Sourced from Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, North Central District Health Department, and Oldham County Health Department — last checked July 2026.
Quick answer: the Louisville metro area spans three distinct county administrations for septic purposes — Jefferson County (Louisville Metro Government/LMPHW), Oldham County (Oldham County Health Department), and Shelby County (North Central District Health Department). Same state regulations, three different permit processes, fees, and contacts. This guide covers all three.
Why Three Different Processes?
Kentucky’s septic regulation (902 KAR 10:085) sets the statewide baseline, but each county’s local health authority administers it independently. In the Louisville metro specifically, this creates meaningfully different experiences depending on which side of a county line your property sits on — different fees, different forms, different contacts, and in Shelby County’s case, a distinct 2-acre lot-size requirement that doesn’t apply in the other two counties.
County-by-County Quick Reference
| County | Authority | Evaluation Fee | Permit Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson | LMPHW (Louisville Metro) | $375 | $425 |
| Oldham | Oldham County Health Dept | Included in permit | $300 |
| Shelby | NCDHD (Multi-county district) | $250 | $250 |
Get Free Quotes From Local Septic Pros
Three fields, about fifteen seconds. No cost and no obligation.
We pass your request to licensed local companies so they can quote you directly. Your details are never published or sold on.
County-Specific Guides
- Jefferson County (Louisville Metro) permit process →
- Jefferson County inspection requirements →
- Oldham County permit process →
- Shelby County permit process →
What Your Health Department Charges
Kentucky permits septic through local health departments and multi-county health districts, and each one sets its own fees. Three publish figures we could read. Here they are in full, with what is missing from each.
Every figure here comes from that health department’s own published material, with the dating caveat shown against it. Kentucky sets no statewide septic fee, so we will not substitute one department’s figure for another’s. Where a figure is not shown, we could not retrieve a published one — that is not the same as there being no fee. We hold no sourced figure for what a complete septic installation costs in Kentucky and will not print one.
Ready to Talk to Someone?
Need Help With Your Septic System?
Tell us what’s going on and we’ll connect you with a licensed Kentucky provider. Free, and no obligation.
Independent — not affiliated with any state or county health or environmental agency, and not a septic contractor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Jefferson County have a different septic process than Oldham County?
Yes. Jefferson County is administered by Louisville Metro Government (LMPHW), with a $375 site evaluation fee and a $425 construction permit fee. Oldham County is administered by its own health department, which charges $300 for site and soil evaluation and $300 for the installation permit. Same state regulation, different offices and different fee schedules.
What is unique about Shelby County's septic requirements?
Shelby County requires a minimum lot size of 2 acres to install a septic system, which is stricter than Jefferson and Oldham counties. It's also administered by a multi-county district (NCDHD) rather than a standalone county health department.
Can I use the same contractor for septic work across all three counties?
Yes, if they're certified in Kentucky — the same state certification applies everywhere. The process, forms, and fees differ by county, but a certified installer can work across county lines.