Kentucky Administrative Regulations Title 815 - PUBLIC PROTECTION CABINET - DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING, BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION
Here’s an overview of Kentucky Administrative Regulations (KAR), Title 815 — which governs the Public Protection Cabinet – Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction:
📘 Title 815 Structure & Contents
According to the official Kentucky Legislature, Title 815 includes the following active chapters (with "Last Updated" dates) (apps.legislature.ky.gov):
Chapter 002 – General (fees, vehicle ID, continuing education): last updated 12/15/2021
Chapter 004 – Elevator Safety: updated 3/11/2025
Chapter 005 – Kentucky Board of Home Inspectors (proposed): 12/15/2021
Chapter 007 – Kentucky Building Code: updated 5/12/2025
Chapter 008 – HVAC Licensing Requirements: 3/12/2025
Chapter 010 – Standards of Safety: 3/11/2025
Chapter 015 – Boilers & Pressure Vessels: 2/25/2025
Chapter 020 – Plumbing: 3/11/2025
Chapter 025 – Manufactured Homes & RVs: 3/11/2025
Chapter 030 – Hazardous Materials: 3/11/2025
Chapter 035 – Electrical: 5/7/2025
Note that several chapters are marked inactive, expired, repealed, or withdrawn (e.g., Architectural Barriers, Energy Conservation).
🔍 Key Selected Chapters
Chapter 7: Kentucky Building Code (815 KAR 7:070–7:130)
7:120 – Defines adoption of the 2015 International Building Code with 2018 state amendments (apps.legislature.ky.gov, law.cornell.edu).
7:125 – Kentucky Residential Code: adopts the 2015 International Residential Code with 2018 Kentucky amendments; effective August 2024, expires August 2026 (apps.legislature.ky.gov).
7:130 – Industrialized Building Systems: outlines off‑site construction review, third‑party inspections, “M‑Seal” certification, and associated fees (apps.legislature.ky.gov).
Chapter 2: General
Covers continuing education, provider approval, vehicle ID, fees/refunds (regulations.justia.com).
Chapter 35: Electrical
35:060 – Licensing requirements for electricians, master electricians, and contractors; fees, reciprocity, experience proof (apps.legislature.ky.gov).
Chapter 8: HVAC
Covers local jurisdictions opting into HVAC inspection programs via Form HVAC‑31 (casetext.com).
Chapter 25: Manufactured Homes & RVs
Sets standards for design, manufacture, installation, sale, and enforcement of manufactured/mobile homes (casetext.com).
🛠️ Why Title 815 Matters
Title 815 ensures consistency and safety in Kentucky’s built environment by:
Requiring adoption of national codes like the International Building Code (IBC/IRC) with state-specific adaptations.
Mandating licensing and qualification processes for key professions (e.g., electricians, HVAC, home inspectors).
Establishing permit, plan-review, certification, inspection, and fee frameworks.
Governing specialized systems such as manufactured homes, industrialized buildings, boilers, plumbing, and hazardous materials.
✅ How to Access & Use Title 815
For full regulations, visit the Kentucky Legislature’s KAR portal (e.g., Title 815 index, chapter and section pages) (apps.legislature.ky.gov, gowithfortress.com, law.cornell.edu).
Cornell’s LII provides a convenient listing of chapters/sections (law.cornell.edu).
Justia, Casetext, and other legal research platforms offer search and referencing tools, though cross-check with the official source.
📅 Notable Updates
Residential code (7:125) filed August 13, 2024; expires August 2, 2026 (casetext.com, apps.legislature.ky.gov).
Electrical licensing (35:060) filed January 13, 2025, includes updated fees (contractor: $400; master electrician: $200; electrician: $100 biennial) (apps.legislature.ky.gov).
Building code (7:120) amendments effective December 3, 2024 (law.cornell.edu).
🧭 Next Steps If You’re Involved in Construction, Inspection, or Licensing
Identify which chapter(s) apply to your project—e.g., building construction (Ch. 7), plumbing (Ch. 20), electrical (Ch. 35), HVAC (Ch. 8), manufactured homes (Ch. 25).
Review the precise section(s)—e.g., 7:125 for residential, 35:060 for electrical licensure.
Follow procedures for plan submission, licensing, certificates, inspections, and fees.
Use official sources (KY Legislature site, DHBC forms) to ensure you're referencing the current version.
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