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Kentucky: homes, climate zones and who licenses the work

Kentucky has 2.0 million housing units. 47.1% were built before 1980, and the median year built is 1982. 68.3% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

How old the homes are

Kentucky housing units, by year built

Layers drawn to scale

Kentucky housing units by year built 47.1% of Kentucky housing units were built before 1980 and 52.9% in 1980 or later. 2020 or later: 1.8%; 2010–2019: 9.1%; 2000–2009: 14.5%; 1990–1999: 15.3%; 1980–1989: 12.2%; 1970–1979: 15.6%; 1960–1969: 9.9%; 1950–1959: 8.6%; 1940–1949: 4.0%; 1939 or earlier: 9.0%. Before 1980 47.1% 1980 or later 52.9% 2020 or later 1.8% 2010–2019 9.1% 2000–2009 14.5% 1990–1999 15.3% 1980–1989 12.2% 1970–1979 15.6% 1960–1969 9.9% 1950–1959 8.6% 1940–1949 4.0% 1939 or earlier 9.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035 and B25003; heating fuel below from B25040.

Age changes what applies to a house. In general, anyone paid to do work that disturbs painted surfaces in a home built before 1978 must be certified in lead-safe work practices under the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, which the EPA administers directly in Kentucky.

How homes are heated

How homes in Kentucky are heated

Main heating fuel, share of 1.8 million occupied homes

  • Electricity 54.9%
  • Utility gas 35.2%
  • Propane or other tank gas 6.3%
  • Wood 1.9%
  • Fuel oil or kerosene 0.7%
  • No fuel used 0.4%
  • Other fuel 0.3%
  • Coal or coke 0.1%
  • Solar energy 0.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, table B25040 (occupied housing units).

Climate and building zones

The 2021 International Energy Conservation Code assigns every county a climate zone from 1 to 8 and a moisture regime: A for moist, B for dry, C for marine. Zones 7 and 8 have no letter. Here is how Kentucky's residents divide among them, by the county they live in.

IECC 2021 zoneShare of residentsCounties
4A100%120

ENERGY STAR rates windows, doors and skylights for four climate zones of its own. All of Kentucky falls in the North-Central zone.

By NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, counties here average 94 days a year with a low of 32°F or colder, weighted by where people live. The range runs from 58 days in the mildest county to 141 in the coldest.

Flood risk and flood insurance

0.8% of residential structures in Kentucky carry a National Flood Insurance Program policy: 14,136 policies, in FEMA's count as of August 3, 2026.

In FEMA's National Risk Index, 3 of 120 counties rate high or very high for riverine flooding.

Fire ants and termites

No county in Kentucky is inside the federal imported fire ant quarantine.

Who licenses the work in Kentucky

Before anyone starts work, check the license with the agency below. Where the state does not license a trade, cities and counties may; ask the one where the house is.

Checked 2026-09-29. Licensing rules change; the agency's own page is the authority.

Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035, B25040 and B25003 data.census.gov
  2. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Guide to Determining Climate Zone by County: Building America and IECC 2021 Updates basc.pnnl.gov
  3. U.S. Department of Energy Prototype Building Models (climate zones 1–8 and moisture regimes A, B, C) energycodes.gov
  4. ENERGY STAR Climate zones by county for windows, doors and skylights energystar.gov
  5. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual and seasonal ncei.noaa.gov
  6. Federal Emergency Management Agency OpenFEMA NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (as of 2026-08-03) fema.gov
  7. Federal Emergency Management Agency National Risk Index, county ratings fema.gov
  8. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Imported fire ant quarantine map aphis.usda.gov
  9. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations 7 CFR part 301, subpart P, Imported Fire Ant ecfr.gov
  10. Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Division of Environmental Services apps.legislature.ky.gov apps.legislature.ky.gov
  11. Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Division of Environmental Services apps.legislature.ky.gov apps.legislature.ky.gov
  12. Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, Division of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning kentucky.gov kentucky.gov
  13. Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, Division of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning apps.legislature.ky.gov apps.legislature.ky.gov
  14. epa.gov epa.gov epa.gov