Paducah building department

The Building Division of Paducah’s Community Development Department handles plan review, permits, and inspections inside Paducah city limits. Its office is on the first floor of City Hall, 300 South 5th Street. Unincorporated McCracken County has a separate county building inspector, so confirm the address is in the city first. The Building Division can check that for you at (270) 444-8690, along with any liens or fines on the property.

Applying through the Online Services Portal

Paducah’s Online Services Portal is a Tyler EnerGov self-service site, and you need an account to apply. You can use it to:

• Apply for residential and commercial building, planning, and construction permits
• Submit site plans, subdivisions, rezonings, and sign permits
• Track application status and reviews
• View permits, plans, inspection results, and code cases
• Pay permit and plan fees, fines, and liens

Development Liaison Laura Cowles, (270) 444-8604 or [email protected], can help with any project. For bigger projects, the city offers a Kick-Start Meeting, where you meet the city’s technical reviewers before you submit plans.

Steps to a permit

1. Submit one complete set of drawings and specifications, when needed.
2. Submit a site plan to Planning/Zoning, when needed.
3. Fill out the permit applications.
4. Make sure all contractors are licensed and insured.
5. Get the building, electrical, and HVAC permits once plans are approved.

Work that doesn’t change a structure’s layout or size may not need drawings or a site plan. Electrical permits need the electrician’s CE and ME license numbers. HVAC has its own application, completed by a master HVAC license holder.

During clerical review, staff check that every contractor and subcontractor has a Paducah business license. The general contractor must carry workers’ compensation and hold the required state licenses. Fees are either fixed or based on construction value. Plan check fees are paid at submittal. The first review takes anywhere from a few days to 30 days, depending on project size.

Site plans, stormwater, and floodplain

All commercial, industrial, and multi-family developments, parking lots, and additions to them need a site plan. Start with a preliminary meeting with Community Development, (270) 444-8690. Site plans are submitted through the portal and reviewed by Community Development, Engineering, and Fire Prevention (if applicable).

A stormwater management plan is required when you disturb 1 acre or more, or when nonresidential paving plus roof area reaches 10,000 sq ft. Work in a Special Flood Hazard Area needs an SFHA Development Permit from Engineering, (270) 444-8511, before any work starts. That application needs a FEMA Elevation Certificate and plans by a Kentucky-registered engineer or architect.

What needs a permit

Project	City rule
Residential shed or other accessory structure	Permit if over 200 sq ft; must meet setbacks and can’t exceed the main building’s height or area
Commercial accessory structure	Permit if over 120 sq ft; all need zoning approval for location
Deck, carport, pergola, gazebo, detached garage	Listed as accessory structures that need permits
Residential fence	Permit required in all zones
Commercial fence	Permit only if over 8 ft; setbacks and screening rules still apply
Pool	Building and electrical permits; above-ground residential pools are the only exception. Plumbing permit for wastewater discharge
Awning	Permit required, except wall-supported window awnings on one- and two-family homes projecting 54 in. or less
Sign	Every new, replacement, repaired, or face-change sign
Demolition	Permit from the Fire Prevention Division, $50 (residential accessory structures exempt)
Tent or temporary structure	Permit if over 120 sq ft and used for 10 or more people
New construction, addition, renovation	Permit required, except cosmetic finishes

Pool barriers must be at least 48 in. high. Openings can’t exceed 4 in. (2¼ in. for chain link). Gates must be self-closing and self-latching, with the latch at 48 in. An above-ground pool 48 in. tall with a removable or securable ladder doesn’t need a separate enclosure. If there’s no fence yet, you also need a fence permit.

Electrical and HVAC: State law requires permits for all electrical work beyond normal maintenance, done by a licensed electrical contractor with a licensed master electrician. HVAC installation, repair, and replacement need permits too. Homeowners working on their own primary residence are exempt from the licensing requirement for both.

Manufactured homes need permits for placement, foundation, decks, porches, and electrical and mechanical work. They are allowed in R-2, R-3, and R-4 districts. Modular buildings (Kentucky Industrialized Buildings) are approved by the state.

Codes

Paducah enforces the codes Kentucky adopts. The 2018 Kentucky Building Code and 2018 Kentucky Residential Code (based on the 2015 IBC and IRC, with Kentucky amendments) took effect January 1, 2019. The city also lists the 2015 IMC, the 2012 IECC (commercial), the 2009 IECC (residential), the 2015 IEBC, and the state plumbing code (815 KAR Chapter 20). Local rules are in the Paducah Code of Ordinances: Chapter 18 (building), Chapter 42 (environment, including building, electrical, demolition, code enforcement, and rental occupancy permits), and Chapter 46 (fire prevention).

Inspections

Schedule inspections by calling the Building Division at (270) 444-8527 or through the portal. Give at least 24 hours’ notice, and tell staff the project type, location, and inspection needed. You don’t need to ask for a specific inspector.

Milestone	When
Footing	Before concrete is placed
Foundation	Before concrete placement or backfilling cells
Rough frame	Before wall finishes; covers framing, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and gas
Final	Before occupancy; includes all trade finals and life safety

Plumbing is a state inspection. DHBC lists the McCracken County plumbing inspector at the McCracken County Health Department, 916 Kentucky Avenue, (270) 444-9631 ext. 157, with office hours 8–9 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Certificates of occupancy

No building can be used or occupied until a certificate of occupancy is issued (KBC 111.1). Every new business and every new residence, including one- and two-family homes, needs a final inspection and a certificate before use. A change in business type or use needs a new certificate. A change of ownership alone does not. New businesses also need a Paducah business license before opening.

Boards

The Board of Adjustment hears conditional uses, variances, and nonconforming use changes. It meets the last Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. The Historic and Architectural Review Commission issues Certificates of Appropriateness for visible exterior changes in the H-1 and H-2 zones. It meets the second Monday at 5:30 p.m. Applications for both are due the Friday 21 days before the meeting.