City Building Division permits: 270-393-3615, 707 E. Main Ave. Zoning and rezoning: City-County Planning Commission, 270-842-1953. Fees and meetings.
Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Bowling Green’s Building Division and the City-County Planning Commission of Warren County.
Two offices split the work. The City of Bowling Green Building Division issues building, electrical, demolition, fence, pool and sign permits and does the inspections. The City-County Planning Commission of Warren County writes and enforces the zoning ordinance, hears rezonings and runs the boards that decide variances and historic district changes.
Who to call
- Building permits and inspections: Building Division, 270-393-3615 or 270-393-3676, building.division@bgky.org, 707 E. Main Ave., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays
- Plan review: 270-393-3478
- Electrical inspections: 270-393-3675
- Zoning, rezoning, variances: City-County Planning Commission, 270-842-1953, 922 State St., Suite 200, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays
- Apply online: the city’s e-permits portal
When you need a permit
The city’s permit page says a building permit is required to build, enlarge, alter, repair or demolish a structure, to install equipment in a building, or to change a building’s use. Work that changes a building’s structure needs one: taking down or building walls, covering a door or other way out, or cutting new window openings.
The city’s guidance for homeowners says these generally do not need a building permit:
- Storm windows or window panes that do not change the structure
- Digging or paving less than 350 square feet
- New countertops or cabinets
- Painting and finishing
- Replacing shingles
- Other minor repairs
Even without a permit, you still have to respect property lines, setbacks, utility easements and zoning rules, and call Kentucky 811 before you dig. Any new electrical work in a garage, shed or storage building needs an electrical permit.
Other permits on the city’s list:
- Fences: every fence needs a permit. A fence under 7 feet gets a no-fee permit; a fence over 7 feet needs drawings too.
- Sheds: an accessory building under 200 square feet gets a no-fee permit.
- Pools: new in-ground pools and pool additions need a permit and an erosion control plan.
- Short-term rentals: converting a home to a short-term rental is a change of use and needs a Short Term Rental Permit and inspections. The Planning Commission also has rules for short-term rentals.
- Tents over 400 square feet, demolition, site work over 350 square feet, manufactured and mobile homes, house moving and permanent signs.
Hired builders usually pull the permits, but the city tells homeowners to check and never let work start until the permit is posted on the site. The Builders Association of South Central Kentucky lists registered builders, and the city’s contractor search shows licensed contractors.
Building permit fees
Building permit fees are set by the cost of the work, according to the city:
| Cost of construction | Building permit fee |
|---|---|
| Up to $3,000 | $20 |
| $3,000 to $500,000 | $20 plus $2.50 for every $1,000 over $3,000 |
| $500,000 to $10 million | $1,250 plus $1 for every $1,000 over $500,000 |
| Over $10 million | $10,700 plus 50 cents for every $1,000 over $10 million |
A $40,000 addition, for example, works out to $112.50. Electrical permits, erosion control plan fees ($35 when 750 square feet or more is disturbed, $75 for an acre or more) and the $3 certificate of occupancy are extra. The full list is on the permit page.
How the process works
- Check zoning first. The Planning Commission’s online GIS map shows the zoning on your lot, and its regulations page holds the zoning ordinance.
- Draw a plot plan showing the property lines and the work. The city posts a sample plot plan (PDF).
- Apply through the e-permits portal or at 707 E. Main Ave. Commercial plans go through electronic plan submittal.
- Schedule progress inspections as the work goes on. Commercial and new buildings get a certificate of occupancy after the final inspection.
Zoning, rezoning and variances
The Planning Commission’s 12 commissioners oversee its staff and budget, carry out the community’s BG 2050 Comprehensive Plan and advise local governments. They hold public hearings on rezonings (zoning map amendments) and zoning text changes. Three other boards meet through the same office, as their October 2026 agendas show:
- Board of Adjustments: hears requests to waive zoning rules on a single lot, such as a lot coverage limit.
- Historic Preservation Board: hears local historic designations.
- Urban Growth Design Review Board: reviews overlay development plans, including signs on new commercial buildings.
Staff reports for each Planning Commission meeting go up on the commission’s website in the week before. To report a zoning violation, use the commission’s compliance page.
Upcoming meetings
Meetings are in the Fiscal Court Room of the Warren County Courthouse, 429 E. 10th Ave., unless noted, and stream on the commission’s YouTube channel and cable channel 195. Times are Central. Dates from the commission’s event calendar:
| Board | Dates | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Planning Commission | Thursday, Oct. 15; Thursday, Nov. 5; Thursday, Nov. 19; Thursday, Dec. 3; Thursday, Dec. 17 | 5:30 p.m. |
| Design Review Board | Wednesday, Oct. 21; Wednesday, Nov. 18; Wednesday, Dec. 16 | 5 p.m. |
| Historic Preservation Board | Thursday, Oct. 22; Thursday, Nov. 26; Thursday, Dec. 24 | 5 p.m. |
| Board of Adjustments | Thursday, Nov. 12; Thursday, Dec. 10 | 5 p.m. |
The commission’s office is closed Nov. 11, Nov. 26 and 27, and Dec. 24 and 25. Check the calendar before a holiday-week meeting.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a building permit in Bowling Green, Kentucky?
The city requires a building permit to build, enlarge, alter, repair or demolish a structure or to change a building’s use. Painting, new countertops and cabinets, and replacing shingles generally do not need one.
How much is a building permit in Bowling Green?
The city charges $20 for work costing up to $3,000, and $20 plus $2.50 for every $1,000 over $3,000 for projects up to $500,000. Electrical, erosion control and other fees are separate.
Do I need a permit for a fence in Bowling Green?
The city’s permit page says all fences need a permit. A fence under 7 feet tall gets a no-fee permit; a fence over 7 feet needs a permit and drawings.
Who handles zoning in Bowling Green?
The City-County Planning Commission of Warren County, at 922 State St., Suite 200, handles zoning, rezonings and the zoning ordinance. Call 270-842-1953.
When does the Warren County Planning Commission meet?
The Planning Commission meets at 5:30 p.m. on scheduled Thursdays in the Fiscal Court Room of the Warren County Courthouse, 429 E. 10th Ave. Upcoming dates are Oct. 15, Nov. 5, Nov. 19, Dec. 3 and Dec. 17, 2026.
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