Bolthole Index

McCreary County, Kentucky

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

63Index Score / 100
#60 of 120 in Kentucky

McCreary County, Kentucky requires a local residential building permit, and the Fiscal Court provides building and electrical inspections through contracted inspectors12. Lake Cumberland District Health Department handles septic permitting and inspections34. Ask the County Judge Executive's Office for the current building application, inspector contact, fee schedule and parcel-specific zoning answer5.

At a glance

Building permit
Required locally for a residence; confirm the current application and scope with the County Judge Executive's Office15
Building inspections
Provided by the Fiscal Court through contracts with duly appointed inspectors2
Zoning
Countywide zoning status could not be confirmed; ask about the exact parcel5
Septic permits
$271 after site evaluation; a certified installer applies through Lake Cumberland District Health Department67
RV or tiny-home living
Long-term private-land occupancy rules could not be confirmed; ask the County Judge Executive's Office5
Owner-builder
No general local exemption confirmed; limited owner-performed plumbing and HVAC provisions apply89
Private well
Kentucky requires the person doing well work to hold the appropriate driller certificate; a separate owner-applied county permit could not be confirmed10
Floodplain development
Development in an identified floodplain needs both state and local floodplain permits11

Who to call

Building permits

McCreary County Judge Executive's Office

Starting point for county building and electrical inspection contracts, current inspector contacts, permit applications and local fee questions

606-376-2413

contact@mccrearycounty.com

PO Box 579, Whitley City, KY 42653

Health department

McCreary County Health Department (Lake Cumberland District Health Department)

McCreary County onsite sewage site evaluations, permits and installation inspections

(606) 376-2412

119 Medical Lane, Whitley City, KY 42653

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 4, 2026.

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

Yes. McCreary County requires a local residential building permit, and the Fiscal Court provides building and electrical inspections through contracts with duly appointed inspectors12. Kentucky has adopted the Kentucky Building Code and Kentucky Residential Code for covered construction, while state and local programs divide plan review, permitting and inspection duties by project type1213. The county material does not publish a direct residential permit rule, application, local fee schedule or certificate-of-occupancy requirement, so ask the County Judge Executive's Office to confirm the current scope before ordering plans or starting work5. Do not substitute the county's published business-license charges or the state's department-review fees for a local residential building-permit quote1415.

Who issues building permits in McCreary County, and how do you reach them?

Start with the McCreary County Judge Executive's Office because the Fiscal Court keeps the contracts and contact information for the duly appointed building and electrical inspectors2. The office is at PO Box 579, Whitley City, KY 42653; call 606-376-2413 or email contact@mccrearycounty.com5. Ask for the current residential building-permit application, the inspector assigned to the project, inspection stages, any certificate-of-occupancy requirement and the local fee schedule. Single-family review and inspection go to the local county or city building official where a local program exists; other responsibilities may remain with state or local trade inspectors13. Kentucky's residential plumbing permit currently has a $50 base fee plus $14 per opening, but that is not McCreary County's complete building-permit fee16.

Does McCreary County have zoning?

We could not confirm that McCreary County has or lacks countywide zoning. The county development page's “Not Zoned” description applies to a particular business-park property, so it should not be treated as a rule for every parcel. Ask the County Judge Executive's Office and the relevant city, if the land is inside city limits, whether zoning applies to the exact parcel5. We also could not confirm countywide rules for minimum lot size, setbacks, lot coverage, building height or minimum dwelling size. Separate requirements can still control a project: covered construction follows Kentucky's building-code framework, floodplain work needs permits, and each proposed onsite-sewage lot in a subdivision must be evaluated individually121718.

How do septic permits work in McCreary County?

Lake Cumberland District Health Department administers onsite-sewage site evaluations, permits and inspections in McCreary County319. Contact the McCreary County Health Department at 119 Medical Lane, Whitley City, KY 42653 or (606) 376-241220. A site evaluation comes first; then a certified installer applies with a detailed drawing and a $271 fee payable to LCDHD67. The system must follow the permit, and the Health Department approves or disapproves it after installation; approval produces the permanent electric sticker4. The plumbing inspector receives the septic permit before writing a water permit21. Only 1.3% of county soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make septic approval an early purchase contingency22. Where sewer is unavailable, an approved, permitted and inspected private system is required; alternative or greywater designs are not automatically exempt2324.

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

We could not confirm a McCreary County rule allowing or prohibiting long-term RV living, temporary camping on private land, tiny-home occupancy, manufactured-home occupancy or accessory dwellings. Countywide zoning status is also unconfirmed, so ask the County Judge Executive's Office about land use, occupancy, utilities and inspections for the exact parcel and structure before moving onto the land5. Kentucky's vehicle-camping statute answers only a different, narrow question: it permits sleeping for less than 12 hours in a vehicle lawfully parked on a public road, street or parking lot, and it does not establish permission for long-term RV occupancy on private land25. A site-built tiny home remains subject to the Kentucky residential-code framework12. Off-grid does not mean sanitation-free: where sewer is unavailable, an approved private sewage system still needs health-department permitting and inspection24.

What are the steps to build a home in McCreary County?

  1. Ask the County Judge Executive's Office for the current building application, contracted inspector, inspection stages, fees and any certificate-of-occupancy requirement52.
  1. Confirm zoning for the exact parcel and check flood maps; construction, demolition or renovation in a floodplain needs a state permit, and local requirements may also apply17.
  1. Arrange the health department's septic site evaluation before finalizing the homesite because only 1.3% of county soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional drain field722.
  1. Have a certified installer submit the septic drawing and $271 fee, then notify the Health Department for its installation decision64.
  1. Obtain the plumbing permit before work; an owner may personally do qualifying plumbing in a personal residence after applying and filing the required affidavit8.
  1. Apply in writing to the District Engineer before adding a farm or single-family driveway on a state highway right-of-way26.

What should you check before buying land in McCreary County?

Make septic feasibility the first physical due-diligence item because only 1.3% of McCreary County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field22. Terrain also narrows the practical building envelope: 13% of the land has a slope of 15% or less, and 93.4% is wooded2728. Federal land covers 56% of the county, so verify parcel boundaries, legal access and private title rather than assuming adjacent open land is part of the tract29. Check flood risk, legal access, driveway jurisdiction and subdivision status before committing to a homesite172618. Crop cultivation has a stormwater exemption, but barns, holding ponds, feeding areas or construction disturbing 1 acre or more require the KYR10 construction stormwater permit30. If the property needs a well, use a properly certified Kentucky driller and ask whether additional local approval applies10.

Watch-outs

  • A contracted county inspection program is confirmed, but a current local residential application and building-permit fee schedule could not be confirmed; get both from the County Judge Executive's Office before budgeting25.
  • Long-term RV living, private-land camping and tiny-home occupancy could not be confirmed for McCreary County; ask the County Judge Executive's Office about the exact parcel and proposed use5.
  • Only 1.3% of McCreary County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so do not buy on the assumption that a standard septic layout will pass22.

Sources

  1. Kentucky DHBC - McCreary County Local Building Inspector (2026 county census)
  2. McCreary County Administrative Code, quoted and re-checked
  3. New Home On-Site Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  4. New Home On-Site Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  5. McCreary County Judge Executive's Office (mccrearycounty.com)
  6. New Home On-Site Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  7. 902 KAR 10:085 — Kentucky on-site sewage disposal systems, quoted and re-checked
  8. Plumbing frequently asked questions, quoted and re-checked
  9. KRS 198B.674 — Exemptions (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. 401 KAR 6:320. Certification of water well drillers and water well driller assistants (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Find Your Flood Zone (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Division of Building Code Enforcement, quoted and re-checked
  13. Building Codes, quoted and re-checked
  14. McCreary County Business Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
  15. 815 KAR 7:120 Kentucky Building Code, quoted and re-checked
  16. Division of Plumbing fees, quoted and re-checked
  17. Environmental Permitting in Kentucky, quoted and re-checked
  18. 902 KAR 10:085 — Kentucky on-site sewage disposal systems, quoted and re-checked
  19. Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems Program, quoted and re-checked
  20. McCreary County Health Department (Lake Cumberland District Health Department) (lcdhd.org)
  21. New Home On-Site Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  22. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  23. 815 KAR 20:130 — House sewers and storm water piping, quoted and re-checked
  24. 815 KAR 20:130 — House sewers and storm water piping, quoted and re-checked
  25. KRS 511.110 — Unlawful camping (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. 603 KAR 1:020 — Driveway approaches, entrances; construction and maintenance, 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. Federal land share: Bolthole Index county data
  30. Environmental Permitting in Kentucky — Requirements for Agricultural Use, quoted and re-checked

Written October 4, 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, McCreary County requires a building permit for a home.

RuleMcCreary CountyWayne CountyWhitley CountyPulaski CountyClinton CountyRussell CountyLaurel County
Building permitRequiredNot requiredRequiredRequiredLimitedNot requiredLimited
County zoningNoNoNot publishedNoNot publishedNoYes
Septic permitsLake Cumberland District Health Dept.Lake Cumberland District Health Dept.County Health Dept.Lake Cumberland District Health Dept.County Health Dept.Lake Cumberland District Health Dept.County Health Dept.

County locator

McCreary County in Kentucky

63
County map
McCreary County highlighted among the Kentucky counties · colored by Index score

How McCreary County scores

Seclusion57100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency45100% ev.
Admin Boringness5890% ev.
Durability76100% ev.
Property Autonomy33100% ev.
Carry Cost90100% 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 →

$103kTypical home
0.7%Property tax
$3,161Land / acre
54.1"Annual rain
2.1% of yrsSevere drought
3.7 / yr (+3.5)Mid-century 100°F days
12.6 daysMid-century dry spell
1.97" (+7.1%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.75×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,353Home insurance / yr
0.2% / yrInsurance growth
0.56%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
19,985People within 30 min
2,052,195People within 2 hr
36,355Radius comparison (15 mi)
39.9People / sq mi
56%Federal land
13%Land at 15% slope or less
1.3%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
3,197 acWorkable land screen
93.4%Wooded land
65.2 tonsBiomass / forest ac
55.8°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for McCreary County

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

McCreary County rules

  • InspectionsRequired

    Building and electrical inspections administered for McCreary County through the Fiscal Court’s contracted inspectors.

    • The requirement is stated as being required by state law.
    • The Fiscal Court provides the inspections through contracts with duly appointed inspectors.
    • Inspector listings and contact information are maintained in the County Judge’s Office.
    “Building and Electrical Inspections, as required by state law, shall be provided by the Fiscal Court through contract with duly appointed inspectors. Contracts with said inspectors, a listing of and contact information for inspectors shall be maintained in the County Judge’s Office.”
  • Who permits septicLocal

    Onsite sewage disposal administration for McCreary County through the Lake Cumberland District Health Department service area.

    • The LCDHD page lists McCreary County among its county locations.
    • State onsite-wastewater rules and certified installer requirements also apply.
    “Lake Cumberland District Health Department has developed this step-by-step guide to aid in the new home on-site sewage disposal procedure. Contact your local health department for more information.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New-home onsite sewage systems in McCreary County served by LCDHD.

    • A certified septic installer must apply.
    • The fee is $271.00 payable to LCDHD.
    • A detailed drawing is required before issuance.
    • Installation must follow the permit and the Health Department must be notified upon installation.
    • Variances or other modifications may be necessary after site evaluation.

    septic permit fee: 271 USD (Payable to LCDHD)

    “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.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Installed onsite sewage systems serving new homes in McCreary County.

    • The system must be installed according to the permit.
    • 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 hookupWater (with conditions)

    Water-permit coordination for new-home septic systems in McCreary County.

    • The plumbing inspector receives a copy of the septic permit before writing a water permit.
    • This source does not establish whether public water service is available or required.
    “Plumbing inspector receives a copy of the septic permit releasing him to write a water permit.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    McCreary County business permits, including local and itinerant businesses.

    • The application states a $20 fee for a local business.
    • The application states a $50 fee for itinerant businesses.
    • The application marks nonprofit applicants as having no fee, but does not state the full nonprofit eligibility conditions on the fee lines themselves.
    • Applications and checks are mailed to the McCreary County Business Permit office, payable to the Tax Administrator, during Monday-Friday office hours of 8:30am-4:30pm.

    local business permit fee: 20 USD · itinerant business permit fee: 50 USD · nonprofit business permit fee: 0 USD (The application separately requires nonprofit documentation, including IRS acknowledgement of status or Kentucky articles of incorporation.)

    “NON-PROFIT * NO FEE * MUST ATTACH “IRS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF STATUS”OR “ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION” FROM STATE OF KENTUCKY [...] $20 LOCAL BUSINESS $50 ITINERANT BUSINESSES”
  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    The county's official development page lists property as 'Zoning- Not Zoned,' indicating McCreary County has no zoning ordinance.

    McCreary County - Development ↗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.”
  • 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 — Owner-performed plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in an owner-occupied personal residence or a home the owner will construct for personal residential use.
      “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:”
  • 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.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Kentucky construction, including applicable construction in McCreary 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.”
  • 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,”
  • 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
    • Allowed (with conditions) — Private or alternative on-site sanitation for McCreary County properties lacking available public sewer.
      “Connection with Private Sewage Disposal System. If a sewer is not available, the house drain from a building shall connect with an approved private sewage disposal system.”
    • 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
  • 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
    • Available (with conditions) — Crop cultivation under Kentucky stormwater permitting requirements.
      “While crop cultivation is exempt from obtaining a permit to control the quality of stormwater, a construction stormwater general permit, KYR10, is required for construction of holding ponds, barns, feeding areas or construction activities that disturb one acre or more.”
    • 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)

    Subdivisions and existing subdivisions of record where on-site sewage approval is required.

    • Each individual lot or site must be evaluated individually for on-site sewage approval.
    • If a site is unapprovable, the applicant must be advised of alternatives if available.
    • Cluster systems require perpetual ownership, operation, and maintenance documents.
    • A local health department may adopt more specific nonconflicting subdivision requirements.
    “A person seeking approval for a subdivision and for all existing subdivisions of record shall follow the procedures for approval established in subsection (1)(a), (b), and (c) of this section. Each individual lot or site shall be evaluated individually.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Subdivision of land within a Kentucky planning-unit jurisdiction.
      “All subdivision of land shall receive commission approval. No person or his agent shall subdivide any land before securing the approval of the planning commission of a plat designating the areas to be subdivided, and no plat of a subdivision of land within the planning unit jurisdiction shall be recorded by the county clerk until the plat has been approved by the commission and the approval entered thereon in writing by the chairman, secretary, or other duly authorized officer of the commission.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

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

    • A formal written application must be made to the District Engineer.
    • For commercial or other non-farm/non-single-family uses, a permit application on Transportation Cabinet forms is required.
    • Commercial/non-exempt work must be performed at the permittee’s expense and according to approved plans; the permit and plans must be at the work site.
    • Driveways must not interfere with highway drainage; drainage structures require Department approval.
    • No indemnity bond is required for farm or single-family approaches unless estimated right-of-way construction cost exceeds $300; other approaches require security determined by the District Engineer.
    • The owner normally maintains the approach at the owner’s expense.

    bond exception threshold: > 300 USD (No indemnity bond for farm or single-family approaches unless estimated right-of-way construction cost exceeds $300)

    “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 — New or additional private farm or single-family dwelling driveway approaches on Kentucky Department of Highways rights-of-way.
      “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.”
    • 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 — Construction, demolition, renovation, and other covered development within a floodplain in McCreary 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.”
  • Permit processPartial

    On-site sewage permit process for McCreary County properties.

    • A site evaluation precedes the construction permit.
    • The application requires a detailed drawing, specifications, and required fees.
    • The permit is issued by a certified inspector to a certified installer or homeowner and expires after one year unless extended.
    • Local health departments may provide approved technology options upon request.
    “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. An application for a construction permit shall be submitted and accompanied by a detailed drawing of the proposed system or alteration, including all necessary specifications, and required permit fees. A permit shall be issued only by a certified inspector and only to a certified installer or homeowner as provided in 902 KAR 10:110 and shall expire one (1) year from date of issuance unless an extension is granted by the cabinet.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Partial — Building-code plan review, permit issuance, and inspection jurisdiction applicable in McCreary County.
      “Responsibilities for the enforcement of the KBC are shared between the Division of Building Codes Enforcement and the local government (city or county) building departments. Not all building construction projects require review and inspection by the Division of Building Codes Enforcement.”
    • Published (with conditions) — Plumbing construction and alteration work in Kentucky administered by the Division of Plumbing.
      “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.”
  • 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 McCreary County municipalities and unincorporated areas.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in McCreary County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in McCreary County.
  • Setbacks — Building setbacks in McCreary County.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage in McCreary County.
5 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • 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 McCreary County, Kentucky

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

McCreary County scores 63/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and 56% federal land exposure. Watch-outs: a weaker property-autonomy legal backdrop.

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

McCreary County generally requires a residential building permit, 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.

How much does land cost in McCreary County, Kentucky?

Land in McCreary County runs about $3,161 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in McCreary County?

McCreary County gets about 54.1" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 2.1% of years.

How remote is McCreary County?

A representative private-land location has about 19,985 people within a 30-minute drive and 2,052,195 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 McCreary compares in Kentucky

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