Kentucky landlord guide — courthouse info, local rules & HB128 eviction procedures for Calhoun, Livermore, Sacramento, Island & McLean County
📍 County Seat: Calhoun (pop. ~758) 👥 County Pop. 9,296 (2020) ⚖️ Court: McLean County Justice Center — 210 Main St., Calhoun 🌊 Green River • Western KY Coalfield • Ohio River Adjacent 🌾 Agriculture • Owensboro Commuter Zone 🏛️ Named for Judge Alney McLean • One of KY’s Smallest Counties
McLean County was established on January 26, 1854 from parts of Daviess, Muhlenberg, and Ohio counties and named for Judge Alney McLean, a Kentucky congressman and federal district judge who had served the region with distinction. The county seat, Calhoun, is a small Ohio and Green River town with a 2020 population of 758. McLean County covers approximately 258 square miles of western Kentucky terrain drained by the Green River and recorded a 2020 census population of just 9,296 residents, making it one of Kentucky’s smallest counties by population.
McLean County occupies the western Kentucky coal country between Owensboro (Daviess County) and the Ohio River, with the Green River running through its center. The county’s economy has been shaped by coal, agriculture, and proximity to Owensboro — the last being increasingly dominant as coal employment has declined. Calhoun sits at the confluence of the Green River and the Pond River, and the county’s riverine geography has historically been both an asset (river transportation) and a liability (flood exposure). The school system, county government, and a commuter workforce traveling to Owensboro define today’s employment base. All residential evictions are Forcible Detainer actions filed in District Court at the McLean County Justice Center, 210 Main Street, Calhoun, KY 42327. Kentucky’s HB128 (2023) governs all residential leases made on or after its effective date.
🌊 Green River Valley — Western Kentucky Agriculture & Coal — The Green River drains McLean County before joining the Ohio, and the rich bottomland along the Green River has supported some of western Kentucky’s most productive agricultural land for over two centuries; the county’s economic history combines this agricultural base with the coal seams of the Western Kentucky Coalfield |
⛏️ Western KY Coalfield Legacy — McLean County sits on the edge of the Western Kentucky Coalfield, and underground coal mining has been part of the county’s economy for much of the 20th century; like much of western Kentucky, the county is navigating the post-coal transition |
🚗 Owensboro Commuter Zone — McLean County is approximately 20–30 miles from Owensboro (Daviess County), western Kentucky’s largest city; a meaningful share of McLean County’s working residents commutes to Owensboro for employment in healthcare (Owensboro Health), manufacturing, and professional services |
🌾 Green River Bottomland Agriculture — McLean County’s Green River bottomland is among the most fertile agricultural ground in western Kentucky; row crops, soybeans, and corn production characterize the county’s agricultural economy alongside cattle and hay operations on the upland terrain
📊 Quick Stats
County Seat
Calhoun (~758)
Other Communities
Livermore, Sacramento, Island, Beech Grove, Rumsey
County Population
9,296 (2020) • One of KY’s smallest counties by population
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
McLean County Justice Center — 210 Main St., Calhoun
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)
McLean County Local Rules & Landlord Procedures
Topic
Rule / Notes
Filing Evictions — Where & Who
All evictions (Forcible Detainer actions) in McLean County are filed in District Court at the McLean County Justice Center, 210 Main Street, Calhoun, KY 42327. Phone: (270) 273-3532. Calhoun is a very small county seat; call ahead to verify current office hours, clerk contact, and civil hearing dates. Parking is available near the justice center on Main Street.
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 or criminal acts.
Month-to-Month Termination
One full month’s written notice required (KRS 383.695). 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. Document condition carefully; in a small market the $250 floor penalty is highly significant relative to typical deposit amounts.
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).
Landlord Entry — Notice
Standard entry: 24 hours’ advance notice. Routine maintenance: 72 hours’ notice. Emergency: reasonable notice. Leave written notice if tenant is absent.
Owensboro Commuter Tenant Segment
McLean County is approximately 20–30 miles south and east of Owensboro via US-431 and KY-81, putting it within practical commuting range of Daviess County’s economy. Owensboro Health (regional hospital system), Kentucky Wesleyan College, manufacturing operations (Triumph Structures, Berry Global, and others), and Owensboro’s broader professional services sector all employ workers who may choose McLean County’s lower housing costs and rural character over living in Owensboro proper. Verify Owensboro employment with standard documentation. Apply income ratio consistently.
Agricultural Income Documentation
McLean County’s Green River bottomland agriculture is productive and supports farm operators whose income arrives seasonally and through Schedule F farm tax returns. Apply documentation requirements consistently: prior-year Schedule F returns alongside current bank statements to demonstrate the pattern. Row crop and livestock operations have different income timing; apply your income ratio to annualized income rather than monthly variability.
Green River Flood Risk
The Green River flows through McLean County and has historically reached flood stage during significant regional precipitation events. Calhoun sits at the confluence of the Green River and Pond River, creating compound flood risk. Verify FEMA flood zone status for any riverside or bottomland property before renting. Disclose known flood risk in writing and maintain HB128’s structural and weatherproofing habitability obligations continuously in flood-adjacent locations.
Lead Paint Disclosure
For any dwelling built before 1978 — most of McLean County’s housing stock — federal law requires written disclosure of known lead paint hazards and delivery of the EPA pamphlet before lease signing.
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 McLean 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
🏘️ Communities & Screening Tips
Key communities: Calhoun (county seat, ~758), Livermore, Sacramento, Island, Beech Grove, Rumsey.
McLean County market: Small western KY agricultural and coal-transition county. Owensboro commuter segment adds income diversity (Owensboro Health, Kentucky Wesleyan, manufacturing). Agricultural income requires Schedule F documentation. Green River and Pond River confluence flood risk at Calhoun. Lead paint disclosure for most housing stock. No rent control.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
The Green River, Owensboro’s Shadow, and HB128: McLean County Kentucky Landlord Law
McLean County was established in 1854 and named for Judge Alney McLean, a Kentucky congressman who later served as a federal district judge — the kind of institutional figure who fills a county name with competent but unspectacular historical weight. The county seat of Calhoun, with 758 residents in 2020, sits at the confluence of the Green River and the Pond River, a location that offered 19th-century advantages in river transportation and 21st-century challenges in flood management. McLean County covers 258 square miles of western Kentucky terrain between Owensboro and Madisonville and recorded 9,296 residents in 2020 — a modest population for a county that has been part of Kentucky’s western coalfield and agricultural economy for its entire existence.
The Green River is the geographic fact that most shapes McLean County. The river drains the rolling western Kentucky terrain and deposits its sediment on the bottomland where it slows before joining the Ohio. The Green River bottoms of McLean County are among the most fertile agricultural ground in western Kentucky, and the county’s farmers have worked that land through corn, soybeans, tobacco, and cattle for generations. The same river that makes the bottomland fertile has also periodically flooded it, and Calhoun’s position at the Green-Pond confluence means the town experiences the compounded flooding risk of two rivers reaching high water simultaneously.
Owensboro’s Economic Shadow
McLean County’s most practically important economic relationship is with Owensboro, the Daviess County city that is western Kentucky’s second-largest urban center and a regional hub for healthcare, manufacturing, and professional services. The drive from Calhoun or Livermore to Owensboro via US-431 or KY-81 takes 25 to 35 minutes in normal conditions — close enough to make daily commuting routine for workers who prefer McLean County’s rural character and lower housing costs over living in Daviess County.
Owensboro Health, the regional hospital system, is one of the largest employers in the entire western Kentucky region. Kentucky Wesleyan College provides higher education employment. Manufacturing operations including Triumph Structures, Berry Global, and others employ hundreds of workers at the Owensboro industrial parks. All of these employers draw from a regional workforce that extends into McLean County, and workers employed in Owensboro who rent in McLean County bring income levels above what the county’s own economy can generate. Verify Owensboro employment with standard documentation — pay stubs or HR employer letters — and apply income ratio consistently regardless of where the employer is located.
Agricultural Income and the Schedule F
McLean County’s productive Green River bottomland supports farm operators whose income arrives seasonally and whose tax returns reflect the specific structure of farm finance. A row crop farmer whose soybeans and corn are harvested and sold in the fall may have very little verifiable income for most of the calendar year and then substantial income in a four-to-six-week window. For rental screening, this requires flexibility in how income is assessed: prior-year Schedule F tax returns showing total farm income, bank statements showing the pattern of deposits (including crop sale proceeds), and an understanding that the annual figure is what matters rather than any given month. Apply your income ratio to annualized farm income and document the methodology consistently.
Filing in Calhoun and HB128 Compliance
All residential evictions in McLean County are Forcible Detainer actions filed at the McLean County Justice Center, 210 Main Street, Calhoun, KY 42327, phone (270) 273-3532. Calhoun is small; call ahead to verify hours and hearing dates. 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. Lead paint disclosure required for most McLean County housing. The Green River floods when the conditions are right, and the law applies when the conditions are right. Both are predictable — that is the point of having them.
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. Green River and Pond River flood zone status should be verified through FEMA flood maps. Consult a licensed Kentucky attorney for guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
