The department shall have the following general powers and duties:
(1) To conduct or cause to be conducted studies to determine the needs of the building industry of Kentucky;

Terms Used In Kentucky Statutes 198B.040

  • Building: means any combination of materials, whether portable or fixed,
    which comprises a structure or nonmine underground area affording facilities or shelter for any human occupancy, whether infrequent or regular, and also means single-family dwellings, including those sold or constructed under a trade or brand name. See Kentucky Statutes 198B.010
  • Construction: means the erection, fabrication, reconstruction, substantial alteration or conversion of a building, or the installation of equipment therein, but shall not include the ordinary repair of a building or structure. See Kentucky Statutes 198B.010
  • Department: means the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction. See Kentucky Statutes 198B.010
  • Equipment: means facilities or installations, including but not limited to heating, electrical, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigerating facilities or installations. See Kentucky Statutes 198B.010
  • Federal: refers to the United States. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
  • State: when applied to a part of the United States, includes territories, outlying possessions, and the District of Columbia. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
  • Treatment: when used in a criminal justice context, means targeted interventions
    that focus on criminal risk factors in order to reduce the likelihood of criminal behavior. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
  • Year: means calendar year. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010

(2) To conduct or cause to be conducted or participate in studies of the costs of the various factors of building construction and use of buildings and to recommend programs and procedures which will minimize the cost of buildings, including the use of energy, while maintaining safety, durability, and comfort;
(3) To administer regulatory legislation relating to buildings and construction;
(4) To assume administrative coordination of the various state construction review programs and to cooperate with various federal, state, and local agencies in the programs as they relate to buildings and construction;
(5) To assume administration and coordination of various state housing programs to include:
(a) Devising and implementing procedures, in conjunction with the Department for Local Government, for attaining and maintaining an accurate count of the housing inventory in Kentucky, including information on the age, physical condition, size, facilities, and amenities of this housing, and housing constructed and demolished each year;
(b) Designing programs coordinating the elements of housing finance, production, maintenance, and rehabilitation for the purpose of assuring the availability of safe, adequate housing in a healthful environment for all Kentucky citizens;
(c) Establishing or causing to be established public information and educational programs relating to housing, to include informing Kentucky citizens about housing and housing related programs that are available on all levels of government;
(d) Designing and administering, or participating in the design and administration of educational programs to prepare low income families for home ownership, and counseling them during their early years as homeowners;
(e) Promoting educational programs to assist sponsors in the development and management of low and moderate income housing for sale or rental;
(f) Cooperating with various federal, state, and local agencies in their programs as they relate to housing; and
(g) Conducting or causing to be conducted studies to determine the housing preferences of Kentucky citizens and the present and future housing requirements of the state;
(6) To recommend state building industry policies and goals to the Kentucky
General Assembly;
(7) To adopt and promulgate a mandatory uniform state building code, and parts thereof, which shall establish standards for the construction of all buildings, as defined in KRS § 198B.010, in the state;
(8) To promulgate administrative regulations providing for the proper construction of public water purification plants, other than the water treatment equipment
and systems in those plants. Any administrative regulation promulgated under this subsection shall require that applications for permits to build public water purification plants be submitted by the department to the Energy and Environment Cabinet for that cabinet’s comments. Any submitted administrative regulations shall require the Energy and Environment Cabinet’s comments to be completed and returned to the department within sixty (60) days;
(9) To promulgate administrative regulations providing for the proper construction of sewage treatment plants, other than the sewage treatment equipment and systems in such plants. Any administrative regulation promulgated under this subsection shall require that applications for permits to build public sewage treatment plants be submitted by the department to the Energy and Environment Cabinet for that cabinet’s comments. Any submitted administrative regulations shall require the Energy and Environment Cabinet’s comments to be completed and returned to the department within sixty (60) days; and
(10) To promulgate administrative regulations for the safe installation and operation of plumbing and plumbing fixtures.
Effective:June 29, 2017
History: Amended 2017 Ky. Acts ch. 169, sec. 4, effective June 29, 2017. — Amended 2011 Ky. Acts ch. 100, sec. 2, effective June 8, 2011. — Amended
2010 Ky. Acts ch. 24, sec. 248, effective July 15, 2010; and ch. 117, sec. 84, effective July 15, 2010. — Amended 2007 Ky. Acts ch. 47, sec. 88, effective June 26, 2007. — Amended 2006 Ky. Acts ch. 256, sec. 3, effective July 12,
2006. — Amended 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 69, sec. 71, effective July 15, 1998. — Created 1978 Ky. Acts ch. 117, sec. 4, effective June 17, 1978.