Henderson County, Kentucky

Towns in Henderson County

• Henderson

Permits

Building department: City of Henderson Office of Code Enforcement, 100 Fifth Street, Henderson, KY 42420, (270) 831-1277, open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (inside Henderson city limits).

• City of Henderson building permits. Inside the City of Henderson, Code Enforcement handles building permits under the Kentucky Residential Code and Kentucky Building Code; all new and remodel construction needs a permit from Code Enforcement and/or the State of Kentucky. Permits are listed for new construction, demolition, remodeling, additions and accessory structures such as detached garages, yard barns, decks, pools and some fences. Source
• City residential permit fees. The City of Henderson fee schedule (effective March 23, 2020) charges $25 for residential work valued up to $3,000, and $25 plus $2 per $1,000 above $3,001 for work up to $100,000; a $50 plan review fee applies to one- and two-family new construction, additions and accessory structures over 600 square feet. Source
• Plumbing, HVAC and electrical permits in the city. The City of Henderson's fee schedule says all plumbing, HVAC and electrical permits are issued independently of the city, so a water heater, furnace or AC job in the city is permitted through the state (plumbing, HVAC) or the city's contracted electrical inspectors, not the city building permit. Source
• City electrical permits. For electrical permits inside the City of Henderson, the city contracts with two electrical inspectors who issue the permit: Mike Villines (270-823-2111) and Damion Young (270-952-2330). Source
• City contractor license. The City of Henderson requires a $125-per-year specialty contractor license for roofing, siding, gutters, waterproofing, insulation, drywall, decks, fencing, handyman work, mold removal and similar trades even when no permit is needed, and a $250-per-year general contractor license; an owner-occupant doing their own work on a one- or two-family home can get a permit under a homeowner exemption. Source
• When Kentucky requires a plumbing permit. Kentucky requires a state plumbing permit for a new or replacement water heater, a new or replaced water service line or house sewer, adding a backflow preventer, moving fixtures, and repairs involving more than 10 feet of soil, waste or vent piping. Source
• Plumbing permit exemptions and homeowner permits. The Kentucky Division of Plumbing says permits are not required for repairing leaks, cocks or valves or for cleaning out waste or sewer pipes. Homeowner plumbing permits are bought online through the state's SmartGov portal or from the county plumbing inspector, and only for the owner's own residence (not rentals). Source
• State plumbing inspector for Henderson County. The Kentucky Division of Plumbing's inspector itinerary (dated Jan. 31, 2025) lists a state plumbing inspector for Henderson County reachable at 270-339-8539, with office hours 8-9 a.m. Central on scheduled days. Source
• State HVAC permit (homeowner form). Kentucky's Division of HVAC homeowner permit form (one- and two-family dwellings, including replacements) lists a fee of $105 for the first system plus $50 for each additional system, and requires a duct design and load calculation before the permit is issued. Source
• County building permits. Outside the city, the Henderson County Codes Department issues building permits and enforces building, property maintenance and zoning codes; the office is at 1990 Barrett Court, Suite H, Henderson (270-827-6030) with posted hours of 7-8:30 a.m., 11 a.m.-noon and 3-4 p.m. weekdays. Source
• County permit checklist. Henderson County's building permit checklist requires a septic permit before a building permit is issued, proof the property is outside the 100-year flood-prone area on the FIRM map (or approval to build there), and an occupational license number for all contractors; the county acts on applications within two weeks. Source
• County electrical permits. Henderson County charges $75 per inspection for single-family residential electrical permits; examples needing a permit include a new circuit for an air conditioner or sump pump, a new panel, and new receptacles or light fixtures where none existed. Source
• Kentucky plumber license rule. Under KRS 318.030, no one may do plumbing work in Kentucky unless they hold an active master plumber license or a journeyman plumber license issued by the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction. A plumbing business must also carry at least $250,000 in general liability coverage and show proof of workers' compensation and unemployment insurance. Source
• Kentucky HVAC license rule. Under KRS 198B.656, a person may not practice heating, ventilation and air conditioning contracting in Kentucky without meeting the state HVAC license law (KRS 198B.650 to 198B.689). The holder of a master HVAC contractor license may pull the needed permits and is primarily responsible for the work; journeyman HVAC mechanics hold their own state license. Source
• When an HVAC permit is needed. Under 815 KAR 8:070, a Kentucky HVAC installation permit is required for the first heating or cooling system in new construction, in an addition that gets its own added system, or in an existing building getting its first system. For replacement furnaces, condensing units, heat pumps and similar equipment, a permit is issued and an inspection done on request; the permit fee for a one- or two-family home is $105 for the first system. Source
• HVAC owner exception. KRS 198B.674 says Kentucky's HVAC license law does not apply to an individual owner doing heating or cooling work on property they own and live in. It also does not apply to people installing, repairing or replacing residential window air conditioners. Source
• Check a plumbing or HVAC license. The Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction has a free online licensee search that covers plumbing and HVAC license holders. You can search by name, trade name, license type or license number to check a license's status. Source
• Kentucky Residential Code. Under 815 KAR 7:125, the 2018 Kentucky Residential Code (based on the 2015 International Residential Code) is the mandatory statewide code for one- and two-family homes and townhouses. Building permits, inspections and certificates of occupancy are not required for a single-family home unless a local ordinance requires them. Source

Rules change, so check with the department before work starts. A provider can usually tell you whether they pull the permit.

Utilities and rebates

• Electric utility (City of Henderson). Henderson Municipal Power & Light (HMP&L), the electric utility overseen by the City of Henderson Utility Commission, has its service center at 1213 Barret Blvd.; main office (270) 826-2726, outages (270) 631-0660 or call/text (888) 579-2726. Source
• HMP&L HVAC rebates. HMP&L's HVAC System Rebate Program pays $150-$350 for 15-17 SEER2 air-source heat pumps, $200-$500 for 16 to above-18 SEER2 central AC, $200-$350 for 18-20+ SEER2 ductless heat pumps, and $50 for a smart thermostat bought with the HVAC equipment. Source
• HMP&L rebate rules. HMP&L HVAC rebates are only for existing HMP&L electric customers replacing existing equipment (no new construction), one project per fiscal year (June 1-May 31); a self-administered energy audit comes first and the application must be postmarked within 90 days of installation. Source
• HMP&L attic insulation incentive. HMP&L's Residential Attic Insulation Program reimburses insulation material cost (not labor) for customers using 200% or more of typical use (1 kWh per square foot per month); insulation must be R-38 or above. Source
• Electric co-op (rural areas). Kenergy Corp., a nonprofit electric cooperative, serves member-consumers in 14 western Kentucky counties including Henderson County. Source
• Kenergy Henderson office. Kenergy's Henderson office is at 6402 Old Corydon Road, Henderson, KY 42420 (weekdays 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.); phone 1-800-844-4832 for any office. Source
• Natural gas (Henderson Municipal Gas). Henderson Municipal Gas, established in 1859 and supplied from the Texas Gas interstate pipeline, serves natural gas to the City of Henderson, adjacent areas and the City of Corydon (about 8,400 residential customers). Call 270-831-1226 for new service or to move a meter; call 9-1-1 for a gas leak. Source
• Water and sewer (Henderson Water Utility). Henderson Water Utility runs the city's water works, sewer and stormwater under the Water and Sewer Commission of the City of Henderson, created in 1954; billing is through city customer service (270-831-1200) and water or sewer emergencies go to 270-826-2824. Source
• Rural water (Henderson County Water District). Henderson County Water District, created by the Fiscal Court in 1964, serves rural Henderson County and part of Webster County (about 18,000 residents) and buys all of its water from Henderson Water Utility; office (270) 826-9802, after-hours emergency (270) 860-9731. Source
• Solid waste: City curbside trash. City of Henderson trash goes in city roll-out carts at the curb by 5 a.m.; one tied bundle of branches (up to 5 feet long, 1.5 inches thick, 50 pounds) is picked up free, while loose bags or boxes beside the cart count as a special load with extra charges. Source
• Solid waste: Brush and bulk pickup. The City of Henderson charges $30 for a pickup-truck-size brush/trash load and $60 for a dump-truck load, added to the utility bill; spring cleanup is usually in late April. Source
• Solid waste: Landfill / transfer station. The city Solid Waste Transfer Station at 790 Wolf Hills Road (270-826-1067, Mon-Sat 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m.) is free for Henderson city and county households with proof of residency; construction/demolition debris is $48 per ton ($10 minimum). Tires, batteries, oil, paint, chemicals, air conditioners and refrigerators are not taken. Source
• Solid waste: County recycling drop-off (tires, oil, batteries). The Henderson County Recycling Center, 398 Sam Ball Way (270-827-1979, weekdays 7 a.m.-3 p.m.), takes residential tires, used oil and oil filters, lead-acid and household batteries, and appliances with Freon already removed; it is currently not accepting electronics or TVs. Source
• Solid waste: City curbside recycling. The City of Henderson collects single-stream recycling every other week on the regular trash day; call (270) 854-2064 for your schedule. Source
• Call 811 before you dig. Contacting Kentucky 811 before digging is free for homeowners, and Kentucky 811 asks for at least two full working days' notice before digging starts; a locate request is valid for 21 calendar days. Marked lines may be up to 24 inches off on either side, so hand dig within that zone. Source
• Who regulates utilities. The Kentucky Public Service Commission regulates rates and service of investor-owned electric, natural gas, water and sewer utilities, electric cooperatives, and water districts and associations. It does not regulate utilities run by cities or other political subdivisions, or those served by the Tennessee Valley Authority; its consumer hotline is 1-800-772-4636. Source

Flooding

• Flood categories (Ohio River at Henderson). NWS flood categories for the Ohio River at Henderson (HENK2) are 31 ft action stage, 36 ft minor flooding, 43 ft moderate flooding and 48 ft major flooding. Source
• April 2025 crest at Henderson. The highest crest NWS lists for the Henderson gauge is 43.08 ft on April 12, 2025 (moderate flooding); the NWS Paducah April 2025 flood summary notes Henderson records only go back to 2024. Source
• February 2025 crest at Henderson. The Ohio River at Henderson also crested at 39.59 ft (minor flooding) on Feb. 22, 2025 (local time), per NWS crest data. Source
• Impacts at minor and moderate stages. At 36 ft on the Henderson gauge, NWS says roads begin to flood, including Horseshoe Bend Rd on Hwy 136, KY 268 past McDonald Landing Rd, Old River Rd, Green River Rd, Stratman Rd and Wolf Hills Rd; at 43 ft several county roads in the western and northern county become impassable. Source
• Impacts at major stages. At 48 ft NWS expects extensive flooding in Smith Mills, Alzey Bottoms and up to Sunset Lane in Henderson, and at 50 ft numerous homes and businesses in the western and northern sections of the county are affected. Source
• Evansville gauge record and 2025 crest. Directly across the river, the Ohio River at Evansville (EVVI3) has a record crest of 53.75 ft on Jan. 31, 1937; its April 12, 2025 crest of 47.67 ft was the highest there since 1964. Source
• Green River at Spottsville gauge. NWS lists a Green River (KY) above Spottsville gauge (SPTK2) in Henderson County, but it has no official flood categories or crest history in NWS data. Source
• April 2025 rainfall at Henderson. During the April 2-5, 2025 storms, a CoCoRaHS observer 0.4 mile SSW of Henderson measured 9.36 inches of rain; NWS Paducah reported 6-12 inches widely across the region. Source
• Floodplain permits. Henderson County takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program and Community Rating System, and all floodplain development needs a local permit; the Floodplain Administrator at the Henderson City-County Planning Commission can be reached at 270-831-1289. Source
• Flood maps and ordinance. The Henderson City-County Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance took effect Feb. 20, 2013, and the current FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas are effective as of Sept. 29, 2017; the county notes homeowners insurance excludes flood coverage. Source
• Combined sewer overflows. Henderson Water Utility runs a combined sewer system with 16 permitted combined sewer overflows (5 now closed); under an Aug. 30, 2007 consent judgment it has separated about 60% of the original combined-sewer area and is expanding the North Wastewater Treatment Plant's peak capacity from 15 to 25.5 million gallons per day. Source
• Downspout and sump connections banned. City ordinance Chapter 23-29(b)(1), cited in HWU policy F-200, bans connecting roof downspouts, basement or floor seepage, foundation drains or other surface or groundwater to a sanitary sewer; owners must disconnect such connections at their own cost. Source
• Mine subsidence coverage. Daviess and Henderson counties are among the 37 Kentucky counties taking part in the Kentucky Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund, so a mine subsidence endorsement is automatically added to property policies there. It covers damage from the collapse of underground coal mines, up to $500,000 per structure plus up to $50,000 in additional living expense, which a typical homeowners policy does not cover. Source