STATE LICENSE
RequiredKentucky Department of Housing, Buildings…
An electrical contractor must pass the contractor exam (a business names an owner, officer, director, or full-time employee as designee), carry at least $1,000,000 in general liability insurance, prove workers' comp and unemployment insurance compliance, and — if not a master electrician itself — employ at least one full-time master electrician who serves no other contractor. A master electrician needs 16,000 hours of verifiable experience and an electrician 8,000 hours, with training, degree, and teaching substitutions set in KRS 227A.060.
A 2024 amendment made every license issued or renewed on or after July 15, 2024 biennial: under 815 KAR 35:060 the fees are $400 for an electrical contractor, $200 for a master electrician, and $100 for an electrician, renewing by the end of the birth month in the second year. Unlicensed workers may only work under the direct supervision of a licensed electrician or master electrician present on site. HBC began enforcing additional 2023 NEC provisions on July 15, 2026.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
KRS 227A.020(6) supersedes every city, county, urban-county, charter county, and consolidated local government ordinance regulating electricians and electrical contractors; local governments keep zoning and occupational payroll tax authority, and local licensing programs that existed on June 24, 2003 may act as HBC's agent for issuing state licenses (KRS 227A.020(5)).
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every Kentucky county on file.
Each row names the issuing authority, cost, timeline, citation, and status behind the requirement — verified against the official source.
Published fees from the issuing authorities, as of October 2026. Local permit fees vary by project and jurisdiction — the basis is stated where a flat number does not exist.
Any license issued or renewed on or after July 15, 2024 is biennial, and the renewal fee covers both years (KRS 227A.100(1)).
A contractor that is not itself a master electrician must employ a full-time master electrician, and no master may serve more than one contractor (KRS 227A.010(4)).
On July 15, 2026 HBC began enforcing delayed 2023 NEC articles 210.52(C), 230.67 surge protection, and 314.27(C) fan-box rules; certain GFCI provisions remain delayed.
A practical sequence for a new electrical contractor in Kentucky. Actual agency processing times are noted in the ledger above.
Each item names the issuing authority, cycle, and citation.
Statutory consequences with their citations — not estimates, not “commonly cited” guesses.
Holding out as, or doing the work of, an electrical contractor, master electrician, or electrician without a license, or aiding a violation.
Performing licensed electrical work while a license is inactive is grounds for revoking or suspending every electrical license and certification held.
Inside city limits, the city office listed here issues the permit; the county office serves unincorporated areas. Every office links to its official page.
| County · City | Permit office | Portal |
|---|---|---|
| Fayette County Lexington (consolidated gov.) | Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government — Division of Building Inspection ↗ | Lexington-Fayette Permitting Portal (One-Stop Shop) ↗ |
| Jefferson County Louisville (consolidated gov.) | Louisville Metro Government — Construction Review (Department of Codes and Regulations) ↗ | Louisville Metro Business Portal (Accela Citizen Access) ↗ |
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on October 2026.
Pending verification: How the statute's six CE hours per year are counted on a biennial license — KRS 227A.100(7) says per year while 815 KAR 2:010 counts hours in the 12 months before renewal · Current electrical licensing exam provider and its fee · Electrical permit and inspection fees under 815 KAR 35:020 or local programs (not retrieved)
General information, not legal advice. Always confirm requirements, deadlines, and forms with the issuing authority before filing or contracting.
Store licenses, permits, policies, and renewal dates in one place.