Hotel and Motel Facilities

​​​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. 

Please contact the Food Safety Branch at (502) 564-7181 if you have questions about Boarding Homes.

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.

Local health department contact information  

Plan Review

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

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. 

Staff Contact
Sarah Wilhoite​, Environmental Health Program Evaluator
(502) 564-2224

Statutes and Regulation 

Kentucky Revised Statutes 
  • KRS 219.011 - Definitions for KRS 219.011 to 219.081
  • KRS 219.021 - Permits for hotels -- Fee -- Exemptions -- Permits not transferable. 
  • 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
  • KRS 219.111 - Motels -- Safety requirements.
 
Kentucky Administrative Regulation 

Additional Information