Ky. Rev. Stat. ch. 344 § 344.300
Authorization of cities and counties to prohibit discrimination
Operative Text
344.300 Authorization of cities and counties to prohibit discrimination. (1) Cities and counties are authorized to adopt and enforce ordinances, orders, and resolutions prohibiting all forms of discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, familial status, or national origin, sex, or age, and to prescribe penalties for violations thereof, such penalties being in addition to the remedial orders and enforcement herein authorized. (2) Cities and counties may adopt and enforce ordinances, orders, and resolutions prohibiting discrimination; no ordinance, order or resolution shall attempt to exempt more transactions from its coverage than are exempted by KRS 344.362 and 344.365.
Kentucky Revised Statute § 344.300 grants cities and counties the authority to pass their own local laws prohibiting discrimination in housing and other transactions, covering protected characteristics such as race, color, religion, disability, familial status, national origin, sex, and age. Local governments may also set their own penalties for violations, which stack on top of any remedies already available under state law. However, any local ordinance cannot exempt more transactions from its anti-discrimination coverage than the state law exemptions already permit under KRS 344.362 and 344.365.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 344.300, property owners and managers operating in Kentucky cities or counties may be subject to local anti-discrimination ordinances that go beyond state-level requirements, potentially covering additional protected classes or imposing additional penalties. Operators generally stay informed about the specific ordinances in each jurisdiction where they own or manage property, since local rules can vary and local penalties apply on top of state remedies. Reviewing both the applicable municipal code and the state statute together helps ensure that policies around tenant screening, advertising, and lease terms remain consistent with all applicable requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ky. Rev. Stat. § 344.300 means that tenants in Kentucky may have anti-discrimination protections not only under state law but also under local city or county ordinances, which can cover additional grounds and carry their own separate penalties. If a tenant believes they have experienced housing discrimination, local human rights commissions or fair housing offices in their city or county may be an appropriate starting point for understanding what local ordinances apply and what complaint processes are available. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with local ordinances can help explain how the layered state and local protections under § 344.300 interact in a given jurisdiction.
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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Rules and statutes that cite this regulation