Kentucky has no rent control anywhere in the state. Landlords can raise rent by any amount. Whether the URLTA applies to you depends on your city — Louisville and Lexington have adopted it, but many jurisdictions have not.
Kentucky at a Glance
Rent control: None
Statewide rent cap: None — landlords can raise rent by any amount
Preemption: Kentucky has no rent control, and KRS 65.875 expressly prohibits local governments from enacting rent-control ordinances. Kentucky's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA) applies only in cities and counties that have adopted it (including Louisville and Lexington); elsewhere, common law applies.
What Protections Kentucky Tenants Do Have
Even without rent control, Kentucky law gives renters meaningful rights in these areas:
Security Deposit
Under the URLTA (where adopted), there is no fixed statutory deadline to return your deposit; the statute conditions return on the move-out itemized damage listing rather than a set number of days. KRS § 383.580 provides no double-damages penalty; a landlord who fails to keep the deposit in a separate account or to provide the required initial and final itemized damage listings forfeits the right to retain any of it (KRS § 383.580(4)).
Notice to Terminate
Month-to-month tenants must receive at least 30 days' written notice before the landlord terminates the tenancy under the URLTA (KRS § 383.695).
Repairs & Habitability
In URLTA cities, landlords must maintain habitable conditions. In non-URLTA areas, your rights depend primarily on lease terms and local housing codes. Louisville and Lexington both have housing codes with enforcement.
Retaliation Protection
In URLTA cities, landlords cannot retaliate against tenants for reporting code violations or exercising legal rights (KRS § 383.705).
Eviction Process
Landlords must obtain a court order before removing a tenant. Self-help eviction — changing locks or removing property — is illegal statewide.