Ky. Rev. Stat. ch. 383 § 383.200
Definitions of forcible entry and detainer
Operative Text
383.200 Definitions of forcible entry and detainer. (1) The words "possession," "entry," "detainer," in KRS 383.200 to 383.285, refer to lands and tenants. (2) A forcible entry is: (a) An entry without the consent of the person having the actual possession; (b) As to landlord, an entry upon the possession of his tenant at will or by sufferance, whether with or without the tenant's consent. (3) A forcible detainer is: (a) The refusal of a tenant to give possession to his landlord after the expiration of his term; or of a tenant at will or by sufferance to give possession to the landlord after the determination of his will; (b) The refusal of a tenant of a person who has made a forcible entry to give possession, on demand, to the person upon whose possession the forcible entry was made; (c) The refusal of a person who has made a forcible entry upon the possession of one who acquired it by a forcible entry to give possession, on demand, to him upon whose possession the first forcible entry was made; (d) The refusal of a person who has made a forcible entry upon the possession of a tenant for a term to deliver possession to the landlord, upon demand, after the term expires; and, if the term expires whilst a writ of forcible entry sued out by the tenant is pending, the landlord may, at his cost and for his benefit, prosecute it in the name of the tenant.
Kentucky Revised Statutes § 383.200 establishes the legal definitions that govern forcible entry and detainer proceedings throughout KRS 383.200 to 383.285. A 'forcible entry' occurs when someone enters property without the consent of the person in actual possession, and also includes a landlord's entry onto a tenant's possession regardless of whether the tenant consents. A 'forcible detainer' covers situations where a tenant refuses to vacate after a lease term ends, or where someone who made an unauthorized entry refuses to surrender possession to the rightful party upon demand.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under KRS § 383.200, landlords operating in Kentucky should understand that entering a tenant's occupied premises—even with the tenant's consent—can still qualify as a 'forcible entry' under the statute's specific definition. Compliant property owners generally rely on formal legal processes, such as eviction proceedings under KRS 383.200 to 383.285, rather than self-help measures to recover possession. Familiarity with these definitions helps operators correctly identify when a tenant's refusal to vacate constitutes a forcible detainer, which is the threshold for initiating the appropriate statutory remedy.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
KRS § 383.200 defines the legal concepts of forcible entry and forcible detainer that underpin eviction-related proceedings in Kentucky, and understanding these definitions can be relevant if a landlord attempts to reclaim possession in an unauthorized manner. A tenant whose landlord enters the premises without following proper legal procedures may have grounds to raise a violation of these definitions as part of a defense in a court proceeding. Tenants who believe their rights under KRS 383.200 to 383.285 have been implicated can explore options such as contacting a local tenant-rights organization or consulting with a legal aid office familiar with Kentucky landlord-tenant law.
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