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Daviess County, KY Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Minimum residential permit fee: $75 or $0.05/sq ft, whichever is greater
Commercial/industrial fee: 1.5% of electrical contract, $75 minimum
No-fee threshold: Installations under $200
Permit expiration: Void after 60 days if work not started
Court penalty: $25-$250 fine or up to 90 days jail
Coverage area: County outside Owensboro and Whitesville

Summary

Outside Owensboro and Whitesville, Daviess County requires an electrical permit from the County Electrical Inspector for nearly all wiring work under Code § 31.05, applying the National Electrical Code most recently adopted by the state. Fees start at $75, with rough-in and final inspections, and violators risk fines up to $250 or 90 days in jail.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Daviess County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(D) Adoption of National Electrical Code. All installations, construction, maintenance, and operation of electrical wiring, appliances, and devices in and about buildings and on private or public property, if not otherwise specifically covered in this division (D), shall be installed, constructed, maintained, operated, and supplied in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth in the edition of the National Electrical Code most recently adopted by the Commonwealth Department of Housing, Building, and Construction... (K)(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to install, alter, or repair any electrical work covered by this division (K) without first obtaining a permit from the Electrical Inspector. If the cost of an electric installation is less than $200, a permit shall be required but no fee shall be charged. ... (2) ... (a) Single-family residential: $75 minimum or $0.05 per square foot, whichever is greater...

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-20: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. KOC 520.3 (2025), passed 12-18-2025; and State legislation current through KRS Pamphlet 2025).

Full Breakdown

05 creates the Office of County Electrical Inspector under KRS Ch. 198B, covering the county outside the corporate limits of Owensboro and Whitesville. Division (D) adopts, by reference, the edition of the National Electrical Code most recently adopted by the Commonwealth Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction for all electrical wiring, appliances, and devices not otherwise addressed. Division (K) requires a permit before installing, altering, or repairing covered electrical work; jobs under $200 need a permit but no fee, and starting work before permitting doubles the fee.

Permits expire if work has not begun within 60 days. 5% of the electrical contract with a $75 minimum; service change-outs and mobile home service poles are $35 each; temporary service poles are $20; and additional inspection trips cost $15. Division (F) requires a rough-in inspection before concealment, with the Inspector required to respond within three working days or the work is deemed approved for concealment, and a final inspection is likewise required within three working days of notice. Homeowners can obtain a do-it-yourself permit under division (M) only after demonstrating sufficient knowledge to the Inspector. Division (H) lets the Inspector disconnect service posing an imminent hazard or installed without a permit.

Violations & Fines

Under § 31.99(B), anyone who violates § 31.05 or fails to obey an order of the Electrical Inspector issued under that section is, upon conviction, fined not less than $25 nor more than $250, imprisoned for up to 90 days, or both. Starting work without a permit also doubles the permit fee under § 31.05(K)(1), separate from any court fine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit for a small electrical job in Daviess County?

If the installation costs less than $200, § 31.05(K)(1) still requires a permit but waives the fee. Anything at or above $200 requires both a permit and the fee set in the section's schedule, and starting work first doubles that fee.

Can a homeowner do their own electrical work in Daviess County?

Yes, under § 31.05(M), but only if the homeowner personally performs all the work, appears before the Electrical Inspector, and demonstrates sufficient knowledge to do the job safely. The Inspector can require a licensed contractor to fix any work found to be incompetent.

What electrical code does Daviess County enforce?

Section 31.05(D) adopts, by reference, the edition of the National Electrical Code most recently adopted by the Commonwealth Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction, with a copy kept on file with the County Clerk and the Electrical Inspector.

What is the penalty for unpermitted electrical work in Daviess County?

Beyond the doubled permit fee for starting work first, § 31.99(B) makes a violation of § 31.05, or disobeying an Inspector's order, punishable by a fine of $25 to $250, up to 90 days in jail, or both, upon conviction.

Sources & Official References

[1]Daviess County Code of Ordinances § 31.05, § 31.99

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