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Kentucky security deposit: no fixed return deadline

Kentucky has no statewide security deposit statute. KRS 383.580 applies only in cities and counties that have adopted the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, such as Louisville/Jefferson County and Lexington-Fayette County. Where it applies, it sets no fixed number of days for returning the deposit. If a tenant leaves owing last month's rent and does not demand the deposit within 30 days, the landlord may apply it to the rent. If the tenant owes nothing and caused no damage, the landlord sends a refund notice to the last known address and, with no response in 60 days, may keep the deposit. Where the Act has not been adopted, your lease and general contract law control.

Double-check before you rely on this. Parts of this page come from legal-aid and other secondary summaries instead of the official statute text. Confirm the deadline and penalty in Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.580, and check whether a local ordinance changes the rules.

What the law requires

Itemized statement
Where the statute applies, the landlord must hold the deposit in a separate account and give the tenant a written list of existing damage, with estimated repair costs, before accepting the deposit. After move-out the landlord lists any damage with estimated costs. The tenant must object in writing to items they dispute, and both sides sign the lists.
If the landlord breaks the rules
A landlord who does not follow the deposit rules loses the right to keep any part of the deposit. A tenant may sue in district court, but only over list items they objected to in writing and only if the lists and objections were signed. No multiple of the deposit is provided.
Loss of the right to deduct
A landlord who does not comply with the deposit rules, including the separate-account and damage-list requirements, loses the right to keep any portion of the deposit.
Deposit cap
No statewide cap on the deposit amount.
Small claims limit
$2,500 in District Court, Small Claims Division

Local rules

Check whether your city or county has adopted the Act before you cite KRS 383.580. Louisville/Jefferson County and Lexington-Fayette County are examples. If you are unsure, ask your local government.

If your landlord misses the deadline

  1. Write down your dates and gather proof: move-out date, the date you gave your forwarding address, the deposit amount, and anything the landlord sent. Photos and receipts help.
  2. Send a written demand by certified mail, keep the receipt, and cite Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.580. Give a date to respond.
  3. If you still aren't paid, file in District Court, Small Claims Division. Deposit claims up to $2,500 can be filed there, usually without a lawyer. Check the court's website for current filing fees and forms.

What a Kentucky demand letter looks like

Re: Demand for return of security deposit / Rental address: [Street address, unit, city, state ZIP]

Dear [Landlord name]:

I rented the property above from you under a lease that began on [lease start date]. I paid a security deposit of $[deposit amount] on [date paid]. I moved out and returned possession on [move-out date].

My forwarding address is [forwarding address]. Please send my deposit and any required statement to that address.

[A.] I have not received my deposit or an itemized statement of deductions. I am entitled to the return of my deposit, less only the deductions the law or my lease allows. [If your city or county has adopted Kentucky's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, for example Louisville/Jefferson County or Lexington-Fayette County, add: "This right arises under KRS 383.580."] It has been [number] days since I moved out, which is more than a reasonable time.

Preview of the first part of letter one. Yellow marks the parts you fill in.

Common questions

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

Kentucky has no statewide security deposit statute. KRS 383.580 applies only in cities and counties that have adopted the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, such as Louisville/Jefferson County and Lexington-Fayette County. Where it applies, it sets no fixed number of days for returning the deposit. If a tenant leaves owing last month's rent and does not demand the deposit within 30 days, the landlord may apply it to the rent. If the tenant owes nothing and caused no damage, the landlord sends a refund notice to the last known address and, with no response in 60 days, may keep the deposit. Where the Act has not been adopted, your lease and general contract law control.

What happens if a Kentucky landlord keeps the deposit wrongfully?

A landlord who does not follow the deposit rules loses the right to keep any part of the deposit. A tenant may sue in district court, but only over list items they objected to in writing and only if the lists and objections were signed. No multiple of the deposit is provided. A landlord who does not comply with the deposit rules, including the separate-account and damage-list requirements, loses the right to keep any portion of the deposit.

Do I have to give my Kentucky landlord a forwarding address?

Our review of Kentucky's statute didn't find a forwarding-address rule that starts the deadline. Give one in writing anyway, so you can prove where to send the deposit.

Where do I sue for my deposit in Kentucky?

Deposit claims up to $2,500 can be filed in District Court, Small Claims Division. Check the court's website for current filing fees and forms.

Other states

Rules reviewed October 2026. Laws change, so confirm with the statute before you rely on this page.