Bolthole Index

Menifee County, Kentucky

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

70Index Score / 100
#24 of 120 in Kentucky

Menifee County, Kentucky has no local building inspector, and commercial building permits go through the state Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction1. A single-family permit, inspection or certificate of occupancy is required only if a local ordinance requires it, but the Kentucky Residential Code still applies23. We could not confirm such a Menifee County ordinance, so ask the Judge Executive's Office before building45.

At a glance

Building permit
No local inspector; single-family permits are required only if a local ordinance requires them12
Building code
The Kentucky Residential Code applies even without a local inspection program36
Zoning
No zoning is indicated, but we could not confirm an explicit ordinance or official no-zoning statement7
Septic permit
Required after a site evaluation through Gateway District Health Department89
RV or tiny home
Long-term private-land occupancy rules could not be confirmed7
Private well
Use a state-certified water-well driller; no separate ordinary owner permit was established10
Floodplain development
Development in an identified floodplain needs both a state and a local floodplain permit1112

Who to call

Also useful

Menifee County Judge Executive's Office

General county-government questions, including whether the Fiscal Court has adopted a local building, zoning or floodplain rule

(606) 768-3482

12 Main Street, P.O. Box 105, Frenchburg, KY 40322

Building permits

Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction

State review and approval for construction covered by state jurisdiction where there is no local inspection program

500 Mero Street, Frankfort, KY 40601

Septic permits

Gateway District Health Department, Menifee County Health Department

Local contact for onsite sewage site evaluations, permits and inspections

606-768-2151

1919 Main Street, Frenchburg, KY

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 9, 2026.

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

Menifee County has no local building inspector, and the state directs commercial construction to the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction for building permits1. For a single-family dwelling, permits, inspections and certificates of occupancy are required only when a local ordinance requires them2. We could not confirm a Menifee County ordinance imposing those requirements, so verify the current position with the Judge Executive's Office45.

The absence of local structural inspection does not waive the construction standard: the Kentucky Residential Code applies to single-family homes3. Menifee County lists no local building inspector; where no local single-family inspection program exists, structural inspections do not occur, but state HVAC and local electrical inspections still do6. Commercial and other covered work must be submitted for state review before construction begins where no local program exists13. Kentucky law also lets the Menifee County Fiscal Court adopt a building-permit order, which is why the Judge Executive's Office is the right first call14.

Who issues building permits in Menifee County, Kentucky?

The Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction is the permitting contact for commercial construction in Menifee County because the county profile lists no local building inspector1. The state says covered construction other than single-family dwellings must be submitted to its Division of Building Codes Enforcement for review and approval before work starts when a jurisdiction lacks a local inspection program13.

For a proposed house, call the Menifee County Judge Executive's Office at (606) 768-3482 or visit 12 Main Street, P.O. Box 105, Frenchburg, KY 403225. Ask whether the Fiscal Court has adopted a local permit, inspection or certificate-of-occupancy ordinance4. A homeowner may personally perform permitted plumbing, sewerage or drainage work in a home occupied or built for the homeowner's own use, but must apply before work begins and follow the state plumbing code15. Residential plumbing permits carry a $50 base fee plus $14 per opening16.

Does Menifee County, Kentucky have zoning?

Available county information indicates that Menifee County has no zoning, based on the official county office roster and the absence of a planning, zoning or code-enforcement office7. That evidence is not the same as an explicit official statement that no zoning ordinance exists, and we could not confirm a county zoning ordinance or a formal no-zoning declaration. Ask the Judge Executive's Office whether the parcel is subject to any county or City of Frenchburg land-use rule before purchase5.

Kentucky gives counties general authority to adopt permanent zoning after required comprehensive-plan elements are in place, so the legal power to zone does not prove that Menifee County has exercised it17. We also could not confirm countywide rules for minimum dwelling size, minimum lot size, setbacks, lot coverage or building height. Do not treat the lack of a published zoning office as proof that a specific parcel has no restrictions7.

How do septic permits work in Menifee County?

Gateway District Health Department administers onsite sewage disposal in Menifee County8. Contact the Menifee County Health Department at 606-768-2151 or 1919 Main Street, Frenchburg, KY18. The health department evaluates the site first, and an onsite sewage permit is required before construction, installation or alteration; a homeowner installing the system must obtain a homeowner permit9. The system also requires inspection19.

Site feasibility deserves attention early: only 1.6% of Menifee County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, and 21.6% of county land has a slope of 15% or less2021. Those countywide measures do not decide an individual parcel, but they support making the health department's site evaluation an early purchase contingency. Where sewer is unavailable, the house drain must connect to an approved private sewage-disposal system22.

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

We could not confirm a Menifee County rule that allows or prohibits long-term RV living, temporary camping on private land, or tiny-home occupancy. Available county information indicates no county zoning, but it does not explicitly resolve RV or tiny-home use7. Ask the Judge Executive's Office about the parcel and ask Gateway District Health Department what approved sewage system the proposed occupancy would require51823.

Kentucky's rule allowing temporary sleep in a lawfully parked vehicle on a public road, street or parking lot for less than 12 hours does not establish a right to live in an RV on private land24. A tiny home used as a dwelling remains subject to applicable residential construction standards even where Menifee County does not conduct local structural inspections25. We also could not confirm a county minimum home size or manufactured-home occupancy rule.

Building a home in Menifee County: the steps, in order

  1. Call the Judge Executive's Office to ask whether a local home permit or zoning rule applies to the parcel547.
  2. Have Gateway District Health Department evaluate the site and issue the septic construction permit before onsite-system work begins189.
  3. Design and build the house to the Kentucky Residential Code even if there is no local structural inspection program36.
  4. Obtain the plumbing permit before plumbing construction, installation or alteration; an eligible homeowner may apply to do the work personally15.
  5. Use a Kentucky-certified driller for any water-supply well10.
  6. Check the flood map; development in an identified floodplain needs both a state and a local floodplain permit, so ask the Judge Executive's Office for the county floodplain coordinator115.
  7. Before adding a driveway onto a state highway, apply in writing to the Kentucky Department of Highways District Engineer; local-road requirements could not be confirmed2627.
  8. Before dividing the land, ask the Judge Executive's Office whether a planning commission covers Menifee County; where one does, a subdivision needs its plat approval, with an exception for agricultural-use divisions that add no new street28295.

What should you check before buying land in Menifee County?

Start with septic feasibility and usable terrain: 1.6% of county soils are rated without severe conventional drain-field limits, while 21.6% of the land has a slope of 15% or less2021. Get a parcel-specific site evaluation from Gateway District Health Department rather than inferring buildability from a listing18.

Check the flood map: Kentucky requires both a state and a local floodplain permit for development in an identified floodplain, and any development in, along or across a stream needs a state permit1112. Ask the Judge Executive's Office for the county floodplain coordinator5. Confirm legal access and determine whether the road is state-maintained before planning a driveway; access to a state highway or work in its right-of-way requires a Kentucky Transportation Cabinet permit, while local-road requirements could not be confirmed27. Federal land covers 33.9% of Menifee County30. The effective property-tax rate is about 0.5%, and the median annual property-tax bill is $5583132.

Watch-outs

  • Menifee County has no local building inspector, but the Kentucky Residential Code still applies and mechanical and electrical inspections remain part of the process36.
  • Only 1.6% of Menifee County soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field, so complete a site evaluation before committing to a homesite2018.
  • Long-term RV living, tiny-home occupancy, minimum dwelling size and county setbacks could not be confirmed; ask the Judge Executive's Office about the exact parcel75.
  • Development in an identified Menifee County floodplain needs a state and a local floodplain permit, so confirm the flood zone before you commit to a building site11.

Sources

  1. Menifee County building inspection contacts, quoted and re-checked
  2. Menifee County building-code contacts, quoted and re-checked
  3. Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction — Building Codes, quoted and re-checked
  4. Menifee County building inspection contacts (2026 county census)
  5. Menifee County Judge Executive's Office (menifeecounty.ky.gov)
  6. Menifee County building inspection contacts, quoted and re-checked
  7. Menifee County official government site (2026 county census)
  8. Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems Program, quoted and re-checked
  9. Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems Program, 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, quoted and re-checked
  12. Environmental Permitting in Kentucky, quoted and re-checked
  13. Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (dhbc.ky.gov)
  14. KRS 67.380 — Authority of fiscal court to regulate construction of buildings (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Frequently Asked Questions (Plumbing), quoted and re-checked
  16. Division of Plumbing, quoted and re-checked
  17. KRS 100.201 — Interim and permanent land use regulations authorized (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Gateway District Health Department, Menifee County Health Department (gdhd.org)
  19. Environmental Compliance FAQs - Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, quoted and re-checked
  20. 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
  21. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  22. 815 KAR 20:130. House sewers and storm water piping; methods of installation (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. 815 KAR 20:130. House sewers and storm water piping; methods of installation (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. KRS 511.110 — Unlawful camping (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. Menifee County building inspection contacts, quoted and re-checked
  26. 603 KAR 1:020 Driveway approaches, entrances; construction and maintenance (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. Permits Branch, quoted and re-checked
  28. KRS 100.277 — Commission approval required for subdivisions (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  29. KRS 100.111 — Definitions for chapter (Kentucky statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  30. Federal land share: Bolthole Index county data
  31. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  32. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 9, 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, Menifee County requires a building permit only in limited cases.

RuleMenifee CountyWolfe CountyPowell CountyBath CountyMontgomery CountyRowan CountyMorgan County
Building permitLimitedLimitedNot requiredLimitedNot requiredRequiredNot required
County zoningNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Septic permitsGateway District Health Dept.KY River District Health Dept.County Health Dept.Gateway District Health Dept.County Health Dept.Gateway District Health Dept.County Health Dept.

County locator

Menifee County in Kentucky

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

How Menifee County scores

Seclusion69100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency56100% ev.
Admin Boringness6890% ev.
Durability62100% ev.
Property Autonomy33100% ev.
Carry Cost89100% 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 →

$130kTypical home
0.5%Property tax
$2,876Land / acre
50.3"Annual rain
0.8% of yrsSevere drought
4.7 / yr (+4.5)Mid-century 100°F days
11.8 daysMid-century dry spell
1.93" (+10.1%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.85×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,385Home insurance / yr
0.2% / yrInsurance growth
0.83%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
9,911People within 30 min
1,688,702People within 2 hr
32,219Radius comparison (15 mi)
30.9People / sq mi
33.9%Federal land
21.6%Land at 15% slope or less
1.6%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
1,908 acWorkable land screen
85.4%Wooded land
80.9 tonsBiomass / forest ac
55.3°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Menifee 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.

Frenchburg

Answers from the rulebook for Menifee County

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

Menifee County rules

  • Building permitLimited

    Building permits and local building-permit administration in Menifee County.

    • The official Menifee County contact sheet states that there is no local building inspector.
    • For commercial construction, contact the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction for building permits.
    • Single-family builders must still meet the Kentucky Residential Code even where no local single-family inspection program exists.
    “Local Building Inspector: None/ For Commercial construction Contact Dept. Housing, Buildings Construction for building permits”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Single-family residential building inspections in Menifee County.

    • No local building inspector is listed for Menifee County.
    • Where no local single-family inspection program exists, there are no building inspections except mechanical systems inspected by Kentucky HVAC and the local county electrical inspector.
    “For those counties or cities that do not have a single-family inspection program, the builder is still required to meet the KRC, but there will not be any building inspections except for the mechanical systems, which will be inspected by the Kentucky Division of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and by the local county electrical inspector.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Single-family construction in Menifee County, based on the state page's rule for counties without a single-family inspection program.
      “For those counties or cities that do not have a single-family inspection program, the builder is still required to meet the KRC, but there will not be any building inspections except for the mechanical systems, which will be inspected by the Kentucky Division of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and by the local county electrical inspector.”
  • Who permits septicLocal

    Onsite sewage disposal administration for Menifee County through the Gateway District Health Department and its Menifee County Health Department office.

    • The Kentucky program is administered through local health departments.
    • The Gateway District Health Department lists a Menifee County Health Department office at 1919 Main Street, Frenchburg.
    “Our environmental health efforts aim to protect community well-being by overseeing food service safety, regulating septic system compliance, and promoting radon testing in homes and workplaces.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Local — Onsite sewage disposal systems in Menifee County, which is served by Gateway District Health Department.
      “Gateway District Health Department - serving Bath, Menifee, Morgan and Rowan counties”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Onsite sewage systems in Menifee County.

    • A homeowner installing their own system must obtain a homeowner’s permit through the local health department.
    • A certified Kentucky onsite septic installer must install the system based on the site evaluation.
    “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.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building-permit process in Menifee County.

    • The official county contact sheet directs commercial construction permit questions to the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction.
    • No complete Menifee-specific residential permit workflow was located.
    “Local Building Inspector: None/ For Commercial construction Contact Dept. Housing, Buildings Construction for building permits”
  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    The official Menifee County offices roster lists no planning, zoning, or code-enforcement office, consistent with a rural fiscal court that has not adopted countywide zoning under KRS Chapter 100.

    Menifee County official government site ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Kentucky rules that apply here

  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Owner-performed plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in a personal residence in Menifee County under Kentucky statewide plumbing rules.

    • The home must be actually occupied by the homeowner or constructed by the homeowner for the homeowner's own personal residential use.
    • Application must be made before work begins.
    • The homeowner must file an affidavit agreeing to abide by the applicable requirements.
    • All work must comply with the state plumbing code.
    • All work must be personally performed by the owner.
    • Only one homeowner permit for construction of a new home may be issued to an individual in a five-year period.

    new-home homeowner permits: per 1 permit per individual per five years

    “Permits to construct, install or alter plumbing, sewerage or drainage may be issued to homeowners”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Available (with conditions) — A homeowner personally performing plumbing, sewerage, or drainage work in a home actually occupied by the homeowner or in a home to be constructed for the homeowner's own personal residential use in Kentucky, including Menifee County.
      “All the work shall be personally performed by the owner.”
    • 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.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted — Kentucky building and residential code requirements applicable to construction in Menifee County.
      “The 2018 Kentucky Residential Code (KRC) went into effect Jan. 1, 2019. All single-family homes built in Kentucky will be reviewed and inspected by the local county or city building official if such an inspection program exists.”
    • Adopted — Kentucky residential construction, including single-family homes in Menifee County.
      “The 2018 Kentucky Residential Code (KRC) went into effect Jan. 1, 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 occupancyLimited

    Buildings in Menifee County subject to state building-code inspection and occupancy approval; detached one- and two-family dwellings are governed by local-ordinance provisions for permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy.

    • The Kentucky Building Code states that permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy for detached one- and two-family dwellings are required only as set forth in local ordinances.
    • For buildings inspected under the state code, the building official issues a certificate of occupancy after inspection finds no violations.
    “permits, inspections and certificates of occupancy are required only as set forth in local ordinances for single family dwellings per KRS 198B.060.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Not required (with conditions) — Single-family dwellings constructed in Kentucky under the Kentucky Residential Code.
      “Permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy shall not be required for a single-family dwelling unless required by local ordinance.”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

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

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

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

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

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

    “A person is guilty of unlawful camping when he or she knowingly enters or remains on a public or private street, sidewalk, area under a bridge or underpass, path, park, cemetery, or other area designated for use by pedestrians or vehicles, including areas used for ingress or egress to businesses, homes, or public buildings, with the intent to sleep or camp in that area, when the area has not been designated for the purpose of sleeping or camping or the individual lacks authorization to sleep or camp in the area.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — Temporary camping locations for unsheltered homeless individuals designated by local governments under Kentucky law.
      “A local government may designate indoor or outdoor areas with defined boundaries in an area zoned for commercial or industrial use, separate from any area frequently used for public purposes, as a temporary camping location for unsheltered homeless individuals.”
    • Limited — Temporary parking of recreational vehicles on public or private property associated with specified publicly announced events.
      “Nothing in KRS 219.310 to 219.410 shall be construed to apply to the temporary parking of recreational vehicles on public or private property, for not more than thirty (30) days, associated with festivals, fairs, sporting events, yard sales, or other publicly announced events.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

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

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

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

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

    Every Kentucky onsite sewage disposal system that is installed, constructed, altered, or repaired.

    • Inspection must be by a certified inspector.
    • The installer must request that the installation inspection be scheduled and completed before the system is backfilled.
    • An installer affidavit may substitute for an initial inspection in the circumstances specified by the regulation, but the installation inspection requirement remains applicable.
    • A variance may not waive site evaluation or system inspection.
    “Every on-site sewage disposal system installed, constructed, altered, or repaired shall be inspected by a certified inspector.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • 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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Buildings subject to the Kentucky State Plumbing Code.

    • A building must have an independent connection to either a public or private sewer or sewer system.
    • If a sewer is not available, the house drain must connect to an approved private sewage disposal system.
    • The cited rule does not establish a universal requirement to connect to public water service.
    “If a sewer is not available, the house drain from a building shall connect with an approved private sewage disposal system.”
  • 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.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Access to a state highway or work in a state-highway right-of-way serving property in Menifee County.
      “Any firm, individual, or governmental agency that wants access to a road on the state highway system or wants to conduct any type of work activity on the right-of-way, must obtain a permit from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.”
    • Required — New, additional, relocated, or modified driveway entrance approaches serving commercial property or property used for a purpose other than farming or a single-family dwelling.
      “The owner or occupant of property, used for commercial or any purpose other than farming or single family dwelling, who desires to construct new or additional driveway entrance approaches, to relocate, or make other changes in existing driveway entrance approaches thereto, shall make application for a permit to the District Engineer of the Department of Highways upon standard forms furnished by the Transportation Cabinet.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Construction, demolition, renovation, and other development in, along, or across streams or within floodplains in Menifee County, including unincorporated areas.

    • Kentucky law requires a state floodplain permit before starting construction, demolition, or renovation within a floodplain.
    • Any development in, along, or across a stream requires a floodplain permit from the Kentucky Division of Water.
    • Applicants may qualify for a general permit or must file an individual application.
    • The Floodplain General Permit covers eligible low-impact development that does not change the Base Flood Elevation and poses minimal flood-risk potential.
    • General permits do not cover new structures, water-impounding projects, or developments in protected waters; projects ineligible for a general permit or capable of changing the Base Flood Elevation require an individual permit.
    • Projects affecting streams or wetlands may also require a Water Quality Certification.
    • Many local governments mandate separate local permits; the Menifee-specific local floodplain ordinance or coordinator was not confirmed in the reviewed official sources.
    “Kentucky law (401 KAR 4:060​) requires a state floodplain permit before starting any construction, demolition, or renovation within a floodplain​.”
    4 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Development in an identified floodplain or in, along, or across a stream in Menifee County.
      “Any type of development in, along, or across a stream requires a floodplain permit from the Division. Typical activities requiring a permit include, but are not limited to, residential & commercial structures, stream crossings, fill, stream alterations & relocations, excavation, grading, and small stream impoundments.”
    • Limited — Development in an identified floodplain in Menifee County and elsewhere in Kentucky.
      “Any development in an identified floodplain in Kentucky requires a state and a local floodplain permit. ​Talk to your community's local floodplain coordinator about permits and about your local development requirements.”
    • Required — Any development in an identified floodplain in Menifee County, Kentucky.
      “Any development in an identified floodplain in Kentucky requires a state and a local floodplain permit.”
    • Required — Development in an identified Kentucky floodplain, including development in mapped A and AE zones.
      “Any development in an identified floodplain in Kentucky requires a state and a local floodplain permit.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Kentucky Division of Plumbing installation permits applicable to plumbing work in Menifee County.

    • The fee schedule is for plumbing installation permits administered by the Kentucky Division of Plumbing.
    • The page states the fee change is effective March 1, 2022.
    • Plumbing work generally requires a plumbing construction permit.
    • Residential one- and two-family fees differ from domestic-water-heater-only and commercial fees.

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

    “Residential (One and Two Family) Permits: $50 base permit fee, $14 per opening fee”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Published — Kentucky Division of Plumbing installation permits applicable to residential one- and two-family work in Menifee County.
      “Residential (One and Two Family) Permits: $50 base permit fee, $14 per opening fee”
    • Published (with conditions) — Kentucky state plumbing installation permits administered by the Division of Plumbing.
      “FEE CHANGE - Effective March 1, 2022, Plumbing installation permit fees will be as follows: Residential (One and Two Family) Permits: $50 base permit fee, $14 per opening fee Domestic Water Heater Only Permits: $50 Commercial Permits: $50 base permit fee; $20 per opening fee Medical Gas Piping Permits: $50 base permit fee; $20 per opening fee”
  • Campground & park staysTemporary only (with conditions)

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

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

    maximum sleeping and parking period: < 12 hours

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

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

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

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

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

    permit fee ceiling: <= cost of the service provided

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

Still unanswered

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

  • Local zoning — Aggregate local zoning status for Menifee County, including any municipal or other subordinate local rules.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size requirements in Menifee County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size requirements in Menifee County.
  • Setbacks — Building setbacks in Menifee County.
  • Lot coverage — Lot-coverage requirements in Menifee 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 Menifee County, Kentucky

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

Menifee County scores 70/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and sparse surroundings — about 9,911 people within a 30-minute drive. Watch-outs: a weaker property-autonomy legal backdrop.

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

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

Land in Menifee County runs about $2,876 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Menifee County?

Menifee County gets about 50.3" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 0.8% of years.

How remote is Menifee County?

A representative private-land location has about 9,911 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,688,702 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 Menifee compares in Kentucky

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