Bowling Green, KY Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

Sec. 10-4.01 of the Bowling Green Code of Ordinances bars any person from commencing construction or installation of electrical wiring, equipment, apparatus or fixtures in or about any house or building without first obtaining a written permit from the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, Building and Inspection Division. Repairs or replacement of existing conductors or devices, such as swapping fixtures, receptacles or switches without adding load, do not require a permit. The Electrical Inspector may require a full set of plans and specifications with a symbol key before issuing a permit, and no permit issues unless the applicant proves compliance with licensing requirements by affidavit, except that a homeowner or farmer doing their own wiring on their own premises may proceed with the Inspector's approval.

Sec. 10-4.02 further requires every permit application to list the Kentucky-licensed electrical contractor's and master electrician's name and Commonwealth licensing number, and makes that contractor or electrician personally responsible for confirming everyone else on the job is properly licensed. Sec. 10-1.04 separately adopts the current edition of the National Electrical Code, pursuant to KRS Chapter 198B and the Kentucky Building Code, as incorporated by reference in the Kentucky Building Code, as the minimum wiring standard citywide, applying whether the building is served by Warren Rural Electric Cooperative or Bowling Green Municipal Utilities per Sec. 10-1.05. Commercial buildings must carry a minimum 100-ampere service under Sec. 10-1.07's supplemental rules.