Ky. Rev. Stat. ch. 80 § 80.010
Definitions for chapter
Operative Text
80.010 Definitions for chapter. As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Housing" means a building or buildings containing rooms to be provided as living quarters, together with shops, stores, garages, laundries, doctors' and dentists' offices, and other facilities and appurtenances deemed reasonably necessary by the housing authority to the successful and economical operation of the project. It also means any work or undertaking of a housing authority or of the federal government to: (a) Demolish, clear, or remove a building or buildings from any slum area, including the adaptation of such area to recreational, community, or other public purposes; (b) Provide decent, safe, and sanitary living accommodations for persons who lack the amount of income that is necessary, as determined by the authority undertaking the project, to enable them, without financial assistance, to obtain such accommodations; such work or undertaking may include buildings, land equipment, facilities, and other real or personal property for necessary, convenient, or desirable appurtenances, streets, sewers, water service, parks, site preparation, gardening, administrative, community, health, recreational, welfare, or other purposes; (c) Accomplish a combination of the foregoing and any purposes and objectives permitted of public housing authorities authorized by the United States Housing Act of 1937, 42 U.S.C., sec. 1401, as amended from time to time; (2) "Housing authority" or "authority" means any housing authority created pursuant to this chapter; (3) "Public body" means any city, county, commission, district, authority, or other public body or political subdivision of the Commonwealth; (4) "Federal government" includes the United States of America, the United States housing authority and its successor agencies, and any other agency or instrumentality of the United States of America; (5) "Bonds" means any bonds, notes, interim certificates, debentures, or other obligations; (6) "Clerk" means the clerk of the city or the clerk of the county, as the case may be, or the officer charged with the duties customarily imposed on such clerk; (7) "Governing body" means, in the case of a city, the city council, the commission, board of commissioners, board of aldermen, or other legislative body of the city, and in the case of a county, the fiscal court; (8) "Mayor" means the mayor of the city or the officer thereof charged with the duties customarily imposed on the mayor or executive head of the city; (9) "Obligee of the authority" or "obligee" shall include any bondholder, trustee or trustees for any bondholders, or lessor demising to the authority property used in connection with a housing project, or any assignee or assignees of such lessor's interest or any part thereof, and the federal government when it is a party to any contract with the authority; (10) "Persons of low income" means persons or families who lack the amount of income which is necessary, as determined by the housing authority undertaking the housing development, to enable them, without financial assistance, to live in decent, safe, and sanitary dwellings, without overcrowding; (11) "Real property" includes all lands, including improvements and fixtures thereon, and property of any nature appurtenant thereto, or used in connection therewith, and every estate, interest and right, legal or equitable, therein, including terms for years and liens by way of judgment, mortgage, or otherwise and the indebtedness secured by such liens; (12) "Slum" means any area where dwellings predominate which, by reason of dilapidation, overcrowding, lack of ventilation, light, or sanitary facilities, or any combination of these factors are detrimental to safety, health and morals; and (13) "Low income" and "moderate income" shall have those meanings as from time to time are promulgated by federal and state governmental agencies providing funding for the then applicable housing program.
Kentucky Revised Statutes §§ 80.010, 80.200, 80.520, and 80.530 establish the foundational vocabulary used throughout Kentucky's public housing authority chapter. The statute defines key terms — including "housing," "housing authority," "persons of low income," "slum," and "real property" — that govern how the rest of the chapter is interpreted and applied. These definitions set the scope of what qualifies as a housing project, who may be served, and which governmental bodies and obligations fall under the chapter's framework.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Housing authorities and property owners operating under Kentucky's public housing framework should be familiar with the definitions set out in Ky. Rev. Stat. § 80.010, as these terms shape eligibility, project scope, and authority relationships throughout the chapter. For example, the definitions of "housing" and "real property" are broad and encompass not just dwelling units but also appurtenances, equipment, and related facilities. Operators working with or under a Kentucky housing authority will find that these definitions directly inform compliance obligations and contractual relationships governed by the chapter.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in or applying for housing under a Kentucky housing authority's programs benefit from understanding the definitions in Ky. Rev. Stat. § 80.010, particularly the definitions of "persons of low income" and "housing," which shape eligibility determinations and the scope of services a housing authority may provide. The statute's definition of "low income" and "moderate income" is tied to standards set by federal and state funding agencies, meaning eligibility thresholds can change over time. Tenants who believe they have been incorrectly assessed for eligibility or who have questions about their rights under a housing authority program may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with Kentucky public housing 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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