Building Codes Administration

The Building Codes Administration Department works with architects, engineers, builders, contractors, developers, and citizens to resolve building and electrical code issues. The enforcement of building codes ensure that minimum requirements for safeguarding public health, safety, and welfare are met through structural strength, means of egress, stability, sanitation, adequate light and ventilation, energy conservation, and safety to life and property.

The department is responsible for performing building plan review on residential and commercial projects. It issues building permits and performs various field inspections from the beginning to the completion of a project. These inspections are required to ensure that projects are constructed per the approved plans and built to minimum standards of the building code.

The department’s staff is also responsible for following up with complaints and violations to ensure property maintenance.

Department Staff

  • Brian Sims, CBO - Chief Building Inspector
  • Gary Forsyth II - Deputy Building Official
  • John Lauber - Senior Building Official
  • Tim Tholemeier - Senior Building Official
  • Amy Eveler - Senior Building Official
  • Danny Arlinghaus - Associate Building Official
  • Jeffrey Barnes - Associate Building Official
  • Sheila Spradling - Certified Permit Technician
  • Danielle Jefferson - Certified Permit Technician
  • Jill Hensley - Associate Secretary

Quick Points of Contact

  • Schedule building inspections:  call 859.957.2408
  • Ask permit process / submittal questions:  call Sheila Spradling at 859.957.2408
  • Ask commercial plan review and inspection questions:  call Tim Tholemeier, John Lauber, or Brian Sims at 859.957.2408
  • Ask residential plan review and inspections questions:  call Gary Forsyth II at 859.957.2408
  • Ask zoning or code enforcement questions:  call Rob Himes at 859.331.8980
  • Ask subdivision regulations questions:  call Michelle Allender at 859.957.2405
  • Submit complaints, concerns, suggestions or other time sensitive issues:  call Brian Sims or Gary Forsyth II at 859.957.2408
  • All other questions:  call 859.331.8980

Contact Us

Email

bsims@pdskc.org

US Mail

Building Codes Administration
Planning and Development Services of Kenton County
1840 Simon Kenton Way, Suite 3400
Covington, Kentucky  41011

Telephone

859.957.2408

Fax

859.331.8987

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

A:

Permits are processed by the date they are received. Due to an unusually high volume of permit activity, the following schedule is being instituted until March 2022. 

  • Electrical permits: Walk-in
  • Zoning only permits: (i.e. fence, small shed, driveway etc....) Walk-in
  • Residential permits: (new house, deck, detached garage, room addition etc...) upto 15 business days.
  • Commercial permits: (all other permits - excluding electrical, zoning only or residential) upto 15 business days.

 

A:
  • The construction documents need to be of sufficient clarity. Below are some of the drawings and/or information that need to be submitted.
  • Front, side, and rear elevations drawings. 
  • Floor plan showing all interior and exterior walls.
  • Floor plan showing the use of each room or space (i.e. - bedroom, kitchen, bathroom etc...).
  • All structural information - load bearing walls, floor joist, ceiling joist or trusses, steel beams, wood beams, steel columns, wood columns, headers and/or beams for all framed opening in load bearing walls.
  • All structural information regarding the footer and foundation - width and thickness of footers. Height and thickness of foundation walls. Size and spacing of all rebar in the footer and foundation.

Note: The information listed above is only a partial list of information that may or may not be required. A larger project (such as a new custom home) will require more information than an alteration or small room addition. The drawings need to be complete and the plans should be of sufficient clarity so you can generate a material list and construct the building with few or no questions (i.e what size I-beam do I need to install or what size window is being installed in the bedroom). The better the plans, the smoother the project will go for all that need to use them (owner, contractor, supplier, inspector etc...).

A:

As long as work begins within 6 months of the date the permit was issued and work on the project does not stop for more than 6 months, the permit will not expire.

A:
  • One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet. 
  • Fences not over 6 feet (1829 mm) high.
  • Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches (762 mm) above grade and not over any basement or story below and which are not part of an accessible route.
  • Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work.
  • Swings and other playground equipment accessory to one-and two-family dwellings.
  • Window awnings supported by an exterior wall.- Replacing windows.
  • New siding or residing.
  • Ordinary re-roofing (no sheathing and/or structural members are being repaired or replaced).
  • Ordinary repair such as repairing/replacing drywall or a door. Repairs made to any structural element of your home is not considered ordinary repair. Replacing any structural element in your home is not considered ordinary repair. Please call our office if you are not sure if a permit is required.
  • Note: Above items in bold will require a zoning permit.