# KRS § 198B.040: 198B.040 General powers and duties of the department > Kentucky · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C198B_S198B.040 ## Section - **Citation:** KRS § 198B.040 - **Heading:** 198B.040 General powers and duties of the department - **Jurisdiction:** Kentucky - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** KY Code / Title XVII / Chapter 198B / Section 198B.040 ## Text 198B.040 General powers and duties of the department. 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; (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 on 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. ## Nearby sections - [KRS § 198B.010 198B.010 Definitions for chapter](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C198B_S198B.010.md) - [KRS § 198B.030 198B.030 Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction -- Comments from advisory committee to be received before promulgating administrative regulations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C198B_S198B.030.md) - [KRS § 198B.032 198B.032 Housing, Buildings and Construction Advisory Committee](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C198B_S198B.032.md) - [KRS § 198B.040 198B.040 General powers and duties of the department](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C198B_S198B.040.md) - [KRS § 198B.050 198B.050 Uniform State Building Code](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C198B_S198B.050.md) - [KRS § 198B.060 198B.060 Local enforcement of Uniform State Building Code -- Workers' compensation coverage requirement -- Informal hearing -- Appeal](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C198B_S198B.060.md) - [KRS § 198B.062 198B.062 Mandatory nature of approved construction documents -- Role of on-site inspectors](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C198B_S198B.062.md) - [KRS § 198B.070 198B.070 Appeals](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C198B_S198B.070.md) - [KRS § 198B.080 198B.080 Amendments to the Uniform State Building Code](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C198B_S198B.080.md) - [KRS § 198B.085 198B.085 Requirement for compliance of agritourism building with Kentucky Building Code -- Exemptions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C198B_S198B.085.md) - [KRS § 198B.090 198B.090 Certification of professional classifications -- Training program for building code administration and enforcement](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C198B_S198B.090.md) - [KRS § 198B.092 198B.092 Licensed proprietary schools -- Articulation agreements -- Recognition -- Licensing](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C198B_S198B.092.md) - [KRS § 198B.093 198B.093 Internship and cooperative placement hours to count towards licensure by department -- Hours of equivalency -- Administrative regulations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C198B_S198B.093.md) - [KRS § 198B.095 198B.095 Authorization for building inspectors training program -- Purpose -- Trust and agency fund](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C198B_S198B.095.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TXVII_C198B_S198B.040. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.