Kentucky landlord guide — courthouse info, local rules & HB128 eviction procedures for Carrollton, Ghent, Prestonville & Carroll County
📍 County Seat: Carrollton 👥 Pop. 10,810 (2020) ⚖️ Wheeler Hall of Justice — 802 Clay St. 🏭 North American Stainless — Largest in U.S. 🌊 Ohio & Kentucky Rivers Confluence 📚 Wendell Berry’s “Port William” Country • I-71 Corridor
Carroll County was formed in 1838 from portions of Gallatin, Henry, and Trimble counties and named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton — the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence, who died in 1832 at age 95. The county seat, Carrollton, was known as Port William when it was laid out in 1792 — the same year Kentucky became a state — and renamed to match the county in 1838. Situated at the confluence of the Ohio and Kentucky Rivers on Interstate 71 between Louisville and Cincinnati, Carroll County covers approximately 143 square miles and had a 2020 census population of 10,810. It is the third-smallest county by area in Kentucky. The Kentucky River’s first lock and dam was completed at Carrollton in 1842. The novelist Wendell Berry — one of America’s most celebrated writers on land, community, and agriculture — uses Carrollton’s original name, Port William, as the setting for most of his fiction. In 1988, the Carrollton bus disaster — a wrong-way collision on I-71 near Carrollton — killed 27 people and became one of the worst bus crashes in United States history.
Carroll County’s rental market is shaped by a single dominant industrial employer and an I-71 commuter dynamic. North American Stainless (NAS), founded in Ghent in 1990, is the largest fully integrated stainless steel producer in the United States, employing 1,600 workers and having invested more than $3.5 billion in the region. NAS and associated suppliers and contractors drive the largest share of rental demand in the county. The I-71 corridor connects Carroll County to both Louisville and Cincinnati for commuters seeking lower housing costs in a rural setting. General Butler State Resort Park (791 acres) and the Ohio and Kentucky River confluences attract some recreational and seasonal activity. All evictions are Forcible Detainer actions filed in District Court at the William L. Wheeler Hall of Justice in Carrollton. Kentucky’s HB128 (2023) governs all residential leases made on or after its effective date.
🏭 North American Stainless — America’s Largest Stainless Steel Producer — NAS in Ghent is the largest fully integrated stainless steel producer in the United States; founded in 1990, it has invested more than $3.5 billion in the region, employs 1,600 workers directly, and supports more than 500 suppliers — making it the dominant economic anchor of Carroll County |
📚 Wendell Berry’s Port William — The celebrated author Wendell Berry — whose novels, essays, and poems about land, farming, and community have made him one of America’s most important environmental writers — based his entire fictional Port William universe on Carrollton and Carroll County, using the town’s original name |
✍️ Named for the Last Signer of the Declaration — Carroll County honors Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Maryland — the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence and its last surviving signatory, who died in 1832 at age 95; Carrollton is named for his Maryland estate |
🚌 1988 Carrollton Bus Disaster — On May 14, 1988, a wrong-way drunk driver struck a church bus on I-71 near Carrollton, killing 27 people and injuring 34 others; it remains one of the worst drunk-driving accidents and bus crashes in U.S. history and was a catalyst for stricter drunk-driving laws in Kentucky
📊 Quick Stats
County Seat
Carrollton (~3,890 in 2020; originally Port William)
10,810 (2020 census) • 3rd smallest KY county by area
Location
I-71 corridor between Louisville (~55 mi) & Cincinnati (~60 mi)
Major Employers
North American Stainless / NAS (1,600 employees), Dow Chemical, CertainTeed, Kentucky Utilities, Carroll County Schools, county government, I-71 commuter workforce
Eviction Court
District Court — William L. Wheeler Hall of Justice
Circuit Court Clerk
Gloria Belcher — (502) 732-4305
Hall of Justice Address
William L. Wheeler Hall of Justice, 802 Clay Street, Carrollton, KY 41008
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)
Carroll County Local Rules & Landlord Procedures
Topic
Rule / Notes
Filing Evictions — Where & Who
All evictions (Forcible Detainer actions) in Carroll County are filed in District Court at the William L. Wheeler Hall of Justice, 802 Clay Street, Carrollton, KY 41008. Circuit Court Clerk: Gloria Belcher — Phone: (502) 732-4305 (also 732-4306, 732-4307) — Fax: (502) 732-8138. Payment: cash, personal check, money order; ePay available online. The building has ramp accessibility and designated disability parking. Verify current District Court civil hearing dates with the clerk before filing.
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. 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, the 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.
Security Deposit
Capped at 2× monthly rent (not including first month’s rent or fees). 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.
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. Respond to written maintenance notices within 14 days (5 days for essential services).
Landlord Entry — Notice
Standard entry: 24 hours’ advance notice, reasonable time. Routine maintenance or pest control: 72 hours’ notice or a fixed schedule provided at least 72 hours before the first entry. Emergency: reasonable notice. Leave conspicuous written notice if tenant is absent.
NAS / Industrial Workforce
North American Stainless employs 1,600 workers directly and supports more than 500 supplier and contractor businesses. Industrial production workers at NAS and suppliers typically earn consistent hourly wages with overtime potential. Verify income with recent pay stubs (base wage × scheduled hours); treat overtime as variable supplemental income. Apply your income ratio consistently. NAS also supports a significant vendor and contractor workforce — for contractors and temporary staffers, verify the assignment, hourly rate, and expected duration.
I-71 Commuter Market
Carroll County sits on I-71 roughly equidistant between Louisville (~55 miles) and Cincinnati (~60 miles). Some residents commute to both metro areas for employment in healthcare, government, and professional services. Verify income from either metro area’s employers with standard documentation. Apply your stated income ratio consistently regardless of where the employer is located.
Ohio River Flooding — Historical Note
Carrollton sits at the confluence of the Ohio and Kentucky Rivers. The county’s most severe flood was the 1937 Ohio River flood, which crested at 79.9 feet. For properties in the river corridor or floodplain, ensure flood insurance disclosures are provided to tenants and that the property’s FEMA flood zone status is accurately represented.
Rent Control
None. Kentucky does not permit local rent control. Landlords may raise rent freely at lease renewal.
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. File a Forcible Detainer at the Wheeler Hall of Justice.
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.
Carroll County market: Wheeler Hall of Justice, 802 Clay St., Carrollton. Clerk Gloria Belcher, (502) 732-4305. NAS industrial workforce: verify pay stubs, treat overtime as variable. I-71 commuters (Louisville/Cincinnati): standard verification. River floodplain properties: confirm flood zone status. No rent control.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Port William, North American Stainless, and HB128: Carroll County Kentucky Landlord Law
Wendell Berry — the novelist, poet, and essayist who has written more seriously about American rural life than perhaps any other living writer — set his entire fictional universe in a place he calls Port William, Kentucky. Port William is Carroll County’s Carrollton, renamed to its original 1792 designation. Berry’s novels are set in the Ohio and Kentucky River bottomlands, in the tobacco fields, in the small farms that have defined this landscape for generations. Carroll County was named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton — the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence, who died in 1832 at age 95 as the final living link to the founding generation. Carrollton itself is named for his Maryland estate. The county seat sits at the precise confluence of the Ohio and Kentucky Rivers, between Louisville and Cincinnati on I-71, in a position that made it a significant river trade hub in the 19th century and an industrial employment center in the 21st. For landlords in Carroll County in 2026, the dominant force is North American Stainless and the legal framework is HB128.
North American Stainless and the Carroll County Rental Market
North American Stainless, founded in Ghent in 1990, is the largest fully integrated stainless steel producer in the United States. It employs 1,600 workers directly and supports more than 500 supplier and contractor businesses, having invested more than $3.5 billion in the region since its founding. NAS is Carroll County’s dominant private employer, and its workforce drives the largest share of rental demand in the county. Industrial production workers at NAS typically earn consistent hourly wages with overtime potential. Verify income with recent pay stubs — base wage multiplied by scheduled weekly hours — and treat overtime as variable supplemental income rather than a reliable baseline. For contractor and temporary staffers who work at NAS through staffing agencies, verify the assignment, hourly rate, and expected duration before including that income in your qualification calculation. Apply your income ratio consistently to all applicants.
Filing at the Wheeler Hall of Justice
Evictions in Carroll County are Forcible Detainer actions filed in District Court at the William L. Wheeler Hall of Justice, 802 Clay Street, Carrollton, KY 41008. Circuit Court Clerk Gloria Belcher handles filings at (502) 732-4305 (also 732-4306 and 732-4307) — fax (502) 732-8138. Payment is accepted by cash, personal check, and money order; ePay is available online. The building has ramp accessibility and designated disability parking. Verify current District Court civil hearing dates directly with the clerk before filing. Your 14-day nonpayment notice must fully expire before you file, and the 14-day cure / 30-day termination timeline applies for lease violations.
River Confluence and Flood Zone Properties
Carrollton sits at the precise point where the Kentucky River meets the Ohio. The 1937 Ohio River flood crested at 79.9 feet in Carrollton — a high-water mark that reshaped the town’s relationship with the river for decades. For properties in the Ohio or Kentucky River corridor or floodplain, landlords should ensure that any applicable FEMA flood zone designations are accurately disclosed to prospective tenants and that flood insurance requirements are clearly addressed in the lease. HB128’s habitability standards apply fully to flood-adjacent properties; weatherproofing, structural integrity, and moisture control are the categories most likely to require attention in river-corridor housing stock.
Security deposits in Carroll County’s market — where most rentals range from $700 to $1,100 per month — must be returned within 30 days of move-out with an itemized statement. The $250 or 2× penalty floor means a court can award $250 even if you withheld only a small amount. The deposit return deadline is a hard rule; make it a fixed process checkpoint, not an afterthought.
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. Consult a licensed Kentucky attorney for guidance specific to your situation. 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. Apply all Fair Housing protections consistently. Consult a licensed Kentucky attorney for guidance specific to your situation. Last updated: March 2026.
