Ky. Rev. Stat. ch. 65 § 65.111
Prohibition on local government billing landlord for emergency response
Operative Text
65.111 Prohibition on local government billing landlord for emergency response fees -- Limitations. (1) As used in this section: (a) "Emergency response" means a response by any first responder to a reported incident that is of such an emergent nature that jeopardizes or could jeopardize personal safety or result in the destruction of property; (b) "Emergency response fee" means any charge or fee, other than a membership charge or subscriber fee levied under KRS Chapter 273, imposed by a fire department, whether paid or volunteer, ambulance provider, law enforcement agency, or other organization to cover the costs associated with an emergency response, including but not limited to costs incurred for labor, materials, supplies, or equipment used or provided in the response; and (c) "First responder" means fire, police, and emergency medical personnel. (2) (a) No local government, special district, or other provider of any emergency response service shall submit any demand for payment or require a landlord to pay any emergency response fee if the emergency response: 1. Arises out of the actions of a residential tenant or his or her guest; and 2. Was not the result of any failure by the landlord to maintain a building in compliance with applicable housing, building, plumbing, electrical, fire, health, or nuisance code requirements. (b) Nothing in paragraph (a) of this subsection shall prevent a local government, special district, or other provider of any emergency response service from submitting a demand for payment of an emergency response fee from a responsible party.
Kentucky Revised Statutes §§ 65.111 et seq. establish that local governments, special districts, and emergency service providers generally cannot bill a landlord for the costs of an emergency response when that response was triggered by a tenant's or guest's actions and the landlord was not at fault for a code violation. The rule defines 'emergency response,' 'emergency response fee,' and 'first responder' to set the scope of the prohibition. Importantly, the law does not shield any other responsible party—such as a tenant who caused the incident—from being billed for those same costs.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 65.111, landlords who maintain their properties in compliance with applicable housing, building, plumbing, electrical, fire, health, and nuisance codes generally cannot be required to pay emergency response fees when an incident is caused by a tenant or guest rather than a code deficiency. Compliant operators typically document ongoing maintenance, code inspections, and repair histories so that, if a billing demand is ever received, records are available to demonstrate the property met applicable standards. If a local government or emergency service provider does submit such a demand, operators familiar with § 65.111 understand that the statute expressly limits when that billing is permissible.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ky. Rev. Stat. § 65.111 is primarily a protection for landlords, but tenants should be aware that the statute preserves the right of emergency service providers to seek payment from any 'responsible party'—which could include a tenant or guest whose actions prompted the emergency response. Tenants who receive or are threatened with an emergency response fee may want to review the definitions and limitations set out in § 65.111 to understand the circumstances under which such charges can be directed at different parties. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office can help clarify how this provision interacts with any lease terms or local ordinances that may also apply.
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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