Administrative overview · FIPS 21073
Franklin 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
Franklin County Planning, Zoning and Building Codes Department / Frankfort-Franklin County Planning Commission
For a project in or near Franklin 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
502-875-8751
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Franklin County Planning, Zoning and Building Codes Department, 321 West Main Street, Frankfort, KY 40601; Franklin County Health Department, 851 East West Connector, Frankfort, KY 40601.
Operating hours
Planning, Zoning and Building Codes Department: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. EST; plumbing inspection office: Wednesday and Friday, 8:00-9:30 a.m. EST.
Review expectation
N/A. No published Franklin County plan-review turnaround time was found.
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 Franklin County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Franklin County Planning, Zoning and Building Codes Department / Frankfort-Franklin County Planning Commission 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 502-875-8751.
How long might review take?
N/A. No published Franklin County plan-review turnaround time was found.
How are inspections scheduled?
Submit the completed application and two sets of building plans to the Planning and Zoning office. Call 502-875-8751 to schedule inspections; the county states inspections are appointment-based and will not be scheduled through email or a phone message. Plumbing inspections are handled by Steven Long at 859-324-5130 during Wednesday and Friday office hours at the Franklin County Health Department, 851 East West Connector, Frankfort, 502-223-1356.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
The county Building Division enforces applicable code and ordinance requirements and cites Kentucky Building Code Section 109.1 for inspections. The 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 KBC or KRC adoption was verified; DHBC announced July 2026 NEC updates for electrical work. The county lists permits as required for decks, in-ground pools, residences, commercial buildings, storage buildings over 200 square feet, and renovations other than facial/cosmetic work. The county also publishes a Farmstead Exempt Application Packet; confirm whether a project qualifies before starting. Separate zoning, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, floodplain, and mobile-home approvals may apply.