Home › Security Deposit Laws › Kentucky

Kentucky Security Deposit Laws (2026)

In Kentucky, the deposit statute applies only where the local government adopted the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (KRS 383.500). Where it applies, it requires a disclosed bank account and signed damage listings at both ends of the tenancy.

By Lamuko Editorial Team✓ Checked against official statute textUpdated

Kentucky deposit rules at a glance

Maximum depositNo statutory cap
Return deadlineNo fixed deadline: refund notice rule with 60 days to respond (if you left owing the last month's rent and made no demand, it may be applied to that rent after 30 days)
Itemized listSigned move-in and move-out damage listings
InterestNot required
PenaltyA landlord that skips the account or the listings forfeits the right to keep any portion (KRS 383.580(4))
Where it appliesOnly in cities and counties that adopted the URLTA (KRS 383.500)

Verified 2026-10-17 against KRS 383.580. Calculate your Kentucky deadline →

Timeline: move-in to refund

  1. Before move-inYou and the landlord sign a list of existing damage.
  2. Lease signingYou are told the name of the bank and the account number.
  3. Move-outInspect together and sign a final listing, or dissent in writing.
  4. After move-outThe landlord sends notice of the refund due; if you do not respond within 60 days, it may keep the deposit.

First check: is your city covered?

KRS 383.505 to 383.715, including the deposit section KRS 383.580, apply only in a city, county or urban-county government that has adopted the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (KRS 383.500). Many places in Kentucky have not adopted it. Check with your local government before relying on these rules.

Separate account, with location and number

Where the Act applies, the landlord must keep deposits in an account at a bank or lending institution used only for that purpose. Unlike Tennessee, Kentucky requires the landlord to disclose both the location and the account number to you.

Damage listings at both ends

Before you move in, the landlord must give you a comprehensive listing of existing damage, which you both sign. At move-out, you inspect together and sign a final listing of damage with estimated repair costs. If you disagree, dissent in writing; in court, your claim is limited to the items you specifically dissented from.

The refund notice and forfeiture

If you leave owing no rent, the landlord must send notice of any refund due. If you do not respond within 60 days, it may keep the deposit. If you leave without paying the last month's rent and do not demand the deposit, the landlord may, after 30 days, apply it to the rent owed.

Forfeiture. Under KRS 383.580(4), a landlord that fails to keep the separate account or to provide the damage listings cannot keep any portion of the deposit.

Our calculator shows "No fixed deadline."

Steps to recover a Kentucky deposit

  1. Confirm your city or county has adopted the URLTA.
  2. Sign the move-in listing and keep a copy.
  3. Attend the move-out inspection; sign or dissent in writing.
  4. Answer the landlord's refund notice quickly.
  5. If that fails, file a claim in small claims court.

Neighboring states

Tennessee uses a similar model. Ohio and Indiana set firm 30- and 45-day deadlines, and Virginia and Missouri cap deposits.

Frequently asked questions

Do Kentucky deposit laws apply everywhere?

No. KRS 383.580 applies only where the local government adopted the URLTA (KRS 383.500).

Is there a cap on security deposits in Kentucky?

No. KRS 383.580 sets no maximum.

How long does a Kentucky landlord have to return a deposit?

There is no fixed deadline. The landlord sends notice of the refund, and may keep the deposit if you do not respond within 60 days.

What must a Kentucky landlord disclose?

The location and number of the separate deposit account.

Sources

  1. KRS 383.580 — security deposits (Kentucky General Assembly)
  2. KRS 383.500 — local adoption of the URLTA (Kentucky General Assembly)

Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026. Read how we verify. Found an error? Tell us.

Other state guides

Browse 50 other states
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingAll 51 jurisdictions →

Not legal advice. Lamuko Rent Laws provides general legal information about state statutes, not legal advice, and using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change and courts interpret them; city and county ordinances (for example Chicago, San Francisco or New York City rules) can be stricter than state law, and your lease or a subsidized-housing program may add terms. Fields marked “Verify with statute” have not yet been confirmed by us against the official text. Check the linked statute or talk to a licensed attorney or local legal-aid office before acting.