Kentucky landlord guide — courthouse info, local rules & HB128 eviction procedures for Barbourville, Corbin, Artemus, Flat Lick & Knox County
📍 County Seat: Barbourville (pop. ~3,017) 👥 County Pop. 31,340 (2020) ⚖️ Court: Knox County Justice Center — 401 Court Sq., Barbourville 🏔️ Cumberland Gap Gateway • Daniel Boone NF 🎓 Union College • Southeast KY Community College 🏥 Knox County ARH • I-75 / US-25E Corridor
Knox County was established on December 19, 1799 from Lincoln County and named for General Henry Knox, the first United States Secretary of War and a trusted military advisor to George Washington throughout the Revolutionary War. The county seat, Barbourville, was established in 1800 and named for James Barbour, a Virginia governor. Knox County covers approximately 387 square miles of rugged southeastern Kentucky terrain along the Cumberland River headwaters and Yellow Creek drainage, bordering Harlan and Bell counties to the south and east. The 2020 census recorded a county population of 31,340 residents, making Knox one of the more substantial counties of the southeastern Kentucky coalfield.
Knox County sits at a strategic geographic crossroads: US-25E connects it to the Cumberland Gap to the south — the famous passage through the Appalachian Mountains that Daniel Boone blazed in 1775 and through which hundreds of thousands of settlers entered Kentucky — and the county contains a portion of Corbin, one of southeastern Kentucky’s most significant commercial hubs (shared with Whitley and Laurel counties). Union College, a private liberal arts institution established in 1879, anchors Barbourville’s educational economy. Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College has a presence in the region. The county’s economy blends coal-adjacent industries in transition, healthcare, education, and I-75 corridor commerce. All residential evictions are Forcible Detainer actions filed in District Court at the Knox County Justice Center, 401 Court Square, Barbourville, KY 40906. Kentucky’s HB128 (2023) governs all residential leases made on or after its effective date.
🏔️ Cumberland Gap Gateway — Daniel Boone’s Road — US-25E through Knox County leads south to Cumberland Gap, the natural passage through the Appalachian Mountains that Daniel Boone blazed as the Wilderness Road in 1775; the gap was the primary route through which over 300,000 settlers entered Kentucky and the trans-Appalachian interior during the settlement era |
🎓 Union College — Barbourville’s Educational Anchor — Union College, a private liberal arts institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church and founded in 1879, is one of Barbourville’s most significant employers and the primary source of higher education rental demand in the county seat |
🍗 Corbin — Birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken — Corbin, which straddles Knox, Whitley, and Laurel counties, is the city where Harland Sanders operated his original restaurant and perfected the fried chicken recipe that became KFC; the original Sanders Café and Museum is in Corbin and draws visitors from across the country |
⚔️ Named for Henry Knox — First Secretary of War — Henry Knox served as George Washington’s chief artillery officer during the Revolution, famously hauling 60 tons of captured British cannon from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston in the winter of 1775–76, and later as the new nation’s first Secretary of War under both the Constitution and the Articles of Confederation
Southeast KY • Cumberland River • Cumberland Valley ADD • I-75 / US-25E Corridor
Major Employers
Union College, Knox County Schools, Knox County ARH Hospital, Southeast KY CTC, county/state government, Corbin-area employers (Baptist Health Corbin, I-75 commercial), remaining coal operations
Eviction Court
District Court — Knox County Justice Center
Court Address
401 Court Sq., Barbourville, KY 40906
Court Phone
(606) 546-3075 (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
Knox County Justice Center — 401 Court Sq., Barbourville
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)
Knox County Local Rules & Landlord Procedures
Topic
Rule / Notes
Filing Evictions — Where & Who
All evictions (Forcible Detainer actions) in Knox County are filed in District Court at the Knox County Justice Center, 401 Court Square, Barbourville, KY 40906. Phone: (606) 546-3075. Barbourville is a small city with accessible parking near Court Square. Verify current civil hearing dates and filing requirements with the clerk before filing. Note: properties in the Corbin portion of Knox County file here, not in Whitley or Laurel county courts.
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.
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, termination no sooner than 30 days from original notice. Consult a Kentucky attorney for repeat violations, criminal acts, or health/safety emergencies.
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. Must be held in a dedicated, separately titled bank account. Return within 30 days with itemized deductions. Penalty: $250 or 2× the withheld amount, whichever is greater. Document move-in and move-out condition thoroughly.
Habitability — Nonwaivable Duty
HB128 imposes a nonwaivable habitability duty across 13 categories: structural integrity, weatherproofing, plumbing, water, heating/ventilation, electrical, pest/hazardous substances (lead, mold, asbestos), common areas, trash, floors/walls/windows, appliances, locks, and 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. Routine maintenance: 72 hours’ notice. Emergency: reasonable notice. Leave written notice if tenant is absent.
Corbin Multi-County Note
The city of Corbin straddles Knox, Whitley, and Laurel county lines — a legally significant fact for landlords. The county in which your specific property sits determines which District Court hears your eviction. A Knox County-addressed property in Corbin files in Barbourville. A Whitley County-addressed property in Corbin files in Williamsburg. A Laurel County-addressed property files in London. Verify your property’s county by checking the tax assessment records before filing.
Union College & Student/Faculty Rental
Union College, a United Methodist-affiliated liberal arts institution in Barbourville (~1,000 students), creates faculty, staff, and student rental demand near campus. Screen student applicants with enrollment verification, financial aid award letters, and co-signer requirements for those without independent income. Apply co-signer requirements consistently to all student applicants. Faculty and staff are salaried; verify with pay stubs or employer letters.
Cumberland River & Yellow Creek Flood Risk
The Cumberland River headwaters and Yellow Creek drain Knox County, and creek bottom and riverside properties carry documented flood risk. Verify FEMA flood zone status for any low-lying property before renting, disclose known flood risk in writing, and maintain HB128’s structural and weatherproofing habitability obligations in flood-adjacent locations.
Lead Paint Disclosure
For any dwelling built before 1978, federal law requires written disclosure of known lead paint hazards and delivery of the EPA pamphlet before lease signing. Most of Knox County’s housing stock predates 1978.
Rent Control
None. Kentucky does not permit local rent control.
Self-Help Eviction
Expressly prohibited (KRS 383.690). Penalty: 3× periodic rent or 3× actual damages, whichever is greater. File a Forcible Detainer at the Knox 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.
Knox County market: Southeastern KY county anchored by Union College, Knox County Schools, ARH hospital, and Corbin commercial corridor. Multi-county Corbin filing jurisdiction requires property address verification. Cumberland River flood risk for low-lying properties. 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.
The Wilderness Road, Colonel Sanders, and HB128: Knox County Kentucky Landlord Law
Two stories from very different eras converge in Knox County. The first is from 1775, when Daniel Boone led a party of axemen through the Cumberland Gap — the natural passage in the Appalachian wall just south of Knox County on US-25E — and cut the Wilderness Road that would become the primary route through which over 300,000 settlers poured into Kentucky and the trans-Appalachian interior over the following decades. The gap itself is in Bell County, but the road ran through what is now Knox County, and the county’s position on that corridor has shaped its geography and its commerce ever since. The second story is from 1930, when a man named Harland Sanders opened a service station in Corbin and began cooking fried chicken for travelers on US-25, eventually perfecting a pressure-frying method and a blend of herbs and spices that became Kentucky Fried Chicken. The original Sanders Café and Museum in Corbin draws visitors who come specifically to eat where it started, in a building that has been faithfully restored to its original configuration.
Knox County was established in 1799 from Lincoln County and named for General Henry Knox, Washington’s chief artillery officer and the nation’s first Secretary of War. Knox made his reputation in the brutal winter of 1775–76 by hauling 60 tons of captured British artillery from Fort Ticonderoga through the Berkshires to Dorchester Heights above Boston — an engineering feat that changed the outcome of the siege and earned him Washington’s lasting trust. The county recorded 31,340 residents in 2020 across 387 square miles of rugged southeastern Kentucky terrain along the Cumberland River headwaters.
Corbin: The Three-County City
The most practically important thing for a Knox County landlord to know about Corbin is that the city simultaneously exists in three counties: Knox, Whitley, and Laurel. This is not unusual in Kentucky where county lines predate municipal incorporations, but it creates a jurisdictional question that matters enormously when you need to file an eviction. The county in which your specific property address is located determines which District Court receives your Forcible Detainer action. A Knox County property address in Corbin means you file in Barbourville at the Knox County Justice Center. A Whitley County address means you file in Williamsburg. A Laurel County address means you file in London. The only reliable way to determine which county your Corbin property is in is to check the county property tax assessment records or ask the county PVA. Do this before you need it, not after the notice period has expired and you are standing at the wrong courthouse window.
Corbin itself is one of southeastern Kentucky’s more economically significant commercial centers, with Baptist Health Corbin anchoring healthcare employment, I-75 and US-25E corridor retail and services supporting commercial activity, and the legacy of the Sanders Café drawing enough food-history tourism to sustain a meaningful hospitality sector. For landlords with properties in the Corbin area, the tenant pool includes hospital workers, commercial corridor employees, and commuters from the surrounding region.
Union College and Barbourville
Union College, founded in 1879 and affiliated with the United Methodist Church, is Barbourville’s most significant institutional employer and the source of the county seat’s most distinctive rental demand. The college enrolls roughly 1,000 students and employs faculty and professional staff at income levels that make them reliable rental applicants. Screen faculty and staff with pay stubs or employer letters from Union’s HR office. For students, apply the standard small-college framework: enrollment verification, financial aid award letters showing annual funding, and a co-signer requirement for applicants without independent income, applied consistently to all student applicants regardless of year or major.
Knox County Schools and Knox County ARH Hospital add healthcare and education employment to the mix. County and state government round out the public sector. A smaller segment of the workforce remains in coal or coal-adjacent industries in transition. Apply income documentation consistently across all employment types.
Filing in Barbourville and HB128 Compliance
All residential evictions with Knox County property addresses are Forcible Detainer actions filed in District Court at the Knox County Justice Center, 401 Court Square, Barbourville, KY 40906, phone (606) 546-3075. Court Square parking is generally available in Barbourville. Verify current civil hearing dates and filing requirements before making the trip.
HB128 compliance: written 14-day notice to pay or vacate for nonpayment; 14-day cure notice with 30-day minimum termination for violations; one month’s written notice for month-to-month termination; deposits at two times monthly rent in a separate account, returned within 30 days with itemized deductions; $250 or 2x penalty; nonwaivable habitability across 13 categories; 24-hour advance entry notice; self-help eviction prohibited at three times periodic rent. Lead paint disclosure required for most Knox County housing stock. For Cumberland River and Yellow Creek properties, verify flood zone status before renting and disclose known flood risk in writing. Daniel Boone blazed a road through this terrain 250 years ago and made it possible for hundreds of thousands of people to come here and build homes. The law that governs those homes today is considerably more straightforward than the Wilderness Road.
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. Corbin landlords must verify their property’s county address before filing; consult the applicable county PVA. Federal lead paint disclosure requirements apply to pre-1978 housing. Consult a licensed Kentucky attorney for guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
