Kentucky landlord guide — courthouse info, local rules & HB128 eviction procedures for Bowling Green, Smiths Grove, Alvaton, Oakland & Warren County
📍 County Seat: Bowling Green (pop. ~72,294) 👥 County Pop. 132,896 (2020) • KY’s 3rd-Largest County ⚖️ Court: Warren County Justice Center — 1001 Center St., Bowling Green 🚗 GM Corvette Plant • I-65 Logistics Hub • Western KY University 🏥 Med Center Health • Fast-Growing City • Diverse Economy 🏛️ Named for Gen. Joseph Warren • One of KY’s Fastest-Growing
Warren County was established on November 6, 1796 from part of Logan County and named for General Joseph Warren, the Massachusetts physician and patriot who was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775 — one of the Revolution’s first major engagements and one of its most celebrated martyrs. The county seat, Bowling Green, was established in 1798 and has grown into Kentucky’s third-largest city. Warren County covers approximately 546 square miles and recorded a 2020 census population of 132,896 residents, making it Kentucky’s third most populous county and one of the fastest-growing in the state.
Bowling Green is western Kentucky’s dominant city and one of the most economically diverse mid-size cities in the South-Central United States. The economy is anchored by an unusually broad set of institutional pillars: General Motors’ Corvette Assembly Plant (the only Corvette manufacturing facility in the world), Western Kentucky University (approximately 20,000 students), Med Center Health (the regional hospital system), Berry Global (global packaging manufacturer with major local operations), and an extensive I-65 logistics and distribution corridor. Bowling Green has grown from about 50,000 residents in 2000 to over 72,000 in 2020, with the broader county exceeding 132,000. All residential evictions are Forcible Detainer actions filed in District Court at the Warren County Justice Center, 1001 Center Street, Bowling Green, KY 42101. Kentucky’s HB128 (2023) governs all residential leases made on or after its effective date.
🚗 GM Corvette Assembly — The Only Corvette Plant in the World — General Motors’ Bowling Green Assembly Plant is the sole global manufacturing facility for the Chevrolet Corvette; opened in 1981, it employs thousands of UAW workers and is one of the most distinctive employer anchors of any Kentucky county; the National Corvette Museum is adjacent to the plant |
🎓 Western Kentucky University — ~20,000 Students, Major Regional University — WKU is a comprehensive regional university employing thousands of faculty, staff, and administrators and serving approximately 20,000 students; its Hilltop campus anchors student rental demand in the university corridor and makes Bowling Green a genuine college city |
📈 Kentucky’s 3rd-Largest County — One of Its Fastest-Growing — Warren County’s population has more than doubled since 1990, growing from about 76,000 to 132,896 in 2020; Bowling Green has attracted international immigration, particularly from South Asia and Latin America, diversifying the population and expanding the rental market in ways visible across the city |
🌐 International Immigration & Refugee Community — Bowling Green has been a significant resettlement destination for refugees and immigrants for several decades, with substantial Bosnian, Somali, Mexican, and South Asian communities; this international character has diversified the city’s economy, cuisine, and rental market profile
📊 Quick Stats
County Seat
Bowling Green (~72,294) • KY’s 3rd-largest city
Other Communities
Smiths Grove, Alvaton, Oakland, Plum Springs, Rockfield, Woodburn
County Population
132,896 (2020) • KY’s 3rd most populous; fastest-growing
Region
South-Central KY • I-65 Corridor • Barren River ADD
Major Employers
GM Corvette Assembly (UAW), Western Kentucky University (~20,000 students), Med Center Health, Berry Global, Fruit of the Loom, I-65 logistics & distribution, Houchens Industries, international manufacturing base
Eviction Court
District Court — Warren County Justice Center
Court Address
1001 Center St., Bowling Green, KY 42101
Court Phone
(270) 746-7406 (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
Warren County Justice Center — 1001 Center St., Bowling Green
Eviction Timeline
3–6 weeks typical (very active city-scale docket)
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)
Warren County Local Rules & Landlord Procedures
Topic
Rule / Notes
Filing Evictions — Where & Who
All evictions (Forcible Detainer actions) in Warren County are filed in District Court at the Warren County Justice Center, 1001 Center Street, Bowling Green, KY 42101. Phone: (270) 746-7406. Bowling Green is Kentucky’s third-largest city; the court handles one of the most active eviction dockets outside of Jefferson and Fayette counties. Parking is available near the justice center. Verify current hearing dates 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.
Lease Violation — Notice & Cure
For non-rent violations, serve a 14-day written notice to cure or quit. If not remedied, termination no sooner than 30 days from original notice. Consult a Kentucky attorney for repeat violations or criminal acts.
Month-to-Month Termination
One full month’s written notice required. Week-to-week: 5 days’ written notice.
Security Deposit
Capped at 2× monthly rent. 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. In Bowling Green’s active rental market, deposits commonly run $800–$1,600. Document thoroughly.
Habitability — Nonwaivable Duty
HB128 imposes a nonwaivable habitability duty across 13 categories. Respond to written maintenance notices within 14 days (5 days for essential services). In a fast-growing city with aging older housing stock alongside new construction, maintenance discipline is particularly important.
GM’s Bowling Green Assembly Plant employs thousands of UAW-represented production workers, skilled trades, and supervisory employees. GM team members earn competitive union wages with full benefit packages and have historically had stable employment. Verify with recent GM pay stubs. Distinguish between direct GM employees and GM supplier network workers employed at nearby component facilities; both are typically stable but have separate employers. Direct GM employees are among Bowling Green’s most financially reliable production-sector rental applicants.
WKU Student & Faculty/Staff Tenant Profile
Western Kentucky University serves approximately 20,000 students and employs hundreds of faculty, staff, and administrators. WKU faculty and staff are stable Commonwealth of Kentucky employees (WKU is a public university). For student tenants, apply standard documentation: enrollment verification, financial aid award letters, and co-signer requirement if aid alone is insufficient. The WKU corridor on University Boulevard/College Street drives significant off-campus rental demand with academic-year lease cycles (August start).
International Resident & Refugee Community
Bowling Green has one of Kentucky’s most significant international populations, including established Bosnian, Somali, Mexican, and South Asian communities. Many international residents are employed at local manufacturing, food processing, and service employers. Apply income ratio and documentation standards consistently regardless of national origin or immigration status. Evidence of lawful employment authorization is standard; specific documentation format may vary by immigration status. Apply fair housing law consistently.
Berry Global & I-65 Logistics Tenant Segment
Berry Global (global packaging manufacturer) is one of Bowling Green’s largest private employers. The I-65 corridor has attracted numerous distribution centers, manufacturing facilities, and logistics operations. Workers at these facilities earn stable W-2 employment income; verify with pay stubs and distinguish direct employer hires from agency-placed workers.
Lead Paint Disclosure
Required for any dwelling built before 1978. Older Bowling Green neighborhoods require disclosure; new construction throughout the county is generally exempt.
Rent Control
None. Kentucky does not permit local rent control.
Self-Help Eviction
Prohibited (KRS 383.690). Penalty: 3× periodic rent or 3× actual damages, whichever greater. At Bowling Green market rents, this penalty is very significant. File Forcible Detainer at Warren 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.
Underground Landlord
🏘️ Neighborhoods & Screening Tips
Key communities: Bowling Green (county seat & KY’s 3rd-largest city, ~72,294), Smiths Grove, Alvaton, Oakland, Plum Springs, Rockfield, Woodburn.
Warren County market: KY’s most diverse mid-size rental market. GM Corvette (UAW, direct vs. supplier distinction). WKU students (co-signer protocol) + faculty/staff (stable). International community — consistent fair housing application essential. Berry Global, I-65 logistics. Active eviction docket. Lead paint for older housing. No rent control.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Corvettes, WKU, and HB128: Warren County Kentucky Landlord Law
General Joseph Warren was a Massachusetts physician and patriot who sent Paul Revere and William Dawes on their midnight rides, organized the colonial defense at Bunker Hill, and was killed in that battle on June 17, 1775 — the Revolution’s second-most-famous martyrdom after the Boston Massacre. He was 34 years old. The Kentucky county named for him in 1796 has grown into something he could not have imagined: one of the South-Central United States’ most economically diverse and rapidly growing mid-size cities, built around an automobile that was not invented until a century and a half after his death.
Warren County covers 546 square miles and recorded 132,896 residents in 2020, making it Kentucky’s third most populous county. Bowling Green, the county seat, crossed 72,000 residents and is Kentucky’s third-largest city. The county has more than doubled in population since 1990, a growth trajectory driven by a combination of manufacturing investment, university growth, I-65 logistics development, and international immigration that has made Bowling Green one of the most demographically diverse cities of its size in the American South.
The Corvette Plant, WKU, and a Multi-Anchor Economy
General Motors’ Bowling Green Assembly Plant is the only Corvette manufacturing facility in the world. It opened in 1981 and has been the sole producer of the Chevrolet Corvette ever since, operating continuously through model generation changes and the transition from C7 to C8 mid-engine platform. GM UAW workers at the plant earn competitive union wages with full benefit packages and represent some of Bowling Green’s most financially stable production-sector rental applicants. Verify with GM pay stubs; distinguish direct GM employees from supplier network workers at component facilities in and around Bowling Green. Berry Global, the global packaging manufacturer headquartered in Evansville with major Bowling Green operations, is another large-scale private employer with stable workforce income.
Western Kentucky University serves approximately 20,000 students and is a comprehensive regional university with a Hilltop campus that anchors the off-campus rental market in its surrounding corridors. The academic-year lease cycle (August start) dominates the student-facing rental market. WKU faculty and staff are stable Commonwealth of Kentucky employees; verify with pay stubs or WKU HR letters. For student tenants, apply the standard protocol: enrollment verification, financial aid award letters, and co-signer requirement if aid alone does not meet the income ratio. Med Center Health, the regional hospital system, adds a healthcare employment anchor and draws professionals from across the region to Bowling Green.
The International Community and Fair Housing
Bowling Green has been a significant refugee resettlement destination for several decades and has attracted immigration from Bosnia, Somalia, Mexico, and South Asia at rates that have meaningfully diversified its population. Many international residents are employed at local manufacturing, food processing, and service employers. Apply income documentation standards consistently regardless of national origin or immigration status — consistent application of your screening criteria across all applicants is both legally required and professionally sound. Specific documentation formats may differ by immigration status; the standard is evidence of lawful employment and sufficient, verifiable income to meet your ratio. Bowling Green’s international community is an established and economically active part of the city’s rental market.
Filing in Bowling Green and HB128 Compliance
All residential evictions in Warren County are Forcible Detainer actions filed at the Warren County Justice Center, 1001 Center Street, Bowling Green, KY 42101, phone (270) 746-7406. As Kentucky’s third-largest city, Bowling Green’s court handles one of the most active eviction dockets outside Jefferson and Fayette counties. Verify current hearing dates before filing. HB128 compliance: written 14-day notice to pay or vacate; 14-day cure with 30-day minimum termination; one month’s written M-to-M notice; deposits at two times monthly rent in a separate account returned within 30 days with itemized deductions; $250 or 2x penalty; nonwaivable habitability; 24-hour entry notice; self-help eviction prohibited at three times periodic rent. At Bowling Green market rents, 3x monthly rent penalties are substantial — follow the process. General Warren died at Bunker Hill before the Revolution he helped organize was a year old. HB128 will outlast every individual tenancy it governs; it just needs someone willing to follow it correctly.
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. Last updated: March 2026.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. HB128 applies to leases on or after its effective date; prior law governs older leases. Lead paint disclosure required for pre-1978 housing. Screening criteria must be applied consistently to all applicants in compliance with fair housing law regardless of national origin, immigration status, or other protected characteristics. Consult a licensed Kentucky attorney for guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
