Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB617: AN ACT relating to planning and zoning.
Status: In committee, March 13, 2026
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 100 to define "qualifying planning unit," "qualifying residential development," "small lot," "service document," and "transitional buffer"; prohibit a qualifying planning unit from establishing certain restrictions on a qualifying residential development or small lot; allow a qualifying planning unit to adopt generally applicable regulations related to specified environmental features, and other matters for which a planning unit is authorized to regulate; establish that there is no effect on property owner's associations; establish a cause of action and recovery costs and awarding of attorney's fees if successful; establish limitations on when a qualifying planning unit may deny a development; allow a developer to modify and resubmit development plans after a denial; require a qualifying planning unit alleging substantial negative impacts to articulate those impacts and demonstrate them under clear and convincing evidentiary standard; establish a cause of action by a developer to bring suit for a development plan denial; permit a local government to require a transitional buffer between existing development and a qualifying residential development; create a new section of KRS Chapter 100 to prohibit a planning unit from adopting certain space requirements for parking; direct that the prohibition does not alleviate responsibility to provide accessible parking; allow a planning unit to deny a development if there would be substantial negative impacts; allow a developer to modify and resubmit plans to remediate negative impacts; require a planning unit alleging substantial negative impacts to articulate those impacts and demonstrate them under clear and convincing evidentiary standard; establish a cause of action by a developer for a denial due to a substantial negative impact; create a new section of KRS Chapter 100 to define "mixed-use residential development," "multifamily residential development," and "qualifying planning unit";
What the bill says
An act relating to planning and zoning.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to planning and zoning. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 100 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: (1) As used in this section: (a) "Qualifying planning unit" means a planning unit established under this chapter that is composed of: 1. A city with a population equal to or greater than ten thousand (10,000); 2. Any combination of cities with a collective population equal to or greater than fifteen thousand (15,000); 3. A county with population equal to or greater than fifteen thousand (15,000); 4. Any combination of cities and counties, parts of counties, or parts of consolidated local governments with a collective population equal to or greater than twenty thousand (20,000); 5. A consolidated local government; or 6. An urban-county government; (b) "Qualifying residential development" means a tract of land that 2. Located in an area that is zoned for single-family homes; and 3. The subject of a subdivision plat or development plan submitted to a qualifying planning unit after the effective date of this Act; (c) "Service document" means a letter, form, or other document issued by a water and sewer service provider to an owner or developer of a residential development that states that a provider is able and willing to …
Sponsors
- Susan Witten (R, HD-031) · primary sponsor
- Thomas Huff (R, HD-049)
- T.J. Roberts (R, HD-066)
- Richard White (R, HD-099)
Latest actions
- : returned to Local Government (H)
- : 1st reading
- : taken from Local Government (H)
- : to Local Government (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Subjects: Planning And Zoning, Land Use, Housing, Building, And Construction, Local Mandate, Effective Dates, Delayed, Consolidated Local Governments, Counties, Civil Actions
Common questions
- What is HB617?
- HB617 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to planning and zoning.
- What does HB617 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to planning and zoning.
- What is the status of HB617?
- In committee as of March 13, 2026. Latest action: returned to Local Government (H) (March 13, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB617?
- Susan Witten (R, HD-031), with 3 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB617?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb617.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.