Building permits in Louisville, KY

Short answer: In Louisville, permits are issued by Louisville Metro Office of Construction Review (Develop Louisville); of the 6 common projects we checked, 1 always need a permit, 2 do not, and 3 depend on the details.

Permitting authority: Louisville Metro Office of Construction Review (Develop Louisville). Covers Louisville Metro (Jefferson County); some small cities inside Metro handle certain permits themselves. Plumbing permits are issued by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, not Metro. Homeowners must apply in person.

Permit rules in Louisville
Project	Answer	Verified
Deck	Depends on your project No permit for a detached deck up to 200 sq ft and no more than 30 in above grade that does not serve the required exit door. Attached or lar…	2026-10-19
Fence	No permit required No permit for fences up to 7 ft high.	2026-10-19
Interior / bathroom remodel	Depends on your project Tiling, cabinets, counters and similar finish work need no permit. Remodeling needs a building permit, and moving plumbing fixtures needs a …	2026-10-19
Roof replacement	No permit required Generally no building permit to reroof. Replacing structural parts such as the roof deck or rafters needs a building permit.	2026-10-19
Shed	Depends on your project No permit for a one-story detached shed or playhouse up to 200 sq ft. Larger sheds need a permit.	2026-10-19
Water heater replacement	Permit required Yes. Kentucky requires a state plumbing permit to install or replace a water heater; a single domestic water heater permit is $50.	2026-10-19

Fee schedule: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/construction-review/permit-fees · 1 verified Louisville permit fee

All Kentucky cities · All cities · Permit guides

Not legal advice. Always confirm with your local building department. Rules change, and your parcel's zoning, HOA, historic district, floodplain or utility work can change the answer. We show the official source and the date we last checked it so you can verify for yourself.