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Campbell County, KY Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

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

Key Facts

Trigger
Any grading or building needing site plan review
Must show
Storm sewer sizes, easements, retention basins
Must quantify
Water entering, generated, and discharged
Erosion plan
Required for clearing/grading, § 154.054(A)(10)
Reviewing body
Planning and Zoning Commission
Hillside add-on
20%+ slopes need County Engineer review

Summary

New construction or grading in any Campbell County zone that requires site plan review must show the site's full storm sewer and drainage system, sized and quantified, before the Planning and Zoning Commission will approve the plan or a building permit can issue.

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

(A) No building shall be erected or structurally altered nor shall any grading take place on any lot or parcel in zones where a site plan is required, except in accordance with the regulations of this section and an approved site plan as hereinafter required. ... (7) All utility lines and easements: ... (c) Storm sewer and natural drainage system, including pipe culvert sizes, gradients, location of open drainage courses, width of easements, location and size of inlets and catch basins, location and size of retention and/or sedimentation basins, and data indicating the quantity of storm water entering the subject property naturally from areas outside the property, the quantity of flow at each pickup point (inlet), the quantity of storm water generated by development of the subject area, and the quantity of storm water to be discharged at various points to areas outside the subject property. ... (10) Provisions for control of erosion, hillside slippage, and sedimentation, indicating the temporary and permanent control practices and measures which will be implemented during all phases of clearing, grading, and construction;

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-50: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. O-09-2026, passed 8-5-26; and Res. R-42-26, passed 7-15-26; and State legislation current through KRS Pamphlet 2025).

Full Breakdown

054(A) bars any building erection, structural alteration, or grading on a lot in a zone where a site plan is required unless it follows an approved site plan filed with the Building Inspector and the Zoning Administrator. Division (A)(7)(c) spells out what that plan must show for the storm sewer and natural drainage system: pipe and culvert sizes, gradients, the location of open drainage courses, the width of easements, the location and size of inlets and catch basins, the location and size of retention or sedimentation basins, and data quantifying how much storm water naturally enters the property from outside areas, the flow at each inlet, how much storm water the development itself generates, and how much is discharged to areas beyond the site.

Division (A)(10) separately requires the plan to lay out temporary and permanent erosion, hillside-slippage, and sedimentation controls for every phase of clearing, grading, and construction. 054(D). 058 requires hillside slopes of 20% or more to go through County Engineer review of drainage and erosion impacts before a permit issues.

Violations & Fines

Grading or building without the required approved site plan and drainage data violates § 154.054(A) and is enforced under § 154.999 as a class B misdemeanor, with each day of continued violation treated as a separate offense. The Planning and Zoning Commission can reject or condition approval on revised drainage calculations before any permit is released.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Campbell County require a stormwater or drainage plan for new development?
Yes. Any project needing site plan review under § 154.054 must include a full storm sewer and drainage plan showing pipe sizes, catch basins, retention basins, and the quantity of storm water entering, generated by, and leaving the site.
Who reviews drainage and stormwater plans in the county?
The Planning and Zoning Commission reviews and approves or rejects every site plan, including its drainage components, against § 154.054's requirements and the county's Comprehensive Plan before construction or grading can begin.
Are there extra drainage rules for hillside lots?
Yes. Section 154.058 requires any lot with a slope of 20% or greater to submit topography, subsurface, and erosion-control information for County Engineer and Planning and Zoning Commission review before grading or construction can proceed.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Campbell County

All Campbell County rules

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