Administrative overview · FIPS 21159
Martin 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
State Fallback
This profile identifies a handoff outside the county’s ordinary structural permitting lane.
Required jurisdiction check
Confirm the controlling local or state authority before filing.
The record is marked State Fallback. That means the county profile should be treated as a routing brief: incorporated municipalities, a state building department, or a state fire marshal may control plan review, permits, and inspections. Contact the named agency below and verify the parcel’s jurisdiction before paying a fee or scheduling field work.
Responsible agency
Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (DHBC), with Martin County Fiscal Court coordinating local electrical contacts
For a project in or near Martin 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
State Building Inspector Levi Wells: 502-359-4062; Martin County Judge Executive's office: 606-298-2800; Martin County Health Department/plumbing office: 606-298-7752.
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Martin County Fiscal Court, P.O. Box 309, Inez, KY 41224; plumbing inspections at Martin County Health Department, Rockcastle Creek Road, Inez, KY 41224.
Operating hours
Martin County Fiscal Court contact is at P.O. Box 309, Inez. DHBC plumbing office hours for Martin County are Wednesday, 12:00-1:00 p.m. EST, at the Martin County Health Department.
Review expectation
N/A. No current state or county plan-review turnaround time was published for Martin County.
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 Martin County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
This record is marked State Fallback. Confirm whether a city, state agency, or other local authority controls the parcel 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 State Building Inspector Levi Wells: 502-359-4062; Martin County Judge Executive's office: 606-298-2800; Martin County Health Department/plumbing office: 606-298-7752..
How long might review take?
N/A. No current state or county plan-review turnaround time was published for Martin County.
How are inspections scheduled?
For commercial building permits and state building inspections, contact DHBC State Building Inspector Levi Wells at 502-359-4062 or matthewl.wells@ky.gov and use the SmartGov public portal. State electrical inspector James Burt: 502-330-3513; HVAC inspector Billy Blair: 502-395-4879; manufactured housing inspector Randy Jones: 606-872-9306; elevator inspector Dan Stifle: 606-748-9337; boiler inspector Scott Shepherd: 502-382-0545. Plumbing inspector Gordon Vanhoose is available Wednesday 12:00-1:00 p.m. at 606-298-7752, Martin County Health Department, Rockcastle Creek Road, Inez.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
The current DHBC assignment lists no local building inspector and directs commercial building permits to the state. DHBC administers the Kentucky Building Code and Kentucky Residential Code, with applicable Kentucky amendments and state trade codes; no county-specific 2026 code adoption was verified. No Martin County-specific minor or cosmetic exemption list was published on the verified county or DHBC pages. The state code's limited exemptions should be confirmed with DHBC before work; electrical work should be coordinated with the county judge executive or the city office where the work occurs.