Ky. Rev. Stat. ch. 344 § 344.020
Purposes and construction of chapter -- Effect
Operative Text
344.020 Purposes and construction of chapter -- Effect. (1) The general purposes of this chapter are: (a) To provide for execution within the state of the policies embodied in the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended (78 Stat. 241), Title VIII of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1968 (82 Stat. 81), the Fair Housing Act as amended (42 U.S.C. 360), the Federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (81 Stat. 602), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-336), and the Civil Rights Act of 1991 as amended (P.L. 102-166, amended by P.L. 102-392); (b) To safeguard all individuals within the state from discrimination because of familial status, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age forty (40) and over, or because of the person's status as a qualified individual with a disability as defined in KRS 344.010 and KRS 344.030; thereby to protect their interest in personal dignity and freedom from humiliation, to make available to the state their full productive capacities, to secure the state against domestic strife and unrest which would menace its democratic institutions, to preserve the public safety, health, and general welfare, and to further the interest, rights, and privileges of individuals within the state; (c) To establish as the policy of the Commonwealth the safeguarding of the rights of an individual selling or leasing his primary residence through private sale without the aid of any real estate operator, broker, or salesman and without advertising or public display. (2) This chapter shall be construed to further the general purposes stated in this section and the special purposes of the particular provision involved. (3) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as indicating an intent to exclude local laws on the same subject matter not inconsistent with this chapter. (4) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be deemed to repeal any other law of this state relating to discrimination because of familial status, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age forty (40) and over, or because of the person's status as a qualified individual with a disability as defined in KRS 344.030.
Ky. Rev. Stat. § 344.020 establishes the foundational purposes and interpretive framework for Kentucky's civil rights chapter, which is designed to align state law with major federal anti-discrimination statutes. The provision declares that Kentucky policy protects individuals from discrimination based on familial status, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age (40 and over), and disability status. It also clarifies that the chapter does not override other state anti-discrimination laws and allows local governments to enact compatible laws on the same subjects.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Ky. Rev. Stat. § 344.020 signals that all subsequent provisions in Kentucky's civil rights chapter must be read broadly to advance anti-discrimination goals, meaning property owners and managers operating in Kentucky are expected to conduct their rental and sales activities in a manner consistent with both state and federal fair housing standards. The statute also recognizes a specific policy protecting the rights of individuals selling or leasing their own primary residence through a private sale without a broker or advertising. Compliant operators generally familiarize themselves with the full scope of protected classes enumerated in § 344.020 and ensure their practices do not conflict with either state or applicable local anti-discrimination rules.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ky. Rev. Stat. § 344.020 establishes that Kentucky's civil rights protections are intended to be interpreted broadly in favor of safeguarding individuals from discrimination in housing and related contexts. Tenants who believe they have experienced discrimination based on a protected characteristic — such as race, familial status, disability, or age (40 and over) — may have recourse under this chapter, as well as under parallel federal fair housing laws. General enforcement paths can include filing a complaint with a relevant state or local civil rights agency, raising a violation as a defense in a legal proceeding, or consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with Kentucky law.
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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