10 of the 10 rules below carry a statute citation that was read at the official source (most recently October 2026), with the controlling text quoted. The rest are conservative reference values from Aptoria's compliance data and are labeled unverified.
Security deposit size: No statutory cap on the security deposit amount, even in URLTA jurisdictions. KRS 383.580 requires deposits to be held in a separate account (location and account number disclosed to the tenant) with signed move-in and move-out damage lists; a landlord who skips these forfeits the right to retain any of the deposit. (KRS 383.580(1)-(4), confirmed 2026-10). Returning the deposit: No flat return deadline; a notice-and-response mechanism applies in URLTA jurisdictions: at move-out the landlord inspects and compiles a signed damage listing (383.580(3)); if the tenant leaves owing no rent with a refund due, the landlord must send notice of the refund amount to the tenant's last known or reasonably determinable address, and if the tenant does not respond within 60 days of that notice the landlord may remove the deposit from the account and keep it free of any claim (383.580(7)); if the tenant leaves without paying the last month's rent and does not demand the deposit, the landlord may after 30 days apply it to the debt (383.580(6)). No retention is allowed at all unless the deposit was kept in a separate account and both damage listings were provided (383.580(4)). (KRS 383.580(3), (4), (6), (7), confirmed 2026-10).
How Kentucky treats the landlord's core obligations
Late fees: No statutory cap on late fees and no mandatory grace period. URLTA (KRS 383.565) lets the parties set rent and other terms; outside URLTA the lease governs entirely. (Under KRS 383.695(3), a landlord may terminate a holdover tenancy without notice if rent is more than 10 days late.) (KRS 383.565(1)-(2), confirmed 2026-10). Application fees: No statewide cap on rental application or screening fees. KRS chapter 383 (including the URLTA, KRS 383.505-383.715) contains no application-fee section; KRS 383.565 lets the parties include any terms not prohibited by the Act and makes rent payable without demand or notice at the agreed time and place. (KRS 383.565(1)-(2); KRS ch. 383 (no application-fee provision), confirmed 2026-10).
Nonpayment notice: In URLTA jurisdictions: 7 days after written notice of nonpayment and intent to terminate; if unpaid, the landlord may terminate and file a forcible detainer (KRS 383.200 et seq.). Other material breaches: 14-day notice (15 days to cure). Outside URLTA jurisdictions no statutory cure period applies; the lease controls. (KRS 383.660(2), confirmed 2026-10). Rent increases: 30 days (URLTA jurisdictions). No statute sets a dedicated rent-increase notice period or rent cap. In jurisdictions that have adopted the URLTA (KRS 383.500), rent is whatever the agreement fixes (KRS 383.565(1)-(2)) and a landlord changes it on a month-to-month tenancy by the 30-day written notice that would otherwise terminate the tenancy (KRS 383.695(2)). Outside URLTA jurisdictions the lease and KRS 383.195 govern. (KRS 383.695(2); KRS 383.565(1)-(2), confirmed 2026-10). Ending a month-to-month tenancy: URLTA jurisdictions: written notice at least 30 days before the periodic rental date specified in the notice (7 days week-to-week; 10 days for a tenancy that began on expiration of a written lease). Non-URLTA jurisdictions: one month's written notice to a tenant at will or by sufferance (KRS 383.195). Willful holdover: up to 3 months' rent or treble damages plus attorney's fees. (KRS 383.695(2); KRS 383.195, confirmed 2026-10). Entry: In URLTA jurisdictions: at least 2 days' notice of intent to enter and entry only at reasonable times, except in an emergency or where impracticable. Outside URLTA jurisdictions there is no statutory entry-notice rule (lease governs). (KRS 383.615(3), confirmed 2026-10).
Kentucky has no statewide rent regulation on file, so any cap on increases would come from a local ordinance. Source-of-income protection is not on file statewide, although cities and counties can add it. Card surcharges on rent: allowed within card-network limits. Managing property for others for compensation generally requires a state license: State real estate broker license required for property management for others — confirm with state commission.
Security deposits
What Kentucky allows a landlord to collect up front, how it must be held, and the deadline and paperwork for returning it.
Security deposit limit
Source-confirmed 2026-10
No statutory cap on the security deposit amount, even in URLTA jurisdictions. KRS 383.580 requires deposits to be held in a separate account (location and account number disclosed to the tenant) with signed move-in and move-out damage lists; a landlord who skips these forfeits the right to retain any of the deposit.
“No landlord shall be entitled to retain any portion of a security deposit if the security deposit was not deposited in a separate account as required by subsection (1) of this section”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
URLTA (KRS 383.505-383.715) applies only in cities/counties that adopted it in its entirety (KRS 383.500); elsewhere no deposit statute applies.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “No statewide cap”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
The maximum a landlord may collect up front as security against unpaid rent or damage, usually expressed as a multiple of one month's rent. Separate pet, key or cleaning deposits often count toward the same limit.
Deposit return deadline
Source-confirmed 2026-10
No flat return deadline; a notice-and-response mechanism applies in URLTA jurisdictions: at move-out the landlord inspects and compiles a signed damage listing (383.580(3)); if the tenant leaves owing no rent with a refund due, the landlord must send notice of the refund amount to the tenant's last known or reasonably determinable address, and if the tenant does not respond within 60 days of that notice the landlord may remove the deposit from the account and keep it free of any claim (383.580(7)); if the tenant leaves without paying the last month's rent and does not demand the deposit, the landlord may after 30 days apply it to the debt (383.580(6)). No retention is allowed at all unless the deposit was kept in a separate account and both damage listings were provided (383.580(4)).
“the landlord shall send notification to the last known or reasonably determinable address, of the amount of any refund due the tenant. In the event the landlord shall not have received a response from the tenant within sixty (60) days from the sending of such notification, the landlord may remove the deposit from the account and retain it”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
The statute sets no deadline for sending the refund notice itself; Applies only where the URLTA has been adopted locally (KRS 383.500).
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “60 days after move-out”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
The window after the tenant vacates in which the landlord must refund the deposit or deliver an itemized statement of deductions. Missing the deadline is the most common way a landlord forfeits the right to keep any part of the deposit.
Separate pet deposit
Source-confirmed 2026-10
No statewide cap on security deposits and no statute authorizing or prohibiting a separate pet deposit. In URLTA-adopting jurisdictions, KRS 383.580 treats any 'consideration deemed to be a security deposit' (which would include a refundable pet deposit) as subject to the separate-account, move-in/move-out damage-listing and refund-notice rules; a landlord who skips those rules forfeits the right to retain any of the deposit. Outside URLTA jurisdictions the lease governs.
“All landlords of residential property requiring security deposits prior to occupancy shall be required to deposit all tenants' security deposits in an account used only for that purpose, in any bank or other lending institution subject to regulation by the Commonwealth of Kentucky or any agency of the United States government.”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Full section extracted from the official PDF; no cap and no mention of pets.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “Permitted”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
Whether a refundable pet deposit can be collected on top of the security deposit. Even where it is permitted, the combined amount usually has to stay inside the overall deposit limit.
In practice
• Hold the deposit the way the statute requires (separate or escrow account where applicable) and record the account in the file.
• Document move-in condition with a dated, photographed inventory the tenant can sign; it is the only evidence that supports a later deduction.
• Send the itemized statement and any refund by a trackable method, and keep the receipts or estimates behind every deduction.
Rent, late fees and application fees
The fees a Kentucky lease can charge, the statutory ceilings that override the lease, and whether rent increases are regulated statewide.
Late fees
Source-confirmed 2026-10
No statutory cap on late fees and no mandatory grace period. URLTA (KRS 383.565) lets the parties set rent and other terms; outside URLTA the lease governs entirely. (Under KRS 383.695(3), a landlord may terminate a holdover tenancy without notice if rent is more than 10 days late.)
“A landlord and a tenant may include in a rental agreement terms and conditions not prohibited by KRS 383.505 to 383.715 or other rule of law, including rent”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Absence finding: KRS ch. 383 section list was read; no late-fee section exists.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “No statewide cap (reasonableness standard)”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
Any statutory ceiling on the fee for late rent and any mandatory grace period before it can be charged. Where there is no statutory cap, courts still strike fees they find punitive rather than a reasonable estimate of the landlord's cost.
Application fee limit
Source-confirmed 2026-10
No statewide cap on rental application or screening fees. KRS chapter 383 (including the URLTA, KRS 383.505-383.715) contains no application-fee section; KRS 383.565 lets the parties include any terms not prohibited by the Act and makes rent payable without demand or notice at the agreed time and place.
“A landlord and a tenant may include in a rental agreement terms and conditions not prohibited by KRS 383.505 to 383.715 or other rule of law, including rent, term of the agreement, and other provisions governing the rights and obligations of the parties.”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “No statewide cap”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
A cap on what an applicant can be charged to apply, sometimes limited to the actual cost of screening and sometimes prohibited outright. Fee receipts and refund rules usually travel with the cap.
Statewide rent regulation
Source-confirmed 2026-10
(b) Statewide preemption of local rent control. No statewide rent cap. KRS 65.875 reserves rent control on private property to the General Assembly alone, to ensure uniformity and statewide application; cities, counties and urban-counties may still manage property held through housing authorities and run federal-grant housing programs.
“Notwithstanding the provisions of KRS 67.712, 67.083, 82.082, and 83.420, to insure uniformity and statewide application, only the General Assembly shall enact legislation which would control rents on private property.”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Created 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 242, effective July 14, 1992. Official page serves a PDF; text extracted locally.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “No statewide rent regulation (check local ordinances)”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
Whether a statewide law caps annual rent increases or whether rent control exists for covered units. Local ordinances can add limits even where the state has none.
In practice
• State the late fee, the grace period and the application fee in the lease in dollars or a clear percentage; a fee that is not in the lease is rarely enforceable.
• Never charge above the statutory cap even when the lease says more; the excess is unenforceable and can expose the landlord to penalties.
• Keep fee calculations in the ledger so a tenant, a court or an auditor can reproduce them from the rent roll.
Notices, rent increases and termination
How much written notice Kentucky requires before a rent increase, before ending a month-to-month tenancy, and before filing for nonpayment.
Rent-increase notice
Source-confirmed 2026-10
30 days (URLTA jurisdictions). No statute sets a dedicated rent-increase notice period or rent cap. In jurisdictions that have adopted the URLTA (KRS 383.500), rent is whatever the agreement fixes (KRS 383.565(1)-(2)) and a landlord changes it on a month-to-month tenancy by the 30-day written notice that would otherwise terminate the tenancy (KRS 383.695(2)). Outside URLTA jurisdictions the lease and KRS 383.195 govern.
“The landlord or the tenant may terminate a month-to-month tenancy by a written notice given to the other at least thirty (30) days before the periodic rental date specified in the notice.”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Absence-of-rule finding; KRS 65.875 separately bars local rent control.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “30 days”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
The written notice a landlord must give before a rent increase takes effect on a periodic (month-to-month) tenancy. Fixed-term leases generally cannot be changed mid-term.
Month-to-month termination notice
Source-confirmed 2026-10
URLTA jurisdictions: written notice at least 30 days before the periodic rental date specified in the notice (7 days week-to-week; 10 days for a tenancy that began on expiration of a written lease). Non-URLTA jurisdictions: one month's written notice to a tenant at will or by sufferance (KRS 383.195). Willful holdover: up to 3 months' rent or treble damages plus attorney's fees.
“The landlord or the tenant may terminate a month-to-month tenancy by a written notice given to the other at least thirty (30) days before the periodic rental date specified in the notice.”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “30 days”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
The notice a landlord must give to end a periodic tenancy without cause. Some jurisdictions require longer notice for long-term tenants or require a stated cause.
Pay-or-quit notice
Source-confirmed 2026-10
In URLTA jurisdictions: 7 days after written notice of nonpayment and intent to terminate; if unpaid, the landlord may terminate and file a forcible detainer (KRS 383.200 et seq.). Other material breaches: 14-day notice (15 days to cure). Outside URLTA jurisdictions no statutory cure period applies; the lease controls.
“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.”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “7 days”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
The notice a tenant must receive for nonpayment before the landlord can file for possession, and the time the tenant has to pay in full and cure. This is the step most often done wrong in an eviction.
In practice
• Serve notices in the form and by the method the statute names, and keep proof of service with the dated notice.
• Count notice periods the way the statute counts them (calendar days, business days, or "before the next rent due date") and build in a margin.
• Treat a notice to a possibly rent-regulated or subsidized unit as a legal check, because longer periods and extra content requirements usually apply.
Landlord entry
When a Kentucky landlord may enter an occupied unit and how much notice the tenant must receive.
Non-emergency entry notice
Source-confirmed 2026-10
In URLTA jurisdictions: at least 2 days' notice of intent to enter and entry only at reasonable times, except in an emergency or where impracticable. Outside URLTA jurisdictions there is no statutory entry-notice rule (lease governs).
“the landlord shall give the tenant at least two (2) days' notice of his intent to enter and may enter only at reasonable times.”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “48 hours”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
The advance notice required before a landlord enters an occupied unit for repairs, inspections or showings. Emergencies are the usual exception.
In practice
• Give written notice with the date, a reasonable time window and the purpose, and log the entry afterwards.
• Emergencies are the only common exception; document what made the entry urgent.
• A pattern of unannounced entries is a common basis for tenant complaints and counterclaims.
Payments, fair housing and licensing
Operational rules that sit outside the landlord-tenant act but decide how rent can be collected, who can be screened out, and who may manage for others.
Card surcharges on rent
Allowed within card-network limits
Returned-payment (NSF) fee
No statewide statutory cap on file
Source-of-income protection
No statewide protection on file
Local ordinances can extend protection beyond the statewide rule.
Property-management licensing
License generally required to manage for others
State real estate broker license required for property management for others — confirm with state commission.
Compliance posture values are reference data compiled from public statutes and are not source-confirmed line by line. Confirm with the state agency before relying on them.
Kentucky next to its neighbors
Own units on both sides of a state line? These are the reference values for every bordering jurisdiction. Open a state to see which values carry a citation.
Federal and state disclosures Aptoria's lease workflow surfaces for Kentucky. This is a working checklist from public sources, not a complete legal inventory for a specific property.
• Lead-based paint hazards (pre-1978 housing) — EPA Pamphlet "Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home"
Official sources
Primary sources a Kentucky landlord should bookmark. Each link was fetched and read during the October 2026 review; the binding text is always the current official version.
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Kentucky?
No statutory cap on the security deposit amount, even in URLTA jurisdictions. KRS 383.580 requires deposits to be held in a separate account (location and account number disclosed to the tenant) with signed move-in and move-out damage lists; a landlord who skips these forfeits the right to retain any of the deposit. (KRS 383.580(1)-(4), confirmed 2026-10).
How long does a Kentucky landlord have to return the security deposit?
No flat return deadline; a notice-and-response mechanism applies in URLTA jurisdictions: at move-out the landlord inspects and compiles a signed damage listing (383.580(3)); if the tenant leaves owing no rent with a refund due, the landlord must send notice of the refund amount to the tenant's last known or reasonably determinable address, and if the tenant does not respond within 60 days of that notice the landlord may remove the deposit from the account and keep it free of any claim (383.580(7)); if the tenant leaves without paying the last month's rent and does not demand the deposit, the landlord may after 30 days apply it to the debt (383.580(6)). No retention is allowed at all unless the deposit was kept in a separate account and both damage listings were provided (383.580(4)). (KRS 383.580(3), (4), (6), (7), confirmed 2026-10).
What is the maximum late fee in Kentucky?
No statutory cap on late fees and no mandatory grace period. URLTA (KRS 383.565) lets the parties set rent and other terms; outside URLTA the lease governs entirely. (Under KRS 383.695(3), a landlord may terminate a holdover tenancy without notice if rent is more than 10 days late.) (KRS 383.565(1)-(2), confirmed 2026-10).
How many days does a Kentucky pay-or-quit notice give the tenant?
In URLTA jurisdictions: 7 days after written notice of nonpayment and intent to terminate; if unpaid, the landlord may terminate and file a forcible detainer (KRS 383.200 et seq.). Other material breaches: 14-day notice (15 days to cure). Outside URLTA jurisdictions no statutory cure period applies; the lease controls. (KRS 383.660(2), confirmed 2026-10).
How much notice must a Kentucky landlord give before entering?
In URLTA jurisdictions: at least 2 days' notice of intent to enter and entry only at reasonable times, except in an emergency or where impracticable. Outside URLTA jurisdictions there is no statutory entry-notice rule (lease governs). (KRS 383.615(3), confirmed 2026-10).
How much notice is required to raise rent in Kentucky?
30 days (URLTA jurisdictions). No statute sets a dedicated rent-increase notice period or rent cap. In jurisdictions that have adopted the URLTA (KRS 383.500), rent is whatever the agreement fixes (KRS 383.565(1)-(2)) and a landlord changes it on a month-to-month tenancy by the 30-day written notice that would otherwise terminate the tenancy (KRS 383.695(2)). Outside URLTA jurisdictions the lease and KRS 383.195 govern. (KRS 383.695(2); KRS 383.565(1)-(2), confirmed 2026-10).
How much notice is required to end a month-to-month tenancy in Kentucky?
URLTA jurisdictions: written notice at least 30 days before the periodic rental date specified in the notice (7 days week-to-week; 10 days for a tenancy that began on expiration of a written lease). Non-URLTA jurisdictions: one month's written notice to a tenant at will or by sufferance (KRS 383.195). Willful holdover: up to 3 months' rent or treble damages plus attorney's fees. (KRS 383.695(2); KRS 383.195, confirmed 2026-10).
Does Kentucky have statewide rent control?
No statewide rent regulation is on file for Kentucky. Local ordinances can still limit increases, so check the city or county where the unit sits before setting a renewal rent.
Is source of income a protected class in Kentucky?
No statewide source-of-income protection is on file for Kentucky, but cities and counties can adopt it. Check local law before refusing a voucher or benefit income, and apply any screening criteria consistently.
Can a Kentucky landlord add a surcharge for paying rent by card?
Allowed within card-network limits. Where a surcharge is allowed, it must still follow card-network rules and be disclosed before payment.
How this page was verified
Every rule is shown in one of two states. “Source-confirmed” means an editor opened the official statute page named next to the rule on the date shown, read the controlling text, and recorded the excerpt you see; the excerpt is quoted verbatim so you can check it. “Reference value” means Aptoria's compliance engine applies a conservative number for this rule, but nobody has yet tied it to a specific statute section on this page, so it must be checked before you rely on it.
This page meets Aptoria's evidence floor for publication (10 source-confirmed rules and 4 fetched official sources). Statutes change; local ordinances can be stricter; the facts of a tenancy change the result.