Homeowners Information

***Alert***

Homeowners be aware that any type of plumbing that has not been permitted and inspected has, in the past voided manufactures warranty. It also has voided homeowners insurance if damage is found to be from defective plumbing that has not been properly installed, inspected, and approved by the Division of Plumbing. Be sure to get the proper inspections on your plumbing system due to the fact that it could prevent the sale or loan eligibility of a home.

Plumbing permits are required for the following:

1. For all new plumbing installations;
2. For all existing installations if a fixture, soil or waste opening, or pipe is to be moved or relocated or if you are replacing more than ten feet of piping;
3. For a new house sewer or for a house sewer that is to be replaced;
4. For a new water service or for a service that is to be replaced.
5. For an addition of a backflow prevention device to an existing water service;
6. For a new water heater or for a water heater that is to be replaced;
7. If you have any questions or need assistance please call your local state plumbing inspector or the Frankfort office.

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• Homeowner plumbing permits can be obtained for primary residence only.
• All water heater replacements must be permitted and inspected through the Division of Plumbing.
• Replacement of an existing water heater must be installed to meet the current Kentucky Plumbing Code.
• Hot and cold water supply piping to the water heater is to be three-fourth inch I.D. size of a material approved by the Division of Plumbing.
• In residential dwellings, the shutoff valve shall be placed within three feet of the water heater and be placed on the accessible side of the water heater.
• A temperature and pressure relief device shall be installed on each water heater on the hot water side and piped within two inches of the floor, if a floor drain is available. If the water heater is installed in a location that does not have a floor drain, discharge from the relief device shall be piped to the outside of the building with an ell turned down and piped within four inches of the surface of the ground.
• The joint between ferrous piping and copper or copper-alloy piping shall be made with a dielectric fitting or other insulating fittings to prevent electrolysis.
• If your water service or water meter is installed with a dual check valve, water pressure regulator without a bypass or a single check valve you must install an expansion tank on your water heater.

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Only one homeowner's permit can be obtained every five years.

• You must obtain a plumbing permit. This can be obtained from the state plumbing inspector's office.
• The plumbing installation must be to your primary residence or your intended primary residence, not a house built for sale or rental property.
• If your lot requires a septic system installation you must contact the environmentalist, located in your local health department and obtain a site evaluation and septic permit. This must be done before a plumbing permit can be obtained.
• For installing plumbing drain, waste, and venting systems inside a house, you need to bring a blueprint with a floor plan to the state plumbing inspector's office located at your local heath department.
• You will need to draw a riser diagram of your soil, waste and vent systems, as well as a water piping drawing. All pipes must be sized.
• You must install this work in accordance with the 2007 Kentucky State Plumbing Law, Regulations and Code.
• All work must be done by you (the homeowner). You can not hire help for the job. You will have to sign a homeowner's affidavit form HBC 31-05 (MS Word - 747KB) stating that all work will be complete with your own hands. The form will also have to be notarized before applying for the permit.
• It is necessary that all plumbing is tested by you and inspected, and approved by the state plumbing inspector before any work is covered or concealed.
• This includes all plumbing that is to be concealed under concrete, inside the walls of the home, and the water service and house sewer serving the home.
• This requires a cap or plug in each fixture outlet, outside in the pipe sticking through the foundation wall, and any vents through the roof lower than the highest one. A five psi air test may also be used to assure that all joints are tight. All openings must be capped or plugged for the air test. You will need the necessary plugs to close up the openings. The state plumbing inspector must witness your test. The first test for an underground rough-in (if pipe is to be covered with concrete) is a water or air test.
• The plumbing must have a ten foot riser pipe connected to your system standing full of water or five psi air test.
• The second test is the rough-in test and piping must be filled to the highest vent through the roof.
• All plumbing tests must be ready prior to the plumbing inspector's arrival.
• After the underground and or the rough-in test have been inspected and approved and all walls are closed in, the plumbing fixtures can be installed.
• After all fixtures are set, a final air test must be performed on the complete system.
• This will require that all vents through the roof and sewer openings in your plumbing system be plugged or capped. You will insert a small hollow tube through the trap of your water closet. Next you will blow air in the tube with your mouth, it only takes a few blows of air to fill the plumbing system with air. If your plumbing system is air tight (having no leaks) and holds the air pressure for fifteen minutes, the plumbing system will be approved. If it will not hold air for a fifteen minute test without losing any of the air pressure,you will need to find your leak and fix it before you call the plumbing inspector.
• The inspector nor the Office of Housing, Buildings and Construction will furnish any materials for preparing the tests.
• All plastic pipes and fittings in drainage lines must be cleaned and solvent welded including the outlet side of a trap. The use of a tee lying on its side is prohibited on the drainage system.
• The use of S or floor traps is prohibited.
• Roof flashings must be of the approved type. The base shall not be smaller than sixteen inches square.
• Hangers on plastic PVC and ABS pipe shall be at intervals not to exceed four feet. Use non abrasive hanger material with a width that will not cut or distort the pipe.
• All vents less than three inches in diameter must be increased to three inches in size one foot below the roof level before passing through the roof.
• All water pipes must have a water or air test before being concealed and must be found without leaks under normal working pressure in which the system will function.
• Water lines must not be less than three-fourth inch I.D. to the water heater and to the first outlet. Water lines one-half inch cannot supply (or connect to) more than three plumbing fixtures.
• Hangers for copper pipe shall not exceed six foot apart and for CPVC shall not exceed three foot apart. PEX pipe hangers shall not exceed 32 inches apart. If copper pipe is used for water distribution system, the solder must be lead free.

• You must obtain a plumbing permit. This can be obtained from the state plumbing inspector's office.
• The minimum size of a house sewer shall not be less than four inch in diameter nor less than the house drain.
• The sewer pipe shall be laid on a grade of not less than an eigth inch and no more than one-quarter inch of fall per foot.
• House sewers must be laid on at least four inches of pea gravel, sand or number 57 gravel or smaller. If SDR pipe is used, it must have six inches of grillage on all sides and bottom for first test, with six inches of grillage on the top side of the pipe for the second test.
• A two way clean-out shall be installed within two foot of the house. A riser pipe (extending from the clean-out) shall terminate with a female adaptor and plug installed flush with the ground surface.
• The house sewer shall be tested with water, air, smoke or other tests approved by the office. If you choose to test with a smoke bomb, you can blow the smoke with a hair dryer or leaf blower while the inspector witnesses the test. You must furnish the smoke bomb. These tests shall be made before the sewer is covered. These tests must be witnessed by the plumbing inspector.

Approved material for sewer piping is:

• Schedule 40 or 80 PVC or ABS plastic pipe labeled ASTM F-891
• Schedule 40 or 80 cellular core PVC labeled ASTM F-891
• Schedule 40 or 80 cellular core ABS labeled ASTM F-628
• SDR 35 and type PS-46 PVC labeled ASTM F-789-82
• PVC ribbed pipe labeled ASTM F-795
• Co-extruded composite PVC pipe labeled ASTM F-1488
• Service and extra heavy weight cast iron pipe labeled ASTM F-1488

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• You must obtain a plumbing permit. This can be obtained from the state plumbing inspector's office.
• Water service must be inspected by the Division of Plumbing before being covered.
• Private water supply shall not be connected to any public water supply.
• Water service shall be not less than three-fourth inch pipe.
• Water service shall be installed 30 inches deep. If meter connection is not thirty inches deep, turn pipe down to thirty inches using 90 degree ells.
• The number of joints in the water service pipe shall be kept to a minimum.
• The water service shall be not less than five feet apart horizontally from the house sewer and shall be separated by undisturbed or compacted earth.
• A shut-off valve shall be installed in an accessible place inside the living area of the house.
• If a yard hydrant is installed you must install a ASSE 1024 duel check valve next to yard hydrant for hydrant only and not in the main water service.

Approved material for water service are:

• Type L or K copper labeled ASTM B-586-73
• Galvanized steel, galvanized wrought iron labeled ASTM B-586-73
• CPVC pipe labeled ASTM D-2846-70
• PVC pipe labeled ASTM D-1785-69
• PVC SDR 21 and SDR 26 pipe labeled ASTM D-2241-84
• Copper tubing size PE labeled ASTM D-2737
• PB labeled ASTM D-3309-85b using brass or copper fittings

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ABS
Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene

CPVC
Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride

I.D.
Inside diameter

O.D.
Outside diameter

PB
Polybutylene

PE
Polyethylene

PEX
Cross-link polyethylene

PVC
Polyvinyl chloride pipe

SDR
Standard dimensional ratio