All accessory buildings and structures in single-family and multi-family residential districts require a building permit under the Warren County/Joint Zoning Ordinance (Secs. 4.4.5.E and 4.5.4.F), but the City of Bowling Green's published guidance treats fences 7 feet and under as a free zoning-approval review rather than a paid building permit. Fences taller than 7 feet require a paid building permit with dimensional drawings. Fences on agriculturally zoned land of 2 acres or more do not require a permit (Sec. 4.3.6).
Warren County/Joint Zoning Ordinance Sec. 4.4.5.E states: 'Accessory buildings and structures, except as otherwise permitted by this Ordinance, shall require a building permit and shall be subject to the following regulations in all single family districts.' The same building-permit requirement appears for multi-family districts in Sec. 4.5.4.F and for commercial districts in Sec. 4.6.8.J. Sec. 4.3.6 (Agriculture District) carves out an exception: 'Fences constructed on agriculturally zoned land, 2 acres or greater, do not require a permit and are exempt from accessory structure setback requirements.' Permits are issued by the Building Inspector of the appropriate jurisdiction; per Sec. 4.6.8.F.1.a, 'Permits shall be obtained from the Building Inspector of the appropriate jurisdiction. Prior to the issuance of a permit by the Building Inspector, the permit application(s) shall be approved by Planning Commission staff, in order to determine compliance with the Zoning Ordinance of Warren County and the Subdivision Regulations of Warren County as well as any recorded subdivision plat or development plan.' The City of Bowling Green's Building Division (270-393-3615) administers fence reviews inside city limits; the Building Division's published video on fence permits in the city limits explains that fences 7 feet or less receive a no-fee zoning approval while taller fences require a paid building permit. Fences must also stay clear of dedicated drainage easements, which is a major concern in Bowling Green due to karst stormwater management.
Erecting a fence without the required permit (or, where applicable, the no-fee zoning approval) violates Sec. 4.4.5.E or 4.5.4.F and can result in stop-work orders, a requirement to remove or relocate the fence, and code-enforcement citations by the City of Bowling Green or Warren County. A fence built in a drainage easement may have to be removed at the owner's expense.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Bowling Green, KY
Bowling Green does not have a city-specific wildlife-feeding ordinance, but Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) rules apply citywide. ...
Bowling Green, KY
Bowling Green has no ordinance prohibiting artificial turf on residential property. No City permit is required to install synthetic turf on a private lot. Th...
Bowling Green, KY
Under Ordinance BG2019-50 (City Code 15-7 and 15-8.02), Bowling Green permits mobile food units and pushcarts to operate on public rights-of-way only with a ...
Bowling Green, KY
Operating a mobile food unit (food truck) or pushcart on Bowling Green public rights-of-way requires a permit under Ordinance BG2019-50, codified at City Cod...
Bowling Green, KY
Federal law (FAA Part 107 for commercial; 49 U.S.C. § 44809 for recreational) governs the airspace over Bowling Green — the City cannot regulate altitude or ...
Bowling Green, KY
Bowling Green does not require a city permit or business license for a residential garage sale of personal household items. The City Code does not set an exp...
See how Bowling Green's permit requirements rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.