Kentucky landlord guide — courthouse info, local rules & HB128 eviction procedures for New Castle, Eminence, Campbellsburg & Henry County
📍 County Seat: New Castle (pop. ~970) 👥 County Pop. 16,050 (2020) ⚖️ Court: Henry County Justice Center — 23 Public Sq., New Castle 🌾 Outer Bluegrass • Kentucky River Headwaters 🐴 Horse Country • Louisville & Frankfort Commuter Zone 🏛️ Named for Patrick Henry • Founded 1798
Henry County was established on December 14, 1798 from Shelby County and named for Patrick Henry, the Virginia statesman, orator, and first governor of Virginia whose declaration “Give me liberty, or give me death!” made him one of the most recognizable voices of the American Revolution. The county seat, New Castle, was established in 1817 on a site chosen for its central location in the county and has remained a small but persistent county seat ever since, with a current population of under 1,000. Henry County covers approximately 289 square miles of outer bluegrass terrain in north-central Kentucky and recorded a 2020 census population of 16,050 residents.
Henry County sits at the convergence of several commuter corridors that define its rental market. It lies approximately 35 miles northeast of Louisville, 25 miles north of Frankfort, and within reasonable driving distance of Shelbyville (Shelby County), La Grange (Oldham County), and Carrollton (Carroll County). The county’s population has grown modestly as Louisville and Frankfort commuters seek affordable rural housing. The larger community of Eminence, on the US-421 corridor, serves as the county’s commercial center. The economy is agricultural at its base — outer bluegrass horse farms, cattle operations, and some tobacco production — supplemented by public employment and light manufacturing. All residential evictions are Forcible Detainer actions filed in District Court at the Henry County Justice Center, 23 Public Square, New Castle, KY 40050. Kentucky’s HB128 (2023) governs all residential leases made on or after its effective date.
🗣️ Named for Patrick Henry — “Give Me Liberty” — Henry County honors Patrick Henry, the Virginia lawyer, orator, and governor whose fiery revolutionary rhetoric — particularly the speech concluding “give me liberty, or give me death!” — made him one of the defining voices of American independence; he served as Virginia’s first post-independence governor and was a leading anti-Federalist who pushed for the Bill of Rights |
🌾 Outer Bluegrass Agricultural Landscape — Henry County sits in the outer bluegrass transition zone where the inner limestone belt gives way to rolling knob and upland terrain; horse farms, cattle operations, and agricultural production shape the landscape and the county’s economic base |
🚗 Louisville & Frankfort Commuter Zone — Henry County’s position roughly equidistant between Louisville and Frankfort, with US-421 providing a direct connection, has made it a growing bedroom community for workers employed in both metro areas who seek rural living at lower housing costs |
🏘️ Eminence — The County’s Commercial Hub — While New Castle is the county seat, the community of Eminence on the US-421 corridor is Henry County’s larger commercial center, with retail, restaurants, and services that serve the county’s daily needs
Outer Bluegrass • Kentucky River • Bluegrass Area Development District
Major Employers
Henry County Schools, county/state government, agriculture (horse, cattle), light manufacturing, commuter employment in Louisville, Frankfort, Shelbyville & La Grange
Eviction Court
District Court — Henry County Justice Center
Court Address
23 Public Sq., New Castle, KY 40050
Court Phone
(502) 845-2601 (verify with clerk)
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 Location
Henry County Justice Center — 23 Public Sq., New Castle
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)
Henry County Local Rules & Landlord Procedures
Topic
Rule / Notes
Filing Evictions — Where & Who
All evictions (Forcible Detainer actions) in Henry County are filed in District Court at the Henry County Justice Center, 23 Public Square, New Castle, KY 40050. Phone: (502) 845-2601. New Castle is a very small county seat; note that Eminence is the county’s larger commercial community but the court is in New Castle. Verify current office hours, clerk contact, and civil hearing schedule before making the trip. Street parking is available near the Public Square.
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. Document move-in and move-out condition with a signed checklist and dated photographs.
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 (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). Cannot be waived by lease language.
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.
Louisville & Frankfort Commuter Tenant Profile
Henry County’s growing commuter segment includes workers traveling to Louisville (~35 miles southwest via US-421/I-71) and state government employees in Frankfort (~25 miles south via US-421). The Louisville commute via US-421 to I-71 is manageable for motivated workers seeking rural housing at lower cost. State government employees commuting to Frankfort represent a particularly stable tenant segment given government employment’s consistent income. Verify employment at distant employers with standard documentation: pay stubs, employer letters. Apply income ratio criteria consistently regardless of commute distance.
Agricultural Worker Income Considerations
Henry County’s agricultural base includes horse farm employees, cattle workers, and some tobacco production. Farm workers with variable or seasonal income should be evaluated with prior-year tax returns (Schedule F for farm operations) in addition to current pay stubs, consistent with the approach outlined for other agricultural Kentucky counties. Apply income ratio criteria to annualized income figures.
Lead Paint Disclosure
For any dwelling built before 1978, federal law (42 U.S.C. § 4852d) requires written disclosure of known lead paint hazards and delivery of the EPA pamphlet “Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home” before lease signing. Henry County’s older rural and in-town housing stock means this requirement applies to a significant share of rentals.
Rent Control
None. Kentucky does not permit local rent control. Landlords may raise rent freely at lease renewal with proper notice.
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 Henry County Justice Center.
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.
Henry County market: Small outer bluegrass county with growing Louisville and Frankfort commuter rental demand. Stable tenant base includes school/government employees, agricultural workers, and commuters. Frankfort state government employees are among the most stable tenant segment. Agricultural workers with seasonal income require prior-year tax return verification. Lead paint disclosure required for most housing stock. No rent control.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Give Me Liberty County: Henry County Kentucky Landlord Law and HB128
Henry County was named for a man who understood something important about rhetoric: that the right words, delivered at the right moment, could change the direction of history. Patrick Henry’s speech to the Second Virginia Convention in March 1775 — concluding with “give me liberty, or give me death!” — is one of the few pieces of pre-Revolutionary oratory that anyone still quotes nearly two and a half centuries later. Henry went on to serve as Virginia’s first post-independence governor and as one of the leading anti-Federalist voices who argued that the Constitution, without a Bill of Rights, gave the federal government too much power. He was right enough about that last point that ten amendments were added within three years of ratification. Kentucky honored him in 1798 by naming one of its original counties after him — a county established from Shelby County in the rolling outer bluegrass north of Frankfort.
The county seat of New Castle was established in 1817 and remains a very small community — under a thousand residents — that serves the administrative function of a county seat more than the commercial function of a town center. That role belongs to Eminence, the county’s larger community on the US-421 corridor, which has grocery stores, restaurants, and the everyday retail that New Castle does not. The county covers 289 square miles of outer bluegrass terrain, horse farms and cattle operations stitching together a landscape of rolling limestone upland that transitions toward the knob country as you move east. The 2020 census counted 16,050 residents, a figure that has grown modestly as Louisville and Frankfort commuters have found Henry County an affordable alternative to the closer-in suburban counties.
The Commuter Market: Louisville and Frankfort
Henry County’s position in Kentucky’s geography is its most important economic asset from a rental market perspective. It sits roughly 35 miles northeast of Louisville via US-421 to I-71 — a commute that runs 40 to 50 minutes in normal traffic, depending on exactly where in Jefferson County the destination is. It sits roughly 25 miles north of Frankfort on US-421 — a 30-to-35-minute drive to the state capital. That puts Henry County within the outer commuter orbit of two of Kentucky’s most significant employment centers, and for workers who value rural living, lower housing costs, and some distance from the urban core, it is a viable trade-off.
The Frankfort commuter segment is particularly notable. State government employment in Frankfort is stable, recession-resistant, and pays competitive salaries at the mid-to-senior levels. A state agency administrator or department manager earning $60,000 to $90,000 in Frankfort who can rent a three-bedroom house in Henry County for $900 a month is making a rational calculation. These are among the most reliable renters in the Henry County market — salaried, benefits-eligible, employed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and making a deliberate choice about where to live rather than being constrained by economic necessity. Verify state government employment with a recent pay stub or an employer letter from the employing agency; state pay stubs are distinctive and easy to verify through standard income documentation procedures.
The Louisville commuter segment is more varied. Louisville’s employment base spans UPS (one of the largest employers in Kentucky, headquartered in Louisville), healthcare systems (Norton, Baptist, UofL Health), manufacturing, logistics, and professional services. A Henry County applicant commuting to Louisville for a warehouse position at UPS or a manufacturing job on the east side of Jefferson County is making a longer drive than the Frankfort commuter, and the income range varies more widely. Apply your income ratio and employment verification consistently regardless of the commute direction or distance.
Filing in New Castle and HB128 Compliance
All residential evictions in Henry County are Forcible Detainer actions filed in District Court at the Henry County Justice Center, 23 Public Square, New Castle, KY 40050, phone (502) 845-2601. Note the distinction between New Castle (the county seat, where the court is) and Eminence (the larger commercial community): if you are looking for the courthouse, you want New Castle. The Public Square is New Castle’s historic center; street parking is generally available. Call ahead to verify current office hours and civil hearing dates before making the trip. Bring your lease, notice with proof of service, and complete payment and communications record.
HB128 applies uniformly in Henry County. The complete compliance checklist: written 14-day notice to pay or vacate for nonpayment, with retained proof of service; written 14-day notice to cure or quit for lease violations, with termination no sooner than 30 days from the original notice; one full month’s written notice for month-to-month termination; security deposits at two times monthly rent maximum in a separate dedicated account, returned within 30 days with itemized deductions — $250 or twice the withheld amount penalty for noncompliance; nonwaivable habitability across 13 categories with 14-day (or 5-day for essential services) written response obligations; 24-hour advance notice for standard entry, 72 hours for routine maintenance; self-help eviction prohibited at three times periodic rent or actual damages. For pre-1978 housing — a significant share of Henry County’s older rural and in-town stock — federal lead paint disclosure and EPA pamphlet delivery before lease signing are required.
Patrick Henry argued that liberty was worth dying for. Kentucky landlord law asks considerably less: that you follow a clear set of rules, keep a few records, and treat the people who live in your properties with basic legal respect. That is a much lower bar than the one Henry set in 1775, and it comes with none of the danger.
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. Federal lead paint disclosure requirements apply to pre-1978 housing. Consult a licensed Kentucky attorney for guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
