Kentucky Residential Lease Agreement
What Kentucky law requires in a residential lease — the deposit cap, the return deadline, the notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, and the disclosures you have to give the tenant. Every figure is cited to the statute it comes from and dated. The free Kentucky lease template is one click away.
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.
Other Kentucky rules your lease has to live with
Beyond the deposit, Kentucky law sets rules on entry, late fees, and repairs that apply whether or not the lease mentions them.
- Landlord entry. Kentucky requires at least 48 hours’ notice before a non-emergency entry. — KRS 383.615(3) (current through Jan. 1, 2025 per mirror) ↗
- Repair and deduct. Allowed if landlord willfully fails to fix conditions affecting health/safety and cost is under $100 or half the monthly rent (whichever greater), after 14 days' written notice — KRS 383.635 ↗
- Habitability. Kentucky law implies a warranty of habitability into every residential lease; a clause waiving it is unenforceable. — KRS 383.595(1)(b) ↗
Each point links to the Kentucky source it was taken from. Rules change; confirm before relying on them.
What Kentucky law requires · as of 2026
- Max security deposit
- No statutory limit
- Deposit return deadline
- 30 days after move-out
- Notice to end month-to-month
- 30 days
Source: Ky. Rev. Stat. §383.580 · verify ↗. Laws change — confirm the current rule before you rely on it.
Deposit still not back 30 days after move-out? Ask for it in writing with a Kentucky security deposit demand letter; if that doesn’t work, the usual next step is Kentucky small claims court.
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Required disclosures in Kentucky
What Kentucky law says a residential landlord has to tell the tenant, each with the statute it comes from. Federal rules and some city ordinances can add more.
Manager and owner/agent disclosure
Written disclosure at or before commencement of tenancy of name and address of the person authorized to manage the premises and an owner or authorized agent; must be kept current.
Source: KRS 383.585
Frequently asked questions
How much security deposit can a landlord charge in Kentucky?
Kentucky does not set a statutory cap on the security deposit, so the amount is negotiable — but it must be returned within 30 days after you move out (as of 2026). Source: Ky. Rev. Stat. §383.580.
Is this lease valid in Kentucky?
A written lease that identifies the parties, the property, the term, and the rent is generally enforceable in Kentucky once both sides sign. What it cannot do is contract around Kentucky law: the deposit rules, entry notice, and habitability duties below apply whether or not the lease mentions them.
How much notice must a landlord give before entering a rental in Kentucky?
Kentucky requires at least 48 hours' notice for a non-emergency entry. Source: KRS 383.615(3) (current through Jan. 1, 2025 per mirror).
Can a tenant repair and deduct rent in Kentucky?
Allowed if landlord willfully fails to fix conditions affecting health/safety and cost is under $100 or half the monthly rent (whichever greater), after 14 days' written notice Source: KRS 383.635.
What does a landlord have to disclose in Kentucky?
Under Kentucky law: Manager and owner/agent disclosure (KRS 383.585). Federal and local rules can add more; each item on this page links to the law it comes from.
How does Kentucky compare? See the security deposit limits in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute.
How Kentucky compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Kentucky: Ky. Rev. Stat. §383.580 ↗.
- Kentucky is one of 22 of 51 jurisdictions that set no statutory cap on the security deposit (29 cap the deposit by statute).
- Deposit return deadline
Deposit return deadline: 30 days, exactly the national median.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 26 other states.
Deposit return deadline in neighboring states — Illinois (45 days), Indiana (45 days), Missouri (30 days), Ohio (30 days), Tennessee (30 days), Virginia (45 days), West Virginia (60 days).
- 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 39 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.
- Notice for unpaid rent · as of 2026
- 7 days to pay or quit KRS § 383.660; § 383.695 (URLTA jurisdictions only) ↗
- Notice to cure a lease violation · as of 2026
- 14 days KRS § 383.660; § 383.695 (URLTA jurisdictions only) ↗
- 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 ↗
Lease agreement in other states
More Kentucky legal forms
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