Ky. Rev. Stat. ch. 383 § 383.198
Prohibition against landlord or tenant ordinance in conflict with state law
Operative Text
383.198 Prohibition against landlord or tenant ordinance in conflict with state law. A city, county, charter county government, urban-county government, consolidated local government, or unified local government shall not adopt or enforce any ordinance relating to landlord or tenant laws that is in conflict with any law of this Commonwealth.
Kentucky Revised Statute § 383.198 establishes that local governments — including cities, counties, and various forms of consolidated or unified local governments — are prohibited from creating or enforcing ordinances that govern landlord-tenant relationships in ways that conflict with state law. The provision effectively reserves authority over landlord-tenant matters to the Commonwealth of Kentucky whenever a conflict arises. Any local ordinance that contradicts state landlord-tenant law is rendered unenforceable under this rule.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.198, property owners and managers operating in Kentucky can generally rely on state law as the controlling framework when a local ordinance appears to impose conflicting landlord-tenant requirements. Compliant operators typically familiarize themselves with Kentucky's statewide landlord-tenant statutes and note where any local rules may diverge. When a local ordinance and state law appear to conflict, § 383.198 is the provision that determines which rule governs.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.198 means that any local ordinance purporting to grant tenant rights or impose landlord obligations cannot override or contradict Kentucky state law. Tenants who believe a local rule is being applied in a way that conflicts with state law may raise § 383.198 as a relevant legal point in any dispute or proceeding. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services familiar with Kentucky housing law can help explain how this preemption provision may interact with specific local rules.
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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