Kentucky landlord guide — courthouse info, local rules & HB128 eviction procedures for Taylorsville, Mt. Eden, Elk Creek & Spencer County
📍 County Seat: Taylorsville (pop. ~1,337) 👥 County Pop. 19,276 (2020) • Growing Louisville Exurb ⚖️ Court: Spencer County Justice Center — 36 W. Main St., Taylorsville 🌊 Taylorsville Lake • Salt River • Inner Bluegrass Foothills 🚗 Louisville & Shelbyville Commuter Zone • KY-55 & US-60 Corridor 🏛️ Named for Spier Spencer • Founded 1824 • Rural Character
Spencer County was established on January 7, 1824 from parts of Bullitt, Nelson, and Shelby counties and named for Spier Spencer, a Kentucky militia captain killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe on November 7, 1811 — the same engagement that killed Colonel Abraham Owen (see Owen County). The county seat, Taylorsville, was established in 1829 on the Salt River and named for Richard Taylor, father of President Zachary Taylor. Spencer County covers approximately 185 square miles of rolling terrain at the inner bluegrass foothills transition and recorded a 2020 census population of 19,276 residents.
Spencer County is a small Louisville exurban county that has experienced steady residential growth driven by Louisville metro expansion. Taylorsville Lake, an Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Salt River completed in 1983, anchors outdoor recreation in the county and has added some lake-access residential development. Taylorsville is the county seat and commercial center at about 1,300 people — a small county seat typical of this region. The county is accessible from Louisville via KY-55 and US-60 (approximately 30–35 miles southeast of downtown Louisville), and from Shelbyville (Shelby County) to the northeast. All residential evictions are Forcible Detainer actions filed in District Court at the Spencer County Justice Center, 36 W. Main Street, Taylorsville, KY 40071. Kentucky’s HB128 (2023) governs all residential leases made on or after its effective date.
⚔️ Named for Spier Spencer — Killed at Tippecanoe (1811) — Spier Spencer was a Kentucky militia captain who, like Colonel Abraham Owen (Owen County), was killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe on November 7, 1811; Spencer and Owen both fell in the same engagement, and two separate Kentucky counties were named for them |
🌊 Taylorsville Lake — Army Corps Salt River Reservoir (1983) — Taylorsville Lake on the Salt River is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir completed in 1983; the lake offers boating, fishing, and camping and anchors some outdoor recreation development in the county; Army Corps easements apply to lakefront properties below the normal pool elevation |
🏛️ Taylorsville — Named for Father of President Zachary Taylor — The county seat is named for Richard Taylor, father of Zachary Taylor, the twelfth President of the United States; Zachary Taylor himself was born in Orange County, Virginia but grew up in Jefferson County, Kentucky, just across the county line from Spencer County |
📈 Growing Louisville Exurb — Steady Rural Character Growth — Spencer County has grown from about 11,000 residents in 2000 to over 19,000 in 2020, driven by Louisville metro residential expansion into adjacent rural counties; the county has maintained its rural character and small-town feel while absorbing significant new residential development
📊 Quick Stats
County Seat
Taylorsville (~1,337)
Other Communities
Mt. Eden, Elk Creek, Fisherville (near Jefferson Co. line), Waterford
County Population
19,276 (2020) • Grew from ~11,000 in 2000
Region
Louisville MSA adjacent • Salt River • Kentuckiana Regional Planning
Major Employers
Spencer County Schools (dominant local), county government, Taylorsville Lake recreation, commuter employment in Louisville (~30–35 mi W via KY-55/US-60) & Shelbyville (Shelby Co., ~15 mi NW)
Eviction Court
District Court — Spencer County Justice Center
Court Address
36 W. Main St., Taylorsville, KY 40071
Court Phone
(502) 477-3217 (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
Spencer County Justice Center — 36 W. Main St., Taylorsville
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)
Spencer County Local Rules & Landlord Procedures
Topic
Rule / Notes
Filing Evictions — Where & Who
All evictions (Forcible Detainer actions) in Spencer County are filed in District Court at the Spencer County Justice Center, 36 W. Main Street, Taylorsville, KY 40071. Phone: (502) 477-3217. Taylorsville has a population of about 1,337; call ahead to verify current office hours, hearing dates, and clerk availability before making the trip.
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.
Lease Violation — Notice & Cure
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. Separate account. Return within 30 days with itemized deductions. Penalty: $250 or 2× withheld, whichever greater. Thorough move-in and move-out documentation essential.
Habitability — Nonwaivable Duty
HB128’s nonwaivable habitability duty covers 13 categories. Respond to written notices within 14 days (5 days for essential services).
Spencer County’s rental market is driven by Louisville metro commuters. Downtown Louisville is approximately 30–35 miles west via KY-55/US-60; Shelbyville (Shelby County, I-64) is approximately 15 miles northwest. Louisville commuters bring the full range of Louisville metro employment income: UPS, Norton Healthcare, Baptist Health, Ford, GE Appliances, and professional services. Verify with standard pay stubs or offer letters. Fisherville and the western portion of Spencer County near the Jefferson County line have the most active commuter residential development.
Taylorsville Lake & Army Corps Easements
Taylorsville Lake on the Salt River is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir (completed 1983). Army Corps flowage easements apply to lakefront land below the normal pool elevation. Verify easement boundaries before making improvements to any lakefront rental property.
Lead Paint Disclosure
For any dwelling built before 1978, federal disclosure of known lead paint hazards and delivery of the EPA pamphlet is required. Older Taylorsville housing requires disclosure; newer rural residential construction is generally exempt.
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 Spencer 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: Taylorsville (county seat, ~1,337), Mt. Eden, Elk Creek, Fisherville (near Jefferson Co. line), Waterford.
Spencer County market: Small growing Louisville exurb. Louisville commuters (~30–35 mi W) drive rental demand; Fisherville/western county most active. Taylorsville Lake Army Corps easements on lakefront. Lead paint for older housing. Call ahead before filing — Taylorsville has ~1,337 residents. No rent control.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Spier Spencer, Taylorsville Lake, and HB128: Spencer County Kentucky Landlord Law
On November 7, 1811, at the Battle of Tippecanoe, two Kentucky militia officers were killed in the same engagement. One was Colonel Abraham Owen; the other was Captain Spier Spencer. Kentucky named a county for each of them — Owen County, established in 1819, and Spencer County, established in 1824. Spencer commanded a rifle company at Tippecanoe and was killed early in the battle; Owen served as aide-de-camp to Harrison and met the same fate. Both names now appear on county courthouses in north-central and central Kentucky, a quiet reminder that the same November morning on the banks of the Tippecanoe River left two separate marks on Kentucky’s political geography.
Spencer County covers 185 square miles of rolling terrain between Louisville to the west, Shelby County to the north, Nelson County to the south, and Bullitt County to the west. The county seat of Taylorsville — named for Richard Taylor, father of President Zachary Taylor — sits on the Salt River at about 1,300 people. The county recorded 19,276 residents in 2020, having grown from about 11,000 in 2000 as Louisville metro residential expansion extended southeastward into Spencer County’s affordable rural territory.
Taylorsville Lake and the Louisville Commuter Profile
Taylorsville Lake, completed in 1983 by the Army Corps of Engineers on the Salt River, is the county’s primary recreational amenity and has contributed to some lake-access residential development. Army Corps flowage easements apply to lakefront land below the normal pool elevation; verify easement boundaries before making improvements to lakefront rental properties.
The rental market is driven almost entirely by the Louisville metro commuter workforce. Downtown Louisville is 30 to 35 miles west via KY-55 and US-60, a commute that takes approximately 35 to 45 minutes in normal conditions — longer than the Shelby County commute but manageable for workers who value rural character and lower housing costs. Fisherville and the areas of Spencer County closest to the Jefferson County line represent the most active zone of residential development and rental demand. Louisville employment across the full range of the metro’s economy — UPS, the healthcare systems, Ford, GE Appliances, and professional services — supports this market. Verify with standard pay stubs or employer letters and apply income ratio consistently.
Filing in Taylorsville and HB128 Compliance
All residential evictions in Spencer County are Forcible Detainer actions filed at the Spencer County Justice Center, 36 W. Main Street, Taylorsville, KY 40071, phone (502) 477-3217. Taylorsville has about 1,337 residents; call ahead to confirm 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 for older housing. Spier Spencer and Abraham Owen both died in the same battle, their names carried forward into the county system. The procedures named in HB128 will similarly outlast any individual tenancy — they exist to structure the relationship regardless of who is in it.
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. Army Corps easements on Taylorsville Lake properties should be verified before improvements. Consult a licensed Kentucky attorney for guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Kentucky’s 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. Army Corps of Engineers easements on Taylorsville Lake properties should be verified before improvements; consult the USACE Louisville District. Consult a licensed Kentucky attorney for guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
