Administrative overview · FIPS 21111
Jefferson 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
Louisville Metro Government, Department of Codes & Regulations, Office of Construction Review
For a project in or near Jefferson 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
502-574-3321
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Louisville Metro Construction Review, 444 S. 5th Street, Louisville, KY 40202.
Operating hours
Customer service Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; cashier Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; plan review Tuesday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Review expectation
No general plan-review timeline was published. Simplified residential rooftop-solar building permits are generally turned around in three days or less when the application package is complete and compliant; other projects depend on review complexity and revisions.
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 Jefferson County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Louisville Metro Government, Department of Codes & Regulations, Office of Construction Review 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 502-574-3321.
How long might review take?
No general plan-review timeline was published. Simplified residential rooftop-solar building permits are generally turned around in three days or less when the application package is complete and compliant; other projects depend on review complexity and revisions.
How are inspections scheduled?
The permit holder must request inspections when the work is ready, generally through the Louisville Metro Business Portal; by phone call 502-574-3321, option 2, for building, HVAC, or miscellaneous inspections. Provide the permit number, complete job-site address and ZIP code, contact information, desired inspection, and access instructions. Common building inspections are foundation, rough framing/rough-in, and final; work must remain accessible and uncovered, and all required inspections must pass before a Certificate of Occupancy or Letter of Acceptance. Electrical requests use the contractor portal, except an owner with their own residential electrical permit may use option 2. Reinspection fees may apply.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Louisville Metro Ordinance §150.001 adopts the Kentucky Building Code and Kentucky Residential Code in full. The applicable framework is the 2018 KBC and 2018 KRC, based on the 2015 IBC/IRC with Kentucky amendments. No newer 2026 KBC or KRC adoption was verified; electrical work remains subject to the applicable Kentucky electrical standards and Louisville Metro inspection requirements. Examples of work listed by Louisville Metro as exempt include one-story detached sheds, playhouses, or storage buildings under 200 square feet; fences up to 7 feet; retaining walls up to 4 feet; grade-supported water tanks up to 5,000 gallons with the stated height-to-width limit; sidewalks and driveways; painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work; swings/playground equipment; qualifying wall-supported window awnings; and unattached ground-level decks up to 200 square feet and 30 inches high that do not serve a required exit. Electrical exemptions include listed temporary decorative lighting, same-location overcurrent-device replacement, under-25-volt/50-watt systems, minor repairs, and temporary testing systems. Gas, mechanical, and plumbing exemptions cover portable equipment and limited repairs such as stopping leaks or clearing stoppages; confirm the full code conditions before relying on an exemption.