Kentucky Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
Kentucky rules on rent increases & late fees for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: Preempted: only the General Assembly may enact rent control on private property; local governments may not. No statewide cap. KRS 65.875
The rules in Kentucky
| Rent control / increase limits | Preempted: only the General Assembly may enact rent control on private property; local governments may not. No statewide cap. Since March 6, 2024, local governments also may not adopt landlord-tenant ordinances that conflict with state law (KRS 383.198) or ban refusing tenants who pay with federal housing assistance (KRS 65.874). Source: KRS 65.875 |
|---|---|
| Late fees | No statutory cap or grace period. KRS 383.010 provides that unpaid rent bears 6% annual interest from the due date (https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=35671). |
Free calculators
- Late Fee Checker — Check a late fee against your state's cap and grace period.
- Rent Increase Calculator — In states with a statewide rent cap, see the most your rent can go up this year.
Related questions
- Can a landlord raise the rent in the middle of a lease?
- How much can a landlord charge for a late fee?
- How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent?
- Can a landlord evict you for no reason?
Kentucky vs. neighboring states
| State | Rent control / increase limits | Late fees |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | Preempted: only the General Assembly may enact rent control on private property; local governments may not. No statewide cap. KRS 65.875 | No statutory cap or grace period. KRS Chapter 383 (no late-fee provision) |
| Illinois | No statewide rent control, and home rule units are preempted from regulating the amount of rent charged for private residential or commercial property. 50 ILCS 825/10 (Rent Control Preemption Act) | No statutory cap statewide. AG: landlord may charge a reasonable fee for late rent. Landlords with 100+ units and an on-site office must accept rent there without penalty. Illinois AG fact sheet; 735 ILCS 5/9-218 |
| Indiana | Preempted: local units may not regulate rental rates for privately owned property, nor screening, security deposits, lease applications, lease terms, disclosures, parties' rights, or landlord fees, unless authorized by the General Assembly. Does not apply to property receiving government funds for reduced rents. IC 32-31-1-20 | No statutory cap or grace period. IC 32-31 (no late-fee provision); IC 32-31-1-20(c)(7) |
| Missouri | Statewide preemption. Counties and cities, including charter governments, may not enact, maintain, or enforce ordinances regulating the rent charged for privately owned residential or commercial rental property. Exceptions: property the locality owns, voluntary agreements for subsidized properties, and CDBG-assisted properties. RSMo 441.043 | No statute — no cap or grace period; late fees are governed by the lease. RSMo Chs. 441, 534 and 535 (no section on late fees) |
| Ohio | Local rent control and rent stabilization are preempted statewide. Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.19(A) | No statutory cap No statute; Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.14 (unconscionable clauses) |
| Tennessee | Prohibited statewide: local governments may not enact, maintain or enforce any ordinance or resolution that would control the rent charged for private residential or commercial property. Local mandatory below-market (inclusionary) housing requirements are also barred, but voluntary incentive programs are allowed. T.C.A. 66-35-102 | URLTA counties: no late fee may be charged until after a 5-day grace period, counting the due date as day 1. If the last day falls on a Sunday or legal holiday, no fee may be charged if rent is paid the next business day. Late fees may not exceed 10% of the past-due rent. Non-URLTA counties: no statute caps late fees or sets a grace period; the lease governs. T.C.A. 66-28-201(d); ch. 66-7 (checked) |
| Virginia | No statewide rent control or rent-increase cap, and no Virginia statute authorizes local rent control. Va. Code Title 55.1, Ch. 12 (no cap); 2026 HB 278 / SB 355 | Only if provided in the written rental agreement; capped at the lesser of 10% of the periodic rent or 10% of the remaining balance due. Where there is no written lease, rent is late if not paid by the 5th of the month. Va. Code 55.1-1204(E), (C) |
| West Virginia | No state rent control law. No enacted statewide preemption of local rent control was found in the code. W. Va. Code § 37-6-9 (current text contains no rent-control provision) | No statutory cap W. Va. Code ch. 37, art. 6 |
City rules that may add to state law
More Kentucky rental law
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- Free legal help in Kentucky
Compare rent increases & late fees in all 50 states and DC →
Kentucky Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws FAQ
Is there rent control or a limit on rent increases in Kentucky?
Preempted: only the General Assembly may enact rent control on private property; local governments may not. No statewide cap. (KRS 65.875)
Is there a limit on late fees in Kentucky?
No statutory cap or grace period. (KRS Chapter 383 (no late-fee provision))
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.