Ky. Rev. Stat. ch. 344 § 344.362
Exceptions to unlawful practice of discrimination because of sex
Operative Text
344.362 Exceptions to unlawful practice of discrimination because of sex. Nothing in KRS 344.360 shall apply to: (1) The YMCA, YWCA, and similar type single sex dormitory rental properties, including, but not limited to, those dormitories operated by institutions of higher education; (2) A landlord who refused to rent to an unmarried couple of opposite sex; (3) A landlord who chooses to rent only to men or only to women; provided that the landlord engages in the rental to no more than ten (10) persons or of no more than ten (10) self-contained units in an owner occupied housing accommodation; (4) Rooms or rental units where tenants would be required to share common bath or kitchen facilities; and (5) To any housing accommodation where it can be demonstrated that gender-based exclusions are necessary for reasons of personal modesty or privacy.
Kentucky Revised Statute § 344.362 carves out specific situations where the sex-discrimination prohibitions of KRS 344.360 do not apply in housing. These exceptions cover single-sex dormitory-style properties (such as YMCAs, YWCAs, and college dorms), small owner-occupied rentals of ten or fewer units or tenants where the landlord chooses to rent only to one gender, shared-bath or shared-kitchen living arrangements, and housing where gender-based exclusions can be shown to be necessary for personal modesty or privacy. The provision also permits landlords to decline renting to unmarried opposite-sex couples.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 344.362, operators of certain housing types may lawfully maintain gender-based rental policies that would otherwise be prohibited. A landlord relying on the small-property exception in subsection (3) generally ensures that the property is owner-occupied and that rentals do not exceed ten persons or ten self-contained units. Operators of shared-facility housing or single-sex dormitories typically document the nature of the property and the basis for any gender-based policy to demonstrate that their situation falls within one of the enumerated exceptions.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ky. Rev. Stat. § 344.362 defines the boundaries of sex-discrimination protections in Kentucky housing, so tenants should be aware that certain rental situations—such as small owner-occupied buildings, shared-bath or shared-kitchen arrangements, and single-sex dormitories—may fall outside the protections of KRS 344.360. If a tenant believes a landlord is improperly claiming one of these exceptions to justify discriminatory treatment, they may consider filing a complaint with the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights or consulting a tenant-rights organization for guidance. Understanding whether a specific housing situation genuinely qualifies under one of the five listed exceptions in § 344.362 is often a key first step in evaluating available options.
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.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation