Kentucky Eviction Notice
Create a proper Kentucky eviction notice — pay-or-quit, cure-or-quit, or termination — and download a print-ready PDF. Free, no signup. The preview updates as you type.
Maintained by Rapi Stack · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.
What happens after the notice in Kentucky
If the tenant does not comply, the eviction moves to court. These are Kentucky’s own rules for that step, from the judiciary and the statute.
- What the case is called. In Kentucky an eviction lawsuit is a(n) Forcible entry and detainer (forcible detainer) action. — KRS 383.200(3) (eff. July 1, 1953) ↗
- Where to file. If the tenant doesn’t comply with the notice, the landlord files in the District Court. — KRS 383.210(1) (eff. Jan. 2, 1978) ↗
- No self-help. KRS 383.655 (URLTA jurisdictions) – tenant may recover possession or terminate and recover up to 3 months' rent plus attorney's fee if landlord unlawfully removes/excludes tenant or interrupts heat, water, electric, gas or other essential service — KRS 383.655 (eff. July 13, 1984) ↗
Each point links to the Kentucky source it was taken from. Rules change; confirm before relying on them.
Kentucky notice periods · as of 2026
- Non-payment of rent
- 7 days
- Lease violation (cure)
- 14 days
- End month-to-month
- 30 days
Source: KRS § 383.660; § 383.695 (URLTA jurisdictions only) · verify ↗. Using the wrong number can void the notice — confirm the current rule before you serve it.
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Types of eviction notice
- Pay or quit — for unpaid rent: pay by the deadline or move out.
- Cure or quit — for a lease violation: fix it by the deadline or move out.
- Unconditional / termination — to end a month-to-month tenancy or for serious violations.
Kentucky notice period & service
The number of days and how you must deliver the notice are set by Kentucky law — get both right, keep proof of service, and never lock out or remove a tenant yourself. Check the current Kentucky eviction rules before serving.
If the tenant moves out still owing rent, the notice won’t collect it. Put the amount and a deadline in writing with a Kentucky demand letter for payment; if it’s ignored, you can file in Kentucky small claims court, where the limit is $2,500.
Frequently asked questions
How many days notice do I have to give in Kentucky?
In Kentucky, a non-payment (pay-or-quit) notice must give the tenant 7 days to pay or leave (as of 2026). Source: KRS § 383.660; § 383.695 (URLTA jurisdictions only). Notice periods for lease violations or ending a tenancy differ — see the box on this page and confirm current law before serving.
How do I serve the notice in Kentucky?
States set rules for delivery — often personal delivery, leaving it with an adult at the home, and/or mailing a copy. Keep proof of how and when you served it. Improper service is a common reason eviction cases get dismissed, so follow Kentucky’s method carefully.
Do I need a lawyer?
Not always for the notice itself, but eviction is technical and a small mistake can restart the clock. For contested cases, commercial properties, or if the tenant has an attorney, it’s worth consulting a landlord-tenant lawyer in Kentucky.
Where does a landlord file an eviction case in Kentucky?
If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord files in the District Court (the case is called a(n) Forcible entry and detainer (forcible detainer) action). Source: KRS 383.210(1) (eff. Jan. 2, 1978).
How does Kentucky compare? See the notice periods in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute. Not sure which notice applies? Try the 2-question wizard.
How Kentucky compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Kentucky: KRS § 383.660; § 383.695 (URLTA jurisdictions only) ↗.
- Notice to pay rent or quit
Notice to pay rent or quit: 7 days — above the national median of 5 days across the 47 states with a statutory rule.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 7 other states.
Notice to pay rent or quit in neighboring states — Illinois (5 days), Indiana (10 days), Missouri (no statutory rule), Ohio (3 days), Tennessee (14 days), Virginia (14 days), West Virginia (no statutory rule).
- Notice to cure a lease violation
Notice to cure a lease violation: 14 days, exactly the national median.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 7 other states.
Notice to cure a lease violation in neighboring states — Illinois (10 days), Indiana (no statutory rule), Missouri (10 days), Ohio (30 days), Tennessee (14 days), Virginia (21 days), West Virginia (no statutory rule).
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy: 30 days, exactly the national median.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 36 other states.
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy in neighboring states — Illinois (30 days), Indiana (30 days), Missouri (30 days), Ohio (30 days), Tennessee (30 days), Virginia (30 days), West Virginia (30 days). Every neighboring state with a rule matches Kentucky.
The rest of what Kentucky requires
The figures below are Kentucky's, not national averages — each one is the value we verified for this state, with the statute it comes from. Follow a row to the full Kentucky page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- No statutory limit Ky. Rev. Stat. §383.580 ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 30 days after move-out Ky. Rev. Stat. §383.580 ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 30 days Ky. Rev. Stat. §383.580 ↗
- Small claims limit · as of 2026
- $2,500 KRS 24A.230; KRS 24A.270 (fee) ↗
- Where you file · as of 2026
- Small Claims Division of the District Court · filing fee Set as the District Court filing fee for claims of $500 or less (KRS 24A.270); in practice roughly $50-$70 including certified-mail or sheriff service — confirm the current amount with the circuit court clerk or kycourts.gov. KRS 24A.230; KRS 24A.270 (fee) ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- No statutory limit Kentucky Revised Statutes ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required Kentucky KYTC / DMV.ORG ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization recommended Ky. Rev. Stat. §457.050 (form §457.420) ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules KRS 275.015(21) (definition); KRS 275.180 (written-agreement requirements for certain waivers) ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- County Clerk (KRS 382.110(1) — recorded 'in the county clerk's office of the county in which the property ... is located') · no witnesses KRS 382.130; KRS 382.135 ↗
Eviction notice in other states
More Kentucky legal forms
Different state? See eviction notices by state →