The Kentucky Building and Residential Codes 2018
The 2018 Kentucky Building Code (KBC) and the 2018 Kentucky Residential Code (KRC) went into effect on August 22nd, 2018. The effective date for the KBC and the KRC was January 1st, 2019. The KBC is based on the 2015 International Building Code published by the International Code Council, with Kentucky specific amendments.
The Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction conducts plan review, inspects and enforces the energy code (and conducts HVAC inspections/certifications) for all commercial and multi-family residential dwellings. Compliance for detached single family dwellings, two-family dwellings and townhouses covered under the residential code is at the discretion of local jurisdictions.
Building Code Compliance Software for Kentucky
Plan Analyst code compliance software programs make it easy for building officials, architects and other designers to quickly perform commercial and residential building code plan reviews.
Plan Analyst for the 2015 IBC and Plan Analyst for the 2015 IRC (the basis for the Kentucky Building and Residential Codes) simplifies the plan review process enabling Kentucky based professionals to comply with the state code, even enabling modifications to accommodate state amendments, where applicable.
Plan Analyst Deck, Sign and Beam & Column Calculators are simple and effective design and code review software tools that will quickly become your go-to resources when working on associated tasks.
Plan Analyst users in Kentucky have included:
| City of Covington |
| City of Fort Mitchell |
| City of Mayfield |
| McCracken County |
| RBS Design Group |
Plan review and building code resources in Kentucky:
- Search for a Kentucky state plan review.
- Email HBC Plans Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction: Plans
- The ICC General Code website provides access to some municipal codes.
Energy Code Compliance Software for Kentucky
Visit the U.S. Department of Energy website to see the latest on energy code adoption in Kentucky, including the use of COMcheck and REScheck Energy Code compliance software. COMcheck enables architects, builders, designers, and contractors to determine whether new commercial or high-rise residential buildings, additions, and alterations meet the requirements of the IECC and ASHRAE Standard 90.1. REScheck product enables builders, designers, and contractors to determine whether new homes, additions, and alterations meet the requirements of the IECC or a number of state energy codes.
The “Building Codes Assistance Project” provides some information on Kentucky’s building energy codes.
FEMA Building Code Adoption Tracking
The FEMA Building Code Adoption Tracking program reports on the status of hazard-resistant building code adoption in each state. Kentucky is in FEMA Region 4. Read the 2023 Region 4 fact sheet showing the annual metric of the percent of communities adopting hazard-resistant building codes in Kentucky.
AIA and ICC
American Institute of Architects (Kentucky Society of Architects) – AIA Kentucky represents the interests of over 600 architects and various others.
Kentucky code adoption status on the ICC website.