Renovation permits and contractor licences in Kentucky

Trades that need a licence in Kentucky

• General contracting and renovation

  The state department's own list of who it licenses runs to plumbers, electricians, boiler contractors, sprinkler and fire alarm contractors and building inspectors. A general contractor or remodeler is not on that list, so on a general renovation there is no state licence to look up. Ask your city or county instead: Lexington requires every contractor to register, and unregistered contractors cannot obtain building permits there.

  Sources:Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction⁠(opens in a new tab)Lexington – Building Inspection⁠(opens in a new tab)

• Plumbing

  All plumbing work other than work a homeowner does under their own permit must be installed by a licensed journeyman plumber under the supervision of a licensed master plumber. Plumbing permits are issued to licensed master plumbers, or to homeowners for plumbing in their own personal residence, so ask which of those applies to your job.

  Sources:Kentucky Division of Plumbing⁠(opens in a new tab)

• Electrical work

  The Electrical Division licenses electricians and electrical contractors, certifies electrical inspectors and runs education in the administration and enforcement of electrical codes and standards. It also inspects state-owned and state-leased buildings, so a state electrical inspection is not the same thing as your local one.

  Sources:Kentucky Electrical Division⁠(opens in a new tab)

• Certified trades

  Heating and air conditioning contractors have needed a Kentucky licence since July 1995, and the HVAC division has run the statewide HVAC permitting and inspection program for residential and commercial construction since 2011. That means the HVAC permit on your job may be a state one even where the building permit is local.

  Sources:Kentucky Division of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning⁠(opens in a new tab)

• Consumer protection

  Zoning is a local issue in Kentucky and the requirements vary substantially from place to place, so the state's own advice is to contact your local county clerk, city clerk or planning and zoning office. Do that before you commit to a design, not after the drawings are paid for.

  Sources:Kentucky Business One Stop – Building and zoning permits⁠(opens in a new tab)

Before you hire a contractor in Kentucky

Practical checks you can do yourself, using official tools where they exist.

1. 1

   Ask your city or county whether it registers contractors, since Kentucky has no state licence for general renovation work.

   Official lookup: Lexington – Building Inspection⁠(opens in a new tab)

2. 2

   For plumbing, confirm a licensed master plumber is behind the permit and a licensed journeyman is doing the work.

   Official lookup: Kentucky Division of Plumbing⁠(opens in a new tab)

3. 3

   For electrical work, check the contractor holds a licence from the state Electrical Division.

   Official lookup: Kentucky Electrical Division⁠(opens in a new tab)

4. 4

   For heating or cooling, confirm the HVAC licence and ask whether the permit and inspection come from the state division.

   Official lookup: Kentucky Division of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning⁠(opens in a new tab)

5. 5

   Check zoning with your local planning office before the design is finalized.

   Official lookup: Kentucky Business One Stop – Building and zoning permits⁠(opens in a new tab)

6. 6

   Get the scope, materials, price and dates in writing before work begins.