Kentucky Tenant Law: Security Deposits, Late Fees & Landlord Entry (2026)

What Kentucky law says about the clauses that matter most in a residential lease. Data as of 2026-10-18.

Main statute: Kentucky Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (KRS 383.505-383.715), in force only where a city or county has adopted it; KRS chapter 383 otherwise (KRS 383.500-383.715)

Security deposits

Max: No statewide cap. Under the URLTA (where adopted): deposit must be kept in a separate account used only for deposits, and the landlord must give signed move-in and move-out damage lists, or they cannot keep any of the deposit.
Itemization required: Yes

Source: KRS 383.580

Calculate your Kentucky deposit return deadline

Late fees

We haven't verified a statewide rule for this yet. Check your lease, your city's rules, or a local tenant organization.

Check if your Kentucky late fee is legal

Landlord entry

Notice: At least 2 days' notice, except in an emergency or where impracticable (URLTA areas).

Source: KRS 383.615

Ending a month-to-month tenancy

Tenant: 30 days' written notice before the periodic rental date (URLTA areas)
Landlord: 30 days' written notice before the periodic rental date (URLTA areas); elsewhere, one month's written notice to end a tenancy at will (KRS 383.195)

Source: KRS 383.695(2), 383.195

Rent increases

We haven't verified a statewide rule for this yet. Check your lease, your city's rules, or a local tenant organization.

Repairs & habitability

Rule: Landlord must keep the unit fit and habitable, follow health/safety codes, and maintain supplied systems and appliances (URLTA areas). If the landlord willfully fails to fix a health/safety problem within 14 days of written notice, the tenant may have it repaired and deduct the cost, up to $100 or half a month's rent, whichever is greater.

Source: KRS 383.595, 383.635

Retaliation

Rule: Landlord may not raise rent, cut services, or sue/threaten eviction because the tenant complained to a code agency or the landlord, or joined a tenants' union; a complaint within 1 year before the act creates a presumption of retaliation (URLTA areas).

Source: KRS 383.705

Clauses often unenforceable in Kentucky

Waiving tenant rights under the URLTA, confession of judgment, tenant paying the landlord's attorney fees, or limiting the landlord's liability (KRS 383.570, URLTA areas)
Ending the lease or penalizing the tenant for calling police or other emergency help (KRS 383.302, statewide)
Keeping the deposit without signed move-in/move-out damage lists or a separate deposit account (KRS 383.580, URLTA areas)

Notes

Kentucky's URLTA applies only in cities/counties that adopted it in full; check whether your city or county has. Outside those areas many of these protections do not apply. Local landlord-tenant ordinances may not conflict with state law (KRS 383.198).

Signing a lease in Kentucky?

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Common lease red flags, explained

General information only, not legal advice. Laws change — verify with the linked source or a licensed attorney.

Kentucky Tenant Law: Security Deposits, Late Fees & Landlord Entry (2026)

What Kentucky law says about the clauses that matter most in a residential lease. Data as of 2026-10-18.

Security deposits

Max: No statewide cap. Under the URLTA (where adopted): deposit must be kept in a separate account used only for deposits, and the landlord must give signed move-in and move-out damage lists, or they cannot keep any of the deposit.
Itemization required: Yes

Source: KRS 383.580

Calculate your Kentucky deposit return deadline

Late fees

We haven't verified a statewide rule for this yet. Check your lease, your city's rules, or a local tenant organization.

Check if your Kentucky late fee is legal

Landlord entry

Notice: At least 2 days' notice, except in an emergency or where impracticable (URLTA areas).

Source: KRS 383.615

Ending a month-to-month tenancy

Tenant: 30 days' written notice before the periodic rental date (URLTA areas)
Landlord: 30 days' written notice before the periodic rental date (URLTA areas); elsewhere, one month's written notice to end a tenancy at will (KRS 383.195)

Source: KRS 383.695(2), 383.195

Rent increases

We haven't verified a statewide rule for this yet. Check your lease, your city's rules, or a local tenant organization.

Repairs & habitability

Rule: Landlord must keep the unit fit and habitable, follow health/safety codes, and maintain supplied systems and appliances (URLTA areas). If the landlord willfully fails to fix a health/safety problem within 14 days of written notice, the tenant may have it repaired and deduct the cost, up to $100 or half a month's rent, whichever is greater.

Source: KRS 383.595, 383.635

Retaliation

Rule: Landlord may not raise rent, cut services, or sue/threaten eviction because the tenant complained to a code agency or the landlord, or joined a tenants' union; a complaint within 1 year before the act creates a presumption of retaliation (URLTA areas).

Source: KRS 383.705

Clauses often unenforceable in Kentucky

Waiving tenant rights under the URLTA, confession of judgment, tenant paying the landlord's attorney fees, or limiting the landlord's liability (KRS 383.570, URLTA areas)
Ending the lease or penalizing the tenant for calling police or other emergency help (KRS 383.302, statewide)
Keeping the deposit without signed move-in/move-out damage lists or a separate deposit account (KRS 383.580, URLTA areas)

Notes

Signing a lease in Kentucky?

Scan it free and see which clauses break these rules.

Scan my Kentucky lease

General information only, not legal advice. Laws change — verify with the linked source or a licensed attorney.