Ky. Rev. Stat. ch. 344 § 344.635
Election of method for securing relief
Operative Text
344.635 Election of method for securing relief. When a discriminatory housing charge is filed under KRS 344.625, a complainant, a respondent, or the aggrieved person on whose behalf the complaint is filed, may elect to have the claims asserted in that charge decided in a civil action under KRS 344.670, in lieu of an administrative hearing before the commission under KRS 344.640. (1) The election shall be made not later than twenty (20) days after the receipt by the electing person of service under KRS 344.630, from the commission or, in the case of the commission, not later than twenty (20) days after service to the respondent and complainant. (2) The person making the election shall give written notice of doing so to the commission and to all other complainants and respondents to whom the charge relates.
Kentucky Revised Statute § 344.635 establishes that when a discriminatory housing complaint is filed, any of the key parties—the complainant, the respondent, or the aggrieved person on whose behalf the complaint was filed—has the right to choose between two forums for resolving the dispute: a civil court action or an administrative hearing before the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights. This election must be made within 20 days of receiving service of the charge, and the party making the choice must provide written notice of that election to the commission and all other parties involved. The provision essentially gives parties a procedural fork in the road early in the process, with the chosen path determining how the housing discrimination claims will be adjudicated.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 344.635, a respondent named in a discriminatory housing charge has the right to elect civil court proceedings instead of an administrative hearing before the commission. Operators who receive service of a housing discrimination charge generally track the 20-day window carefully, as missing that deadline forecloses the civil action election. Compliant practice also includes sending written notice of any such election to the commission and all other parties named in the charge, as the statute requires.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ky. Rev. Stat. § 344.635 gives aggrieved persons—including those on whose behalf a complaint was filed—the right to elect a civil court proceeding rather than an administrative hearing to resolve a discriminatory housing charge. This election must be exercised within 20 days of receiving service under KRS 344.630, and written notice must be provided to the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights and all other parties. Tenants who believe they have experienced housing discrimination may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand the practical differences between the civil action and administrative hearing paths available under this provision.
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.
Effective Timeline
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