Hotel/Motel Facilities

Environmental Management Branch
275 East Main Street
Frankfort, Ky. 40621
(502) 564-4856
E-mail

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In Kentucky, a hotel is defined as any building or structure kept, used, maintained, advertised or held out to the public as a place where sleeping accommodations are provided to the public. This includes motels, tourist homes and similar establishments, but excludes boarding homes, rooming houses and bed and breakfasts. 

For more information regarding boarding homes and bed and breakfasts, please click on the links or contact the Food Safety Branch at (502) 564-7181.

The state hotel and motel inspection program ensures that applicable lodging facilities are clean and free of health and safety risks. Inspections are conducted by local health department environmentalists at least once each year with follow up inspections and complaint investigations as necessary.

To register a complaint on a hotel or motel, please contact your local health department. Click here for local health department contact information.

Kentucky Revised Statutes

KRS 219.021 - Permits for hotels -- Fee -- Exemptions

KRS 219.031 - Denial, suspension, or revocation of permit; hearing; Cabinet and local health department employees authorized to enter premises

KRS 219.041 - Regulations -- State hotel code

KRS 219.051 - Enforcement of fire and safety regulations

KRS 219.071 - Trust and agency fund -- Expenditure of funds

KRS 219.081- Short title

Kentucky Administrative Regulation

902 KAR 7:010 - Hotel and Motel Code

Plans for new hotels and modifications to existing hotels must be submitted to local health departments. For further information on submitting hotel construction, expansion or remodeling plans, please see the information below and contact your local health department environmentalist.

Local health department contact information

Guidelines for Hotel/Motel Plan Submittal (DPH Rev. 5/6/13)

Submission Process:

• Three sets of plumbing plans and three plan application forms shall be submitted to the local health department. Note: four sets of plans must be submitted if the water source is private.
• The local health department reviews the plans and forwards approved plans to the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (DHBC) for further approval.
• Approved plans are returned to the local health department with an approval letter.  Plans that are not approved are returned to the local health department with a deficiency letter.