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Title 301 | Chapter 005 | Regulation 022REG

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TOURISM, ARTS AND HERITAGE CABINET
Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
(Amendment)

301 KAR 5:022.License, tag, registration and permit fees.

RELATES TO:

KRS 150.025, 150.180, 150.183, 150.240, 150.275, 150.280, 150.290, 150.450, 150.485, 150.520, 150.525, 150.600, 150.603, 150.660, 150.720, 235.220, 235.040, 235.050, 235.080

STATUTORY AUTHORITY:

KRS 150.175, 150.195(4)(f), 150.225, 150.620, 235.080, 235.220(1)

CERTIFICATION STATEMENT:

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, pursuant to statutory authority to promulgate administrative regulations to carry out the provisions of KRS Chapter 150 as established in KRS 150.025 and as an independent department of state government within the meaning of KRS Chapter 12 as established in KRS 150.021(1), promulgated by the Commissioner with approval of the Commission in accordance with KRS 150.010(1), does hereby certify this administrative regulation is promulgated in compliance with Section 8 of 2025 RS HB6. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, pursuant to statutory authority to promulgate administrative regulations to govern the fair, reasonable, equitable, and safe use of all waters of this state and otherwise carry out the provisions of KRS Chapter 235 as established in KRS 235.280 and KRS 235.290 and as an independent department of state government within the meaning of KRS Chapter 12 as established in KRS 150.021(1) and KRS 235.030, promulgated by the Commissioner with approval of the Commission in accordance with KRS 235.280 and KRS 150.025(1)(g), does hereby certify this administrative regulation is promulgated in compliance with Section 8 of 2025 RS HB6.

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY:

KRS 150.175 authorizes the types of licenses, permits, and tags. KRS 150.195(4)(f) requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to promulgate an administrative regulation establishing the license and permit terms and the expiration date of licenses and permits. KRS 150.225 requires the department to promulgate administrative regulations establishing reasonable license fees relating to hunting, fishing, and trapping. KRS 150.620 authorizes the department to charge reasonable fees for the use of lands and waters it has acquired for wildlife management and public recreation. KRS 235.080 requires the department to establish boat registration fees. KRS 235.220 authorizes the department to establish an annual registration fee for a manufacturers or dealers of motorboats in the state of Kentucky. This administrative regulation establishes fees and terms for licenses, permits, registrations and tags.

Section 1.

License, tags, permits, and registration fee adjustments.

(1)

Excluding Section 9 of this regulation, all fees listed in this administrative regulation shall be adjusted on every year ending in an even number by summing the 12-month percentage change of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, from the two previous years and rounding the two (2) year sum to the nearest tenth of a percentage point.

(2)

The starting base amount for all licenses, tags, permits and registration fees are listed in this administrative regulation and will be increased additively every year ending on an even number effective January 1, 2026.

(3)

Current license, tag, permit and registration fees shall be found at https://fw.ky.gov/Licenses/Pages/Fees.aspx.

Section 2.

Licenses, tags, and permits listed in this section shall be valid from March 1 through the last day of February the following year, except the senior lifetime sportsman's license shall be valid for the life of the license holder while the license holder maintains Kentucky residency.

(1)

Sport fishing licenses:

(a)

Statewide annual fishing license (resident): twenty-three (23) dollars;

(b)

Statewide annual fishing license (nonresident): fifty-five (55) dollars;

(c)

Joint married couple statewide fishing license (resident): forty-two (42) dollars;

(d)

Statewide three (3) year fishing license (resident): fifty-five (55) dollars; and

(e)

Trout permit: ten (10) dollars.

(2)

Commercial fishing licenses:

(a)

Commercial fishing license (resident), plus ten (10) resident commercial gear tags: $150;

(b)

Commercial fishing license (nonresident), plus ten (10) nonresident commercial gear tags: $600; and

(c)

Commercial fishing license for invasive carp and scaled rough fish (nonresident), plus ten (10) nonresident gear tags: $150.

(3)

Commercial fishing gear tags (shall not be sold singly):

(a)

Commercial fishing gear tags (resident) block of ten (10) tags: fifteen (15) dollars;

(b)

Commercial fishing gear tags (nonresident) block of ten (10) tags: $100; and

(c)

Commercial fishing gear tags for invasive carp and scaled rough fish (nonresident), block of ten (10) tags: fifteen (15) dollars.

(4)

Hunting licenses:

(a)

Statewide hunting license (resident): twenty-seven (27) dollars;

(b)

Statewide hunting license (nonresident): $160;

(c)

Statewide youth hunting license (resident): six (6) dollars;

(d)

Statewide youth hunting license (nonresident): ten (10) dollars;

(e)

Shooting preserve hunting license: five (5) dollars; and

(f)

Migratory bird and waterfowl permit: fifteen (15) dollars.

(5)

Combination hunting and fishing license (resident): forty-two (42) dollars.

(6)

Sportsman's licenses:

(a)

Sportsman's license (resident), which includes a resident hunting and fishing license, spring turkey permit, fall turkey permit, trout permit, state migratory bird and waterfowl permit, and statewide deer permit: ninety-five (95) dollars;

(b)

Youth sportsman's license (resident), which may be issued to a person before he or she has reached his or her sixteenth birthday and for which the privileges remain valid through the end of the applicable license year, and which includes a statewide hunting license, a statewide deer permit, a spring turkey permit, fall turkey permit, migratory game bird and waterfowl permit, statewide annual fishing license, and a Ballard WMA waterfowl hunt permit valid for all days the license holder lawfully waterfowl hunts at Ballard WMA: thirty (30) dollars;

(c)

Senior sportsman's licenses, which include a resident hunting and fishing license, spring turkey permit, fall turkey permit, trout permit, state migratory bird and waterfowl permit, and statewide deer permit. Senior licenses shall not be valid unless the holder carries proof of their Kentucky residency and proof of age on the holder's person while performing an act authorized by the license:

1.

Annual senior sportsman's license (resident): twelve (12) dollars; and

2.

Senior lifetime sportsman's license (resident): $180;

(d)

Disabled sportsman's license (resident), which includes a resident hunting and fishing license, spring turkey permit, fall turkey permit, trout permit, state migratory bird, waterfowl permit, and statewide deer permit: twelve (12) dollars; and.

(e)

First time license buyer's sportsman's license (resident), which includes a resident hunting and fishing license, spring turkey permit, fall turkey permit, trout permit, state migratory bird and waterfowl permit, and statewide deer permit: thirty-five (35) dollars.

(7)

Trapping licenses:

(a)

Trapping license (resident): twenty (20) dollars;

(b)

Trapping license (resident landowner – tenant): ten (10) dollars;

(c)

Trapping license (nonresident): $130; and

(d)

Youth trapping license (resident): five (5) dollars.

(8)

Game permits:

(a)

Bear permit (resident): thirty (30) dollars;

(b)

Youth bear permit (resident): ten (10) dollars;

(c)

Bear chase permit (resident): thirty (30) dollars;

(d)

Youth bear chase permit (resident): ten (10) dollars;

(e)

Combination bear permit (resident), which includes a bear permit and a bear chase permit: fifty (50) dollars;

(f)

Bear permit (nonresident): $250;

(g)

Youth bear permit (nonresident): $100;

(h)

Bear chase permit (nonresident): fifty (50) dollars;

(i)

Youth bear chase permit (nonresident): fifteen (15) dollars;

(j)

Quota cow elk permit (resident): sixty (60) dollars;

(k)

Quota cow elk permit (nonresident): $400;

(l)

Quota bull elk permit (resident): $100;

(m)

Quota bull elk permit (nonresident): $550;

(n)

Quota either sex archery and crossbow elk permit (resident): $100;

(o)

Quota either sex archery and crossbow elk permit (nonresident): $550;

(p)

Out-of-zone elk permit (resident): thirty (30) dollars;

(q)

Out-of-zone elk permit (nonresident): $400;

(r)

Statewide deer permit (resident): thirty-five (35) dollars;

(s)

Statewide deer permit (nonresident): $235;

(t)

Statewide youth deer permit (resident), valid for taking four (4) deer: ten (10) dollars;

(u)

Statewide youth deer permit (nonresident), valid for taking four (4) deer: fifteen (15) dollars;

(v)

Additional deer permit: fifteen (15) dollars;

(w)

Spring turkey permit (resident): thirty (30) dollars;

(x)

Spring turkey permit (nonresident): $110;

(y)

Fall turkey permit (resident): thirty (30) dollars;

(z)

Fall turkey permit (nonresident): $110;

(aa)

Youth turkey permit (resident), valid for taking one (1) wild turkey during spring or fall seasons: ten (10) dollars;

(bb)

Youth turkey permit (nonresident), valid for taking one (1) wild turkey during spring or fall seasons: fifteen (15) dollars;

(cc)

Quota youth elk permit (resident): thirty (30) dollars; and

(dd)

Quota youth elk permit (nonresident): $200.

(9)

Peabody WMA user permit: fifteen (15) dollars.

(10)

Land Between the Lakes hunting permit: as stated at landbetweenthelakes.us.

(11)

Conservation permit: five (5) dollars.

(12)

Bobcat hunting permit: ten (10) dollarsFree.

(13)

GuideCommercial guide licenses:

(a)

Fishing guide license (resident): $100;Commercial guide license (resident): $150; and

(b)

Commercial guide license (nonresident): $400.

(b)

Fishing guide license (nonresident): $400;

(c)

Hunting guide license (resident): $100; and

(d)

Hunting guide license (nonresident): $400.

(14)

Outfitter licenses:

(a)

Fishing Outfitter Tier 1 (resident): $250;

(b)

Fishing Outfitter Tier 1 (nonresident): $1,000;

(c)

Fishing Outfitter Tier 2 (resident): $750;

(d)

Fishing Outfitter Tier 2 (nonresident): $1,500;

(e)

Hunting Outfitter Tier 1 (resident): $500;

(f)

Hunting Outfitter Tier 1 (nonresident): $1,000;

(g)

Hunting Outfitter Tier 2 (resident): $1,000;

(h)

Hunting Outfitter Tier 2 (nonresident): $2,000;

(i)

Hunting Outfitter Tier 3 (resident): $1,500;

(j)

Hunting Outfitter Tier 3 (nonresident): $3,000;

(k)

Hunting Outfitter Tier 4 (resident): $2,000; and

(l)

Hunting Outfitter Tier 4 (nonresident): $4,000.

(15)

Experimental commercial fishing methods program permits:

(a)

Tier I experimental commercial fishing methods program permit (resident): $800;

(b)

Tier I experimental commercial fishing methods program permit (nonresident): $1,600;

(c)

Tier II experimental commercial fishing methods program permit (resident): $1,200; and

(d)

Tier II experimental commercial fishing methods program permit (nonresident): $2,400.

(16)

Annual shooting range permit:

(a)

Purchaser does not hold an annual hunting or fishing license: twenty-five (25) dollars; or

(b)

Purchaser holds a valid annual hunting or fishing license: Free.

Section 3.Section 2.

Licenses, tags, and permits listed in this section shall be valid for the calendar year issued.

(1)

Live fish and bait dealer's licenses:

(a)

Live fish and bait dealer's license (resident): fifty (50) dollars; and

(b)

Live fish and bait dealer's license (nonresident): $150.

(2)

Commercial taxidermist license: $150.

(3)

Shooting area permit: $150.

(4)

Dog training area permit: fifty (50) dollars.

(5)

Collecting permits:

(a)

Educational wildlife collecting permit: twenty-five (25) dollars; and

(b)

Scientific wildlife collecting permit: $100.

(6)

WildlifeNuisance wildlife control operator's permit: $100.

(7)

Pay lake license:

(a)

Pay lakes obtaining all fish from private hatcheries only:

1.

Lakes with two (2) acres or less: $250; and

2.

Each additional acre or part of an acre: fiftyFifty (50) dollars; and

(b)

Pay lakes obtaining all or a portion of catfish from public waters:

1.

Lakes with two (2) acres or less: $600; and

2.

Each additional acre or part of an acre: fifty (50) dollars.

(8)

Commercial captive wildlife permit: $150.

(9)

Commercial fish propagation permit: fifty (50) dollars.

(10)

Wildlife rehabilitator's permit: twenty-five (25) dollars.

(11)

Annual wildlife transportation permit: $250.

(12)

Peabody Wildlife Management Area annual event permit: $250.

Section 4.Section 3.

Licenses, tags, and permits listed in this section shall be valid for three (3) years from the date of issue.

(1)

Falconry permit: seventy-five (75) dollars.

(2)

Noncommercial captive wildlife permit: seventy-five (75) dollars.

Section 5.Section 4.

Licenses, tags, and permits listed in this section shall be valid for the date or dates specified on each.

(1)

Short-term licenses:

(a)

One (1) day fishing license (resident): seven (7) dollars;

(b)

One (1) day fishing license (nonresident): fifteen (15) dollars;

(c)

Seven (7) day fishing license (nonresident): thirty-five (35) dollars;

(d)

One (1) day hunting license (resident) (not valid for deer, elk, bear, or turkey hunting): seven (7) dollars;

(e)

One (1) day hunting license (nonresident) (not valid for deer, elk, bear, or turkey hunting): twenty-five (25) dollars; and

(f)

Seven (7) day hunting license (nonresident) (not valid for deer, elk, bear, or turkey hunting): sixty-five (65) dollars; and.

(g)

Three (3) day fur buyers license (nonresident): fifty (50) dollars.

(h)

One (1) day shooting range permit: five (5) dollars.

(2)

Individual wildlife transportation permit: twenty-five (25) dollars.

(3)

Special resident commercial fishing permit: $600.

(4)

Special nonresident commercial fishing permit: $900.

(5)

Commercial waterfowl shooting area permit: $150.

(6)

Shoot-to-retrieve field trial permits:

(a)

Per trial (maximum four (4) days): seventy-five (75) dollars; and

(b)

Single day: twenty-five (25) dollars.

(6)(7)

Boat dock permit: $100 per ten (10) year permit period beginning January 1, 2008, except that the fee shall be pro-rated for the number of years remaining in the ten (10) year period.

(7)(8)

Shoreline use permit: Valid for a fifteen (15) year permit period beginning January 1, 2010, pro-rated to the nearest five (5) year interval remaining in the fifteen (15) year period, and containing three (3) tiers, including:

(a)

Tier I: $100;

(b)

Tier II: $200; and

(c)

Tier III: $300.

(8)(9)

Peabody individual event permit: twenty-five (25) dollars.

(9)(10)

Commercial roe-bearing fish buyer's permit:

(a)

Commercial roe-bearing fish buyer's permit (resident): $500; and

(b)

Commercial roe-bearing fish buyer's permit (nonresident): $1,000.

(10)(11)

Commercial roe-bearing fish harvester's permit:

(a)

Commercial roe-bearing fish harvester's permit (resident): $500; and

(b)

Commercial roe-bearing fish harvester's permit (nonresident): $1,500.

(11)(12)

Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area:

(a)

Daily Entry Permit: three (3) dollars, with children under twelve (12) free; and

(b)

Daily Special Activities Permit: seven (7) dollars.

(12)(13)

Commercial foxhound training enclosure permit: $150.

(13)(14)

Noncommercial foxhound training enclosure permit: twenty-five (25) dollars.

(14)(15)

Fish transportation permit: twenty-five (25) dollars.

Section 6.Section 5.

Licenses, tags, and permits listed in this section shall be valid on a per-unit basis as specified.

(1)

Ballard WMA waterfowl hunt permit (per person, per day; youths under age sixteen (16) exempted): fifteen (15) dollars.

(2)

Pheasant hunt permit (per person, per day): twenty-five (25) dollars.

(3)

Horse stall rental (per space, per day): two (2) dollars.

(4)

Dog kennel rental (per dog, per day): fifty (50) cents.

(3)(5)

Captive cervid permit (per facility, per year): $150.

(4)(6)

Noncommercial captive cervid permit (per facility, per three (3) years): seventy-five (75) dollars.

Section 7.Section 6.

The following licenses listed in this section shall be valid from April 1 through March 31 of the following year:

(1)

Fur processor's license (resident): $150;

(2)

Fur buyer's license (resident): fifty (50) dollars; and

(3)

Fur buyer's license (nonresident): $300.

Section 8.Section 7.

The following Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area permits shall be valid from July 1 through June 30 of the following year:

(1)

Annual Entry Permit: thirty (30) dollars, with children under twelve (12) free; and

(2)

Annual Special Activities Permit: seventy (70) dollars.

Section 9.Section 8.

The following non-refundable application fees listed in this section shall be valid for the application to hunt in a department administered quota hunt or for a chance to be drawn for permits as specified.

(1)

Pheasant quota hunt application fee: three (3) dollars.

(2)

Antlered elk firearms quota hunt application fee: ten (10) dollars.

(3)

Antlerless elk firearms quota hunt application fee: ten (10) dollars.

(4)

Either-sex elk archery and crossbow quota hunt application fee: ten (10 dollars).

(5)

Youth quota elk hunt application fee: ten (10) dollars.

(6)

Deer quota hunt application fee: three (3) dollars.

(7)

Waterfowl quota hunt application fee: three (3) dollars.

(8)

Sandhill crane quota hunt application fee: three (3) dollars.

(9)

Elk hunt sweepstakes and premium combination big game permit application fee:

(a)

Five (5) dollars for residents and ten (10) dollars for one (1) application;

(b)

Ten (10) dollars for residents and twenty (20) dollars for nonresidents per bundle of three (3) applications; and

(c)

Twenty-five (25) dollars for residents and fifty (50) dollars for nonresidents per bundle of ten (10) applications.

(10)

Standard combination big game permit application fee:

(a)

Three (3) dollars for residents and six (6) dollars for nonresidents for one (1) application;

(b)

Eight (8) dollars for residents and sixteen (16) dollars for nonresidents per bundle of three (3) applications; and

(c)

Twenty (20) dollars for residents and forty (40) dollars for nonresidents per bundle of ten (10) applications.

Section 10.

Motorboat, boat manufacturer, and boat dealer registration fees.

(1)

The annual registration fee for motorboats shall be:

(a)

Class A: twenty-one (21) dollars;

(b)

Class 1: forty (40) dollars;

(c)

Class 2: fifty (50) dollars; and

(d)

Class 3: sixty-five (65) dollars.

(2)

Boat Manufacturer or Boat Dealer Registration: $100.

(3)

Boat Manufacturer or Boat Dealer Additional Plate: two (2) dollars.
APPROVED by the Fish and Wildlife Commission
RICH STORM, Commissioner
APPROVED BY AGENCY: July 3, 2025
FILED WITH LRC: July 9, 2025 at 3:30 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARING AND COMMENT PERIOD: A public hearing on this administrative regulation shall be held on September 29, 2025, at 12:30 p.m., at KDFWR Administration Building, 1 Sportsman’s Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601. Individuals interested in being heard at this hearing shall notify this agency in writing by five workdays prior to the hearing, of their intent to attend. If no notification of intent to attend the hearing was received by that date, the hearing may be cancelled. A transcript of the public hearing will not be made unless a written request for a transcript is made. If you do not wish to be heard at the public hearing, you may submit written comments on the proposed administrative regulation. Written comments shall be accepted through September 30, 2025. Send written notification of intent to be heard at the public hearing or written comments on the proposed administrative regulation to the contact person.
CONTACT PERSON: Jenny Gilbert, Legislative Liaison, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, 1 Sportsman’s Lane, (502) 564-3400, fax: (502) 564-0506, email: fwpubliccomments@ky.gov
REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS AND TIERING STATEMENT
Contact Person:
Jenny Gilbert
(1) Provide a brief summary of:
(a) What this administrative regulation does:
This administrative regulation establishes fees and terms for licenses, permits, and tags sold by the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
(b) The necessity of this administrative regulation:
This administrative regulation is necessary for the department to establish reasonable license fees, permit terms, and the expiration dates of licenses and permits.
(c) How this administrative regulation conforms to the content of the authorizing statutes:
KRS 150.175 authorizes the types of licenses, permits, and tags that the department can issue. KRS 150.195(4)(f) requires the department to promulgate an administrative regulation establishing the license and permit terms and the expiration date of licenses and permits. KRS 150.225 requires the Department to prescribe reasonable fees for licenses, permits, and registrations authorized by Chapter 150. KRS 150.620 authorizes the department to charge reasonable fees for the use of lands and waters it has acquired for wildlife management and public recreation. KRS 235.040 requires that motorboats be registered and numbered. KRS 235.050 and KRS 235.070 require motorboats to be titled and annually registered in Kentucky. KRS 235.080 requires the department to establish boat registration fees.
(d) How this administrative regulation currently assists or will assist in the effective administration of the statutes:
This administrative regulation fulfills the requirements and purposes of the statutes identified in (1)(c) by establishing reasonable fees and terms for licenses, permits, registrations, and tags issued by the Department.
(2) If this is an amendment to an existing administrative regulation, provide a brief summary of:
(a) How the amendment will change this existing administrative regulation:
This amendment will move fees that were previously listed in other regulations to a central fee regulation for all Department licenses, registrations, and permits. The amendment modifies pre-exiting boat registration fee categories reducing the categories from 6 to 4. The amendment also adds newly created fees for hunting and fishing guides and outfitters, a new reduced-price fee for first time resident sportsman’s licenses, a three-day non-resident fur buyer license, updates the bobcat permit fee, and establishes shooting range permit fees. The amendment removes defunct rental fees that are no longer necessary. Additionally, the amendment adjusts the fees associated with all licenses, registrations, and permits based upon the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the two prior years. The adjustments will be established as the baseline fees for future biennial price adjustments based upon CPI-U.
(b) The necessity of the amendment to this administrative regulation:
These amendments are necessary to consolidate departmental fees in one central location and to set up a formula for a self-sustaining fee structure that adjusts for inflation to allow the department to fund its stated mission.
(c) How the amendment conforms to the content of the authorizing statutes:
KRS 150.175 authorizes the types of licenses, permits, and tags that the department can issue. KRS 150.195(4)(f) requires the department to promulgate an administrative regulation establishing the license and permit terms and the expiration date of licenses and permits. KRS 150.225 requires the Department to prescribe reasonable fees for licenses, permits, and registrations authorized by Chapter 150. KRS 150.620 authorizes the department to charge reasonable fees for the use of lands and waters it has acquired for wildlife management and public recreation. KRS 235.040 requires that motorboats be registered and numbered. KRS 235.050 and KRS 235.070 require motorboats to be titled and annually registered in Kentucky. 235.070 235.080 requires the department to establish boat registration fees.
(d) How the amendment will assist in the effective administration of the statutes:
This administrative regulation fulfills the requirements and purposes of the statutes identified in (1)(c) by establishing reasonable fees and terms for licenses, permits, registrations, and tags.
(3) List the type and number of individuals, businesses, organizations, or state and local governments affected by this administrative regulation:
The Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. All individuals who purchase licenses, permits, registrations, and tags. Private entities and County Clerks who have partnered with the Department as license agents to sell licenses, permits, and tags. All County Clerks for boat registration fees.
(4) Provide an analysis of how the entities identified in question (3) will be impacted by either the implementation of this administrative regulation, if new, or by the change, if it is an amendment, including:
(a) List the actions that each of the regulated entities identified in question (3) will have to take to comply with this administrative regulation or amendment:
No additional actions will be necessary to comply with this regulation as the requirements for compliance are established in other regulations. The regulated individuals will simply pay the applicable fee for whatever license, tag, registration, or permit they wish to purchase. The license agents and County Clerks will not have any additional requirements to comply with the amended regulation.
(b) In complying with this administrative regulation or amendment, how much will it cost each of the entities identified in question (3):
For individuals, the cost would be reflected in the adjusted fee assessment (CPI-U) for whatever licenses, permits, or registrations they choose to purchase. There will be no added costs for license agents and County Clerks to comply with the amended regulation.
(c) As a result of compliance, what benefits will accrue to the entities identified in question (3):
The Department of Fish and Wildlife is funded through license sales and federal match funds based upon those license sales. The individuals will benefit from the management provided by the Department to conserve and protect the wildlife resources of the Commonwealth for present and future generations. License agents will benefit through their agent commissions.
(5) Provide an estimate of how much it will cost the administrative body to implement this administrative regulation:
(a) Initially:
There will be no added costs to implement this amendment initially.
(b) On a continuing basis:
There will be no added costs to implement this amendment on a continuing basis.
(6) What is the source of the funding to be used for the implementation and enforcement of this administrative regulation:
The Fish and Game Fund.
(7) Provide an assessment of whether an increase in fees or funding will be necessary to implement this administrative regulation, if new, or by the change if it is an amendment:
No increase in funding will be necessary to implement this amendment. The amendment itself is an adjustment to fees which is necessary to partially offset inflation.
(8) State whether or not this administrative regulation establishes any fees or directly or indirectly increases any fees:
This administrative regulation directly increases fees for existing licenses and permits and establishes new fees for newly created licenses and permits.
(9) TIERING: Is tiering applied?
This amendment does not alter pre-existing fee tiering except for amendments arising from changes to the regulatory scheme for fish and wildlife outfitting or guiding. Fees for the newly created/modified licenses for outfitters and guides are tiered and vary based upon residency status of the individual applying, whether the individual wishes to obtain a guide license or outfitter license, and if obtaining an outfitter license, tiering applies based upon the number of licensed guides which will be operating under the outfitter license and whether the outfitter will be providing guiding services for hunting or fishing.
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(1) Identify each state statute, federal statute, or federal regulation that requires or authorizes the action taken by the administrative regulation:
KRS 150.175, 150.195(4)(f), 150.225, 150.620, 235.040, 235.050, 235.070, and 235.080.
(2) State whether this administrative regulation is expressly authorized by an act of the General Assembly, and if so, identify the act:
2024 HB 586 RS established resident and non-resident outfitter licenses and changed "commercial guides license" to "guide’s license" and made changes to guide’s license to conform with outfitter licenses. Additionally, 2024 HB 586 RS established shooting range permits. The associated license and permit fees are established herein in accordance with 2024 HB 586 RS.
(3)(a) Identify the promulgating agency and any other affected state units, parts, or divisions:
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
(b) Estimate the following for each affected state unit, part, or division identified in (3)(a):
1. Expenditures:
For the first year:
There will be no added expenditures for the first year.
For subsequent years:
There will be no added expenditures for subsequent years.
2. Revenues:
For the first year:
$2,500,000.00 .
For subsequent years:
$2,500,00.00 for the 2nd year with later years subject to future biennial CPI-U assessments.
3. Cost Savings:
For the first year:
There will be no cost savings for the first year.
For subsequent years:
There will be no cost savings for subsequent years.
(4)(a) Identify affected local entities (for example: cities, counties, fire departments, school districts):
County Clerks that sell Department issued licenses or permits as license agents.
(b) Estimate the following for each affected local entity identified in (4)(a):
1. Expenditures:
For the first year:
There will be no additional expenditures the first year.
For subsequent years:
There will be no additional expenditures in subsequent years.
2. Revenues:
For the first year:
The additional revenues generated will occur due to the three (3) percent agent commission (as established in 301 KAR 5:020, Section 2(1)(a)) each individual County Clerk license agent will receive. This amount will vary based upon the increase of total value of licenses and permits sold by each individual county clerk subject to the CPI-U price adjustment and the addition of the new permit types. It is estimated the total additional revenue for all county clerks who are license agents would be approximately $475.00 the first year.
For subsequent years:
The additional revenues generated will occur due to the three (3) percent agent commission (as established in 301 KAR 5:020, Section 2(1)(a)) each individual County Clerk license agent will receive. This amount will vary based upon the increase of total value of licenses and permits sold by each individual county clerk subject to the CPI-U price adjustment and the addition of the new permit types. It is estimated the total additional revenue for all county clerks who are license agents would be approximately $475.00 for the 2nd year with later years subject to future biennial CPI-U assessments.
3. Cost Savings:
For the first year:
There will be no cost savings the first year.
For subsequent years:
There will be no cost savings subsequent years.
(5)(a) Identify any affected regulated entities not listed in (3)(a) or (4)(a):
Private businesses that have partnered with the Department to become license agents.
(b) Estimate the following for each regulated entity identified in (5)(a):
1. Expenditures:
For the first year:
There will be no additional expenditures the first year.
For subsequent years:
There will be no additional expenditures in subsequent years.
2. Revenues:
For the first year:
The additional revenues generated will occur due to the three (3) percent agent commission (as established in 301 KAR 5:020, Section 2(1)(a)) each individual private business license agent will receive. This amount will vary based upon the increase of total value of licenses and permits sold by each individual license agent subject to the CPI-U price adjustment and the addition of the new permit types. It is estimated the total additional revenue for all private business license agents would be approximately $17,000.00 the first year.
For subsequent years:
The additional revenues generated will occur due to the three (3) percent agent commission (as established in 301 KAR 5:020, Section 2(1)(a)) each individual private business license agent will receive. This amount will vary based upon the increase of total value of licenses and permits sold by each individual county clerk subject to the CPI-U price adjustment and the addition of the new permit types. It is estimated the total additional revenue for all private business license agents would be approximately $17,000.00 for the 2nd year with later years subject to future biennial CPI-U assessments.
3. Cost Savings:
For the first year:
There will be no cost savings the first year.
For subsequent years:
There will be no cost savings subsequent years.
(6) Provide a narrative to explain the following for each entity identified in (3)(a), (4)(a), and (5)(a)
(a) Fiscal impact of this administrative regulation:
Please see the responses to (3)(a), (4)(a) and (5)(a) above.
(b) Methodology and resources used to reach this conclusion:
The CPI adjustment to be applied when the amendment goes into effect will be set based upon the 2024 CPI-U (3%) and the 2025 CPI-U when it is finalized. An estimated 2025 CPI-U of 2.6% was utilized for the calculations, with the total estimated CPI-U adjustment set at 5.6%. For license agents (County Clerks and private businesses): To calculate the total impact for license agents, we utilized agency records to determine the total agent commissions paid to each group of license agents (County Clerks and private businesses) for 2024 sales of department licenses and permits. Utilizing those values, we applied the CPI percentage adjustment to determine the estimated total agent commissions if the same sales occurred after the amendment. The estimated impacts are the difference in the future estimated commissions and the prior year commissions. License Agent Impact = [Prior Year’s Commissions x (100% + Estimated CPI-U adjustment)] – Prior Year Commissions. For the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources: To calculate the impact for the Department, we utilized the total license sales for 2022 and applied the CPI-U percentage adjustment to determine the estimated total license sales if the same sales occurred after the amendment. The estimated impact is the difference in the projected future estimated sales total and the previous sales total. Department Impact = [2022 Total Sales x (100% + CPI%)] – 2022 Total Sales
(7) Explain, as it relates to the entities identified in (3)(a), (4)(a), and (5)(a):
(a) Whether this administrative regulation will have a "major economic impact", as defined by KRS 13A.010(13):
See the response to 6 above. The entities identified shall not accrue any costs associated with the implementation and compliance with the amended regulation. As such, there would not be a major economic impact.
(b) The methodology and resources used to reach this conclusion:
See the response to 6 above. Each entity will receive a net economic benefit by implementing or complying with the amendment.

7-Year Expiration: 6/18/2032

Last Updated: 7/15/2025

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