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Can a Landlord Change the Locks in Kentucky?

Last updated October 13, 2026 by the Louisville Car Key & Lockout editors. How we research.

It happens more than people think. Rent is late, or there is a fight over a repair, and the tenant comes home to a key that will not turn. In Louisville, that move is almost always against the law. Here is what Kentucky law says, where Louisville fits, and what to do the same day.

The Short Answer for Louisville Renters

A landlord may not take back your home "by action or otherwise" except after abandonment, surrender, or as the landlord tenant law allows, says KRS 383.690. That means a new lock to force you out while you still live there is off the table. The legal path is a court case.

If a landlord does it anyway, KRS 383.655 lets the tenant either get back in or end the lease. In either case the tenant can recover up to three months of rent and a reasonable lawyer fee. If the lease ends, the landlord must return all prepaid rent.

• Lockout to force you out: not allowed.
• Rekey after you move out or after a court order: allowed.
• Entering your unit: two days of notice in most cases, per KRS 383.615.

Why Louisville Is Different From the Rest of Kentucky

These rules come from the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, often called URLTA. Kentucky lets each city or county choose to adopt it, but only "in their entirety and without amendment," per KRS 383.500. So the law depends on where you rent.

Louisville adopted it. Chapter 151 of the Louisville Metro code says it may be cited as the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. It was first adopted by Jefferson County in 1984 and amended by Metro in 2006, per the Louisville Metro code, Chapter 151. That chapter carries the same lockout remedy and the same limit on taking possession.

Outside the places that adopted it, the lease and other state law control. Spectrum News reported on January 13, 2026 that the act has been adopted in Louisville, Lexington and other local towns, and that bills to make it statewide have not gained traction (Spectrum News 1). If you rent outside Jefferson County, check whether your city or county adopted it before you lean on this page.

When a Landlord Can Change the Locks

There are real times a landlord can and should change the locks.

• Between tenants. Once you have moved out and handed back the keys, the unit is theirs to secure. This is the smart move for the next tenant, and it is cheap. See rekey or replace.
• After abandonment. If a tenant abandons the unit, KRS 383.670 tells the landlord to make reasonable efforts to rent it again. The same section lets a landlord enter during any absence over seven days, at reasonable times. Entering is not the same as changing the locks on a tenant who still lives there.
• After the court case. Kentucky's forcible entry and detainer process ends with a judgment and, if needed, a warrant of restitution, per the sections listed in KRS Chapter 383. After that, the locks can change.

Late rent does not skip the court step. Under KRS 383.660, if rent is unpaid the landlord can give written notice, and if the tenant does not pay within seven days the landlord may end the rental agreement. Ending the agreement is still not a lockout. Getting the unit back goes through the court.

Can You Change Your Own Locks as a Tenant?

Read your lease first. Most leases say you need permission. Kentucky law also says a tenant may not unreasonably refuse a landlord entry for repairs, inspections or showings, with at least two days of notice in most cases, per KRS 383.615. A lock with no key for the landlord can turn into a fight over that rule. The clean way is to ask in writing and hand over a copy of the new key.

There is one big exception. A tenant protected by a domestic violence order or an interpersonal protective order can install a new lock at their own cost after telling the landlord, per KRS 383.300. They can rekey the old lock if it works, or replace it with one of equal or better quality. They must give the landlord a key if asked. The landlord may refuse to give a key to the person named in the order, even if that person is on the lease. This applies to leases created or renewed on or after June 29, 2017.

If that is you, do it today. A rekey is usually fast. Tell the locksmith it is a protective order lock change so they bring the right parts.

Locked Out by Your Landlord? Do This Today

1. Take photos. The new lock, any note on the door, and the date and time.
2. Ask in writing. Text or email the landlord and ask for a key. Keep the reply.
3. Do not break in. Damage can be turned against you. Use the law instead.
4. Get legal help fast. A Kentucky tenant lawyer or a legal aid office can cite KRS 383.655 for you.

Here is a worked example of the stakes. On a $1,100 a month lease, three months of rent is $3,300, plus the lawyer fee. That is the most the law allows, not a promise of what a court will award. It is still enough that most landlords hand over a key once they see the statute.

For Louisville Landlords

Your duties under KRS 383.595 cover housing codes, repairs, common areas, systems like heat and plumbing, and hot water. Locks are not named on that list. Rekey between tenants anyway. A former tenant with a working key is a risk you can remove for the cost of a service call, and it gives you a clean answer if something goes missing later. Keep a copy of every key and log who has one.

This page explains the law in plain words. It is not legal advice. If you are in a lockout right now, talk to a Kentucky lawyer.