable (with conditions) — Building permit applicants in Kentucky counties that administer county building permits through a building inspector.
      “The fiscal court shall establish a system of reasonable fees to be charged every applicant for such permit, but such fees shall not exceed the cost of the service provided.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Plumbing construction and alteration work in Kentucky administered by the Division of Plumbing.

    • A plumbing construction permit must be obtained before construction, installation, or alteration.
    • Permits may be issued to licensed master plumbers or homeowners for plumbing in their own personal residences.
    • Work performed by someone other than a homeowner using the homeowner's own permit must be installed by a licensed journeyman plumber under the supervision of a licensed master plumber.
    • The Division reviews plans for construction on all buildings serving the public and inspects installations for compliance with the Kentucky State Plumbing Code.
    “No person, firm or corporation shall construct, install or alter any plumbing without first having procured a plumbing construction permit from the Division of Plumbing. Plumbing permits may be issued to licensed master plumbers or to homeowners for plumbing in their own personal residences.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Partial — Applicable building-permit process in Crittenden County under the Kentucky Building Code.
      “The building official shall receive applications, review construction documents, and issue permits for the erection, alteration, and moving of buildings and structures, inspect the premises for which such permits have been issued and enforce compliance with the provisions of this code.”
  • 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 Crittenden County

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

  • Local zoningPresent

    The City of Marion, Kentucky.

    • The City of Marion page states that its Planning & Development Commission is authorized to govern the City's zoning regulations.
    • The source addresses the City of Marion and does not establish countywide zoning outside the municipality.
    “Title XV of the City of Marion, KY Code of Ordinances as well as the Zoning Regulations of the City of Marion.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Present (with conditions) — Zoning within the incorporated City of Marion, Kentucky.
      “The Planning & Development Commission consist of 6 members. The Commission is authorized to govern all aspects of Title XV of the City of Marion, KY Code of Ordinances as well as the Zoning Regulations of the City of Marion.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in unincorporated Crittenden County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in unincorporated Crittenden County.
  • Setbacks — Setbacks in unincorporated Crittenden County.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage in unincorporated Crittenden County.
  • Building height — Building height in unincorporated Crittenden County.
4 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • 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 Crittenden County, Kentucky

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

Crittenden County scores 71/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and strong self-sufficiency basics: 49.8″/yr rainfall plus 52.7% wooded land. Watch-outs: a weaker property-autonomy legal backdrop.

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

Crittenden County generally requires a residential building permit, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Pennyrile District Health Department - Crittenden County Health Department (190 Industrial Drive, Marion). 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.

How much does land cost in Crittenden County, Kentucky?

Land in Crittenden County runs about $3,369 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Crittenden County?

Crittenden County gets about 49.8" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 4.8% of years.

How remote is Crittenden County?

A representative private-land location has about 12,662 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,544,864 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 Crittenden compares in Kentucky

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