Deposit laws by state › Kentucky
State law · Kentucky
Kentucky security deposit law
How long your landlord has to return your deposit, what they can deduct, and what happens if they get it wrong.
Short answer: Kentucky's statute sets no fixed number of days to return the deposit. It requires a move-in damage list, a move-out inspection and damage list, and a refund notice to the tenant's last known address.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Kentucky?
- Return deadline
- Kentucky's statute sets no fixed number of days to return the deposit. It requires a move-in damage list, a move-out inspection and damage list, and a refund notice to the tenant's last known address.KRS 383.580
- Itemized list
- At move-out the landlord must inspect and prepare a list of damages with estimated repair costs, which the tenant may inspect, sign or dispute in writing.KRS 383.580(3)
- Who these rules cover
- Kentucky's landlord-tenant act applies only where the city or county adopted it.KRS 383.500
Prefer a full page? Use the security deposit deadline calculator.
What happens if a Kentucky landlord misses the deadline?
- If the landlord misses it
- A landlord may not keep any of the deposit if it was not held in a separate account, or if the move-in or move-out damage lists were not provided.KRS 383.580(4)
- Penalty
- Kentucky's deposit statute has no double or triple damages. A tenant who disputes the final damage list may sue in District Court, but only for the items disputed in writing.KRS 383.580(5)
What can a Kentucky landlord deduct from your deposit?
What can be deducted: Damage to the unit (listed with its estimated repair cost) and unpaid rent. (KRS 383.580(3), (6))
What the itemized list must include: A move-out listing of damage with estimated repair costs; a tenant who disagrees must dissent in writing item by item, and a court claim is limited to the items disputed. (KRS 383.580(3), (5))
Kentucky's deposit statute does not separately define normal wear and tear. See what counts as normal wear and tear for how it is generally treated.
More on common charges: normal wear and tear, cleaning, painting, and a missing itemized list.
Deadlines and steps on your side
Kentucky also sets rules for tenants. Missing one of these can cost you part of your claim, so check them early.
Move-in condition report: Before the deposit is paid, the landlord must give a list of existing damage, and after move-out must inspect and list damage; both sides' signatures make the list conclusive, and a tenant who disagrees must dissent in writing item by item. A landlord loses the right to keep any of the deposit only if it also failed to keep the deposit in a separate account and failed to provide both lists. (KRS 383.580(2)-(4))
Taking a deposit case to small claims court in Kentucky
Small-claims limit: Kentucky small claims covers disputes of $2,500 or less; larger claims go to District Court. (Kentucky Court of Justice Small Claims Handbook)
Most deposit disputes never get that far. A clear demand letter, sent by certified mail, often settles them first.
Good to know
- This statute applies only in cities and counties that adopted the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (for example Louisville and Lexington). Elsewhere, ordinary contract law and the lease govern.
- If you neither signed nor disputed the move-out damage list in writing, you may be unable to recover under this section.
- Kentucky's $2,500 small-claims limit is low; larger deposits go to the regular District Court docket.
What to do if your Kentucky landlord kept your deposit
- Pin down your dates. When you moved out, returned the keys, and gave a forwarding address in writing. Compare them with the deadline above.
- Gather your evidence. Move-in and move-out photos, the lease, the landlord's list of deductions, receipts and messages. The case checklist covers what matters.
- Send a demand letter by certified mail. Ask for the money, cite Kentucky's rules, and give a deadline to pay. What a demand letter does.
- If they still don't pay, consider small claims court. You don't need a lawyer there.
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Sources
These rules come from the same verified table the Demand Letter Companion uses, checked against the sources below on October 25, 2026. Laws change; check the current official text before relying on a date.
- KRS 383.580 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act): codes.findlaw.com
- Kentucky Court of Justice Small Claims Handbook: kycourts.gov
Other states: see the guides for all 50 states and DC
This page is general legal information, not legal advice. Local ordinances can add rules, and your lease and facts matter. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in Kentucky.