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Kentucky Scale Certification & Weights and Measures

✓ Verified from official sources — July 11, 2026

Kentucky runs a state-managed weights and measures program — commercial scale owners deal with the state agency directly. If you operate a commercial scale in Kentucky — at a warehouse, farm, recycling yard, retail store, or truck stop — here is who regulates it, what the law requires, and exactly who to contact.

Who inspects commercial scales in Kentucky?

KDA state inspectors in the Division of Regulation and Inspection test scales, meters, gas pumps, packages and price scanners statewide to NIST Handbook 44; no county/local sealers. Scale owners contact the KDA Office for Consumer & Environmental Protection in Frankfort.

What Kentucky requires of scale owners

Kentucky publishes no device registration requirement for scale owners; devices must pass state inspection, and any company or individual that installs, adjusts or reconditions commercial weighing/measuring devices must register with KDA annually as a Service Agency/Serviceperson (Placed-in-Service reports filed for new devices). Retail motor fuel sellers separately need an annual $100 license.

Devices used to buy or sell by weight must comply with NIST Handbook 44 — in practice this means an NTEP-certified, legal-for-trade scale. Confirm requirements for your device class with the office listed here.

Getting a scale into service — 4 steps

  1. Buy a legal-for-trade (NTEP-certified) scale appropriate for your application and capacity.
  2. Confirm registration and licensing requirements with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture - Office for Consumer & Environmental Protection ((502) 573-0282 (office); (502) 782-9233 (Weights and Measures Manager)) before the scale enters commercial use.
  3. Arrange compliant installation and calibration. Where required, placing-in-service must be done by a licensed or registered service company.
  4. Stay compliant. Pass required inspections, keep calibration current, retain service records.

Common questions

Who certifies commercial scales in Kentucky?
KDA state inspectors in the Division of Regulation and Inspection test scales, meters, gas pumps, packages and price scanners statewide to NIST Handbook 44; no county/local sealers. Scale owners contact the KDA Office for Consumer & Environmental Protection in Frankfort.
What does Kentucky require of scale owners?
Kentucky publishes no device registration requirement for scale owners; devices must pass state inspection, and any company or individual that installs, adjusts or reconditions commercial weighing/measuring devices must register with KDA annually as a Service Agency/Serviceperson (Placed-in-Service reports filed for new devices). Retail motor fuel sellers separately need an annual $100 license.
What is NTEP certification?
NTEP certifies that a scale model meets NIST Handbook 44 standards for commercial use. An NTEP Certificate of Conformance is the standard requirement for legal-for-trade devices across the U.S.
Where do I find official forms and fees?
Use the licensing and forms links in the office panel, or contact the office directly — fee schedules change and some are published only in application documents.

Need calibration, repair, or installation in Kentucky?

Send one request — ScaleRegistry routes it to qualified service providers for your state.

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