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Starting a drywall or painting business in Kentucky

Kentucky has no state license for drywall or painting. The rule that catches people is federal: disturb paint in a house built before 1978 and the EPA's lead-safe rule applies.

Kentucky Contractor Packet

The rules where you work $17

A first 30 days checklist, everyday forms, licenses, workers’ comp and taxes for Kentucky, with a yearly calendar. Instant PDF download.

Buy the packet: $17

Digital product, all sales final. Informational only, not legal, financial, tax or business advice.

No state license. Check locally.

Drywall and painting aren't licensed by the state of Kentucky. Most cities and counties want a business or occupational license, and Louisville Metro and Lexington-Fayette have their own contractor rules. Check each place you work.

Source: Louisville Metro · Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government

Pre-1978 homes: the lead rule

Sanding, scraping, cutting or tearing out painted surfaces in a home built before 1978 puts you under the EPA's lead-safe rule (RRP). The business needs EPA firm certification, and the job needs a certified renovator trained in an accredited class. Kentucky's lead program says RRP is administered by the federal EPA.

In older neighborhoods that's most of the work. Get certified before the first job.

Source: EPA, Renovation, Repair and Painting program · Kentucky environmental lead program

What it takes to open the doors

Put in what each of these will really cost you. Leave out what you already own. The total tells you how many days of work it takes to pay for the start, at your floor rate.

Total to open the doors$0

Work out your floor rate and it loads here.

The rest is the same for every trade in Kentucky

Workers’ compOne employee and you're in Getting paid and liensGetting paid: notice, six months, twelve months Sales tax on materialsYou pay at the counter, whatever the contract says LLC and taxesLLC, sole proprietor, or S-corp?

When you’re ready to run work, consider Command Center

Every price you send starts from your floor rate. Proposals, change orders, invoices and receipts go out on your own letterhead, the customer signs and pays online, and every job closes out showing what it actually made.

See how it works What’s in the $99 bundle

Education, not legal or tax advice. Rules change. Confirm anything here with the agency or a licensed pro in Kentucky before you rely on it. Last checked November 2026.