5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Jefferson County, Kentucky.
Verified from official government sources
MSD (Louisville/Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District) regulates stormwater under federal MS4 permit. Projects adding 2,500+ sq ft impervious surface need MSD stormwater review. Project WIN addresses combined sewer overflows under EPA consent decree.
Louisville Metro requires erosion prevention and sediment control (EPSC) plans for all land-disturbing activities of 1 acre or more under LMCO Chapter 159 and MSD Design Manual Chapter 23, with Louisville MSD enforcing Kentucky's KPDES construction stormwater general permit (KYR10).
Jefferson County is inland but Ohio River floodplain, Beargrass Creek, Floyds Fork, and Mill Creek trigger MSD floodplain permits under LMCO Chapter 158, with 25-foot stream buffers and FEMA NFIP requirements applying to riparian development.
Jefferson County is governed by LMCO Chapter 157 (Floodplain Management Ordinance, 2017/2022) administered by MSD. Louisville participates in NFIP and FEMA's Community Rating System. The Local Regulatory Floodplain (LRF) is often wider than FEMA's SFHA — any development in the LRF requires an MSD floodplain permit.
Louisville Metro requires grading permits for excavation or fill over 50 cubic yards or disturbance over 5,000 sq ft per LMCO Chapter 157 and MSD Design Manual, with drainage designed so runoff does not harm adjoining properties under Kentucky common-law rules.
1 cities in Jefferson County have their own environmental rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for Jefferson County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Jefferson County Ordinance Hub →