Ky. Rev. Stat. ch. 344 § 344.660
Damages and injunctive relief available
Operative Text
344.660 Damages and injunctive relief available. (1) In a civil action under KRS 344.650, if the Circuit Court finds that a discriminatory housing practice has occurred or is about to occur, the Circuit Court may award to the plaintiff actual and punitive damages, and subject to subsection (3) of this section, may grant as relief, as the court deems appropriate any permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order including an order enjoining the defendant from engaging in the practice or ordering affirmative action as appropriate. (2) In a civil action under KRS 344.240, 344.650, or 344.665, the court, in its discretion, may award the prevailing complainant, a reasonable attorneys' fee and costs. The court, in its discretion, may award the prevailing respondent a reasonable attorneys' fee and costs if the respondent establishes that the complaint upon which the action was based was brought in bad faith. Whether a party has committed bad faith shall be determined in accordance with Rule 11 of the Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure. The state shall not be liable in any event for fees and costs. (3) However, no relief provided under this section shall effect any contract, sale, encumbrance, or lease consummated before the granting of that relief, and involving a bona fide purchaser, encumbrancer, or tenant, without actual notice of the filing of the complaint of a discriminatory housing practice complaint with the commission or the filing of a civil action.
Kentucky Revised Statute § 344.660 establishes the remedies available when a court finds that a discriminatory housing practice has occurred or is about to occur. A Circuit Court may award actual and punitive damages to the harmed party, and may also issue injunctions or other orders requiring a party to stop discriminatory conduct or take corrective action. Attorney's fees and costs may be awarded to a prevailing party, though a respondent can only recover fees if the complaint was brought in bad faith; any relief granted does not unwind transactions already completed by bona fide purchasers or tenants who had no notice of the complaint.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 344.660, housing providers found to have engaged in discriminatory practices face exposure to both actual and punitive damages, as well as court orders requiring them to halt or reverse those practices. Operators who maintain documented, consistently applied non-discriminatory policies and procedures are generally better positioned to demonstrate compliance. Notably, the statute allows a prevailing respondent to seek attorney's fees only when the original complaint was filed in bad faith as defined by Kentucky Civil Procedure Rule 11.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ky. Rev. Stat. § 344.660 gives courts broad authority to make harmed tenants whole, including through monetary damages and injunctive relief that can stop ongoing discriminatory conduct. Tenants who believe they have experienced a discriminatory housing practice may pursue a civil action and, if they prevail, may also seek recovery of reasonable attorney's fees and costs. General enforcement paths include filing a complaint with the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, consulting a tenant-rights organization, or exploring civil litigation options with a licensed Kentucky attorney.
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