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Renting in Kentucky

Your rights as a tenant in Kentucky

In Kentucky, if you fall behind on rent, the notice is 7 days. What state law says about your deposit, the notices you must get, repairs and eviction. Every rule comes with its citation and the text of the law.

The rules, one by oneFree or low-cost legal help
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Notice for late rent
7 days
KRS 383.660(2)

A summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.

What the law says

The rules, one by one

The basic rules for renting in Kentucky, answered with state law and its citation.

Tap “What the law says” to read the exact text and see where it comes from.

  1. If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?

    7 days

    If you do not pay rent when due, the landlord may give you written notice that you have not paid and that the rental agreement will end if you do not pay. If you do not pay within 7 days after that notice, the landlord may end the rental agreement. This rule is part of Kentucky's URLTA, which applies where your city or county adopted it.

    What the law says · KRS 383.660(2)
    “If rent is unpaid when due and the tenant fails to pay rent within seven (7) days after written notice by the landlord of nonpayment and his intention to terminate the rental agreement if the rent is not paid within that period, the landlord may terminate the rental agreement.”

    Source: Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Revised Statutes, KRS 383.660) · Verified on October 24, 2026

Protections

Protections the law gives you

We show only what state law says, with its citation. Your city may give you more protections.

  • Only a court order can remove you

    Yes: state law says so

    A landlord may not take back the home on their own, or cut off heat, electricity, water, hot water, gas or another essential service to do it. The landlord may recover it only if you abandoned or surrendered the home, or as the URLTA allows. This rule is part of Kentucky's URLTA, which applies where your city or county adopted it.

    What the law says · KRS 383.690
    “A landlord may not recover or take possession of the dwelling unit by action or otherwise, including willful diminution of services to the tenant by interrupting or causing the interruption of heat, electric, running water, hot water, gas, or other essential service to the tenant, except in case of abandonment, surrender, or as permitted in KRS 383.505 to 383.715.”

    Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Revised Statutes, KRS 383.690)

  • Protection from retaliation

    Yes: state law says so

    A landlord may not retaliate against you (raise rent, cut services, or sue or threaten to sue to take back the home) because you complained to the building or housing code agency about a violation affecting health and safety, complained to the landlord about a breach of the landlord's maintenance duties, or organized or joined a tenants' union. This rule is part of Kentucky's URLTA, which applies where your city or county adopted it.

    What the law says · KRS 383.705(1)
    “Except as provided in this section, a landlord may not retaliate by increasing rent or decreasing services or by bringing or threatening to bring an action for possession after: (a) The tenant has complained to a governmental agency charged with responsibility for enforcement of a building or housing code of a violation applicable to the premises materially affecting health and safety; (b) The tenant has complained to the landlord of a violation under KRS 383.595; (c) The tenant has organized or become a member of a tenant's union or similar organization.”

    Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Revised Statutes, KRS 383.705)

  • Repair and deduct from the rent

    Yes: state law says so

    If the landlord willfully and materially fails to comply with the rental agreement, or fails to meet the landlord's maintenance duties, and this materially affects health and safety, and the reasonable cost of the repair is less than $100 or half the monthly rent (whichever is greater), you may notify the landlord that you will fix it at the landlord's expense. If the landlord willfully fails to fix it within 14 days after your written notice (or as promptly as an emergency requires), you may have the work done in a workmanlike manner, pay for it in full, give the landlord an itemized statement and deduct the cost from rent, up to that limit. This rule is part of Kentucky's URLTA, which applies where your city or county adopted it.

    What the law says · KRS 383.635(1)
    “If the landlord willfully and materially fails to comply with the rental agreement or fails to comply with KRS 383.595 and such noncompliance materially affects health and safety and the reasonable cost of compliance is less than one hundred dollars ($100), or an amount equal to one-half (1/2) of the monthly rent, whichever amount is greater, the tenant may notify the landlord of his intention to correct the condition at the landlord's expense. If the landlord willfully fails to comply within fourteen (14) days after being notified by the tenant in writing or as promptly as conditions require in case of emergency, the tenant may cause the work to be done in a workmanlike manner and, after submitting to the landlord an itemized statement for the work actually done and for which the tenant has paid in full, deduct from his rent the actual and reasonable cost or the fair and reasonable value of the work, not exceeding the amount specified in this subsection.”

    Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Revised Statutes, KRS 383.635)

Eviction

How an eviction works in Kentucky

Step by step, with the time periods the law sets. No landlord can skip the court.

Compare with other states

  1. Written 7-day notice to pay rent (where URLTA applies)

    at least 7 days

    What the law says · KRS 383.660(2)
    “If rent is unpaid when due and the tenant fails to pay rent within seven (7) days after written notice by the landlord of nonpayment and his intention to terminate the rental agreement if the rent is not paid within that period, the landlord may terminate the rental agreement.”

    apps.legislature.ky.gov

  2. Complaint in District Court and notice of the trial at least 3 days ahead

    at least 3 days

    What the law says · KRS 383.210(1) (form AOC-215, Rev. 10-25)
    “YOU ARE THEREFORE, in the name of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, commanded to summon Defendant tenant to appear on the Trial Date shown below to inquire into the forcible detainer complained of and to give to Defendant at least three days notice of the time and place of trial, and to make return of service at or before the time of trial.”

    kycourts.gov

  3. Trial by the judge (or a jury, if demanded) and judgment for restitution

    What the law says · KRS 383.240
    “Upon the return of the inquest the court shall enter a judgment according to the inquisition, either for the plaintiff, in substance, that he have restitution of the premises aforesaid, and recover of the defendants his costs in this behalf expended”

    apps.legislature.ky.gov

  4. The judgment orders you to vacate within 7 days

    up to 7 days

    What the law says · Form AOC-217 (Forcible Detainer Judgment, Rev. 4-23)
    “Defendant(s) are ordered to vacate said property within seven days of the entry of this Judgment.”

    kycourts.gov

  5. Appeal within 7 days, depositing the rent owed and future rent

    up to 7 days

    What the law says · KRS 383.255(1)
    “If either party conceive himself aggrieved by the judgment of the court, he may file an appeal within seven (7) days next after the finding aforesaid, and shall deposit with the circuit court clerk the amount of rent owing and due from the onset of the forcible entry and detainer proceedings as well as the amount of all future rents, as it becomes owing and due in each succeeding month during the pendency of the appeal.”

    apps.legislature.ky.gov

  6. Warrant of restitution (possession), after the seventh day with no appeal

    at least 7 days

    What the law says · KRS 383.245
    “If the party against whom the inquisition is found fails to file an appeal of the inquisition with the court, on or before the seventh day after the finding of the inquest, the court shall, on request, issue execution for the costs; and, if the inquisition be in favor of the plaintiff, it shall also issue a warrant of restitution”

    apps.legislature.ky.gov

  7. The sheriff or a constable puts the landlord in possession

    What the law says · KRS 383.245
    “You are, therefore, in the name of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, commanded that, with the power of the county if necessary, you put the said A B in the possession of said premises; and make return within .... days, how you have executed this warrant.”

    apps.legislature.ky.gov

Frequently asked questions

What notice is required for late rent in Kentucky?

If you do not pay rent when due, the landlord may give you written notice that you have not paid and that the rental agreement will end if you do not pay. If you do not pay within 7 days after that notice, the landlord may end the rental agreement. This rule is part of Kentucky's URLTA, which applies where your city or county adopted it. (KRS 383.660(2))

A summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.

Pending

What is left to verify

We have not yet verified these Kentucky rules in the law with their citation, so we do not show them. If you need them today, ask for free legal aid.

  • How much can they charge for a deposit? Not verified yet
  • When must they return my deposit? Not verified yet
  • How much notice ends a month-to-month rental? Not verified yet
  • Are there limits on late fees? Not verified yet
  • How much notice before a rent increase? Not verified yet
  • Protection related to immigration status Not verified yet