Kentucky landlord guide — courthouse info, local rules & HB128 eviction procedures for Campton, Rogers, Lee City & Wolfe County
📍 County Seat: Campton (pop. ~437) 👥 County Pop. 6,716 (2020) ⚖️ Court: Wolfe County Justice Center — 10 Court St., Campton 🏔️ Red River Gorge • Natural Bridge • Daniel Boone NF 🌿 Middle Fork KY River • Appalachian Foothills • Post-Coal 🏛️ Named for Nathaniel Wolfe • Founded 1860 • Very Rural
Wolfe County was established on March 5, 1860 from parts of Breathitt, Morgan, Powell, and Owsley counties and named for Nathaniel Wolfe, a Kentucky legislator and attorney. The county seat, Campton, was established in 1860 on the Middle Fork of the Kentucky River and has a population of approximately 437. Wolfe County covers approximately 223 square miles of east-central Kentucky Appalachian terrain and recorded a 2020 census population of 6,716 residents — making it one of Kentucky’s smaller counties by population.
Wolfe County shares the Red River Gorge Geological Area with Powell County — the gorge straddles the county line, and the eastern portion of the gorge and adjacent Daniel Boone National Forest terrain falls in Wolfe County. The county’s economy is anchored by the school system, county government, and the outdoor recreation economy generated by the gorge. The county seat of Campton is one of Kentucky’s smaller county seats; the rental market is very small, relationship-based, and limited in scale. All residential evictions are Forcible Detainer actions filed in District Court at the Wolfe County Justice Center, 10 Court Street, Campton, KY 41301. Kentucky’s HB128 (2023) governs all residential leases made on or after its effective date.
🏔️ Red River Gorge — Eastern Portion in Wolfe County — The Red River Gorge straddles the Powell-Wolfe county line; the gorge’s eastern sandstone corridors, arches, and cliff faces lie in Wolfe County within Daniel Boone National Forest; the gorge draws tens of thousands of climbers and hikers annually and anchors the county’s outdoor recreation economy |
🌿 Daniel Boone National Forest — Land Constraint — A significant portion of Wolfe County is within Daniel Boone National Forest, limiting the developable private land available for housing and commercial development; this constraint has kept the county sparsely populated and the housing market extremely limited |
🏛️ Campton — Population 437, One of KY’s Smallest County Seats — With a population of about 437, Campton is one of the smallest county seats in Kentucky; the justice center serves 6,716 county residents across 223 square miles of Appalachian terrain |
🚗 Morehead & Mt. Sterling Commuter Corridors — Morehead (Rowan County, ~30 miles north via KY-15) with Morehead State University and St. Claire HealthCare, and Mt. Sterling (Montgomery County, ~25 miles northwest) are the primary external employment destinations for Wolfe County commuters
📊 Quick Stats
County Seat
Campton (~437) • One of KY’s smallest county seats
Other Communities
Rogers, Lee City, Hazel Green, Pine Ridge (near Menifee Co. line)
County Population
6,716 (2020) • Very rural; Red River Gorge eastern half
Region
East-Central KY • Middle Fork KY River • Kentucky River ADD
Major Employers
Wolfe County Schools (dominant), county/state government, USFS (Daniel Boone NF), outdoor recreation/tourism, commuter employment in Morehead (Rowan Co., ~30 mi N via KY-15) & Mt. Sterling (Montgomery Co., ~25 mi NW)
Eviction Court
District Court — Wolfe County Justice Center
Court Address
10 Court St., Campton, KY 41301
Court Phone
(606) 668-3818 (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
Wolfe County Justice Center — 10 Court St., Campton
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)
Wolfe County Local Rules & Landlord Procedures
Topic
Rule / Notes
Filing Evictions — Where & Who
All evictions (Forcible Detainer actions) in Wolfe County are filed in District Court at the Wolfe County Justice Center, 10 Court Street, Campton, KY 41301. Phone: (606) 668-3818. Campton has a population of about 437; call ahead to confirm hours, clerk availability, and hearing dates before making the trip. This is among the smallest justice centers in Kentucky.
Nonpayment of Rent — Notice
Under HB128 (KRS 383.660), serve the tenant a 14-day written notice to pay or vacate. 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.
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. The $250 minimum is very significant at Wolfe County rent levels; document condition at every tenancy.
Habitability — Nonwaivable
Nonwaivable duty across 13 categories. Respond within 14 days (5 days for essential services).
With 6,716 county residents and a very small rental market, nearly every landlord-tenant relationship in Wolfe County is between people who know each other. A written lease specifying rent, due date, term, and HB128 notice provisions is essential for any formal eviction proceeding. Oral arrangements are unenforceable in ways that become apparent only when the relationship deteriorates.
Commuter Corridors
Morehead (Rowan County, ~30 miles north via KY-15) for MSU and St. Claire HealthCare employment; Mt. Sterling (Montgomery County, ~25 miles northwest) for I-64 logistics and commercial employment. Verify all commuter employment with standard documentation.
Lead Paint Disclosure
Required for any dwelling built before 1978. Essentially all Wolfe County housing requires this 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 Wolfe County Justice Center in Campton.
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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tenant screening in Kentucky —
including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most
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eviction process, proper tenant screening can help
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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: Campton (county seat, ~437), Rogers, Lee City, Hazel Green, Pine Ridge.
Wolfe County market: Very small (6,716 residents), Red River Gorge eastern half, Daniel Boone NF land constraint. Written leases essential. Call ahead before filing — Campton has ~437 residents. Morehead (~30 mi N) and Mt. Sterling (~25 mi NW) commuter corridors. Lead paint for all housing. $250 deposit penalty floor significant. No rent control.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Red River Gorge, Campton, and HB128: Wolfe County Kentucky Landlord Law
Wolfe County was established in 1860 and named for Nathaniel Wolfe, a Kentucky legislator. With 6,716 residents in 2020 and a county seat at Campton of approximately 437 people, it is one of Kentucky’s smaller and more rural counties. The county covers 223 square miles of east-central Kentucky Appalachian terrain on the Middle Fork of the Kentucky River, and a substantial portion of it falls within Daniel Boone National Forest — which limits private land available for housing development and has kept the county’s population and rental market small throughout its history.
The county’s most significant natural feature is its share of the Red River Gorge Geological Area, which straddles the Wolfe-Powell county line. The gorge’s eastern sandstone corridors, cliff faces, and natural arches fall in Wolfe County; the western portion and Natural Bridge State Resort Park are in Powell County. The gorge draws tens of thousands of climbers, hikers, and backpackers annually — it is one of the premier rock climbing destinations in the eastern United States — and this outdoor recreation economy supports some seasonal employment in the county. Review multiple months of income documentation for applicants whose earnings are tied to the recreation and tourism cycle.
All residential evictions in Wolfe County are Forcible Detainer actions filed at the Wolfe County Justice Center, 10 Court Street, Campton, KY 41301, phone (606) 668-3818. Campton has about 437 residents; call ahead to confirm hours and hearing dates. Written leases are essential in a market this small and relationship-based. 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. Lead paint disclosure for all Wolfe County housing. The gorge was carved by the same rules operating consistently over millions of years; HB128 asks for consistency over the duration of a single tenancy, which is a much shorter timescale.
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. Campton Justice Center serves 6,716 county residents; call ahead to confirm hours and hearing dates. Consult a licensed Kentucky attorney for guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
