KY · Researched October 7, 2026
Kentucky's rules depend on location. Louisville, Lexington, Covington, Florence and other cities and counties that adopted the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA) require separate deposit accounts and move-in and move-out damage lists, a 7-day rent notice and a 14-day cure notice; the rest of the state relies on the lease and a few general statutes. There is no cap on deposits, local ordinances that conflict with state law are barred, and managing rentals for others requires a Kentucky real estate license.
Real estate brokerage includes property management, leasing and renting real estate for others, and no one may practice real estate brokerage without a broker or sales associate license. Property management means managing real property for others, including leasing and collecting rent.
Owners or lessors managing their own property and their regular employees; a property manager who is a regular employee of the owner or of the principal broker; a manager whose main pay is use of a rental unit; attorneys; attorneys in fact; court-appointed fiduciaries and trustees.
Principal brokers must keep money belonging to others in a Kentucky escrow account separate from office funds, identified to the Commission. Brokers who do property management must keep property management accounts separate or clearly marked in escrow records.
No Kentucky statute caps the deposit amount, in or outside URLTA areas. KRS chapter 383 contains no deposit limit; KRS 383.580 (URLTA areas) regulates only how deposits are held and returned.
At move-out the landlord inspects and lists damage with estimated repair costs; the tenant may inspect and sign or dissent in writing. Without the separate account and both damage lists, the landlord may keep nothing. If the tenant owes no rent, send notice of the refund due; if the tenant does not respond within 60 days, the landlord may keep it. If the tenant skips the last month's rent and does not ask for the deposit, the landlord may apply it after 30 days. Outside URLTA areas no statute sets a deadline.
Deposits must be held in an account used only for security deposits at a bank regulated by Kentucky or the federal government. Before taking the deposit, give a written list of existing damage with repair cost estimates for both parties to sign. The statute requires no interest.
KRS chapter 383, which holds Kentucky's landlord and tenant law, has no late fee provision. Put any fee in the lease and keep it reasonable.
KRS chapter 383 has no provision on application or screening fees. Follow federal FCRA rules.
Kentucky does not regulate the amount or set a separate rent increase notice. Change rent during a lease only if the lease allows it. In URLTA areas a month-to-month tenancy ends on 30 days' written notice before a rental date; elsewhere a tenancy at will ends on one month's written notice, so time increases the same way.
KRS chapter 383 has no rent control provision. Since March 6, 2024, KRS 383.198 bars cities and counties from adopting or enforcing landlord-tenant ordinances that conflict with state law, and KRS 383.500 lets local governments adopt URLTA only in its entirety without amendment.
In URLTA areas, if rent is unpaid the landlord may terminate when the tenant fails to pay within 7 days after written notice of nonpayment and intent to terminate. Outside URLTA areas no statute sets a pay-or-quit period; a tenancy at will ends on one month's written notice. Accepting rent after the notice can waive the right to terminate.
Name the breach in writing. If the tenant remedies it before the date in the notice, the lease continues. A repeat of substantially the same breach within 6 months allows termination on 14 days' written notice with no cure. Outside URLTA areas, the lease controls.
In URLTA areas, after a written lease expires and the tenant stays on, either side may end that tenancy on 10 days' written notice. Outside URLTA areas, a tenancy at will or by sufferance ends on one month's written notice.
The defendant must get at least 3 days' notice of the trial. If the tenant does not appeal within 7 days after the judgment, the court issues a warrant of restitution on request and the sheriff restores possession. In URLTA areas, self-help evictions and utility shutoffs are barred.
KRS chapter 383 has no procedure for storing or disposing of a tenant's personal property. In URLTA areas, KRS 383.670 covers an abandoned unit: make reasonable efforts to re-rent it. Get a judgment and warrant before removing property, and give written notice before disposal.
The tenant may not unreasonably refuse entry to inspect, repair or show the unit. The landlord may not abuse access or use it to harass. During a tenant absence over 7 days the landlord may enter as reasonably necessary. Outside URLTA areas no statute sets entry rules; the lease controls.
The landlord must keep common areas clean and safe, maintain electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, and supply running and hot water and heat from October 1 to May 1. Retaliating after a code or repair complaint is barred, with a presumption of retaliation for one year after the complaint. Outside URLTA areas, local housing codes apply.
At or before move-in, disclose in writing who manages the premises and an owner or agent for service of process and notices, and keep it current. A manager who fails to disclose becomes the owner's agent for notices and landlord duties. Tell the tenant where the deposit account is and its number, and give a signed list of existing damage. Federal lead paint disclosure applies to pre-1978 housing.
The Kentucky Civil Rights Act tracks the federal classes and adds no new ones for housing. Cities and counties may adopt broader rules under KRS 344.300; Louisville and Lexington have local ordinances that add classes such as sexual orientation and gender identity.
Cities and counties may not adopt or enforce landlord or tenant ordinances that conflict with Kentucky law.
An owner or agent may ask law enforcement to remove a person who never was a tenant and has no agreement to occupy, if listed conditions are met. This does not apply to tenants, who still require a forcible detainer.
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Compare with other states: security deposit limit, deposit return deadline, deposit interest and holding rules, late fees, application and screening fees, rent increase notice, rent control, notice for unpaid rent, notice for lease violations, ending a month-to-month, eviction timeline, abandoned property, landlord entry, repairs and habitability, required disclosures, state fair housing protections.