Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB618: AN ACT relating to residential housing.
Status: In committee, March 13, 2026
Amend KRS 198B.050 to require that building code standards for 2, 3, and 4 family homes not be more stringent than those for single-family homes; amend KRS 198B.060 to apply exemption for single-family homes to 2, 3, and 4 family homes; permit third-party plan review and inspections under new procedures; create a new section of KRS Chapter 198B to define terms; require regulatory authorities to provide information to prospective applicants regarding requirements to apply for a permit; require a regulatory authority to inform an applicant of whether the application is complete within 3 days and include whether the regulatory authority is able to perform plan review and inspection within specified time limits; require a regulatory authority to conduct plan review within 14 days of receipt of a complete application and inspections within 5 days of any request for an inspection being made; provide for circumstances in which deadlines may be extended; permit an applicant to use a qualifying third-party inspector; set out circumstances under which a regulatory authority may collect fees depending on use of a third-party inspector; set out what a third-party inspector may review and set out qualifications and requirements the third-party inspector must meet; require a regulatory authority to issue a permit within 1 business day of the completion of required plan reviews and inspections associated with an otherwise complete application; state that any ordinance, rule, or regulation contrary is void and unenforceable; state that a regulatory authority may issue a stop work order if a condition of a project constitute an immediate threat to public safety and welfare; establish immunity for the regulatory authority for action of an applicant or third-party inspector; EFFECTIVE July 1, 2027.
What the bill says
An act relating to residential housing.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to residential housing. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Section 1. KRS 198B.050 is amended to read as follows: (1) The department shall adopt and promulgate a mandatory Uniform State Building Code that establishes standards for the construction of all buildings, as defined in KRS 198B.010, in the state. The code shall provide that the review and approval, as necessary, of building plans for conformance with the Uniform State Building Code prior to construction approval shall be conducted only by the department or a local government or governments delegated such responsibilities by this chapter, and any exceptions to this policy shall be explicitly stated in the code. (2) The code shall be comprehensive and shall include but not be limited to provisions for general construction; structural quality; mechanical systems to include heating, cooling, and ventilation; electrical systems; and life safety from hazards of fire, explosion, and other disasters, whether caused by acts of nature or man. The code shall encompass the Kentucky State Plumbing Code promulgated pursuant to KRS 318.130, boiler rules and regulations issued pursuant to KRS 236.030, and the national electrical code. (3) This code shall be designed after and may be selected from the models offered by such model code agencies as the International Code Council, Inc., the …
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: State Agencies, Planning And Zoning, Land Use, Housing, Building, And Construction, Local Mandate, Effective Dates, Delayed, Local Government, Administrative Regulations And Proceedings
Common questions
- What is HB618?
- HB618 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to residential housing.
- What does HB618 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to residential housing.
- What is the status of HB618?
- In committee as of March 13, 2026. Latest action: returned to Local Government (H) (March 13, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB618?
- Susan Witten (R, HD-031), with 3 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB618?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb618.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.