Bolthole Index

Cumberland County, Kentucky

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

70Index Score / 100
#23 of 120 in Kentucky

Cumberland County, Kentucky has no local building inspector, but the county's complete permit requirement for a single-family home remains unconfirmed1. In a jurisdiction without a local inspection program, other construction goes to the state for review before work begins, while a single-family home must still meet the Kentucky Residential Code2. Septic permits and inspections go through the Lake Cumberland District Health Department3.

At a glance

Building permit
Local requirement unconfirmed; other construction goes to the state where no local inspection program exists12
Building code
The Kentucky Building Code and Kentucky Residential Code apply4
Zoning
No countywide zoning is indicated, but no explicit county statement was found5
Septic permit
Site evaluation first, then a certified installer applies through the Lake Cumberland District Health Department36
RV living
Private-parcel occupancy is unconfirmed; RV communities follow state space, separation and setback rules57
Tiny homes
No county-specific occupancy or minimum-size rule was confirmed5
Owner plumbing
Conditional for a personal residence; a separate farmstead exemption has acreage, location, agricultural-use and registration tests89
Private wells
No owner permit application or fee; well work must be done by a Kentucky Certified Water Well Driller10

Who to call

Building permits

Cumberland County Fiscal Court

County government contact to confirm local building, zoning, RV, tiny-home and floodplain requirements when no specialized county office is published

270-864-3444

P.O. Box 826, Burkesville, KY 42717

Building permits

Cumberland County Fire Department

Published county contact for zoning and permit questions

(270) 864-3494

Septic permits

Cumberland County Health Department (Lake Cumberland District Health Department)

Local contact for onsite sewage site evaluations, permits and inspections in Cumberland County

(270) 864-2206

226 Copper Lane, Burkesville, KY 42717

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 7, 2026.

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

Cumberland County has no local building inspector, but the complete local permit requirement for a single-family home remains unconfirmed1. In a jurisdiction without a local building-inspection program, construction other than a single-family dwelling must be submitted to the state for review and approval before work begins; a single-family builder must still follow the Kentucky Residential Code, and separate plumbing and HVAC permits may apply2. Where no single-family inspection program exists, the building itself is not inspected, but the mechanical systems receive state HVAC inspection and the local county electrical inspector checks the electrical system11. The county directs zoning and permit questions to the Cumberland County Fire Department, so describe the exact use and location before construction12. The Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction adopted the 2018 Kentucky Building Code and Kentucky Residential Code on August 3, 2019, and both apply in Cumberland County4.

Who handles building and land questions in Cumberland County?

Cumberland County has no local building inspector, and the county does not publish a dedicated building, planning or zoning office15. The county's Fire Department page directs zoning and permit questions to (270) 864-349412. Cumberland County Fiscal Court is at P.O. Box 826, Burkesville, KY 42717, and can be reached at 270-864-3444 for broader county-government questions13. Construction other than a single-family dwelling goes to the state for review and approval where no local inspection program exists2. For septic questions, contact the Cumberland County Health Department at 226 Copper Lane, Burkesville, KY 42717, phone (270) 864-220614. The Lake Cumberland District Health Department handles local site evaluations, permits and installation inspections3.

Does Cumberland County, Kentucky have zoning?

Cumberland County appears to have no countywide zoning because its departments directory lists no planning, zoning, codes or building office5. The county has not published an explicit no-zoning declaration, so call the Cumberland County Fire Department to confirm the status for unincorporated land and ask the relevant city about parcels inside municipal limits12. Kentucky law allows a county to adopt zoning after the required comprehensive-plan elements are adopted, but that authority alone does not show that Cumberland County exercised it15. We could not confirm county-specific minimum dwelling size, minimum lot size, setbacks, lot coverage or building-height rules. A qualifying agricultural land division without a new street is not treated as a subdivision under Kentucky law16. That land-division rule is separate from the farmstead plumbing exemption, which applies only to a qualifying farm of at least 10 acres outside municipal limits, with bona fide agricultural or horticultural use and county PVA registration9.

How do septic permits work in Cumberland County?

Lake Cumberland District Health Department handles onsite sewage site evaluations, permits and installation inspections in Cumberland County3. Start with a site evaluation and floor plan; the evaluation fee is $2273. The homeowner must then have a certified septic installer apply for the permit with a detailed drawing, and the permit fee is $2716. The health department must be notified after installation, then approves or disapproves the system and issues the permanent electric sticker after approval17. Soil conditions make early evaluation especially important because only 11.7% of Cumberland County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field18. Electric service not served by municipal sewer needs a health-department release, and the plumbing inspector receives the septic permit before issuing a water permit19. Call the Cumberland County Health Department at (270) 864-2206 before choosing a house site14.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Cumberland County?

We could not confirm a Cumberland County rule that expressly allows or prohibits long-term RV occupancy on an ordinary private parcel, and the lack of confirmed countywide zoning does not by itself create permission5. Ask Cumberland County Fiscal Court how an RV used as a residence is treated and whether city rules apply if the parcel is inside municipal limits13. Kentucky separately regulates RV communities: each space must contain at least 1,500 square feet, RVs must be at least 15 feet from one another and other structures, and additional boundary setbacks apply7. An RV community operating permit costs $150 annually, with separate annual inspection fees based on space count; construction or alteration carries a $70 permit fee20. These community rules do not answer whether one RV may be occupied on an ordinary private parcel7. We also could not confirm a county-specific tiny-home occupancy rule or minimum home size. A tiny home intended as a residence still needs an approved sewage solution where public sewer is unavailable, and any onsite system remains subject to permitting and inspection212223.

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

  1. Ask the Cumberland County Fire Department whether a local single-family permit or inspection ordinance applies to the parcel; projects other than single-family dwellings go to the state for review where no local inspection program exists122.
  1. Arrange the septic site evaluation, submit the floor plan and prepare the required test holes before fixing the house location24.
  1. Have a certified septic installer apply through the health department with a detailed drawing, then install to the permit624.
  1. If using a private well, hire a Kentucky Certified Water Well Driller; the property owner does not file a well-permit application or pay a well-permit fee10.
  1. Obtain the plumbing permit before plumbing work begins; a residential one- or two-family plumbing permit costs a $50 base fee plus $14 per opening and may be issued to a licensed master plumber or a homeowner working on the homeowner's personal residence25.
  1. Obtain a permit when the driveway accesses a state-maintained road or involves work in the state highway right-of-way; a local-road rule was not confirmed26.
  1. Notify the health department after septic installation and obtain approval before the permanent electric release1719.

What should you check before buying land in Cumberland County?

Put septic feasibility first: only 11.7% of Cumberland County soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional drain field, so obtain a site evaluation before fixing the house location18. Terrain deserves the same attention because just 22.9% of county land has a slope of 15% or less, and 80.5% is wooded2728. Development in an identified floodplain requires state and local floodplain permits, and work in, along or across a stream requires a Division of Water permit29. Verify whether the road is state-maintained because access to the state highway system and work in its right-of-way require a permit; a local-road driveway rule was not confirmed26. A private well does not require an owner permit application or fee, but a Kentucky Certified Water Well Driller must perform the work and submit the documentation10. Finally, ask Fiscal Court to confirm local permit and zoning status for the exact parcel1315.

Watch-outs

  • Cumberland County's local single-family building-permit requirement remains unconfirmed; ask the Fire Department before starting work121.
  • Long-term RV living, tiny-home occupancy, minimum dwelling size and parcel setbacks remain unconfirmed for unincorporated Cumberland County; ask Fiscal Court and, inside a city, the municipal government135.
  • Development in an identified floodplain needs both a state and a local floodplain permit, but the county office administering the local permit was not confirmed; start with Fiscal Court2913.

Sources

  1. Kentucky Dept. of Housing, Buildings & Construction - Cumberland County State Building Inspector (2026 county census)
  2. Building Codes, quoted and re-checked
  3. New Home On-Site Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  4. Division of Building Code Enforcement, quoted and re-checked
  5. Cumberland County, Kentucky - Departments & Agencies (2026 county census)
  6. New Home On-Site Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  7. 902 KAR 15:020 Recreational vehicles, quoted and re-checked
  8. 815 KAR 8:070 Installation permits, quoted and re-checked
  9. Frequently Asked Questions (Plumbing), quoted and re-checked
  10. Water Well Information, quoted and re-checked
  11. Building Codes, quoted and re-checked
  12. Cumberland County Fire Department (cumberlandcounty.ky.gov)
  13. Cumberland County Fiscal Court (cumberlandcounty.ky.gov)
  14. Cumberland County Health Department (Lake Cumberland District Health Department) (lcdhd.org)
  15. KRS 100.201 — Interim and permanent land use regulations authorized (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. KRS 100.111 — Definitions for chapter (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. New Home On-Site Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  18. 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
  19. Septic Electric Release Stickers, quoted and re-checked
  20. 902 KAR 45:120 Inspection and permit fees for recreational vehicle communities, youth camps, and private water supplies, quoted and re-checked
  21. 815 KAR 20:130. House sewers and storm water piping; methods of installation (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. 902 KAR 10:110. Issuance of on-site sewage disposal system permits (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. 902 KAR 10:085. System Installation Inspection (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. New Home On-Site Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  25. Kentucky Division of Plumbing permit fees, quoted and re-checked
  26. Permits Branch, quoted and re-checked
  27. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  29. Find Your Flood Zone, quoted and re-checked

Written October 7, 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, Cumberland County requires a building permit only in limited cases.

RuleCumberland CountyClinton CountyMetcalfe CountyMonroe CountyAdair CountyRussell CountyWayne County
Building permitLimitedLimitedLimitedRequiredRequiredNot requiredNot required
County zoningNoNot publishedNoNoNoNoNo
Septic permitsLake Cumberland District Health Dept.County Health Dept.Barren River District Health Dept.County Health Dept.Lake Cumberland District Health Dept.Lake Cumberland District Health Dept.Lake Cumberland District Health Dept.

County locator

Cumberland County in Kentucky

70
County map
Cumberland County highlighted among the Kentucky counties · colored by Index score

How Cumberland County scores

Seclusion69100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency62100% ev.
Admin Boringness6890% ev.
Durability54100% ev.
Property Autonomy33100% ev.
Carry Cost9096% 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 →

$153kTypical home
0.6%Property tax
$2,793Land / acre
52.9"Annual rain
1.9% of yrsSevere drought
7.2 / yr (+6.8)Mid-century 100°F days
13.8 daysMid-century dry spell
2.33" (+9.5%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.73×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,449Home insurance / yr
0.4% / yrInsurance growth
0.46%Nonrenewal rate
single ZIP shrunk to state medianInsurance basis
11,520People within 30 min
1,482,190People within 2 hr
21,441Radius comparison (15 mi)
19.7People / sq mi
0.9%Federal land
22.9%Land at 15% slope or less
11.7%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
19,849 acWorkable land screen
80.5%Wooded land
53.9 tonsBiomass / forest ac
57.4°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Cumberland 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.

Burkesville

Answers from the rulebook for Cumberland County

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

Cumberland County rules

  • Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

    Onsite sewage disposal site evaluations, permits, and installation inspections for Cumberland County through the Lake Cumberland District Health Department.

    • The source instructs applicants to apply with the local Health Department and identifies LCDHD as the payee and inspecting health department.
    • Variances or other modifications may be necessary after site evaluation.

    site evaluation fee: 227 USD (floor plan must be submitted) · septic permit fee: 271 USD (certified septic installer and detailed drawing required)

    “Lake Cumberland District Health Department”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New-home onsite sewage disposal systems in Cumberland County served by the Lake Cumberland District Health Department.

    • A certified septic installer must apply.
    • A detailed drawing is required before a permit is issued.
    • A site evaluation is required first, with a floor plan submitted.
    • The source states that variances or other modifications may be necessary upon site evaluation.
    • The source states that no temporary electric sticker is issued for RVs or mobile homes.

    site evaluation fee: 227 USD (payable to LCDHD; floor plan required) · septic permit fee: 271 USD (payable to LCDHD; detailed drawing required)

    “The homeowner has a certified septic installer apply for a septic permit.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Installation inspection of new onsite sewage disposal systems in Cumberland County served by LCDHD.

    • The Health Department must be notified after installation.
    • The Health Department approves or disapproves the installation.
    • A permanent electric sticker is issued upon approval.
    “Step 4: Septic is installed according to permit and Health Department notified upon installation. Health Department inspects the system and either approves or disapproves installation. Upon approval, a Permanent electric sticker will be issued to the homeowner.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Electric service for properties in Cumberland County that are not served by municipal sewer, and water-permit sequencing for new septic construction.

    • Electric service not served by municipal sewer requires an electrical release from the local health department.
    • Temporary electrical release may follow a finding that the site is suitable for septic; it cannot be issued to mobile homes.
    • Permanent electrical release may follow health-department approval of the final septic inspection.
    • The plumbing inspector receives a copy of the septic permit to release him to write a water permit.
    “Any electric service, which is not served by municipal sewer, must obtain an electrical release from the local health department.”
  • Permit processPartial

    New-home onsite sewage permitting in Cumberland County through LCDHD.

    • Apply for site evaluation and submit a floor plan.
    • Dig 2 to 4 backhoe test holes 42 inches deep and 50 to 100 feet apart, then notify the health department.
    • Have a certified septic installer apply for the permit with a detailed drawing.
    • Install according to the permit, notify the health department, and obtain inspection and approval before permanent electrical release.
    • Variances or other modifications may be necessary.
    “Step 3: The homeowner has a certified septic installer apply for a septic permit. $271.00 fee made payable to LCDHD. Detailed drawing required before a permit is issued. [...] Step 4: Septic is installed according to permit and Health Department notified upon installation.”
  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    The Cumberland County government departments directory lists no planning, zoning, codes, or building office, consistent with a rural county lacking countywide zoning.

    Cumberland County, Kentucky - Departments & Agencies ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Kentucky rules that apply here

  • Building permitLimited

    Building construction in Kentucky jurisdictions without a local building inspection program, including the distinction between single-family dwellings and other construction.

    • All construction projects except single-family dwellings in jurisdictions without a local building inspection program must be submitted to the state for review and approval before construction.
    • Single-family builders must still meet the Kentucky Residential Code even where no single-family inspection program exists.
    • Separate plumbing and HVAC permits may still be required.
    “All construction projects, except single-family dwellings, in those jurisdictions that do not have a local building inspection program, shall be submitted to the Division of Building Codes Enforcement for review and approval prior to the start of a construction project.”
    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.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies.

    • The exemption applies to KRS 198B.650 to 198B.689, Kentucky's HVAC contractor provisions.
    • The owner must own and occupy the property.
    • For installation of an initial HVAC system, the owner must apply for a permit before beginning installation.
    • An exempt owner need not possess or show proof of an HVAC license to obtain the required HVAC permit.
    • Applying for the HVAC permit constitutes consent to inspection by authorized Commonwealth and relevant local-government inspectors.
    • No HVAC permit is required for installation on a manufactured home by a licensed manufactured-home retailer or manufacturer, and no permit or inspection is required for window-unit air conditioners, space heaters, or HVAC systems in buildings not designed for human occupancy.
    “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;”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Conditional — Homeowner-performed HVAC work in a legal residence or a home constructed by the homeowner for personal residential use in Cumberland County.
      “A permit to construct, install, or alter a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning system shall be issued to a homeowner”
  • 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.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted — Kentucky Building Code and Kentucky Residential Code applicable in Cumberland County.
      “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 — Construction subject to the Kentucky Building Code and Kentucky Residential Code in Cumberland County.
      “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 — 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.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Building inspections for residential and commercial construction where a local single-family inspection program may or may not exist.

    • Single-family homes are inspected by the local county or city building official if a local inspection program exists.
    • Where no single-family inspection program exists, building inspections do not occur except for mechanical systems inspected by HVAC and electrical systems inspected by the local county electrical inspector.
    • Other construction in jurisdictions without a local building inspection program is subject to state review and approval.
    “For those counties or cities that do not have a single-family inspection program, the builder is still required to meet the KRC, but there will not be any building inspections except for the mechanical systems, which will be inspected by the Kentucky Division of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and by the local county electrical inspector.”
    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 (with conditions)

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

    • A local ordinance may independently require a certificate of occupancy.
    • This claim does not determine municipal or county certificate-of-occupancy ordinances.
    “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 RVLimited

    Operation and occupancy of recreational vehicle communities and special-event camping in Cumberland County and elsewhere in Kentucky; this does not establish a rule for a single RV on an ordinary private parcel.

    • Each recreational vehicle space must contain at least 1,500 square feet and adequate square footage for the maximum-size recreational vehicle.
    • Recreational vehicles must be separated from each other and other structures by at least 15 feet.
    • A recreational vehicle must be at least 25 feet from a public street or highway right-of-way and at least 10 feet from other community property boundary lines.
    • A recreational community must notify the local health department at least 20 days before each special event.
    • Exempt recreational vehicle communities defined in KRS 219.410 are not subject to 902 KAR 15:020 unless the regulation indicates otherwise.
    • A variance may be requested from the local board of health or its designated agent for proposed special-event camping or campground sites.

    minimum recreational vehicle space area: >= 1500 square feet (Each recreational vehicle space) · separation from other RVs and structures: >= 15 feet · setback from public street or highway right-of-way: >= 25 feet · setback from other community property boundary lines: >= 10 feet

    “Each recreational vehicle space shall contain a minimum of 1,500 square feet and adequate square footage to accommodate the maximum size recreational vehicle.”
  • 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;”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • 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, modification, and abandonment of private water wells in Cumberland 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”
  • 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.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Conditional — Kentucky farmstead plumbing exemption criteria, potentially applicable in Cumberland County.
      “To qualify for a farmstead exemption the following must be met. A farm dwelling together with other farm buildings and structures incident to the operation and maintenance of the farm situated on 10 acres or more of land which is located outside the corporate limits of a municipality. "Farm" as associated with farmstead which is defined in KRS 318.010(8) means property that shall have a bona fide agricultural or horticultural use as defined by KRS 132.010(9) and (10) and qualified by and registered with the PVA in that county.”
    • 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.”
  • 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 — Access to state-maintained roads and work in state highway rights-of-way serving Cumberland County parcels.
      “Any firm, individual, or governmental agency that wants access to a road on the state highway system [...] must obtain a permit”
    • 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

    Development in an identified Kentucky floodplain, including development in mapped A and AE zones.

    • Both a state and local floodplain permit are required for development in an identified floodplain.
    • State and local permits are required for development in A and AE zones.
    • The Kentucky Division of Water issues general or individual floodplain permits.
    • General permits cover eligible activities that do not change the Base Flood Elevation and have minimal flood-risk potential.
    • Developments that do not meet general-permit eligibility or could change the Base Flood Elevation require an individual permit.
    • The source directs applicants to consult the local floodplain coordinator for local requirements.

    general permit nonsubstantial improvement threshold: < 50 percent of structure valuation (including labor)

    “Any development in an identified floodplain in Kentucky requires a state and a local floodplain permit.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Development in an identified floodplain or in, along, or across a stream in Cumberland County.
      “Any development in an identified floodplain in Kentucky requires a state and a local floodplain permit”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Kentucky plumbing installation permits applicable to work in Cumberland County.

    • The fee schedule is for plumbing installation permits administered by the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, not a complete schedule for every possible building, electrical, HVAC, or local permit.
    • The page states the fee change is effective March 1, 2022.
    • Residential one- and two-family permits are $50 base plus $14 per opening.
    • Domestic water-heater-only permits are $50.
    • Commercial permits are $50 base plus $20 per opening.
    • Medical gas piping permits are $50 base plus $20 per opening.
    • A plumbing installation permit is required for all new plumbing installations and the other categories listed in the official FAQ.

    residential one- and two-family plumbing permit base fee: 50 USD (plus $14 per opening) · domestic water-heater-only plumbing permit fee: 50 USD · commercial plumbing permit base fee: 50 USD (plus $20 per opening) · medical gas piping permit base fee: 50 USD (plus $20 per opening) · fee change effective date: 2022-03-01

    “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”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — State permit and inspection fees for recreational vehicle communities, including any qualifying community in Cumberland County.
      “An application for an annual permit to operate a recreational vehicle community shall be accompanied by a fee of $150.”
    • Published (with conditions) — State plumbing installation permits for residential one- and two-family buildings in Cumberland County.
      “Residential (One and Two Family) Permits: $50 base permit fee, $14 per opening fee”
    • Published (with conditions) — Kentucky state plumbing installation permits administered by the Division of Plumbing.
      “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”
  • 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.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Local zoning — Aggregate local zoning across Cumberland County municipalities and unincorporated areas.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Cumberland County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in Cumberland County.
  • Setbacks — Building and structure setbacks in Cumberland County.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage in Cumberland County.
4 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • 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 Cumberland County, Kentucky

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

Cumberland County scores 70/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and sparse surroundings — about 11,520 people within a 30-minute drive. Watch-outs: a weaker property-autonomy legal backdrop.

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

Cumberland County requires a building permit only in limited cases (such as floodplains or specific zones), and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Lake Cumberland 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 Cumberland County?

Living in an RV on your own land in Cumberland County is limited to specific cases: Statewide rule. Operation and occupancy of recreational vehicle communities and special-event camping in Cumberland County and elsewhere in Kentucky; this does not establish a rule for a single RV on an ordinary private parcel. Each recreational vehicle space must contain at least 1,500 square feet and adequate square footage for the maximum-size recreational vehicle. Recreational vehicles must be separated from each other and other structures by at least 15 feet. Confirm with the county before relying on it.

How much does land cost in Cumberland County, Kentucky?

Land in Cumberland County runs about $2,793 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Cumberland County?

Cumberland County gets about 52.9" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 1.9% of years.

How remote is Cumberland County?

A representative private-land location has about 11,520 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,482,190 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 Cumberland compares in Kentucky

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