Administrative overview · FIPS 21049
Clark County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Clark County Planning/Building Inspection and Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction
For a project in or near Clark County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
859-494-3931
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Clark County Courthouse, 34 South Main Street, Winchester, KY 40391; building inspections are handled by Michael Barton, and the Winchester building office is at 32 Wall Street, Winchester, KY 40392.
Operating hours
Clark County Fiscal Court: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Winchester/Clark County building inspection office: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; plumbing inspection office Friday 8:00-9:30 a.m. EST.
Review expectation
N/A. No published Clark County plan-review turnaround time was found; inspections should be requested at least 24 hours in advance.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Clark County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Clark County Planning/Building Inspection and Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 859-494-3931.
How long might review take?
N/A. No published Clark County plan-review turnaround time was found; inspections should be requested at least 24 hours in advance.
How are inspections scheduled?
For Clark County and Winchester building inspections contact Michael Barton at 859-494-3931 or mbarton@lexingtonky.gov. Winchester’s building office schedules inspections at least 24 hours in advance by phone at 859-744-7019 or email inspections@winchesterky.com. State building inspector Alison Joyce is 859-658-4467 or alison.joyce@ky.gov. State manufactured-housing inspector Brandon Miller is 606-585-3168; electrical inspector Darryl Morgan is 859-473-5176; elevator inspector Dan Stifle is 606-748-9337; HVAC inspector Joey Pratt is 606-671-7130. Plumbing inspector Daniel Clem is 859-771-8018, with office hours Friday 8:00-9:30 a.m. EST at Clark County Health Department, 273 Shopper’s Drive, Winchester, 859-385-4453.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Clark County’s local building inspector includes the City of Winchester, with state inspection assigned for state-jurisdiction work. The county code adopts the Kentucky Building Code by reference; the applicable statewide framework is the 2018 Kentucky Building Code and 2018 Kentucky Residential Code, based on the 2015 IBC/IRC with Kentucky amendments. No newer 2026 code adoption was verified. A permit is required for construction, repair, movement, removal, or demolition of any building or structure; electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work require separate permits. County agricultural-property construction can qualify for the State Building Code agricultural exemption, except in floodplain areas, but a residence on agricultural land is not exempt. Clark County’s building office also states that permits are required for structures 200 square feet or larger and for parking lots or parking-lot changes; confirm any smaller or ordinary-maintenance exemption with the inspector.