Kentucky landlord guide — courthouse info, local rules & HB128 eviction procedures for Dixon, Providence, Clay & Webster County
📍 County Seat: Dixon (pop. ~591) 👥 County Pop. 13,299 (2020) ⚖️ Court: Webster County Justice Center — 20 U.S. Hwy. 41A S., Dixon ⛏️ Western KY Coal Field • Post-Coal Transition • Tradewater River 🚗 Madisonville & Henderson Commuter Zone • US-41A Corridor 🏛️ Named for Daniel Webster • Founded 1860
Webster County was established on February 10, 1860 from parts of Hopkins, Henderson, and Union counties and named for Daniel Webster, the Massachusetts senator, orator, and statesman who was one of the most celebrated political figures of the antebellum era — his speeches on the Senate floor are still studied as models of American rhetoric. The county seat, Dixon, was established in 1861 and has remained a small county seat at about 591 people. Webster County covers approximately 334 square miles of far western Kentucky Pennyrile terrain drained by the Tradewater River and recorded a 2020 census population of 13,299 residents.
Webster County sits in the Western Kentucky Coal Field and, like its neighbors Hopkins, Union, and Muhlenberg counties, has been shaped by coal mining and post-coal transition. The county’s communities include Providence, the county’s largest and most commercially active city, and Clay, which sits on the Webster-Union county line. The external employment centers are Madisonville (Hopkins County, approximately 20 miles southeast) and Henderson (Henderson County, approximately 20 miles north). All residential evictions are Forcible Detainer actions filed in District Court at the Webster County Justice Center, 20 U.S. Hwy. 41A S., Dixon, KY 42409. Kentucky’s HB128 (2023) governs all residential leases made on or after its effective date.
🏛️ Named for Daniel Webster — “The Great Orator” — Daniel Webster served in the U.S. Senate from Massachusetts for decades and was one of the most celebrated orators in American history; his “Second Reply to Hayne” (1830), defending national unity against nullification, and his role in the Compromise of 1850 made him a towering antebellum figure; Webster County was named for him in 1860, the same year the union he championed began to fracture |
⛏️ Western KY Coal Field — Post-Coal Transition — Webster County sits in the Western Kentucky Coal Field and has historically been tied to coal mining and surface coal production; the post-coal economic transition has reshaped the county’s employment base toward healthcare, manufacturing, and commuter economies |
🏘️ Providence — Largest Community, More Active Than the County Seat — Providence (population approximately 3,000) is larger and more commercially active than Dixon, the official county seat (population ~591); landlords and tenants often reference Providence as the primary commercial hub, but evictions must be filed in Dixon |
🚗 Madisonville & Henderson — Dual Commuter Corridors — Webster County residents access external employment in two primary directions: Madisonville (Hopkins County, ~20 mi SE via US-41A) for Trover Health and Hopkins County employment, and Henderson (Henderson County, ~20 mi N via US-41A) for Toyota Indiana and Evansville metro access
📊 Quick Stats
County Seat
Dixon (~591) • Note: Providence (~3,000) is larger
Far Western KY • Western Coal Field • Pennyrile ADD
Major Employers
Webster County Schools, county/state government, remaining coal/industrial, agriculture, commuter employment in Madisonville (Hopkins Co., ~20 mi SE) & Henderson (Henderson Co., ~20 mi N via US-41A)
Eviction Court
District Court — Webster County Justice Center
Court Address
20 U.S. Hwy. 41A S., Dixon, KY 42409
Court Phone
(270) 639-9180 (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
Webster County Justice Center — 20 US Hwy. 41A S., Dixon
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)
Webster County Local Rules & Landlord Procedures
Topic
Rule / Notes
Filing Evictions — Where & Who
All evictions (Forcible Detainer actions) in Webster County are filed in District Court at the Webster County Justice Center, 20 U.S. Hwy. 41A S., Dixon, KY 42409. Phone: (270) 639-9180. Dixon has a population of about 591; call ahead to confirm hours, clerk availability, and hearing dates. Note: Providence is the county’s largest community but Dixon is the county seat where all evictions must be filed.
Nonpayment of Rent — Notice
Under HB128 (KRS 383.660), serve the tenant a 14-day written notice to pay or vacate. Retain dated 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.
Month-to-Month Termination
One full month’s written notice. 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.
Habitability — Nonwaivable
Nonwaivable duty across 13 categories. Respond within 14 days (5 days for essential services).
Madisonville (Hopkins County, ~20 miles southeast via US-41A) is the primary regional employment center for many Webster County residents. Trover Health regional medical center, Hopkins County schools, and Madisonville’s commercial economy are accessible in under 25 minutes. Verify Madisonville employment with standard pay stubs.
Henderson Commuter Segment
Henderson (Henderson County, ~20 miles north via US-41A) connects Webster County residents to the Evansville, Indiana metro via US-41/US-60 across the Ohio River. Town & Country Hospital, Henderson Community College, and Evansville metro employment (Toyota Indiana, Deaconess Health, manufacturing) are accessible via this northern corridor. Verify with standard documentation.
Post-Coal Income Profile
Webster County’s post-coal economy includes some transfer payment recipients (SSDI, SSI) and agricultural income alongside W-2 employment. Apply consistent documentation standards: award letters and bank statements for federal benefits; Schedule F returns for agricultural income. See the Muhlenberg and Hopkins county entries for additional Western KY coal transition context.
Lead Paint Disclosure
Required for any dwelling built before 1978. Most Webster County housing requires disclosure.
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. File Forcible Detainer at Webster County Justice Center in Dixon.
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.
Webster County market: Far western KY post-coal county with dual commuter corridors. Evictions filed in Dixon, not Providence. Madisonville (~20 mi SE) and Henderson (~20 mi N, Evansville metro access) are primary employment destinations. Post-coal transfer payment income — consistent documentation. Lead paint for most housing. Call ahead before filing. No rent control.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Daniel Webster, the Western Coal Field, and HB128: Webster County Kentucky Landlord Law
Daniel Webster was named for his oratory as much as for anything he actually accomplished, which itself was considerable. His “Second Reply to Hayne” in January 1830 — a speech delivered on the Senate floor over two days in response to Senator Robert Hayne of South Carolina’s defense of nullification — was immediately recognized as one of the great defenses of national union in American rhetoric, and it was memorized by schoolchildren for generations afterward. Webster concluded it with the phrase “Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable” — a phrase that became, along with Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death,” one of the most quoted sentences in American political history. Webster County was named for him in 1860, the same year that the union he had so eloquently defended began to come apart.
The county covers 334 square miles of far western Kentucky Pennyrile terrain drained by the Tradewater River and recorded 13,299 residents in 2020. Dixon, the county seat at about 591 people, is a practical note worth emphasizing for anyone filing an eviction: Providence, at roughly 3,000 people, is larger and more commercially active than Dixon, but all Forcible Detainer actions must be filed in Dixon at the Webster County Justice Center, not in Providence.
US-41A and the Dual Commuter Corridor
US-41A runs through Webster County and connects it to the two primary external employment centers. Madisonville (Hopkins County, about 20 miles southeast) offers Trover Health regional medical center, Hopkins County schools and government, and Madisonville’s commercial economy — all accessible in under 25 minutes. Henderson (Henderson County, about 20 miles north) connects via US-41 to the Evansville, Indiana metro across the Ohio River, where Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana (in Princeton), Deaconess Health System, and the broad Evansville manufacturing economy represent additional employment options. Workers at either destination who choose Webster County’s lower housing costs and rural character bring commuter income into the county’s rental market.
Filing in Dixon and HB128 Compliance
All residential evictions in Webster County are Forcible Detainer actions filed at the Webster County Justice Center, 20 U.S. Hwy. 41A S., Dixon, KY 42409, phone (270) 639-9180. Dixon has about 591 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 most Webster County housing. Webster spent decades arguing that the rules of the union mattered and couldn’t simply be set aside by whoever found them inconvenient. HB128 operates on the same principle.
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. Note: Evictions must be filed in Dixon (county seat), not Providence. Consult a licensed Kentucky attorney for guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
