Boyd County was formed on February 16, 1860, from portions of Carter, Greenup, and Lawrence counties — the 107th of Kentucky’s 120 counties — and named for Linn Boyd, a Paducah native, U.S. Congressman, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and Lieutenant Governor-elect who died in 1859 before taking office. The county sits at the northeastern edge of Kentucky where the Ohio River meets the Big Sandy River, forming a tri-state junction with Ohio to the north and West Virginia to the east. The county seat is Catlettsburg, a historic river port at that confluence; the largest city is Ashland, planned in 1854 by the Kentucky Iron, Coal and Manufacturing Company and named for Henry Clay’s estate. The 2020 census counted 48,261 residents. Boyd County is part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area, a tri-state metro that includes Huntington, WV and Ironton, OH.
The Boyd County rental market reflects an industrial legacy in transition. Iron production began here in 1832; Armco Steel (now AK Steel, acquired by Cleveland-Cliffs in 2020) and the Marathon Petroleum refinery in Catlettsburg — the original Ashland Oil operation founded in 1924 — have been defining employers for generations. Calgon Carbon’s Big Sandy Plant, the world’s largest producer of granular activated carbon, represents one of the county’s most unusual and significant industrial assets. King’s Daughters Medical Center, ARH-affiliated facilities, Ashland Community and Technical College, and Morehead State’s Ashland campus add healthcare and education employment to the mix. All evictions in Boyd County are Forcible Detainer actions filed in District Court at the Boyd County Judicial Center in Catlettsburg. Kentucky’s HB128 (2023) governs all residential leases made on or after its effective date.
🏭 World’s Largest Activated Carbon Plant — Calgon Carbon’s Big Sandy Plant in Boyd County, built in 1961, is the world’s largest producer of granular activated carbon, producing over 100 million pounds annually; the facility is a globally significant industrial asset in a county of fewer than 50,000 people |
⛽ Marathon Petroleum Refinery (Est. 1924) — The original Ashland Oil refinery in Catlettsburg, founded in 1924 by Paul G. Blazer, was the starting point for what became one of the largest corporations ever headquartered in Kentucky; the refinery still operates today under Marathon Petroleum Corporation |
🔩 AK Steel / Cleveland-Cliffs — The Ashland Works trace directly to the iron furnaces of the 1830s; Armco Steel constructed the Amanda blast furnace in 1963 — one of the largest in the world at the time; the operation has passed through Armco, AK Steel, and now Cleveland-Cliffs and remains a major employer |
👩⚖️ Mary Elliott Flanery (1867–1933) — Born in Catlettsburg, Flanery became the first woman elected to the Kentucky state legislature in 1921, serving two terms in the Kentucky House of Representatives; a groundbreaking figure in Kentucky political history
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area
Major Employers
Cleveland-Cliffs / AK Steel, Marathon Petroleum, Calgon Carbon, King’s Daughters Medical, Ashland Community & Technical College, Morehead State Ashland, Boyd County & Ashland schools
Eviction Court
District Court — Boyd County Judicial Center
Circuit Court Clerk
Tracey L. Kelley — (606) 739-4131
Judicial Center Address
2805 Louisa Street (P.O. Box 688), Catlettsburg, KY 41129
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)
Boyd County Local Rules & Landlord Procedures
Topic
Rule / Notes
Filing Evictions — Where & Who
All evictions (Forcible Detainer actions) in Boyd County are filed in District Court at the Boyd County Judicial Center (C. David Hagerman Judicial Center), 2805 Louisa Street (P.O. Box 688), Catlettsburg, KY 41129. Circuit Court Clerk: Tracey L. Kelley — Phone: (606) 739-4131 — Fax: (606) 739-5793. Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–4:00 PM. Payment by cash, check, money order, or credit/debit cards (fee applies); ePay available online. Parking in front of building and across the street by the courthouse annex. Elevator access available.
Nonpayment of Rent — Notice
Under HB128 (KRS 383.660), serve the tenant a 14-day written notice to pay or vacate stating that if rent remains unpaid after 14 days, the lease terminates. 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, 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. 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 — never commingled with personal or business funds. 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).
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. In older Ashland housing stock, lead paint and older electrical systems are particularly relevant. 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 entry: reasonable notice under circumstances. Leave a conspicuous written notice of fact, date, time, and reason if entering while tenant is absent without prior notice.
Industrial Workforce Screening
Boyd County’s largest employers — Cleveland-Cliffs, Marathon Petroleum, and Calgon Carbon — employ shift workers, trade specialists, and operators with hourly wages that can include substantial overtime and premium pay. When verifying income, use base hourly rate × scheduled hours as the conservative figure; overtime pay is real but variable. For union employees, union contracts often guarantee specific hours — request the most recent two pay stubs showing YTD figures. Apply your income ratio to the conservative figure and require a co-signer if it falls short. Shift patterns mean some applicants work nights or rotating schedules — factor this into showing and maintenance communication expectations from the start.
Tri-State Market (KY-WV-OH)
Boyd County is at the center of a tri-state metro that includes Huntington, WV and Ironton, OH. Some applicants work in West Virginia or Ohio and rent on the Kentucky side. Verify WV and OH employment with standard documentation. Kentucky income tax rates and cost of housing often make Ashland an attractive alternative to Huntington or Ironton for cross-state workers. Apply your criteria consistently regardless of which state the employer is in.
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.
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 in District Court at the Judicial Center.
Abandoned Personal Property
Post notice at the unit and mail to last known or forwarding address. Tenant has 8 days to contact and 5 days to retrieve after contact. Landlord may charge storage costs. Unclaimed property may be sold or disposed of. Perishables, hazardous materials, and animals may be disposed of immediately (KRS Section 44).
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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including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most
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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.
Boyd County market: Judicial Center, 2805 Louisa St., Catlettsburg. Circuit Court Clerk Tracey L. Kelley, (606) 739-4131. Hours: 8:30 AM–4:00 PM. Industrial workforce (Cleveland-Cliffs, Marathon, Calgon Carbon) — verify base wages; treat overtime as variable. Tri-state KY-WV-OH applicant pool. King’s Daughters Medical and college campuses add stable healthcare/education demand. No rent control anywhere in Kentucky.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Steel, Oil, and the Tri-State: Boyd County Kentucky Landlord Law in the Huntington-Ashland Metro
Boyd County sits where Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio converge at the confluence of the Ohio and Big Sandy Rivers. The Poage family arrived at what would become Ashland in 1799, and within decades the area’s iron ore, coal, and timber were driving an industrial economy that would make Ashland one of the great steel and petroleum towns of the American interior. The Kentucky Iron, Coal and Manufacturing Company platted Ashland in 1854 and named it for Henry Clay’s estate; the company brought the railroad, and the railroad made Ashland the dominant city in a county whose official seat remained the smaller river port of Catlettsburg. That dynamic — where the county seat and the economic center are different cities — shapes Boyd County to this day. All eviction filings go to Catlettsburg. Most of the rental market is in Ashland.
Ashland’s Industrial Anchors and Their Impact on Rental Demand
The Cleveland-Cliffs Ashland Works — descended from the Armco Steel operation that constructed one of the world’s largest blast furnaces here in 1963 — remains a major employer in the county. The Marathon Petroleum refinery in Catlettsburg is the direct descendant of the Ashland Oil operation Paul G. Blazer started in 1924; it was at one point the headquarters of the largest corporation ever based in Kentucky. And the Calgon Carbon Big Sandy Plant, built in 1961, is a genuinely remarkable industrial asset: the world’s largest producer of granular activated carbon, turning out over 100 million pounds annually from a county of fewer than 50,000 people.
These employers create a substantial base of shift-working, hourly-compensated renters in Ashland. For income verification, use base wage multiplied by scheduled hours as your conservative qualifying figure — overtime income is real and sometimes substantial, but it is variable. Union employees at the steel and refinery operations often have guaranteed minimum hours under their collective bargaining agreements; requesting the most recent two pay stubs showing year-to-date figures gives you a more accurate picture than any single week. Apply your income ratio to the conservative base figure; if it falls short, a qualified co-signer is the appropriate protection rather than a waiver of your standard.
The Tri-State Applicant Pool
The Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area encompasses a population of roughly 360,000 people across three states. Within that metro, workers routinely cross state lines for employment. Some applicants looking at Ashland rentals work in Huntington, WV or Ironton, OH, and choose the Kentucky side for housing costs, tax rates, or simply preference. West Virginia and Ohio employment is just as verifiable as Kentucky employment — request pay stubs or employer verification, run your standard credit and background checks, and apply your criteria consistently. The Fair Housing Act applies uniformly regardless of which state the applicant or their employer is in.
Filing an Eviction in Boyd County
Evictions in Boyd County are Forcible Detainer actions filed in District Court at the Boyd County Judicial Center (officially the C. David Hagerman Judicial Center), 2805 Louisa Street (P.O. Box 688), Catlettsburg, KY 41129. Circuit Court Clerk Tracey L. Kelley handles filings at (606) 739-4131. Hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Payment is accepted by cash, check, money order, or credit/debit card (with a fee); ePay is available online. Parking is available in front of the building and across the street by the courthouse annex. The facility has elevator access.
Under HB128, the nonpayment notice is a 14-day written notice to pay or vacate. For lease violations, a 14-day cure period applies and termination cannot be earlier than 30 days from the notice date. These requirements are the same as everywhere in Kentucky — the local detail is that you must file in Catlettsburg, not in Ashland, even if your property is in the city of Ashland. Make that trip to 2805 Louisa Street in Catlettsburg. There is no Ashland courthouse for eviction filings.
HB128 in an Industrial Market
HB128’s nonwaivable habitability duty is especially relevant in Ashland’s older housing stock. Ashland is a city whose core residential neighborhoods date to the late 19th and early 20th century industrial boom, and many properties carry the normal wear of a 70-to-100-year-old structure. The 13-category habitability checklist includes functional locks, pest control, lead paint and mold management, working heating and electrical systems, and weatherproofing — all areas where older industrial-era housing can show stress. Document your maintenance response process, respond to written tenant notices within the 14-day window, and keep records. A well-maintained older property is not a habitability problem; a deferred maintenance backlog becomes one the moment a tenant puts you on notice in writing.
Security deposit compliance is the same calculation everywhere in Kentucky: collect no more than two times monthly rent, hold it in a dedicated account, return it within 30 days of move-out with an itemized statement, or face a penalty of $250 or two times the withheld amount, whichever is greater. In a market with typical rents of $600–$900 per month in Ashland, even a small deposit wrongfully withheld can generate a penalty that exceeds the original dispute amount. The 30-day deadline is non-negotiable.
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.
