Before You Build in Bowling Green, KY: Permit & Rule Checklist (2026)

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).

Retaining walls are regulated as structures under the Kentucky Building Code (815 KAR 7:120 adopting the 2018 International Building Code with Kentucky amendments) and the Kentucky Residential Code, both administered locally by the City of Bowling Green Building Division. Under the KBC/KRC, retaining walls more than 4 feet in height (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall) require a building permit and engineered drawings; walls 4 feet or less that do not support a surcharge generally do not require a permit. The Warren County/Joint Zoning Ordinance does not separately regulate retaining-wall height but treats engineered walls as accessory structures with a 5-foot setback (Sec. 4.4.5.B).

Bowling Green fences are regulated by the Warren County/Joint Zoning Ordinance, administered by the City-County Planning Commission. In single-family residential districts (RR, R-E, RS-1A through RS-1D), a fence may be built to the property line with a 0-foot setback (table at Sec. 4.4.5.B). Accessory structures, except fences 4 feet or less in height, may not extend beyond the front of the principal structure (Sec. 4.4.5.E.1). In commercial districts the maximum fence height in the front yard is 4 feet in NB, GB, OP-R, and OP-C and 6 feet in CB and HB (Sec. 4.6.8.J.1).

Neither the City of Bowling Green Code of Ordinances nor the Warren County/Joint Zoning Ordinance contains a 'good-side-out,' partition-fence, or mandatory cost-sharing statute. Boundary-line and shared-fence disputes are private civil matters under Kentucky common law and KRS 256 (Division Fences). The City and Planning Commission do not survey property lines or adjudicate neighbor disputes - Sec. 4.4.5.E places fence placement responsibility on the property owner subject to the sight-distance rules in Sec. 1.14.

Residential pool barriers in Bowling Green follow Appendix G of the Kentucky Residential Code (adopted by 815 KAR 7:125), which mirrors the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC). Per Section AG105.2 the barrier must be at least 48 inches above grade, openings must not allow passage of a 4-inch-diameter sphere, gates must be self-closing and self-latching, and the latch must be at least 54 inches above grade or located on the pool side. The Warren County/Joint Zoning Ordinance Sec. 4.4.5.E.6.c additionally requires the pool area to be enclosed by a fence or other suitable barrier with a minimum height of not less than 4 feet, with openings small enough to prevent a child from entering other than through the gate.

Outside of the Local Historic Districts and the Cemetery Road and Lovers Lane Urban Growth Overlay Districts, the Warren County/Joint Zoning Ordinance imposes no specific fence-material requirements. Common materials including wood, vinyl/PVC, chain-link, masonry, stone, aluminum, tubular steel, and decorative wrought iron are all permitted in standard residential, commercial, and industrial zones, subject to the height, sight-distance, and drainage-easement rules in Sec. 4.4.5.E and Sec. 1.14.

Per Warren County/Joint Zoning Ordinance Sec. 4.4.5.E.6.a (single-family) and Sec. 4.5.4.F.4.a (multi-family), 'All swimming pools with a water depth of 3 feet or greater shall require a building permit.' Permits are issued by the City of Bowling Green Building Division (270-393-3615) inside city limits or by Warren County Building Services outside city limits. Plans are reviewed for compliance with the Kentucky Residential Code (815 KAR 7:125) including Appendix G pool barrier requirements and the zoning ordinance setback and barrier rules.

Bowling Green's pool safety rules derive from Appendix G of the Kentucky Residential Code (815 KAR 7:125) - the state's adoption of the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code framework - and Warren County/Joint Zoning Ordinance Sec. 4.4.5.E.6. Required safety measures include a 48-inch minimum barrier (AG105.2), self-closing/self-latching gates that open outward, no climbing aids near the barrier (AG105.4), and either a powered safety cover (ASTM F 1346), door alarms (UL 2017), or approved alternative when a dwelling wall is part of the barrier.

Bowling Green pool barriers must satisfy both the local zoning standard in Warren County/Joint Zoning Ordinance Sec. 4.4.5.E.6.c (minimum 4-foot fence, child-proof openings) and Appendix G of the Kentucky Residential Code, Section AG105.2. The KRC standard requires a 48-inch minimum barrier, no opening that allows a 4-inch sphere to pass, self-closing/self-latching gates that open outward, and a latch at least 54 inches above grade (or pool-side with restricted openings).

Hot tubs and spas in Bowling Green are governed by Appendix G of the Kentucky Residential Code (815 KAR 7:125). Permanently installed spas and hot tubs must be designed and constructed in compliance with ANSI/NSPI-3 (AG104.1); portable spas and hot tubs to ANSI/NSPI-6 (AG104.2). The key barrier exception is AG105.5: 'Spas or hot tubs with a safety cover which comply with ASTM F 1346 shall be exempt from the provisions of this appendix.' This means a hot tub with a compliant rigid safety cover does not require the 48-inch pool barrier - the cover itself is the barrier.

Bowling Green allows 'Accessory Apartments' in the RR, R-E, RS-1A, RS-1B, RS-1C, and RS-1D zones under Joint Zoning Ord. § 4.4.5.E(5), but with three significant local restrictions: occupancy is limited to family members of the principal residence (plus one caretaker), the owner must occupy the primary residence, and floor area is capped at 50 percent of the principal structure. Kentucky has no statewide ADU mandate.

Converting a garage into habitable space in Bowling Green requires a building permit and electrical permit from the Building Division because it is a change of occupancy under the Kentucky Residential Code. If the conversion creates a second dwelling unit it must meet the Accessory Apartment rules in Joint Zoning Ord. § 4.4.5.E(5) — family-member occupancy only, max 50% of principal floor area, owner must occupy main house.

Bowling Green Building Division does not require a residential building permit for a detached storage shed, playhouse, or similar accessory structure under 200 square feet unless electrical service is added. Under Joint Zoning Ord. § 4.4.5.E, all accessory structures must sit behind the front facade of the principal dwelling and meet the accessory structure setback for the zone (typically 5 feet from side and rear lot lines).

A tiny home on a permanent foundation in Bowling Green is treated as either a single-family dwelling or an Accessory Apartment and must meet the Kentucky Residential Code (815 KAR 7:125) and the Joint Zoning Ordinance. Tiny homes on wheels (RVs, trailers, park-model RVs) are expressly prohibited as residences in residential zones under Joint Zoning Ord. § 4.4.5.E(4).

Detached carports in Bowling Green are accessory structures regulated by Joint Zoning Ord. § 4.4.5.E. A residential building permit is required from the Building Division for any carport 200 sq ft or larger. Carports must sit behind the front facade of the principal dwelling and meet the accessory structure setback (5 feet from side and rear lot lines in RS-1 zones).

Open burning is prohibited inside Bowling Green city limits without prior Bowling Green Fire Department approval (Chapter XII, Section 12-6, Code of Ordinances). Permits may be issued for sites consisting of natural vegetation. Burnable material is limited to natural vegetation; pallets, treated lumber, and trash are banned. Permitted residential burns are allowed only 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. from February 15 to April 30 and from October 1 to December 15, with a max 4-ft pile, 30-ft setback from woodland/grassland/combustibles, no winds 10 mph or higher, and constant attendance. These windows match Kentucky's statutory forest fire hazard seasons under KRS 149.400.

Bowling Green Code of Ordinances Section 12-6.02 (Residential / Recreational Burning) allows recreational fires only if the fire is completely contained in a fire pit that is commercially built or constructed of brick, concrete, stone, or metal. The fire must be attended at all times by a person over 18, and smoke or embers may not negatively affect neighboring property owners or create a fire spread risk. Materials must be natural vegetation only. Burning permitted materials outside of a contained fire pit requires a burn permit from the Bowling Green Fire Department.

Bowling Green Code of Ordinances Chapter XXVI § 26-7 (Vegetation Maintenance) requires that any and all pruning of a PUBLIC tree comply with the ANSI A300 (Part 1)-2001 Pruning standard. Trees that grow over a public right-of-way must be maintained so the lowest limb is at least 15 feet above the right-of-way. Property owners may not allow vegetation to obstruct sidewalks, streets, or sight lines. Pruning of private trees on private property is not regulated by the City — but Kentucky follows the 'Massachusetts Rule' on overhanging branches.

Bowling Green Code § 26-8 (Tree Removal) states: 'No person shall remove, cut above the ground or disturb any public tree without approval of the City of Bowling Green except to perform routine maintenance.' Requests for approval go through the City. Removal must include the entire tree and stump, refill the area with soil, re-seed or replant, cause no damage to City or third-party property, and be performed safely. Removal of trees on private property by the owner is not regulated by the City — Kentucky has no statewide private-tree protection law.

Bowling Green Municipal Utilities (BGMU) supplies water to City customers and many Warren County customers via the Barren River intake. BGMU does not impose mandatory year-round watering schedules. The utility encourages voluntary conservation — water during cool parts of the day, check irrigation for over-spray onto pavement, fix leaks. Kentucky has no statewide watering restriction. Mandatory restrictions are reserved for declared drought conditions or system emergencies under the BGMU Rules and Regulations.