Ky. Rev. Stat. ch. 383 § 383.085

Assistance animals -- Reasonable accommodations in dwellings --

In Force
Verified 10/19/2026 · Next check 10/26/2026
effective 10/19/2026KentuckyReasonable Accommodations/Modifications

Operative Text

Ky. Rev. Stat. ch. 383 § 383.085
383.085 Assistance animals -- Reasonable accommodations in dwellings --
Limitation of liability -- Penalty for misrepresentation of an assistance animal.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Assistance animal" means an animal that works, provides assistance, or
performs tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, or provides
emotional support that alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects
of a person's disability. This shall include a service animal specifically trained
or equipped to perform tasks for a person with a disability, or an emotional
support animal that provides support to alleviate one or more identified
symptoms or effects of a person's disability; and
(b) "Therapeutic relationship" means the provision of care, in good faith, to the
person with a disability by:
1. A licensed clinical social worker who holds a valid, unrestricted state
license under KRS 335.100 and who maintains an active practice within
the state;
2. A professional counselor who holds a valid, unrestricted state license
under KRS 335.525 and who maintains an active practice within the
state;
3. An advanced practice registered nurse who holds a valid, unrestricted
state license under KRS 314.042 and who maintains an active practice
within the state;
4. A psychologist who holds a valid, unrestricted state license under KRS
319.050 or 319.053 and who maintains an active practice within the
state; or
5. A physician who holds a valid, unrestricted state license under KRS
311.571 and who maintains an active practice within the state.
An individual who moves from another state may provide documentation
from a health-services provider who is licensed in that state, so long as the
person with a disability has an ongoing therapeutic relationship with the
provider. This definition shall not include a health-care provider described in
this paragraph whose primary service is to provide documentation to a person
requesting a reasonable accommodation in exchange for a fee.
(2) A person with a disability may submit a request for a reasonable accommodation to
maintain an assistance animal in a dwelling. Unless the person's disability or
disability-related need is readily apparent, the person receiving the request may ask
the person making the request to provide reliable documentation of the disability-related need for an assistance animal, including documentation from any person
with whom the person making the request has or has had a therapeutic relationship.
(3) Unless the person making the request has a disability or disability-related need for
an assistance animal that is readily apparent, a person receiving a request for a
reasonable accommodation to maintain an assistance animal in a dwelling shall
evaluate the request and any reliable supporting documentation to verify the
disability-related need for the reasonable accommodation regarding an assistance
animal. The person receiving the request may independently verify the authenticity
of any supporting documentation.
(4) A person with a disability who is granted a reasonable accommodation to maintain
an assistance animal in a dwelling shall comply with the rental agreement or any
rules and regulations of the property owner applicable to all residents that do not
interfere with an equal opportunity to use and enjoy the dwelling and any common
areas of the premises. The person shall not be required to pay a pet fee or deposit or
any additional rent to maintain an assistance animal in a dwelling, but shall be
responsible for any physical damages to the dwelling if residents who maintain pets
are responsible for physical damages to the dwelling caused by pets. Nothing in this
section shall be construed to affect any cause of action against any resident for other
damages under the laws of the Commonwealth.
(5) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a landlord shall not be liable for
injuries by a person's assistance animal permitted on the landlord's property as a
reasonable accommodation to assist the person with a disability pursuant to the Fair
Housing Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. secs. 3601 et seq., the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. secs. 12101 et seq., and Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. sec. 701, or any other federal,
state, or local law.
(6) A person commits the offense of misrepresentation of an assistance animal if the
person knowingly:
(a) Misrepresents as a part of a request for a reasonable accommodation to
maintain an assistance animal in a dwelling that the person has a disability or
disability-related need for the use of an assistance animal;
(b) Makes materially false statements for the purpose of obtaining documentation
for the use of an assistance animal in housing;
(c) Provides a document to another falsely stating that an animal is an assistance
animal for use in housing;
(d) Fits an animal, which is not an assistance animal, with a harness, collar, vest,
or sign that the pet is an assistance animal for use in housing;
(e) Engages in fraud, deceit, or dishonesty in providing documentation to a person
as a part of a request for the use of an assistance animal in housing; or
(f) Provides documentation as a part of a request for an assistance animal in
housing to a person for the primary purpose of obtaining a fee.
(7) Misrepresentation of an assistance animal is a violation with a fine of up to one
thousand dollars ($1,000).
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Kentucky Revised Statute § 383.085 establishes a framework for assistance animals in residential housing, covering both service animals and emotional support animals. It sets out who qualifies as a licensed provider for disability documentation, prohibits landlords from charging pet fees or deposits for approved assistance animals, and limits landlord liability for injuries caused by those animals. The statute also creates a specific offense — misrepresentation of an assistance animal — carrying a fine of up to $1,000 for anyone who knowingly falsifies disability status, fabricates documentation, or fraudulently outfits a non-assistance animal with identifying gear.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 19, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.085, compliant housing operators generally evaluate reasonable accommodation requests for assistance animals on a case-by-case basis, reviewing documentation from qualifying licensed providers when a disability or disability-related need is not readily apparent. Operators do not charge pet fees, pet deposits, or additional rent for approved assistance animals, though they may hold residents responsible for physical damages caused by those animals to the same extent they hold other pet-owning residents responsible. The statute also provides landlords with a liability shield for injuries caused by a permitted assistance animal, and operators may independently verify the authenticity of any supporting documentation they receive.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.085 gives people with disabilities the right to request a reasonable accommodation to keep an assistance animal in their dwelling, and prohibits housing providers from requiring pet fees or deposits as a condition of that accommodation. If a disability or disability-related need is not readily apparent, a housing provider may ask for documentation from a licensed professional — such as a physician, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, professional counselor, or advanced practice registered nurse — with whom the tenant has or has had a therapeutic relationship. Tenants who believe their rights under § 383.085 have been violated may consider consulting a tenant-rights organization, a fair housing agency, or an attorney familiar with Kentucky housing law to understand available options.

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

Current
Oct 19, 2026
Click on timeline segments to view historical versions.

References Out

Rules and statutes cited by this regulation

KRS 335.100
Not yet ingested
KRS 335.525
Not yet ingested
KRS 314.042
Not yet ingested
KRS 319.050
Not yet ingested
KRS 311.571
Not yet ingested

References In

Rules and statutes that cite this regulation

KRS 383.200
KRS 383.285
KRS 383.070

Related Rules

§ 966.7
§ 966.7 Accommodation of persons with disabilities.
§ 982.316
§ 982.316 Live-in aide.
§ 2.6
Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

Source Information

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