Ky. Rev. Stat. ch. 198B § 198B.260
Administrative regulations to make buildings accessible to and
Operative Text
198B.260 Administrative regulations to make buildings accessible to and usable by persons with a disability -- Compliance required. (1) The department shall promulgate administrative regulations, pursuant to KRS Chapter 13A, applicable to all new and altered buildings which shall establish requirements for making all buildings accessible to and usable by persons with a disability. These regulations shall require, as a minimum, that all buildings, with the exception of one (1) and two (2) family dwellings, multifamily projects consisting of twenty-four (24) living units or less, church buildings, and historical structures whose historic significance would be threatened or destroyed, be accessible to persons with a disability. If multifamily projects are not exempt under this subsection, only one (1) out of every twenty-five (25) units shall be accessible to persons with a disability. The administrative regulations shall be incorporated into the Kentucky Building Code. (2) The administrative regulations promulgated by the department shall be consistent with the Federal 1991 Americans with Disabilities Act and the American Disabilities Act Guidelines. (3) No building permit or other official authorization for construction of any building shall be valid unless the plans and specifications are in compliance with the accessibility requirements stated in the Kentucky Building Code.
Kentucky Revised Statute § 198B.260 requires the state department to adopt administrative regulations—incorporated into the Kentucky Building Code—that set minimum accessibility standards for new and altered buildings so that people with disabilities can access and use them. Most buildings must meet these standards, though single- and two-family homes, smaller multifamily projects of 24 units or fewer, church buildings, and qualifying historic structures are generally exempt. For non-exempt multifamily projects, at least one out of every 25 units must be made accessible, and no building permit is valid unless the submitted plans comply with these accessibility requirements.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 198B.260, operators of new or altered buildings that are not exempt—such as larger multifamily projects exceeding 24 units—are generally expected to ensure that at least one in every 25 units meets the accessibility standards embedded in the Kentucky Building Code. Compliant operators typically submit plans and specifications that satisfy these requirements before seeking a building permit, since a permit issued without compliant plans is not considered valid under this provision. Staying current with the administrative regulations promulgated under § 198B.260, which must align with the 1991 Americans with Disabilities Act and its guidelines, is a standard part of responsible project planning.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ky. Rev. Stat. § 198B.260 establishes that tenants living in qualifying multifamily housing have a right to expect that at least a portion of units in their building were designed and permitted in compliance with Kentucky's accessibility standards. If a tenant believes a building's construction or permitting did not meet the accessibility requirements set out under § 198B.260, they may consider raising this concern with the local building authority or code enforcement office, which oversees permit compliance. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services can help individuals understand whether a particular building falls within the scope of this provision and what options may be available.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 19, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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