Kentucky landlord guide — courthouse info, local rules & HB128 eviction procedures for Shepherdsville, Mount Washington & Bullitt County
📍 County Seat: Shepherdsville 👥 Pop. 82,217 (2020) • Top 10 Fastest-Growing in KY ⚖️ Bullitt County Judicial Center — Shepherdsville 🥃 Jim Beam Distillery • Bernheim Forest 🏙️ Louisville/Jefferson County MSA — I-65 Corridor 🪖 Fort Knox (partial)
Bullitt County was formed on December 13, 1796, from portions of Jefferson and Nelson counties and named for Alexander Scott Bullitt, Kentucky’s first Lieutenant Governor and a leader in the state’s political formation. The county seat, Shepherdsville, was founded in 1793 and is one of the oldest incorporated towns in Kentucky. Bullitt’s Lick — a salt works site near Shepherdsville named for the surveyor Captain Thomas Bullitt — was Kentucky’s first commercial industry, producing salt for the frontier as early as 1779 and supplying territory as far as Illinois. With a 2020 census population of 82,217 — one of Kentucky’s top 10 most populous and fastest-growing counties — Bullitt County is a primary Louisville suburb situated 20 miles south of downtown on Interstate 65. It is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area (Kentuckiana). Approximately 40,000 acres of the county’s western fifth are part of Fort Knox.
The Bullitt County rental market is a fast-growing suburban market driven primarily by Louisville commuter demand and an expanding I-65 logistics and warehousing sector. Major employers along the I-65 corridor include Amazon, UPS Supply Chain Solutions, Gordon Food Service, Magna Seating, and Johnson & Johnson. Jim Beam Distillery — the oldest active bourbon manufacturer in Kentucky — is located in Clermont in the county. Mount Washington has emerged as one of Kentucky’s fastest-growing cities. Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, a 16,000-acre public forest, adds an outdoor recreation and tourism dimension. All evictions in Bullitt County are Forcible Detainer actions filed in District Court at the Bullitt County Judicial Center in Shepherdsville. Kentucky’s HB128 (2023) governs all residential leases made on or after its effective date.
🥃 Jim Beam Distillery — Kentucky’s Oldest — Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont is the oldest operating bourbon manufacturer in Kentucky and a flagship stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail; bourbon tourism contributes meaningfully to the county’s economy and visitor traffic along the I-65 corridor |
🌿 Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest — A 16,000-acre publicly accessible forest established by Isaac Bernheim in 1950; home to a growing giant sculpture installation, diverse forest trails, and one of the most visited natural areas in the Louisville metro region |
🧂 Kentucky’s First Industry — Bullitt’s Lick Saltworks (1779) — The salt works at Bullitt’s Lick, three miles west of Shepherdsville, was the first commercial industry west of the Allegheny Mountains; it supplied the frontier from Illinois to Tennessee and drew the first permanent settlers to the area |
📦 I-65 Logistics Corridor — Bullitt County’s strategic position on I-65 between Louisville and Elizabethtown has made it one of Kentucky’s primary logistics and distribution hubs, with millions of square feet of warehouse space anchored by Amazon, UPS, Gordon Food Service, and others
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area (Kentuckiana)
Major Employers
Amazon, UPS Supply Chain, Gordon Food Service, Magna Seating, Johnson & Johnson, Jim Beam Distillery, Fort Knox, Bullitt County Schools, Louisville commuter workforce
Eviction Court
District Court — Bullitt County Judicial Center
Circuit Court Clerk
Paulita A. Keith — (502) 543-7104
Judicial Center Address
250 Frank E. Simon Ave. (P.O. Box 746), Shepherdsville, KY 40165
Rent Control
None — Kentucky preempts local rent control
Governing Law
KRS Chapter 383 / HB128 (2023) for leases on or after effective date
⚡ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
14-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate
Lease Violation
14-Day Notice to Cure; termination no sooner than 30 days
Month-to-Month Term.
1 Month’s Written Notice
Week-to-Week Term.
5-Day Written Notice
Eviction Filing
Forcible Detainer — District Court
Eviction Timeline
3–6 weeks typical after notice period
Security Deposit Cap
2× monthly rent (plus 1st month’s rent & fees)
Deposit Return
30 days with itemized deductions
Deposit Penalty
$250 or 2× amount withheld, whichever greater
Habitability Duty
Nonwaivable (KRS 383.595 / HB128)
Statute
KRS Chapter 383 — HB128 (2023 Session)
Bullitt County Local Rules & Landlord Procedures
Topic
Rule / Notes
Filing Evictions — Where & Who
All evictions (Forcible Detainer actions) in Bullitt County are filed in District Court at the Bullitt County Judicial Center, 250 Frank E. Simon Ave. (P.O. Box 746), Shepherdsville, KY 40165. Circuit Court Clerk: Paulita A. Keith — Phone: (502) 543-7104 (also 502-955-7764) — Fax: (502) 543-7158. District eviction line: (502) 995-7512. The clerk’s phone system offers a menu — select the option for “District & Circuit Civil, including Probate, Eviction, Small Claims and Guardianship” for eviction matters.
Payment — Important Rules
Payment is accepted by cash, in-state personal check (with SSN, birth date, and phone number), certified check, cashier’s check, money order, or credit card (up to $2,500) or debit card (fee applies). Bonds and restitution require cash, cashier’s check, certified check, or credit card (up to $2,500). Cold-check payments require cash or certified check only. Out-of-state personal checks are not accepted. A driver’s license is required to post a bond or pick up a check. ePay is also available online.
Nonpayment of Rent — Notice
Under HB128 (KRS 383.660), serve the tenant a 14-day written notice to pay or vacate stating the specific termination date. Retain dated, verifiable proof of service. If the tenant pays in full within 14 days, the lease continues and no eviction may be filed. This doubled the prior 7-day requirement.
Lease Violation — Notice & Cure
For non-rent violations, serve a 14-day written notice to cure or quit specifying the exact breach. If remedied within 14 days, the lease continues. If not, lease terminates on a date no sooner than 30 days from original notice. Repeat violations within 6 months, imminent health/safety threats, or criminal acts may allow faster termination — consult a Kentucky attorney.
Month-to-Month Termination
One full month’s written notice required to terminate a month-to-month tenancy (KRS 383.695). Week-to-week: at least 5 days’ written notice. All notices must be signed and properly served. No cause required.
Security Deposit
Capped at 2× monthly rent (not including first month’s rent or fees). Additional pet or alteration deposits allowed. Must be held in a dedicated, separately titled bank account. Return within 30 days with itemized written deductions. Penalty: $250 or 2× the withheld amount, whichever is greater, plus the amount owed (KRS Sections 56–59). In a market with rents of $900–$1,400+, the deposit penalty exposure is significant — comply with the deadline without exception.
Habitability — Nonwaivable Duty
HB128 imposes a nonwaivable habitability duty across 13 categories: building code compliance, weatherproofing, plumbing, water supply, heating and ventilation, electrical systems, pest and hazardous substance control (radon, lead, asbestos, mold), clean common areas, trash receptacles, floors/walls/windows in good repair, landlord-supplied appliances, exterior door and window locks, and required safety equipment. No lease provision waives this. Tenants have repair-and-deduct rights (up to one month’s rent per repair) after proper notice and failed cure.
Landlord Entry — Notice
Standard entry: 24 hours’ advance notice, reasonable time. Routine maintenance or pest control: 72 hours’ notice or a fixed schedule given at least 72 hours before the first entry. Emergency: reasonable notice under circumstances. Leave a conspicuous written notice of fact, date, time, and reason if entering while tenant is absent without prior notice.
Louisville Commuter Market
Bullitt County’s primary rental market driver is Louisville commuter demand. Downtown Louisville is 20 miles north via I-65. Renters who work in Louisville — including healthcare (Norton, Baptist, University of Louisville), manufacturing, government, and professional services — seek Bullitt County’s lower housing costs. Verify employment with standard documentation. Apply your income ratio and screening criteria consistently to all applicants regardless of employer or occupation.
Logistics / Warehouse Workforce
Amazon, UPS Supply Chain, Gordon Food Service, and dozens of other logistics and warehousing companies employ thousands of Bullitt County residents. Many positions are shift-based with hourly pay and the potential for significant overtime. Verify income with recent pay stubs (base hourly × scheduled hours). Treat overtime as variable income — it enhances the picture but do not rely on it to meet your income threshold. For staffing agency employees, verify the assignment, rate, and expected duration. Apply criteria consistently.
Fort Knox Area Rentals
The western 40,000 acres of Bullitt County are part of Fort Knox. Military-affiliated tenants — active duty, reservists, and civilian DoD employees — may be stationed at Fort Knox and rent in Bullitt County. Military tenants have specific protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), which can affect your ability to terminate a lease, collect security deposits, and file evictions. Familiarize yourself with SCRA requirements or consult a Kentucky attorney before taking adverse action against a military-affiliated tenant. DoD employees are civilian; SCRA protections apply to active duty servicemembers, not civilian contractors.
Rent Control
None. Kentucky does not permit local rent control. Landlords may raise rent freely at lease renewal. One month’s written notice required before any increase on a month-to-month tenancy takes effect.
Self-Help Eviction
Expressly prohibited (KRS 383.690). Lockouts, utility shutoffs, or removal of tenant belongings expose the landlord to 3× periodic rent or 3× actual damages, whichever is greater. In a market with $1,000+ monthly rents, that exposure is substantial. File a Forcible Detainer in District Court.
Kentucky URLTA applies ONLY in specific adopting counties (including Jefferson/Louisville, Fayette/Lexington, and ~20 others). Non-URLTA counties use common law forcible detainer (KRS §383.200-383.285), which may have different procedures. The 7-day nonpayment notice under §383.660(2) requires payment of the FULL amount owed - accepting partial payment may restart the notice period. Tenant can cure by paying within the 7-day period. If the same nonpayment recurs within 6 months, landlord can issue 14-day unconditional quit. Late fees: no statutory cap, but Hemlane and others report 10% industry standard. Security deposit max: 1 month per KRS §383.580(1).
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the District Court. Pay the filing fee (~$75).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Kentucky eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice.
Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections.
For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified Kentucky attorney or local legal aid organization.
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⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
Underground Landlord
🏘️ Communities & Screening Tips
Key communities: Shepherdsville (county seat, ~14,201), Mount Washington (~18,863), Hillview, Lebanon Junction, Brooks, Clermont (Jim Beam), Zoneton, Hebron Estates.
Bullitt County market: Judicial Center, 250 Frank E. Simon Ave., Shepherdsville. Circuit Court Clerk Paulita A. Keith, (502) 543-7104. Complex payment rules — in-state checks require SSN/DOB/phone. Louisville commuters, I-65 logistics workforce (shift work), Fort Knox military (SCRA applies). No rent control. Fast-growing suburban market.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Salt, Bourbon, and Amazon: Bullitt County Kentucky Landlord Law in Louisville’s Fastest-Growing Suburb
Bullitt County has been at the beginning of things. The salt works at Bullitt’s Lick, three miles west of Shepherdsville, was Kentucky’s first commercial industry — operating from 1779 and supplying the frontier from Illinois to Tennessee when salt was as strategic as gunpowder. The Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont is the oldest active bourbon manufacturer in Kentucky, a founding anchor of the Bourbon Trail. And the Amazon fulfillment centers and UPS logistics facilities that have transformed Shepherdsville and Mount Washington in the 21st century represent the latest chapter in a county that has always sat at the intersection of major transportation routes. With 82,217 residents, one of Kentucky’s top 10 populations, and one of the state’s highest growth rates, Bullitt County is now a major suburban market and the rules under HB128 are the same as everywhere else in Kentucky — but the market context is decidedly its own.
Filing an Eviction: Phone Menus and Payment Rules
Evictions in Bullitt County are Forcible Detainer actions filed in District Court at the Bullitt County Judicial Center, 250 Frank E. Simon Avenue (P.O. Box 746), Shepherdsville, KY 40165. Circuit Court Clerk Paulita A. Keith handles filings at (502) 543-7104; the eviction-specific district line is (502) 995-7512. When calling the main number, the clerk’s phone system has a menu — select the option for “District & Circuit Civil, including Probate, Eviction, Small Claims and Guardianship” to reach the right desk for eviction questions.
Bullitt County’s payment rules at the clerk’s office are more specific than most Kentucky counties and worth knowing before you drive to the courthouse. Personal checks from Kentucky residents are accepted but must include your Social Security number, birth date, and phone number on the check. Out-of-state personal checks are not accepted. Credit cards are accepted up to $2,500. Bonds require cash, cashier’s check, certified check, or credit card up to $2,500. Cold-check payments require cash or certified check only. ePay is available online if you prefer electronic payment.
Under HB128, your 14-day nonpayment notice must fully expire before you file. For lease violations, a 14-day cure period and a minimum 30-day termination date apply. Serve notices properly, document delivery, file only after the clock has run.
Three Distinct Applicant Pools
Bullitt County’s rental market draws from three overlapping groups. Louisville commuters make up the largest segment — people who work in Louisville’s healthcare, government, manufacturing, and professional services sectors and commute 20 miles north via I-65 for lower housing costs. These applicants tend to have stable, verifiable income; standard pay stub and employment verification is straightforward. Logistics and warehouse workers employed at Amazon, UPS, Gordon Food Service, and the other large I-65 employers represent a second major segment. Shift work, hourly pay, and potential overtime characterize this group — verify base wages with pay stubs and treat overtime as variable. Fort Knox-affiliated renters — active duty military, reservists, and some civilian DoD employees — make up a third pool for landlords in the western part of the county. Military tenants have specific federal protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) that limit a landlord’s ability to evict and may affect security deposit and lease termination rights. Know the SCRA basics or consult a Kentucky attorney before taking adverse action against a military-affiliated tenant.
HB128 in a Fast-Growing Suburban Market
Bullitt County’s housing stock is predominantly newer construction — the county grew from 26,000 people in 1970 to 82,000 in 2020, with most of that growth happening in the I-65 corridor and Mount Washington. For landlords managing newer properties, the nonwaivable habitability duty under HB128 is generally easy to comply with: modern construction typically meets the 13-category standard. Where it matters more is in the older housing stock in Shepherdsville proper, Lebanon Junction, and the rural parts of the county.
Security deposits in Bullitt County’s market — where rents range from roughly $900 for smaller units to $1,400+ for newer single-family homes — can reach $2,800 at the 2x cap. Fail to return that deposit within 30 days with an itemized statement and a court may award the tenant $250 or $5,600 — whichever is greater — on top of what you owe. The 30-day return deadline is strict, simple to comply with, and leaves no room for delay. Make it a hard deadline in your move-out process.
This guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. HB128 applies to leases made on or after its effective date; prior Kentucky law governs older leases. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) provides additional federal protections for active duty military tenants beyond those described here; consult a Kentucky attorney for SCRA-specific guidance. Apply all Fair Housing protections consistently. Last updated: March 2026.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Kentucky’s Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (HB128) applies to leases made on or after its effective date; prior law governs older leases. Active duty military tenants have additional federal protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Apply all Fair Housing protections consistently. Consult a licensed Kentucky attorney for guidance specific to your situation. Last updated: March 2026.
