Administrative overview · FIPS 21093
Hardin 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
Hardin County Planning & Development Commission / Kentucky Building Code Program
For a project in or near Hardin 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
270-769-5479
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Hardin County Planning & Development Commission, 150 N. Provident Way, Suite 225, Elizabethtown, KY 42701.
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Review expectation
Commercial plan review goal: within 20 working days after submittal; large commercial projects may take longer. No separate residential review timeline was published.
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 Hardin County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Hardin County Planning & Development Commission / Kentucky Building Code Program 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 270-769-5479.
How long might review take?
Commercial plan review goal: within 20 working days after submittal; large commercial projects may take longer. No separate residential review timeline was published.
How are inspections scheduled?
Building and electrical permits must be submitted in person; the online portal is limited to certified electrical contractors registered with the office. After permit issuance, the owner or contractor must contact the office at 270-769-5479 or permits@hardincountyky.gov to schedule inspections. The published residential checklist covers footing, framing, and subsequent inspections; permits with no requested inspection for 180 days or more are deemed inactive and closed. Commercial plan review is targeted for return within 20 working days of complete submittal, with large projects potentially taking longer. On-site sewage evaluation is required before permits for dwellings or structures with plumbing; Hardin County Environmental Services is 270-769-0312.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
The county’s residential packet identifies the 2018 Kentucky Residential Code; the commercial guide identifies the 2018 Kentucky Building Code based on the 2015 International Building Code with current Kentucky amendments. Building and electrical permits are required for new construction, additions, and remodeling; no newer 2026 KBC or KRC adoption was verified, and DHBC announced July 2026 NEC updates for electrical work. The county requires permits for new construction, additions, and remodeling, and its commercial guide requires permits for construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolition, occupancy changes, and regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing work. No broad cosmetic exemption list was published. Residential plan review is generally required for new single-family dwellings over 2,000 square feet of roofed area, while commercial projects require plan review; confirm any small accessory or maintenance project with the office.