Bolthole Index

McLean County, Kentucky

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

57Index Score / 100
#92 of 120 in Kentucky

McLean County, Kentucky requires a building permit and has adopted zoning, so call the county Planning and Zoning Commission before designing or placing a home on a parcel.12 A private septic system requires local health-department review and a permit before construction.34

At a glance

Building permit
Required by McLean County1
Zoning
Yes; county land-use map has agricultural, commercial, industrial and three residential categories25
Septic
Permit and inspection required through the local health department346
RV living
Long-term private-land occupancy was not confirmed; ask Planning and Zoning2
Tiny home
County-specific occupancy and minimum-size rules were not confirmed2
Owner-builder
No county-specific building exemption was confirmed; homeowners may obtain their own plumbing permit for a personal residence7
Private well
No owner permit or fee, but a Kentucky-certified well driller must do the work89

Who to call

Planning & zoning

McLean County Planning and Zoning Commission

Building-permit applications, zoning questions and county zoning maps

(270)280-7671

210 Main Street, P.O. Box 127, Calhoun, KY 42327

Septic permits

McLean County Health Department

Local environmental-health contact for onsite sewage and septic routing

270-273-3062, ext. 207

McLean County Health Department 200 West Highway 81 North Calhoun, KY 42327

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 10, 2026.

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

Yes. McLean County requires a building permit under the county zoning ordinance's administration-and-enforcement provisions and provides a building-permit application through the Planning and Zoning Commission.1 Kentucky's residential code otherwise says permits, inspections and certificates of occupancy are not required for a single-family dwelling unless a local ordinance requires them; McLean County's local requirement is therefore the controlling starting point here.10

Kentucky uses a mandatory statewide residential code for single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings and townhouses, with Kentucky amendments superseding conflicting provisions of the underlying residential code; the 2018 Kentucky Residential Code, Second Edition, was adopted in 2019.11 A building permit is not the only approval a project may need: plumbing work requires a plumbing construction permit, and a project in an identified floodplain requires both state and local floodplain permits.712

Who handles McLean County building permits and inspections?

Start with the McLean County Planning and Zoning Commission for the building-permit application, zoning ordinance and zoning maps; the county page lists the commission at the courthouse and gives its permit contact number.13 The application decision should come before construction scheduling because Kentucky's statewide code makes the local ordinance decisive for permits on a single-family dwelling.10

Separate technical inspections may involve state or trade inspectors. The county maintains a County Inspectors page covering building, electrical, manufactured-housing, HVAC, plumbing and environmental-health contacts.14 Plumbing construction or alteration requires a Division of Plumbing permit, which may be issued to a licensed master plumber or to a homeowner working on the homeowner's own personal residence.7 Ask Planning and Zoning which inspections and certificate-of-occupancy steps attach to the exact structure and parcel before hiring trades.

Does McLean County, Kentucky have zoning?

McLean County has adopted zoning administered through its Planning and Zoning Commission.2 The county publishes zoning maps and directs permit applicants through the Planning and Zoning Commission.13 McLean County's official land-use map shows six zoning categories, agricultural, commercial, industrial, residential, residential-1 and residential-2, and separately marks city limits515. The map covers the county, not just one town, so the first question for any parcel is which category it falls in and whether it sits inside a city16.

Get the parcel's mapped classification before assuming a home, accessory structure or business use is allowed. We could not confirm countywide rules for setbacks, minimum lot size, minimum dwelling size, lot coverage or building height. The same gap applies to a county-specific agricultural exemption from building or zoning rules. Ask Planning and Zoning for the provisions tied to the parcel's district and whether an incorporated city's rules apply at the address. Kentucky law also requires planning-commission approval before land is subdivided within a planning-unit jurisdiction.17 Kentucky also bars local zoning from excluding a qualified manufactured home, at least 20 feet wide with at least 900 square feet of living area and no more than 5 years old at installation, from a residential zone where single-family houses are allowed18.

How do septic permits work in McLean County?

Green River District Health Department serves McLean County for onsite sewage work, including site evaluations and construction permits.3 The county's environmental-health contact is listed through the McLean County Health Department.14 Kentucky requires a permit before any portion of an onsite sewage system is constructed, installed or altered, and the permit follows a site evaluation.4 Every onsite system that is installed, constructed, altered or repaired must be inspected by a certified inspector.6

Soil is a serious due-diligence issue here: only about 4.7% of mapped soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field.19 That does not decide whether a particular tract will pass, but it makes an early site evaluation especially valuable before choosing a house location. Where sewer is unavailable, Kentucky plumbing rules require the building drain to connect to an approved private sewage-disposal system.20

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

We could not confirm a McLean County rule that allows long-term RV occupancy on private land, so do not treat the absence of a located rule as permission. Ask the McLean County Planning and Zoning Commission whether the parcel's district permits RV occupancy, temporary camping, a tiny home or an accessory dwelling, and what building, sanitation and utility approvals apply.13

Kentucky's rule allowing someone to sleep temporarily in a lawfully parked vehicle on a public road, street or parking lot for less than 12 hours does not authorize long-term RV living on private property.21 A tiny home used as a dwelling still encounters the statewide residential-code framework, while McLean County's specific minimum-size and tiny-home occupancy rules remain unconfirmed.11 If public sewer is unavailable, a dwelling's drain must connect to an approved private sewage system; this is not permission to use an unreviewed off-grid sanitation method.22

Building a home in McLean County: what are the steps?

  1. Ask the McLean County Planning and Zoning Commission to identify the parcel's zoning district, allowed residential use and applicable dimensional rules.213
  2. Submit the county building-permit application and confirm which building, electrical, HVAC, plumbing and occupancy inspections apply.113
  3. Request the onsite sewage site evaluation through the local health department before fixing the house and drain-field locations.3
  4. Obtain the septic construction permit before any part of the system is built, then arrange inspection before backfilling.46
  5. Obtain the plumbing construction permit before plumbing work begins.7
  6. If the driveway meets a state highway, submit a written driveway application to the Department of Highways district engineer.23
  7. If any development lies in an identified floodplain, secure both state and local floodplain permits before work.12

What should you check before buying land in McLean County?

Confirm zoning, permitted use and buildability with the McLean County Planning and Zoning Commission before closing.213 Make the septic evaluation an early contingency because about 4.7% of mapped soils lack severe conventional-drain-field limitations.19 Check the proposed house, driveway and septic locations against the floodplain; identified floodplain development needs both state and local permits.12

For water, Kentucky does not require the property owner to obtain a permit or pay a fee to construct or abandon a private well, but the work must be performed by a Kentucky-certified water-well driller.8 For access onto a state highway, a new farm or single-family driveway requires a written application to the Department of Highways district engineer.23 As a cost baseline rather than a quote for a specific parcel, the county's effective property-tax rate is about 0.7% and the median annual property-tax bill is about $984.2425

Watch-outs

  • Do not assume one category applies across a whole road or neighborhood; confirm the parcel's own classification on the county land-use map with Planning and Zoning.513
  • Only about 4.7% of mapped soils lack severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so obtain the health department's site evaluation before committing to a house location.193
  • A mapped floodplain project needs both a Kentucky permit and a local floodplain permit before development.12
  • Long-term RV living, tiny-home occupancy, setbacks and minimum dwelling size were not confirmed; ask Planning and Zoning about the exact parcel before buying.13

Sources

  1. McLean County KY - Building Permit Application (2026 county census)
  2. Land Use Map McLean County Zoning (2026 county census)
  3. Green River District Health Department - Onsite Sewage (Septic Systems) (2026 county census)
  4. 902 KAR 10:110. Issuance of on-site sewage disposal system permits (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  5. Land Use Map McLean County Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  6. 902 KAR 10:085. System Installation Inspection (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Division of Plumbing Fee Change and Permit Information (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Water Well Information for Home Owners, quoted and re-checked
  9. 401 KAR 6:320. Certification of water well drillers and water well driller assistants (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. 815 KAR 7:125, Kentucky Residential Code (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Division of Building Code Enforcement, quoted and re-checked
  12. Find Your Flood Zone (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. McLean County Planning and Zoning Commission (mcleancounty.ky.gov)
  14. McLean County Health Department (mcleancounty.ky.gov)
  15. Land Use Map — McLean County Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  16. Land Use Map McLean County Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  17. KRS 100.277 — Commission approval required for subdivisions (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. KRS 100.348 — Compatibility standards for manufactured homes, quoted and re-checked
  19. 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
  20. 815 KAR 20:130. House sewers and storm water piping; methods of installation (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. KRS 511.110 — Unlawful camping (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. 815 KAR 20:130. House sewers and storm water piping; methods of installation (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. 603 KAR 1:020 Driveway approaches, entrances; construction and maintenance (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 10, 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 3 of the 5 neighbors with published rules, McLean County has countywide zoning.

RuleMcLean CountyDaviess CountyMuhlenberg CountyOhio CountyWebster CountyHopkins CountyHenderson County
Building permitRequiredRequiredLimitedNot requiredNot requiredRequiredRequired
County zoningYesYesNoNoNoNot publishedYes
Septic permitsGreen River District Health Dept.Green River District Health Dept.County Health Dept.Green River District Health Dept.Green River District Health Dept.County Health Dept.Green River District Health Dept.

County locator

McLean County in Kentucky

57
County map
McLean County highlighted among the Kentucky counties · colored by Index score

How McLean County scores

Seclusion44100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency65100% ev.
Admin Boringness4390% ev.
Durability53100% ev.
Property Autonomy33100% ev.
Carry Cost82100% 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 →

$155kTypical home
0.7%Property tax
$5,794Land / acre
47.9"Annual rain
4.9% of yrsSevere drought
12.5 / yr (+11.6)Mid-century 100°F days
15.4 daysMid-century dry spell
2.27" (+6.8%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.78×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,519Home insurance / yr
0.9% / yrInsurance growth
0%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
25,525People within 30 min
1,917,769People within 2 hr
33,194Radius comparison (15 mi)
35.9People / sq mi
0.3%Federal land
77%Land at 15% slope or less
4.7%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
7,267 acWorkable land screen
18.9%Wooded land
44.6 tonsBiomass / forest ac
57.6°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in McLean 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.

Calhoun · Island · Livermore · Sacramento

Answers from the rulebook for McLean County

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

McLean County rules

  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    McLean County land-use zoning shown on the county's official Land Use Map.

    • The map identifies agricultural, commercial, industrial, residential, residential-1, and residential-2 zoning categories and separately depicts city limits.
    • The source map is dated 2/21/2023; it does not state an effective or adoption date.
    “Date:2/21/2023 µ LandUseMap McLeanCounty Zoning AGRICULTURAL COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL-1 RESIDENTIAL-2 CityLimits 012Miles”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Present (with conditions) — County zoning shown on the official McLean County land-use map.
      “LandUseMap McLeanCounty Zoning AGRICULTURAL COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL-1 RESIDENTIAL-2 CityLimits”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Local zoning regulation represented across McLean County by the official county land-use map.

    • The map displays multiple county zoning categories and city limits; parcel-specific applicability and municipal boundaries require consulting the map and applicable local ordinances.
    • The source map is dated 2/21/2023; it does not state an effective or adoption date.
    “Date:2/21/2023 µ LandUseMap McLeanCounty Zoning AGRICULTURAL COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL-1 RESIDENTIAL-2 CityLimits 012Miles”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Present (with conditions) — The McLean County official land-use map for Island, Kentucky, which displays zoning categories.
      “Land Use Map Island, KY Zoning AGRICULTURAL COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL-1 RESIDENTIAL-2 Parcels City Limits”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts shown on McLean County's official land-use map.

    • The map is dated February 21, 2023.
    • The map identifies Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Residential-1, and Residential-2 categories and city limits.
    “LandUseMap McLeanCounty Zoning AGRICULTURAL COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL-1 RESIDENTIAL-2 CityLimits”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Travel-trailer parks and campground sites in McLean County agricultural districts.

    • The use is limited to travel-trailer parks and/or campground sites.
    • The use requires approval as a special exception in an agricultural district.
    • The provision does not establish permission for unrestricted long-term occupancy of an individual recreational vehicle on private land.
    “Travel-trailer parks and/or campground sites may also be established in an agricultural district as a special exception.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction, installation, or alteration of an onsite sewage disposal system in McLean County.

    • A permit must be obtained from the local health department before construction, installation, or alteration.
    • The permit is issued to a certified installer or qualifying homeowner under 902 KAR 10:110.
    • The state regulation provides a $50 onsite sewage disposal permit fee plus any fee established by the local board of health.

    state onsite sewage permit fee: 50 USD (plus required fee established by the local board of health)

    “KRS 211.350 provides that no person, firm, or corporation shall construct, install, alter or cause to be constructed, installed, or altered any on-site sewage disposal system subject to administrative regulation by the cabinet without having first obtained an on-site sewage disposal permit from the local health department.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Every onsite sewage disposal system installed, constructed, altered, or repaired in McLean County.

    • Inspection must be performed by a certified inspector.
    • The regulation also provides an installer-affidavit alternative to an initial inspection in the stated procedure.
    “Every on-site sewage disposal system installed, constructed, altered, or repaired shall be inspected by a certified inspector.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Residential building permits under McLean County Chapter 153.

    • The schedule states that the listed fees became effective January 1, 2022.
    • The residential fee is calculated by constructed square footage and capped at $250.
    • For a disapproved permit request, the fee is returned except for a $10 minimum handling-paperwork charge.
    • A certificate-of-occupancy fee is included in the building-permit cost.

    residential building permit fee: per 0.13 USD per square foot constructed (maximum fee of $250)

    “Residential | $0.13 per each square foot constructed with a maximum fee of $250”

Kentucky rules that apply here

  • Building permitNot required (with conditions)

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

    • A local ordinance may independently require a permit.
    • The 2015 International Residential Code and 2018 Kentucky Residential Code apply to the covered residential construction.
    • This claim does not determine municipal or county permit ordinances.
    “Permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy shall not be required for a single-family dwelling unless required by local ordinance.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Single-family dwellings constructed in McLean County 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

    A homeowner personally performing plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in a home occupied by the homeowner or constructed by the homeowner for the homeowner's own personal residential use; this source addresses plumbing permits and does not establish a general structural-building permit exemption.

    • The permit application must be made before work begins.
    • The homeowner must file an affidavit agreeing to comply with the section.
    • All work must comply with 815 KAR Chapter 20.
    • All work must be personally performed by the homeowner.
    • The homeowner must not have obtained another homeowner permit for construction of a new home within the previous five years.
    • A plumbing permit is still required for covered new plumbing installations, house sewers, water services, backflow-prevention devices, and water heaters.

    prior homeowner new-home permit lookback: 5 years

    “A homeowner who wishes to construct, install, or alter plumbing, sewerage, or drainage [...] All work shall be personally performed by the homeowner;”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Conditional — An individual property owner performing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on property the individual owns and occupies.
      “KRS 198B.650 to 198B.689 shall not apply to: [...] (3) An individual owner of real property while practicing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work on or within property owned and occupied by the individual;”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

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

    • The 2015 International Building Code is the mandatory state building code for buildings constructed in Kentucky, subject to Kentucky amendments in the 2018 Kentucky Building Code.
    • One-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, and townhouses are governed by 815 KAR 7:125 and the 2015 International Residential Code with Kentucky amendments in the 2018 Kentucky Residential Code.
    • Permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy are not required for a single-family dwelling unless required by local ordinance.
    • Residential occupancies that are not single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, or townhouses must comply with the 2015 International Building Code and the 2018 Kentucky Building Code.
    • Manufactured homes are governed by KRS 227.550 through 227.665.

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

    “Building Code. The 2015 International Building shall be the mandatory state building code for all buildings constructed in Kentucky except that: (1) The Kentucky amendments in the 2018 Kentucky Building Code shall supersede any conflicting provision in the 2015 International Building Code; (2) One (1) family dwellings, two (2) family dwellings, and townhouses shall be governed by 815 KAR 7:125; and (3) Manufactured homes shall be governed by KRS 227.550 through 227.665.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted — Kentucky building and residential codes applicable in McLean 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.”
  • InspectionsNot required (with conditions)

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

    • A local ordinance may independently require inspections.
    • This claim does not determine municipal or county inspection ordinances.
    “Permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy shall not be required for a single-family dwelling unless required by local ordinance.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Single-family dwellings constructed in McLean County.
      “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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Single-family dwellings constructed in McLean County.
      “Permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy shall not be required for a single-family dwelling unless required by local ordinance.”
  • 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.”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Placement of qualified manufactured homes in residential zones in McLean County and statewide Kentucky where single-family residences are permitted

    • The home must be a qualified manufactured home under KRS 100.348.
    • A qualified manufactured home must be manufactured no more than five years before installation, have transport-only parts removed, be affixed to a permanent foundation, be connected to appropriate facilities, comply with KRS 227.570, be at least 20 feet wide or two stories with its main entrance facing the street, and have at least 900 square feet of total living area.
    • Local governments may adopt compatibility standards in residential zones, but those standards must be equivalent to and no more stringent than standards applied to other single-family residential structures in the same zone.
    • Compatibility standards may address roof pitch, livable square footage, exterior finishing materials, foundation skirting, attached structures, and setbacks, lot dimensions, and orientation; setback, lot-dimension, and orientation standards may not be stricter than those for site-built homes in the same zone.
    • A home below the 20-foot width or 900-square-foot threshold may qualify if the lot cannot reasonably accommodate those dimensions, the home is the maximum width and square footage that can reasonably fit while complying with applicable requirements, and all other qualification requirements are met.
    • Recorded deeds, covenants, developers' subdivision restrictions, and historic-property or historic-district regulations are not affected.

    minimum width: >= 20 feet (A two-story home may qualify instead if oriented with its main entrance facing the street.) · minimum total living area: >= 900 square feet (The lot-size exception in subsection (5) may apply.) · maximum age at installation: <= 5 years (Measured from manufacture date to installation date.) · compatibility comparison radius: <= 1/8 mile (Assessed-value compatibility with existing housing.)

    “Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, a local government shall not adopt or enforce any zoning regulation, ordinance, or other requirement that: (a) Excludes qualified manufactured homes from any residential zone where single-family residences are permitted;”
  • 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.”
  • Who permits septicMixed

    Statewide onsite sewage disposal systems in Kentucky.

    • The statewide program is administered through local health departments.
    • Local health department onsite septic inspectors perform site evaluations and inspections.
    • A homeowner installing their own system must obtain a homeowner’s permit through the local health department.
    “The Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems Program is administered through local health departments”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Local (with conditions) — Onsite sewage administration in Kentucky, including the local health department serving McLean County.
      “The Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems Program is administered through local health departments and begins with the use of onsite evaluations to determine if site and soil conditions are suitable for onsite wastewater systems.”
    • Mixed — Kentucky's statewide onsite sewage disposal program and its administration through local health departments.
      “The Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems Program is administered through local health departments”
  • 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 or abandonment of a private water well in McLean County by the property owner.
      “In Kentucky, there are no permitting applications or fees for constructing or abandoning a water well required of the property owner.”
    • Limited — Construction, alteration, repair, or abandonment of water supply wells in Kentucky.
      “A person shall not construct, alter, repair, or abandon a water well without first obtaining a water well driller or water well driller assistant certificate”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Buildings subject to the Kentucky State Plumbing Code.

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

    Agritourism buildings subject to the Kentucky Building Code.

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

    construction date threshold: < December 31, 2016 · building capacity threshold: <= 400 persons (The statute states "has a capacity of four hundred (400) persons or is six thousand (6,000) square feet or less.") · building area threshold: <= 6000 square feet (The statute states "has a capacity of four hundred (400) persons or is six thousand (6,000) square feet or less.")

    “An agritourism building built prior to December 31, 2016, shall be exempt from the following requirements within the Kentucky Building Code: (a) An agritourism building built prior to December 31, 2016, shall not be required to comply with the seismic requirements within the Kentucky Building Code; and (b) If an agritourism building has a capacity of four hundred (400) persons or is six thousand (6,000) square feet or less, an agritourism building built prior to December 31, 2016, shall not require the services of an architect licensed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Conditional — Division of land for agricultural use under Kentucky subdivision law.
      “provided that a division of land for agricultural use and not involving a new street shall not be deemed a subdivision.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land within a Kentucky planning-unit jurisdiction.

    • All subdivision of land must receive planning-commission approval.
    • A person may not subdivide land before securing approval of a planning-commission plat.
    • A subdivision plat may not be recorded by the county clerk until commission approval is entered on the plat.
    • The statute's agricultural-use exception is addressed separately in KRS 100.111(22).
    “All subdivision of land shall receive commission approval. No person or his agent shall subdivide any land before securing the approval of the planning commission of a plat designating the areas to be subdivided, and no plat of a subdivision of land within the planning unit jurisdiction shall be recorded by the county clerk until the plat has been approved by the commission and the approval entered thereon in writing by the chairman, secretary, or other duly authorized officer of the commission.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

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

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

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

    “The owner or occupant of property, who desires to construct new or additional private farm or single family dwelling driveway approaches, shall make formal application in writing, to the District Engineer of the Department of Highways.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — New, additional, relocated, or modified driveway entrance approaches serving commercial property or property used for a purpose other than farming or a single-family dwelling.
      “The owner or occupant of property, used for commercial or any purpose other than farming or single family dwelling, who desires to construct new or additional driveway entrance approaches, to relocate, or make other changes in existing driveway entrance approaches thereto, shall make application for a permit to the District Engineer of the Department of Highways upon standard forms furnished by the Transportation Cabinet.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    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, or renovation within a floodplain in McLean 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 processPublished (with conditions)

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

    • A plumbing construction permit must be obtained before construction, installation, or alteration.
    • Permits may be issued to licensed master plumbers or homeowners for plumbing in their own personal residences.
    • Work performed by someone other than a homeowner using the homeowner's own permit must be installed by a licensed journeyman plumber under the supervision of a licensed master plumber.
    • The Division reviews plans for construction on all buildings serving the public and inspects installations for compliance with the Kentucky State Plumbing Code.
    “No person, firm or corporation shall construct, install or alter any plumbing without first having procured a plumbing construction permit from the Division of Plumbing. Plumbing permits may be issued to licensed master plumbers or to homeowners for plumbing in their own personal residences.”
  • 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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Temporary only (with conditions) — Recreational vehicle communities available to the public and containing two or more RV spaces.
      “A recreational vehicle community is defined as a parcel of land available to the public containing two or more spaces occupied or intended to be occupied by recreational vehicles for transient dwelling purposes and including any service building, structure, enclosure or other facility used as a part of the community.”
  • 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.

  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size requirements in McLean County, including unincorporated areas.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot-area requirements in McLean County, including unincorporated areas.
  • Setbacks — Required residential setbacks in McLean County, including unincorporated areas.
  • Lot coverage — Lot-coverage standards in McLean County.
  • Building height — Building-height standards in McLean County.
2 more unanswered
  • Tiny 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 McLean County, Kentucky

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

McLean County scores 57/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and strong self-sufficiency basics: 47.9″/yr rainfall with little drought. Watch-outs: a weaker property-autonomy legal backdrop.

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

McLean County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Green River District Health Department. Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in McLean County, Kentucky?

Land in McLean County runs about $5,794 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in McLean County?

McLean County gets about 47.9" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 4.9% of years.

How remote is McLean County?

A representative private-land location has about 25,525 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,917,769 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 McLean compares in Kentucky

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