Lexington, KY Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum wiring standard
- National Electrical Code, § 5-55
- Electrical permit fee
- $10.00, § 5-67
- Permit issuer
- Division of Building Inspection
- Penalty range
- $25-$250 fine or up to 90 days, § 5-73
- Separate inspection requirement
- Division 3, § 5-76
Summary
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government adopts the National Electrical Code as its minimum wiring standard and requires a $10 permit from the Division of Building Inspection before any electrical wiring is installed or altered. Violators of the electrical article face a $25-$250 fine or up to 90 days in jail, with each day a separate offense.
Standards for the construction, alteration and repair of any electrical wiring shall be as prescribed by ordinance of the urban county government, provided that in no event shall any standard be less rigid than the requirement of the National Electrical Code which is incorporated into the State Standards of Safety and which is hereby adopted as the minimum standard in the county. ... Electrical wiring or equipment shall not be installed nor shall any alteration be made in any existing installation without first obtaining a permit from the division of building inspection, the fee for which shall be ten dollars ($10.00). The application and issuance of said permit is governed by all applicable sections of the Kentucky Building Code, including but not limited to article 27, and by the rules and regulations established by the division of building inspection.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Republication | Zoning Ordinance: Republication).
Full Breakdown
4 is exempt from the permit requirement entirely. The Department of Public Safety's Division of Building Inspection issues the permits, keeps the records, writes the governing regulations, and conducts on-site inspections to confirm compliance. Division 3 of the same article layers on a separate inspection requirement at § 5-76: anyone doing electrical construction, alteration or repair must have the work inspected by an electrical inspector employed by, or under contract with, the division.
Violations & Fines
Section 5-73 sets the penalty for the whole electrical licensing article: any violation carries a fine of not less than $25.00 nor more than $250.00, or imprisonment of up to 90 days, or both, and each day the violation continues is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What electrical code does Lexington use?
How much does an electrical permit cost in Lexington?
What's the penalty for unpermitted electrical work?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lexington
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