The City has a permitting process for construction and land disturbance activities within the City limits.  A Land Disturbance Permit and Supplemental form is required for any land disturbance activity greater than 1,000 square feet and must be obtained prior to applying for a building and zoning compliance permit with the Nelson County Code Enforcement Department and Nelson County Planning Commission.  Depending on the type of construction, additional requirements may apply.

Construction activities will be evaluated based on the size of disturbed area and/or the amount of impervious surface that will be created once construction is complete.  Every site that requires a land disturbance permit is required to submit a Performance Bond and Permit Fee with their application.  The Performance Bond is refunded in full pending final inspection by the City Stormwater Inspector.  The Permit Fees and minimum Performance Bonds can be found in the City's Fee Schedule for Encroachment Work & Land Disturbance Activities.

When applying for a land disturbance permit, please fill out and submit the Subcontractor List form. Note that this can be filled out electronically in a PDF viewer such as Adobe Reader or printed out and filled out by hand.

Permits are valid for 12 months (one year) from the date of issuance to construct the entrance, encroachment, and/or land disturbing activities in accordance with the permit. If work cannot be completed by the expiration date, a written request for an extension shall be submitted to the Office of the City Engineer no later than 14 days prior to the expiration date.  If approved, a revised land disturbance permit will be issued upon payment in the amount of an additional permit fee.

Commercial, Industrial, & Residential Developments

Businesses and developers planning to build on or develop larger sites within the City typically have more requirements due to the size of the site's area of disturbance.  If the area of disturbance is greater than 0.5 acres and/or is part of a greater common development, a Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) and a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) are required.  If this is the case, the business owner or developer should contact a licensed engineer to formulate the appropriate plans and project documents.  Please see the Plan Review page for more information on required documents for review prior to obtaining a Land Disturbance Permit.

In addition to these requirements, the Kentucky Division of Water (KDOW) requires a stormwater construction permit for sites with an area of disturbance greater than 1.0 acre and/or is part of a greater common development.  A Notice of Intent (NOI) must be on file with the KDOW before any disturbance takes place.  More information on this permitting process can be found here.

For City permitting purposes, these larger sites are classified as follows:

Class 3 Sites - Small commercial, industrial, and residential subdivision sites requiring a SWMP and SWPPP (>0.5 acres disturbed) that disturb less than five (5) acres AND add less than two (2) acres of impervious area.

Permit Fee: $550
Minimum Performance Bond: $1,000

Class 4 Sites - Large commercial, industrial, and residential subdivision sites requiring a SWMP and SWPPP (>0.5 acres disturbed) that disturb five (5) acres or more OR add two (2) acres or more impervious area.

Permit Fee: $900
Minimum Performance Bond: $1,500