Pulaski County, Kentucky
Pulaski County Septic Permit Guide: Steps, Fees & Rules
Building a new home or replacing a failed system anywhere in Pulaski County means working through the Lake Cumberland District Health Department first. This is the full septic permit process in order, with every fee, timeline, and regulation attached — written as a plain-language reference for homeowners, builders, realtors, and inspectors alike, so nobody has to dig through the raw regulation text just to find out what happens next.
The Regulatory Chain
Who Regulates Septic Permits in Pulaski County
Kentucky's onsite sewage rules live in 902 KAR 10:085, the state regulation governing how septic systems are designed, sited, and built. A companion regulation, 902 KAR 10:110, governs how construction permits are issued: a permit is required before any installation or alteration, it can only be issued by a certified inspector, and it can only go to a certified installer or the homeowner doing the work themselves.
The statewide framework is administered by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services' Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems Program. Locally, that authority sits with the Lake Cumberland District Health Department (LCDHD), which issues every septic permit for Pulaski County. Nothing about the process is optional — a new system, a replacement drain field, or a major alteration all route through the same office.
Step by Step
The 4-Step LCDHD Septic Permit Process
LCDHD lays out new-home onsite sewage permitting in four stages. Here is what each one actually involves.
1. Site Evaluation Application
Filed with LCDHD along with a floor plan of the home. The fee is $227, payable to LCDHD.
2. Test Holes
The applicant or installer digs 2 to 4 backhoe test pits, about 42 inches deep and spaced 50 to 100 feet apart. LCDHD reviews them, writes up the system design, and issues a temporary electric sticker — not available for RVs or mobile homes.
3. Septic Permit Application
Must be filed by a certified septic installer, with a detailed system drawing. The fee is $271. A copy goes to the plumbing inspector so the water permit can be issued too.
4. Installation & Final Inspection
The system goes in to permit spec, LCDHD inspects the finished work, and a permanent electric sticker is issued once it passes.
Budgeting
LCDHD Permit Fees at a Glance
Two fees make up the fixed regulatory floor for any new septic permit in Pulaski County — before a shovel of dirt moves for the system itself.
| Step | Fee | Paid To |
|---|---|---|
| Site Evaluation Application | $227 | LCDHD |
| Septic Permit Application | $271 | LCDHD |
| Total permit fees | $498 | LCDHD |
These fees cover the permit only, not construction. For what installation itself typically runs in Somerset, see our Kentucky septic installation cost guide.
Why the Site Evaluation Matters Here
Karst Ground Makes Step One Non-Negotiable
Two-thirds of Pulaski County's land area is limestone country, riddled with caves, fissures, and sinkholes that can carry surface water — and anything in it — underground almost instantly. That is exactly why the site evaluation and test-hole steps come before any drawing gets approved: a design that ignores what is underneath a lot risks siting a drain field over ground that cannot safely absorb what it is given. Health department reviewers use the test-hole write-up to catch that problem on paper, before equipment ever shows up.
If you are further along and dealing with an existing system rather than a new one, LCDHD also publishes a septic repair guideline covering alterations to systems already in the ground — a separate track from the new-installation process above, though it runs through the same office.
Fine Print
Permit Validity & Who Can File
A Kentucky septic construction permit expires one year from the date it is issued, unless the cabinet grants an extension — so timing your site evaluation to your actual construction schedule matters. The permit itself can only be issued to a certified septic installer or to the homeowner performing the work, and under 902 KAR 10:110 it takes a certified inspector to issue it in the first place. That is also why the septic permit application in step three specifically has to be filed by a certified installer, even though the earlier site evaluation application does not carry that restriction.
Where to Apply
LCDHD's Pulaski County Office
Every step above is filed through the local Lake Cumberland District Health Department office, not a state office in Frankfort.
Address & Phone
45 Roberts St, Somerset, KY 42501
(606) 679-4416
Hours
Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Full guideline details are published directly by LCDHD's new-home onsite sewage page and its Pulaski County office listing.
Common Questions
Septic Permit Questions for Pulaski County
Do I need a permit to install or repair a septic system in Kentucky?
Yes. A construction permit is required before installation or alteration of an onsite sewage system under 902 KAR 10:085, issued by a certified inspector to a certified installer or homeowner under 902 KAR 10:110.
What does a Pulaski County septic site evaluation involve?
The health department reviews two to four backhoe test holes, roughly 42 inches deep and spaced 50 to 100 feet apart, before writing up the system design.
What are the LCDHD septic permit fees?
The site evaluation application costs $227 and the septic permit application, which must be filed by a certified installer, costs $271, for $498 total before any installation cost.
How long is a Kentucky septic construction permit valid?
A permit expires one year from the date of issuance unless the cabinet grants an extension.
Ready to Build
We Handle the Permit Process for You
If reading through four steps and two fees sounds like a headache you would rather not manage yourself, that is exactly what a certified installer is for. Our septic system installation in Somerset and Burnside service covers site evaluation coordination, the permit application, karst-aware siting, and the final LCDHD inspection — start to finish. For more Pulaski County septic guides, visit our blog.
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