STATE LICENSE
RequiredKentucky Department of Housing, Buildings…
KRS 318.030 bars anyone from engaging in plumbing unless they hold an active master or journeyman plumber license; apprentices may assist under personal supervision. Under 815 KAR 20:030, a journeyman needs two consecutive years as an apprentice (or an approved course plus one year) and 75% on a written, drawing, and practical exam; a master needs two years as a licensed journeyman within the past five years plus two years working under a master, and 80% on each exam part.
Licenses renew every year by the end of the licensee's birth month: $250 for a master and $60 for a journeyman, with exam fees of $150 and $50. The person or firm engaged in plumbing must carry at least $250,000 in general liability insurance and prove workers' comp and unemployment insurance compliance before the master license issues or renews. No plumbing may be installed or altered without a plumbing installation permit (KRS 318.134).
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
KRS Chapter 318 applies in every county (KRS 318.015(1)), and the Kentucky State Plumbing Code governs all public buildings. Local governments may adopt and enforce the State Plumbing Code with qualified local inspectors under KRS 318.140; permits are otherwise issued by HBC under KRS 318.134.
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.
KRS Chapter 318 applies in all Kentucky counties, and plumber licenses expire every year on the last day of the birth month.
KRS 318.134 bars constructing, installing, or altering any plumbing without first getting a plumbing installation permit with plans and specifications.
The chapter does not apply to farmsteads — a farm dwelling and farm buildings on 10+ acres outside city limits (KRS 318.010(8), 318.015(3)).
A practical sequence for a new plumbing 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.
Violating any provision of KRS Chapter 318, its regulations, or the State Plumbing Code; each day a violation continues is a separate offense.
A person in responsible charge of plumbing may not engage an unlicensed person to perform or install plumbing.
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: Whether a homeowner may do plumbing on his or her own single-family home without a license — KRS 318.020(4) applies licensure to all persons engaged in plumbing and no homeowner exemption was found in the sections reviewed · Plumbing installation permit fee schedule (set by HBC regulation; not retrieved) · Whether a separate business-entity plumbing registration exists beyond the master plumber license (KRS 318.110 was not reviewed)
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.