Fees, valuation & enforcement
Permit fees are a project input. Enforcement exposure is a project risk. Use the official schedule where available, then confirm valuation, trade permits, plan review, and inspection charges with the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
Official fee pathway
The final charge may depend on declared construction value, occupancy classification, square footage, plan review, state surcharges, trade permits, technology fees, and inspection activity. Do not use a neighboring city’s fee table as a substitute for this jurisdiction.
Fee desk contact
Local Building Inspector Pat Rhodes: 270-339-4188; State Building Inspector Kelly Meadows: 270-823-3921; McLean County Planning and Zoning permit administrator Jenny Baldwin: 270-280-7671; McLean County Judge Executive: 270-273-3213; Health Department: 270-273-3062.
Ask the counter to confirm current charges before submitting a project with multiple trades or a change of use.
Financial exposure
Plan for building, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fire, energy, zoning, septic, right-of-way, or other reviews that the project scope triggers. The lowest initial permit fee is not always the lowest project cost.
Enforcement exposure
When work begins without authorization, the agency may halt the site, require corrective plans, impose additional fees, withhold inspection release, or require concealed work to be exposed for review.
Closeout exposure
A missing final inspection or certificate can complicate occupancy, refinancing, sale, insurance, and utility connection. Preserve the approved plans and signed inspection record through closeout.
Professional field note
Even when a cosmetic or minor project does not require a building permit, zoning, floodplain, shoreline, historic, utility, fire, or right-of-way controls may still apply. Confirm the full jurisdictional picture before work starts.
Source trail
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
McLean County Planning and Zoning Commission / McLean County Fiscal Court; Kentucky DHBC local building inspection assignment is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact Local Building Inspector Pat Rhodes: 270-339-4188; State Building Inspector Kelly Meadows: 270-823-3921; McLean County Planning and Zoning permit administrator Jenny Baldwin: 270-280-7671; McLean County Judge Executive: 270-273-3213; Health Department: 270-273-3062..
N/A. No current McLean County building-plan review turnaround time was published on the verified pages.
For local building inspections, contact Pat Rhodes at 270-339-4188 or patrh@bellsouth.net. Planning/zoning permit administration is handled through Jenny Baldwin at 270-280-7671. State building questions go to Kelly Meadows at 270-823-3921. Local electrical inspector Mathus D. Conrad: 270-821-1363; state electrical Pat O'Bryan: 270-899-1254. Manufactured housing James Blackburn: 270-704-7171; elevator Jacob Menser: 270-226-4742; HVAC Alan Bates: 270-619-1460; plumbing Jerry Dorris: 270-577-5350, Friday 8:00-9:00 a.m. at McLean County Health Department, 200 West Highway 81 North, Calhoun; and boiler Billy Yarbrough: 502-682-2839.
The current DHBC assignment lists Pat Rhodes as McLean County's local building inspector and Kelly Meadows as state building inspector. The local program operates under the 2018 Kentucky Building Code and 2018 Kentucky Residential Code with Kentucky amendments; state trade inspectors remain responsible for assigned disciplines. No newer 2026 KBC or KRC adoption was verified. No McLean County-specific minor or cosmetic building exemption list was published on the verified pages. The county zoning code contains separate land-use exceptions and requirements, but ordinary maintenance and narrow code exceptions should be confirmed with the building inspector; structural, manufactured-housing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, septic, floodplain and zoning work should be cleared before construction.
Why permit costs vary
Building departments commonly calculate charges from valuation, occupancy, floor area, project type, plan review effort, trade scope, state surcharges, and inspection activity. A remodel that appears small on paper may still trigger structural, energy, fire, or utility review. Ask the permit counter which disciplines apply before you finalize the construction budget.
The same discipline applies to enforcement. Correcting unpermitted work after finishes are installed can require demolition, revised plans, additional inspections, and schedule disruption. Authorization is usually the less expensive project-management decision.