Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, March 1, 2024
RELATES TO:
KRS
318.030,
318.134,
318.160
NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY:
KRS
318.130 requires the department to promulgate
administrative regulations establishing the Kentucky State Plumbing Code to
regulate plumbing.
KRS
318.134(1) requires all
persons, firms, or corporations to procure a plumbing installation permit from
the department to construct, install, or alter, or cause to be constructed,
installed, or altered any plumbing.
KRS
318.134(3) requires the
department to establish a reasonable schedule of fees and charges to be paid
for plumbing installation permits and the necessary inspections incident
thereto. This administrative regulation establishes the requirements, fees, and
charges for plumbing installation permits and inspections in Kentucky.
Section 1. Permit Required.
(1) A plumbing permit shall be required for:
(a) A new plumbing installation;
(b) An existing plumbing installation if a
fixture, soil, or waste opening or conductor is to be moved or
relocated;
(c) A new house sewer or
a house sewer that is to be replaced;
(d) A new water service or water service that
is to be replaced;
(e) The addition
of a backflow prevention device to an existing water service; or
(f) A new water heater installation or a
water heater that is to be replaced.
(2) A new plumbing permit shall be required
when a master plumber:
(a) Takes over a
plumbing installation originally permitted to another master plumber or
homeowner; or
(b) Assumed
responsibility to correct and test an installation made by someone
else.
(3) A permit shall
not be required for:
(a) The repair of:
1. Leaks;
2. Cocks;
3. Valves; or
(b) Cleaning out waste or sewer
pipes.
Section
2. Issuance of Plumbing Permits.
(1) A permit to construct, install, or alter
plumbing, sewerage, or drainage shall be issued only to:
(a) A licensed master plumber; or
(b) A homeowner who wishes to construct,
install, or alter plumbing, sewerage, or drainage in a home occupied by the
homeowner or constructed by the homeowner for the homeowner's own personal
residential use, if:
1. Application is made
for the permit prior to the beginning of the work;
2. The homeowner files with the application
an affidavit stating that the homeowner shall abide by the terms of this
section;
3. All work shall be
performed in compliance with 815 KAR Chapter 20;
4. All work shall be personally performed by
the homeowner; and
5. The homeowner
shall not have obtained another homeowner permit for construction of a new home
issued within the last five (5) years.
(2) A journeyman plumber shall not construct,
install, or alter plumbing, sewerage, or drainage unless the work is performed
under the supervision of a licensed master plumber with a valid
permit.
Section 3.
Plumbing Plan Submission.
(1) Procedure.
Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, plumbing plans shall be
submitted to the department for review and approval prior to the issuance of a
plumbing permit. A plumbing plan submission shall consist of:
(a) A complete Plan Application form;
and
(b) Three (3) sets of identical
plans that include:
1. A complete floor
plan;
2. An isometric plumbing
diagram of the drain, waste, and vent system; and
3. A site utility plan.
(2) Field inspections. A plumbing
inspector may inspect the plumbing in the following without an initial
submission of plumbing plans:
(a) An existing
building if:
1. There are no more than ten
(10) openings for plumbing fixtures or appliances, present and
future;
2. There is no change of
use in the occupancy;
3. There is
no increase in the occupant load;
4. Approval by the Department of Health is
not required; and
5. Plans or
documents of the installation are submitted to the department after
installation; or
(b) A
multi-family dwelling if:
1. The building
consists of twelve (12) units or less;
2. The water and sewer connections have been
approved by the Division of Water in accordance with 401 KAR Chapter
5;
3. Proof of a building permit
from the authority having jurisdiction has been submitted to the department;
and
4. Plumbing plans are made
available to the plumbing inspector for review and approval prior to
construction.
(c) A
plumbing inspector shall not review and approve plans for the following:
1. A tenant space that has not been
occupied;
2. A day care facility
that is not currently licensed;
3.
A project on a private water system without approval from the Division of Water
in accordance with 401 KAR Chapter 5; or
4. A project with a sewer main extension or a
sewage treatment plant without approval from the Division of Water in
accordance with 401 KAR Chapter 5.
Section 4. Plumbing Permit Fees.
(1) The base fee for each plumbing permit for
residential one (1) and two (2) family units shall be fifty (50) dollars plus
fourteen (14) dollars for each:
(a) Plumbing
fixture, appliance, or opening left for a plumbing fixture or appliance in the
soil or waste pipe system;
(b)
Domestic water heater; and
(c)
Separately metered water and sewer service if more than one (1) water or sewer
service is to be installed.
(2) The base fee for each plumbing permit for
buildings other than residential one (1) and two (2) family units shall be
fifty (50) dollars plus twenty (20) dollars for each:
(a) Plumbing fixture, appliance, or opening
left for a plumbing fixture or appliance in the soil or waste pipe
system;
(b) Domestic water
heater;
(c) Conductor opening;
and
(d) Separately metered water
and sewer service if more than one (1) water or sewer service is to be
installed.
(3)
(a) If only one (1) new domestic water heater
is installed or replaced within a single building, the only fee for the
plumbing permit shall be fifty (50) dollars.
(b) If more than one (1) water heater is
replaced within a building, a permit fee shall be calculated pursuant to
subsections (1) or (2) of this section.
(4) The plumbing permit fee shall be limited
to the base fee if:
(a) The work to be
performed does not include new installation;
(b) The work to be performed is to make
corrections or to provide testing for an installation made by someone else;
or
(c) A master plumber takes over
a plumbing permit pursuant to Section 1(2) of this administrative
regulation.
Section
5.
(1) A person with a plumbing
permit shall be entitled to five (5) plumbing inspections at no additional
cost.
(2)
(a) The fee for an additional inspection
shall be fifty (50) dollars.
(b)
All additional inspection fees shall be paid prior to the final
inspection.
(3)
Additional inspection fees shall not apply if the cost of the plumbing permit
exceeds $250.
Section 6.
Expiration of permits.
(1) Plumbing permits
issued pursuant to this administrative regulation shall expire one (1) year
after the date of issuance unless construction is ongoing, in which case the
permit shall remain effective until the completion of the planned plumbing
inspection.
(2) The permit shall
expire and become void if the plumbing work ceases on the project for a period
exceeding twelve (12) months.
Section
7. Incorporation by Reference.
(1) "Plan Application Form", 2/2020, is
incorporated by reference.
(2) This
material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright
law, at the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, Division of
Plumbing, 500 Mero Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601-5412, Monday through
Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is available online at
http://dhbc.ky.gov.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY:
KRS
198B.040(10),
318.130,
318.134(3)