Building & Electrical Overview
The Owensboro Metropolitan Planning Commission Building & Electrical Division performs the following administrative and enforcement functions for Owensboro-Daviess County:
The division issues all building and electrical permits required by the Kentucky Building Code and National Electrical Code. Also, the division is responsible for review and field inspection of development plans for compliance with the Zoning Ordinance within the City of Owensboro and Daviess County. In the City of Whitesville, the City Clerk oversees this process.
Many times, the Building & Electrical division is the first contact made concerning a future building project or development. Generally, following a preliminary project review, the Associate Director makes a determination as to requirements the applicant must follow for the proposed project. This determination considers many variables such as zoning status, proposed use, size and number of buildings/units, land area, parking needs, landscaping and vehicular access. In cases where development plans are required by the Zoning Ordinance to be approved by the OMPC, this division provides input into review of project construction plans prior to approval. During the construction phase, the division makes complete construction field inspections.
Bulding Plan Review. Within the City of Owensboro and Daviess County, new building construction, additions and certain types of remodeling require that this office, upon receipt of an application for a construction permit, review a set of construction plan drawings for compliance with the Kentucky Building Code. In the City of Whitesville, the City Clerk oversees residential construction (12 units or less). A typical plan review requires compliance with structural and non-structural components of a proposed building. The structural component deals with the footer/foundation, wall systems and the roof system. The non-structural component primarily deals with egress travel, stairways, types of building materials used, etc. A vital concern for a building is its life safety elements. Before a sprinkler system, fire alarm system, or cooking equipment, etc. is installed, the plan reviewer must insure that the plans are in compliance with the applicable code(s). The inspector must field test these items at various stages and also upon completion of the job before the building is occupied.
Detailed site plans also are reviewed daily as they relate to both the Kentucky Building Code and the Zoning Ordinance. Review also includes compliance with flood zone status within the City of Owensboro and Daviess County. In the City of Whitesville the City Clerk oversees this process. Barrier-free design for the disabled is also reviewed.
Floodplain. Each site is evaluated to ascertain whether the property is located in a floodplain. If it is, the applicant must apply to the Division of Water in Frankfort for a Stream Construction Permit. The OMPC Building & Electrical Division has the responsibility of assuring that the first floor of the structure is above the 100-year base flood elevation. A Flood Elevation Certificate is required for
confirmation.
Barrier-Free Design – Federal law requires all buildings to be accessible. A building is checked by the plan reviewer and the inspector in the field for compliance with such items as parking, entrances, door hardware, restrooms, alarms, signage, etc.
The Building & Electrical Division issues the following permits:
- Building Permits for new construction, remodeling, additions, and rehabilitation
- Electrical Permits/Low Voltage
- HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning) Permits
- Sign Permits
- Parking Lot Permits
- Certificates of Occupancy
Demolition permits are issued by the Public Works Department of the City of Owensboro.
Building inspections for new construction, additions and remodeling of both residential and commercial-industrial structures requires a minimum of three (3) field inspections to be conducted by the division. Every new structure must be inspected for footer-foundation, construction framing of all components and a final inspection to grant occupancy. During the inspection process, all requirements such as zoning, signs, electrical permits, parking, landscaping, and vehicular access control are checked for compliance in the field.
Plan review and field inspections of all electrical installations in Owensboro and Daviess County are checked for compliance with the National Electrical Code (NEC). This office enforces the provisions of the NEC. All electrical installations require permitting and a minimum of two inspections consisting of no less than a rough-in and a final inspection. This office must also provide and supply electric utilities with an electrical clearance certification for the electrical work performed before the installation can be energized by the utility. Presently three staff members perform all required duties for residential and commercial electrical inspections for Owensboro-Daviess County.
Plan review and field inspection of all heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) installations in Owensboro and Daviess County are checked for compliance with the Kentucky Residential Code (KRC), the Kentucky Building Code (KBC), the International Mechanical Code, NFPA 54 and Manual J. HVAC installations require permitting and inspections.
Based on requirements of the Kentucky Building Code, KRS 198(B), specific types of building structures, determined by size and use, may be required to submit to the Kentucky Department of Housing, Building and Construction in Frankfort for construction plan review and approval. In these cases, close coordination with the state is needed to insure compliance and for the OMPC Building & Electrical Division to issue building construction permits. OMPC staff many times makes joint field inspections with state inspectors.
Zoning Ordinance enforcement is a major element of the duties of this division within the City of Owensboro and Daviess County. Numerous areas are considered as contained within the Zoning Ordinance. The major areas are as follows:
- Plan review, approval and inspection of all landscaping in compliance with the landscaping ordinance.
- Approval and inspection of all sign installations in compliance with the sign ordinance.
- Answer complaints regarding planning, zoning, existing structures, new construction, signs, vehicular access control, and landscaping.
- Project coordination with various local, state and federal agencies.
- Zoning review and approval of all Business Licenses issued by the City of Owensboro and Daviess County.
- Review all projects within the Downtown Overlay Districts in coordination with the Downtown Design Administrator for compliance with Article 21 of Zoning Ordinance
