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Rent Control Laws in Kentucky

Kentucky has no statewide rent cap, and state law reserves rent control on private property to the General Assembly, so cities and counties cannot adopt it.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Kentucky at a glance

Statewide rent cap
No
No state statute capping private residential rent was found.
Local rent control banned
Yes, only the legislature can control rents
City, county, or urban-county housing authority property and federal grant programs are not affected.
Local rent control
None, state law bars local rent control

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Kentucky

Does Kentucky have a statewide rent cap?

No. Statewide rent cap in Kentucky: no. No state statute capping private residential rent was found.

Does Kentucky law ban cities from adopting rent control?

Yes, only the legislature can control rents. Local rent control banned in Kentucky: yes, only the legislature can control rents. City, county, or urban-county housing authority property and federal grant programs are not affected.

Which cities in Kentucky have rent control?

Local rent control in Kentucky: None, state law bars local rent control.

Where do the Kentucky rent control laws come from?

The rules above come from KRS 65.875. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

KRS 65.875 took effect July 14, 1992 and has not been amended since.

What this means in practice

Even where there is no rent control, a landlord usually cannot raise the rent during a fixed-term lease unless the lease allows it. Increases normally take effect at renewal or after written notice for a month-to-month tenancy, and notice periods are set by state law.

Rent caps and rent stabilization rules commonly have exemptions, such as buildings built in recent years, owner-occupied duplexes, or units owned by individuals rather than companies. A unit can sit in a covered city and still be exempt, so read the coverage section of the law closely.

Local rent control ordinances change through ballot measures and council votes more often than state law does. If you rent or own property in a city that regulates rent, check the city or county housing department for the current allowable increase and any registration requirements.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.