Oldham County, KY Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)

Oldham County Code § 71.07, part of the Road Encroachment Permit Ordinance adopted by Ordinance 19-340-16 on February 4, 2020 under authority granted by KRS Chapters 67 and 100, requires anyone who wants to build a new driveway, road or alley access into the county right-of-way, modify an existing one, or close a lane or road, to get a permit from the county before starting work. Section 71.04 grants no exemptions from this requirement, and § 71.03 makes it apply to any person conducting those activities, not just contractors.

The application must be made on the county's prescribed form and include contact information, the activity location, existing utility locations, road and driveway construction details, drainage restoration plans and, for lane or road closures, a traffic control plan. Every application, including a re-application for an expired permit, carries a fee under § 71.07(D). Once issued, a permit expires within 90 days unless the applicant gets an extension before that deadline; missing it means starting the application over. Section 71.08 layers on engineering standards, including a sight-distance requirement the county will not waive and, where a culvert is needed, a minimum 15-inch diameter, 20-foot-long high-density polyethylene pipe.

Permit holders must also clear mud and debris from the road daily, repair any right-of-way damage they cause, and give County Dispatch 24 hours' notice before closing a lane. For larger projects the county can require a surety bond worth 130% of construction costs under § 71.11. Section 71.13 lets the county enforce noncompliance with a notice of violation, a civil penalty through the Code Enforcement Board, or a stop-work order.