Georgetown, KY Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

Section 8-1 authorizes the building official, upon identification and a statement of purpose, to enter, inspect, survey and investigate all buildings, dwellings, dwelling units, rooming units and general premises. Entry is allowed between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., or at any time if an emergency exists or if the owner or occupant requests it. The owner or occupant, or the person in charge, shall give the building official free access for the inspection, survey or investigation.

Section 8-33, adopted pursuant to KRS 198B.060(8), establishes the building inspection program for all buildings subject to 815 KAR 7:120, the Kentucky Building Code, and says the program includes plan review and inspections of structures subject to 815 KAR 7:125, the Kentucky Residential Code. The section does not itemize inspection stages; it ties the program to those two state codes, which Section 8-31 says the city enforces as though set forth fully in the Code.

Section 8-32 designates the Georgetown-Scott County Department of Building Inspection as the local enforcement agent or agency. All building code inspections shall be performed by persons certified by the state department of housing, buildings and construction, and all electrical inspections by persons certified by that department as an electrical inspector. Section 2-490 lists the building official's duties as those in the state building code and KRS ch. 198B, those of the officer under the standards of safety and KRS 227.320 through 227.400, and those in the zoning ordinance.

For electrical work, Section 8-60 fixes two notice points: the person installing, repairing or rearranging wiring or equipment must notify the building official before the work is commenced and again when it is ready for inspection, and no one can conceal wiring until it has been reported, inspected and approved. Section 8-61 forbids anyone from connecting or furnishing current to an installation until the electrical inspector has approved it and issued a certificate of approval.

Section 8-6 creates a five-member building inspection appeals board, appointed by the mayor with approval of the council, serving four-year terms without compensation. It hears appeals of actions of the building inspector but not decisions of the electrical inspector. Permit and inspection fees follow the schedule held by the city clerk under Section 8-34.