I own a home in Kentucky
PVA assessments, property taxes, exemptions, and deeds.
KENTUCKY GUIDE
Life in Kentucky comes
with its own rules.
Know what comes next.
From the PVA and the do-it-all county clerk to horse farm values, tornado season, and starting a business, CountyOffices gives you clear Kentucky-specific guidance for the things that matter.
Reviewed against official Kentucky government sources • Updated as laws and requirements change
What brings you here today?
I own a home in Kentucky
Kentucky's homestead exemption isn't for every homeowner - it's reserved for those 65 or older, or classified as totally disabled under a public or private retirement system. For 2025–2026, the exemption is $49,100, deducted from your home's assessed value before tax is calculated, and it's recalculated every two years for inflation. Apply through your county Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) - Kentucky's elected office that sets property values, functioning like an assessor elsewhere - by December 31 of the eligible tax year. Disabled veterans have a separate, more generous track under a 2024 law: a 100% permanently and totally disabled veteran can exempt up to $240,000 of assessed value in 2026, scaling up to $400,000 by 2030, while partial-disability veterans get tiered exemptions that stack with the general homestead exemption. Your actual tax bill is collected by the county Sheriff's office, a separate step from the PVA's valuation. Deeds are recorded with the county Clerk, who in Kentucky also handles vehicle titles and tags.
Sources: Kentucky Dept. of Revenue, county PVA and Sheriff offices, KY HB 639 (2024)
I'm buying or selling property
Closings, title searches, deeds, recording, and property records.
I'm buying or selling property
Kentucky closings typically go through a title company, with deeds recorded by the county Clerk - the same office that also issues vehicle titles and tags, a broader combination than "county clerk" implies in most states. Recording carries a Kentucky real estate transfer tax, calculated per $500 of the sale price. A title search through the Clerk's records confirms there are no outstanding liens before closing. Property tax questions once you own the home split across two other offices: the PVA (Property Valuation Administrator) determines your home's assessed value, while the county Sheriff bills and collects the actual tax - three genuinely separate county offices touching one property transaction. If you're 65+ or totally disabled, apply for the homestead exemption through the PVA by December 31 once you've moved in; it never transfers with a sale, so new owners must file their own application.
Sources: county Clerk, PVA, and Sheriff offices, Kentucky Dept. of Revenue
I'm preparing for tornado season
Safe rooms, weather alerts, insurance documents, and county resources.
I'm preparing for tornado season
Kentucky sits in Dixie Alley, with tornado risk peaking in spring and a significant secondary peak in late fall - the deadly December 2021 tornado outbreak across western Kentucky struck outside the typical spring window, a reminder that fall risk here is real, not theoretical. Before storms threaten, know whether your home or neighborhood has access to a safe room or community shelter, and know your county's specific weather alert system, since notification methods vary from county to county across Kentucky's 120 counties. After a tornado, your county PVA can reassess storm-damaged property, and your county Clerk holds the property records you'll need for insurance and any FEMA claims if a federal disaster is declared. If you're rebuilding, check with your county or city building department about permit requirements before starting repairs.
Sources: Kentucky Emergency Management, FEMA, county Emergency Management offices
Someone passed away
Probate, wills, estates, and district court filing steps.
Someone passed away
Probate in Kentucky falls under the Probate Division of District Court, but filings go through the Circuit Court Clerk's office - a separate elected office from the County Clerk who handles deeds and vehicle titles. Kentucky offers a small estate process ("settlement without administration") for estates under $30,000 when there's a surviving spouse, letting the estate settle with minimal court involvement. Kentucky also allows "dispensing with administration by agreement" and informal settlement for straightforward, uncontested estates, avoiding some of the formality of full administration. If the deceased had the age- or disability-based homestead exemption applied to their home, it doesn't transfer automatically to heirs - whoever inherits and occupies the home needs to independently qualify (65+ or totally disabled) and apply with the county PVA. Property records for any real estate in the estate are held by the County Clerk, separate from the Circuit Court Clerk handling the probate filing itself.
Sources: Kentucky Court of Justice, Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapters 394-395 (Probate)
I'm getting married or divorced
Marriage licenses, divorce filing, name changes, and official records.
I'm getting married or divorced
Marriage licenses are issued by the county Clerk - the same office that handles deeds and vehicle titles - and both parties apply together with photo ID. Kentucky has no waiting period, so you can marry the same day, and the license is generally valid for 30 days. Divorce is filed in Circuit Court through the Circuit Court Clerk (a separate office from the County Clerk), and Kentucky requires 180 days of residency before filing. Kentucky is a pure no-fault state - "irretrievably broken" is the only ground, with no fault-based alternative - and imposes a mandatory 60-day waiting period after filing (specifically, 60 days of living apart) before a final decree can be entered, a requirement that can't be waived even if both spouses agree on everything. Courts divide marital property under an equitable distribution standard. One Kentucky-specific note: the state abolished common law marriage back in 1852, so simply living together, regardless of duration, never creates a legal marriage here.
Sources: Kentucky Court of Justice, county Clerk and Circuit Court Clerk offices, Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 403
I own farm or horse land
Agricultural use values, land records, fencing law, and rural services.
I own farm or horse land
Kentucky's bluegrass horse country runs on a distinctive combination of valuation rules and old fencing law. Qualifying agricultural land - including land used for breeding, raising, or boarding horses - can be assessed on its agricultural use value rather than market value, a significant reduction for genuinely working farm and horse operations, especially near growing suburban areas where market value has climbed for potential development. Apply through your county PVA to have qualifying acreage valued this way; simply owning open land isn't enough, it has to be in actual agricultural or horse-related use. Kentucky also retains distinctive fence law: under the state's "fence law" framework, livestock owners and adjoining landowners share certain legal responsibilities for boundary fences, which matters directly for horse and livestock operations bordering other properties. Land records, easements, and any boarding or breeding-related agreements affecting the land are recorded with the county Clerk, the same office that handles other real estate documents statewide.
Sources: Kentucky Dept. of Revenue, county PVA offices, Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 132
I need an official record
Birth, death, marriage, court, property, and business records.
I need an official record
Birth and death certificates come from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics, though many county health departments can also process requests. Marriage records are held by the county Clerk where the license was issued. Property records - deeds, mortgages, liens - are recorded and searchable through the county Clerk, generally free to search in person with a fee for certified copies; online availability varies by county. Court records for civil and criminal cases come from the Circuit Court Clerk, a separate elected office from the County Clerk; probate filings also go through the Circuit Court Clerk, even though probate itself is heard in District Court. Business entity records are filed with the Kentucky Secretary of State, searchable statewide. Property valuation and homestead exemption records are held by the county PVA (Property Valuation Administrator), a fourth distinct office from all of the above.
Sources: Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics, county Clerk, Circuit Court Clerk, and PVA offices, Kentucky Secretary of State
I'm starting or running a business
Licenses, permits, EIN, sales tax, and local requirements.
I'm starting or running a business
Registering a business in Kentucky starts with the Secretary of State, where you file to form an LLC or corporation and register a trade name. From there, most businesses register with the Kentucky Dept. of Revenue for a sales tax permit if they'll sell taxable goods or services, and get an EIN from the IRS if they're not a sole proprietor with no employees. County and city requirements come next: many Kentucky cities and counties impose a local occupational or net profits tax on businesses, separate from state tax, and requirements vary considerably given Kentucky's 120 counties. If you'll own vehicles for the business, remember Kentucky handles vehicle titling and tags through the county Clerk, not a separate state DMV. Business real estate is valued by the county PVA the same as residential property, and property tax is collected by the county Sheriff. Zoning and building permits for a physical location come from your county or city planning department.
Sources: Kentucky Secretary of State, Kentucky Dept. of Revenue, county Clerk offices, IRS
How-To Guides for Kentucky
How do I access court records?
Read guide →How do I appeal my property tax assessment?
Read guide →How do I find an inmate or search a jail roster?
Read guide →How do I find and access senior services?
Read guide →How do I get a business license?
Read guide →How do I get a copy of a birth certificate?
Read guide →How do I get a copy of a death certificate?
Read guide →How do I get a marriage license?
Read guide →How do I pay my property taxes?
Read guide →How do I register to vote or check my registration?
Read guide →How to Research Your Family History in Kentucky
Read guide →Kentucky Statewide Probate Guide
Read guide →Open Records
Read guide →Kentucky works differently. Here's what to know.
120 Counties, Third Most in America
Courthouses sit close together here, and each county runs things its own way.
120 Counties, Third Most in America
Only Texas and Georgia have more counties than Kentucky's 120 - a lot of separate courthouses for a state Kentucky's size, meaning county lines sit close together throughout much of the state. This dates back to Kentucky's early history, when small counties kept the courthouse within a reasonable travel distance for rural residents. The practical effect today is real, county-by-county variation in how offices operate: filing procedures, fee schedules, and even which specific office handles a given task can differ from one Kentucky county to the next in ways that would surprise someone used to a state with fewer, larger counties. If you're researching something Kentucky-specific, always confirm with the actual county involved - with 120 separate county governments each running their own courthouse, "how it works" genuinely does vary more here than in most states.
Sources: Kentucky Association of Counties, Kentucky Secretary of State
The County Clerk Does It All
Deeds, vehicle titles, tags, and elections all run through one county office.
The County Clerk Does It All
Kentucky's county Clerk consolidates duties that many states split across two or three separate offices. Beyond recording deeds, mortgages, and liens, the Clerk also issues marriage licenses, handles vehicle titles and tag registration (a function many states assign to a separate DMV), and administers county elections. This means the same office where you'd record a deed is also where you'd title a newly purchased car and register to vote - a genuinely broad combination. It's worth noting that Kentucky separately elects a Circuit Court Clerk, a distinct office from the County Clerk, to handle court filings including civil, criminal, and probate matters - so "the Clerk" in Kentucky could mean either office depending on what you need, and it's worth clarifying which one before you head to the courthouse.
Sources: county Clerk offices, Kentucky County Clerks' Association
The PVA, Not an Assessor
Kentucky's elected Property Valuation Administrator sets your property's value.
The PVA, Not an Assessor
Most states call the office that values your property an "Assessor." Kentucky uses a different title with a different scope: the Property Valuation Administrator (PVA), an elected office in each of Kentucky's 120 counties responsible for determining the fair cash value of all real and tangible personal property for tax purposes. The PVA also processes the homestead exemption for eligible seniors and disabled homeowners, along with the newer disabled veteran exemption. Despite the different name, the PVA's core function - determining what your property is worth for tax purposes - works similarly to an Assessor elsewhere; the naming difference is largely historical, tied to Kentucky's constitution. If you're appealing a valuation or applying for an exemption, the PVA's office, not the county Clerk or Sheriff, is where that process starts.
Sources: county PVA offices, Kentucky Dept. of Revenue, Office of Property Valuation
An Age-Based Homestead Exemption
Kentucky's exemption goes to homeowners 65 and older or fully disabled, not everyone.
An Age-Based Homestead Exemption
Kentucky's homestead exemption doesn't go to every homeowner the way it does in many states - it's specifically reserved for those 65 or older, or classified as totally disabled under a public or private retirement system. For 2025–2026, the exemption is $49,100, deducted directly from your home's assessed value; it's recalculated every two years for inflation, and has grown steadily (up from $46,350 in 2023–2024 and $40,500 in 2021–2022). A more recent addition specifically benefits disabled veterans: a 2024 state law created a separate, tiered exemption based on VA disability rating, with a 100% permanently and totally disabled veteran able to exempt up to $240,000 of assessed value in 2026, scaling to $400,000 by 2030 - and this veteran exemption can stack with the general homestead exemption for those who also qualify by age. All of these require an application through your county PVA (age/disability exemptions by December 31 of the eligible year; veteran exemptions with proof of VA rating), and none are automatic just because you turn 65.
Sources: Kentucky Dept. of Revenue, county PVA offices, KY HB 639 (2024)
The Sheriff Collects Your Taxes
Property tax bills are collected by the county sheriff's office.
The Sheriff Collects Your Taxes
Kentucky splits property tax into two distinct steps handled by two different elected offices. The PVA determines your property's assessed value - the "how much is it worth" question. But billing and actually collecting the tax is a job for the county Sheriff's office, not a Treasurer or Tax Collector as in many other states. This means your annual property tax bill arrives from the Sheriff, and payment questions, due dates, and delinquency issues go to the Sheriff's office rather than the PVA. If you have a question about your property's valuation or a homestead exemption, that's the PVA; if your question is about the actual bill, a payment, or a past-due balance, that's the Sheriff. The combination surprises people moving from states where law enforcement and tax collection are entirely separate functions.
Sources: county Sheriff and PVA offices, Kentucky Dept. of Revenue
Horse Farms Get Farm Values
Qualifying agricultural land, including horse farms, is valued on use rather than market price.
Horse Farms Get Farm Values
Kentucky's bluegrass region is synonymous with horse farms, and the state's property tax system reflects that: qualifying agricultural land - including land genuinely used for breeding, raising, or boarding horses - can be assessed on its agricultural use value rather than market value, a real reduction for working farm operations, particularly land near growing suburban areas where development pressure has pushed market values well above what the land is worth for actual farming. This isn't automatic; you apply through your county PVA, and the land has to be in genuine agricultural or equine use, not simply held as open or undeveloped acreage. The distinction matters most in central Kentucky's horse country, where a working horse farm and an equivalent-sized parcel held purely for future development or residential use can carry very different assessed values, even sitting side by side.
Sources: Kentucky Dept. of Revenue, county PVA offices, Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 132
The questions Kentucky residents actually ask
Kentucky county records online availability varies by county and record type. Many County Clerk offices provide online deed and marriage license searching through county websites or third-party platforms. The Kentucky Court of Justice eCourts system provides limited public access to case information. The Kentucky Department of Revenue maintains a statewide PVA assessment portal. Vital records require ordering through the Office of Vital Statistics. For Kentucky county records not available online, the Open Records Act at Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 61 requires agencies to respond within five business days, and disputed denials can be appealed to the Attorney General's office.
Kentucky birth and death certificates from 1911 onward are maintained by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Vital Statistics in Frankfort. Certified copies can be ordered online through VitalChek, by mail, or in person at the Frankfort office. Birth records are restricted to the individual named, immediate family members, and legal representatives. Pre-1911 births and deaths are found in county registers, church records, and Bible records, with many collections held by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Some Kentucky county records for births before 1911 survive in County Clerk files and church registers at the county level.
Kentucky county records for real property are held by the County Clerk in the county where the property is located, not a separate Register of Deeds. The County Clerk records deeds, mortgages, plats, and liens. Many counties offer online deed searching through County Clerk websites. Property valuation records are maintained separately by the Property Valuation Administrator (PVA), and property tax payment records are held by the County Sheriff. Researchers need to contact the County Clerk for title documents, the PVA for assessment history, and the Sheriff for tax payment records to build a complete picture of Kentucky county records for a given property.
The Kentucky Court of Justice provides limited online access to case information through its eCourts public portal. The portal covers Circuit and District Court cases but access levels vary by case type and county. For complete case files, judgments, and orders, contact the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the case was filed. Kentucky county records for probate and estate matters are filed with the District Court in Kentucky, held by the Circuit Court Clerk. Fees for certified copies of court documents are set by the Kentucky Court of Justice. The Kentucky Attorney General's office provides guidance on accessing court records when disputes arise.
The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives in Frankfort is the primary repository for historical Kentucky county records, holding microfilmed deed books, court minutes, probate files, and vital records from many of the state's 120 counties. The Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort maintains additional manuscript collections and county histories. FamilySearch has digitized significant portions of Kentucky county records microfilm. For pre-statehood research, the Virginia State Archives holds records from the Virginia counties that governed Kentucky before 1792. County libraries and genealogical societies across the state hold local collections, and the Filson Historical Society in Louisville holds extensive Kentucky manuscript materials.
Kentucky's Open Records Act at Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 61 provides public access to government records held by all Kentucky government agencies including county offices. Submit a written request to the official custodian of records at the relevant county agency. The agency must respond within five business days, either providing access, citing a specific exemption, or requesting a ten-day extension for voluminous requests. No reason for the request is required. If a request is denied, the requester can appeal to the Kentucky Attorney General's office, which issues binding opinions on whether Kentucky county records were properly withheld.
The County Clerk in Kentucky maintains one of the broadest record collections of any county officer in the country. Kentucky county records held by the County Clerk include deeds, mortgages, and plats; marriage licenses and marriage record books; vehicle titles and registrations; voter registration rolls; election records including absentee ballots and election returns; county fiscal court minutes and resolutions; and occupational license records in many counties. The County Clerk does not maintain court case records (held by the Circuit Court Clerk) or property valuation records (held by the PVA). For researchers, the County Clerk is the starting point for property, marriage, and voter research in a single office.
Marriage licenses in Kentucky are issued by the County Clerk in the county where the license was obtained. To obtain a copy, contact the County Clerk with the names of both parties and the approximate marriage date. Kentucky county records for marriages are held by the County Clerk locally, and the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics holds marriage records at the state level as well. Historical marriage records are found in County Clerk files and microfilm held by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. FamilySearch provides indexed and digitized Kentucky marriage records from many counties. Early Kentucky county records include marriage bonds from the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Kentucky criminal history records are maintained by the Kentucky State Police, Criminal Records Branch. The public can request a criminal background check through the State Police online portal for a fee. Individual county-level criminal case records within Kentucky county records are accessible through the Kentucky Court of Justice eCourts portal or by contacting the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the case was heard. Certified criminal history information requires a formal State Police request with identifying information and applicable fees. Some records may be expunged under Kentucky expungement statutes upon petition to the Circuit Court.
Free access to Kentucky county records for land varies by county. Some County Clerk offices provide free online deed searching through county websites. Others use third-party platforms that may charge subscription or per-document fees. Searching in person at the County Clerk's office is generally free. The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives provides free in-person access to microfilmed Kentucky county records including deed books and marriage records. FamilySearch provides free online access to digitized Kentucky land records and vital records from many counties. The BLM's General Land Office records portal provides free access to federal land patents for early Kentucky grants.
The Property Valuation Administrator is Kentucky's elected county officer responsible for appraising real and personal property for tax purposes, performing the function that other states assign to a County Assessor or County Appraiser. Kentucky county records for property assessment, parcel data, and valuation history are held by the PVA rather than an assessor or appraiser office. Most Kentucky counties maintain PVA websites with online parcel search tools. The Kentucky Department of Revenue's Office of Property Valuation provides statewide oversight and maintains a directory of all 120 county PVA offices. Researchers new to Kentucky should replace the search term "assessor" with "PVA" when navigating county government websites.
Fees for Kentucky county records vary by record type and county. Kentucky's Open Records Act limits copying fees to the actual cost of reproduction, not to exceed ten cents per page for standard copies. Certified copies of deeds and recorded instruments carry per-page fees set by state statute. The Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics charges fixed fees for certified copies of birth, death, and marriage certificates. Circuit Court fees for copies of case documents are set by the Kentucky Court of Justice. County Sheriff offices may charge fees for certified tax payment records. Contacting the relevant office before submitting a request is the best way to confirm current fee schedules.
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Important Deadlines in Kentucky
Kentucky's Homestead Exemption - available to homeowners 65 or older, or fully disabled - exempts $49,100 (adjusted every two years for inflation) from your home's assessed value.
Important Deadlines in Kentucky
Kentucky's Homestead Exemption - available to homeowners 65 or older, or fully disabled - exempts $49,100 (adjusted every two years for inflation) from your home's assessed value. File with your county PVA (Property Valuation Administrator) during the year you're first claiming it, with a genuine year-end December 31 deadline for that tax year. Once approved, it continues automatically without annual refiling as long as you own and occupy the same home - move, and you must notify your PVA and reapply at the new address. Property is assessed as of January 1, with your county PVA's tax roll open for public inspection for 13 days beginning the first Monday in May - this is your window to review your assessment and, if needed, request an informal conference before a formal appeal. Tax bills are delivered to the county Sheriff by September 15, and paying by November 1 earns a real discount; paying without discount runs November 2 through December 31, after which bills become delinquent. Because Kentucky's county Clerk handles vehicle titling, remember new vehicle purchases and transfers carry their own separate 15-day filing window with that office, distinct from the property tax calendar.
Sources: Kentucky Dept. of Revenue, county PVA, Sheriff, and Clerk offices, KRS 132
PVA Appeals in Kentucky
If you disagree with your property's assessed value, Kentucky's process starts with a genuinely public window: your county PVA's tax roll opens for inspection for 13 days beginning the first Monday in May (6 days a week, including Saturday) - during this period, you can review your assessment and request an informal conference directly with the PVA's office to discuss your value before anything formal is filed.
PVA Appeals in Kentucky
If you disagree with your property's assessed value, Kentucky's process starts with a genuinely public window: your county PVA's tax roll opens for inspection for 13 days beginning the first Monday in May (6 days a week, including Saturday) - during this period, you can review your assessment and request an informal conference directly with the PVA's office to discuss your value before anything formal is filed. Bring real supporting evidence: comparable sales, an independent appraisal, or documentation of a factual error in your property's characteristics. If the informal conference doesn't resolve things, you have a window (typically 25 to 35 days after inspection closes) to file a formal appeal with the county Board of Assessment Appeals, a citizen panel distinct from the PVA's office, which then holds hearings over a genuinely short 5-day period. If you disagree with the Board's decision, further appeal to the Kentucky Board of Tax Appeals, and beyond that to circuit court, remains available. Because Kentucky's PVA is an elected official (not an appointed assessor), you're genuinely appealing to a locally accountable office throughout this process, though the final say on contested values still runs through the formal Board of Assessment Appeals rather than the PVA alone.
Read the full property tax appeal guide →
Sources: Kentucky Dept. of Revenue Office of Property Valuation, county PVA and Board of Assessment Appeals offices, KRS 133
Public Records Access in Kentucky
The Kentucky Open Records Act presumes that records held by state and local government agencies are open to public inspection, and like most states' open-records laws, you generally don't need to explain your reason for a request or demonstrate a personal interest in the records.
Public Records Access in Kentucky
The Kentucky Open Records Act presumes that records held by state and local government agencies are open to public inspection, and like most states' open-records laws, you generally don't need to explain your reason for a request or demonstrate a personal interest in the records. Agencies must respond within 5 business days, and cite a specific statutory exemption if a request is denied - common exemptions include certain law enforcement investigative records, personnel and medical information, and other categories the legislature has carved out. Kentucky's county Clerk holds a genuinely broad portfolio unmatched in most states: deeds and real estate records, vehicle titles and tags, marriage licenses, notary commissions, and election administration all run through this single elected office. Court records for civil, criminal, and probate matters come from the Circuit Court Clerk (a distinct office from the county Clerk in most counties, though the titles can sound similar). Business entity records are filed with the Kentucky Secretary of State, searchable statewide. Property valuation records go through your county PVA, while tax bill collection runs through the county Sheriff - two separate offices for two halves of the property tax process. If a records request is denied, disputes can be appealed to the Kentucky Attorney General's office, which issues binding opinions on open records disputes.
Read the full open records guide →
Sources: Kentucky Attorney General's Office, KRS 61.870 et seq. (Open Records Act), county Clerk and Circuit Court Clerk offices
Storm & Recovery Help in Kentucky
Kentucky faces genuine tornado risk with two distinct peak windows - spring and a real secondary peak in late fall - plus significant flooding risk, particularly in the eastern Kentucky mountains and river valleys, where steep terrain can turn heavy rainfall into fast-moving, destructive flash floods.
Storm & Recovery Help in Kentucky
Kentucky faces genuine tornado risk with two distinct peak windows - spring and a real secondary peak in late fall - plus significant flooding risk, particularly in the eastern Kentucky mountains and river valleys, where steep terrain can turn heavy rainfall into fast-moving, destructive flash floods. Know your county's warning system and, if you have one, your safe room or storm shelter location before severe weather season starts. Kentucky has supported residential and community safe room grant programs given the state's tornado history - check with your county Emergency Management office about current program availability. Your county Emergency Management Agency coordinates local response and maintains current warning information during active weather events. After a tornado, flood, or storm causes damage, your county PVA can adjust your property's valuation to reflect the damage, and if a federal disaster is declared, FEMA assistance becomes available for both individual homeowners and local government recovery costs. Insurance claims should be filed promptly with documentation (photos, a written inventory, receipts for emergency repairs). Building permits for storm repairs and rebuilds go through your county or city building department, and rules can differ meaningfully depending on whether you're rebuilding in a floodplain versus simply repairing tornado damage.
Sources: Kentucky Emergency Management, FEMA, county Emergency Management Agency and PVA offices
New to Kentucky?
As a new Kentucky resident, check with your county Clerk for the current specific window to transfer your out-of-state driver's license and title your vehicle - Kentucky's county Clerk genuinely handles both vehicle titles/tags and driver's license transactions in most counties alongside deeds, marriage licenses, and elections, a remarkably broad single office.
New to Kentucky?
As a new Kentucky resident, check with your county Clerk for the current specific window to transfer your out-of-state driver's license and title your vehicle - Kentucky's county Clerk genuinely handles both vehicle titles/tags and driver's license transactions in most counties alongside deeds, marriage licenses, and elections, a remarkably broad single office. If you've purchased a home and are 65 or older or fully disabled, file for the Homestead Exemption with your county PVA (Property Valuation Administrator, Kentucky's term for the local assessor) - the deadline is December 31 of the year you're first claiming it, and once approved, it continues automatically without refiling. Remember property tax bills go through the county Sheriff, not the PVA or Clerk, with a real discount for paying by November 1. Register to vote through your county Clerk's office. If you're purchasing farm or horse land, ask specifically about agricultural use valuation, which taxes qualifying land based on agricultural use rather than market value - genuinely significant in Kentucky's bluegrass horse country, where market value for land near urban areas can run well above agricultural worth.
Sources: county Clerk, PVA, and Sheriff offices, Kentucky Dept. of Revenue
Find the services available in your county
Kentucky laws apply statewide, but offices, services, procedures and local requirements can vary by county. Select your county for verified local offices, services and official resources.
All 120 Kentucky counties
Browse every county and county seat.
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Sources and References
- Kentucky Open Records Act, Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 61
- Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives: kdla.ky.gov
- Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics: chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dehp/vsb
- Kentucky Court of Justice: courts.ky.gov
- Kentucky Secretary of State, Business: sos.ky.gov/bus
- Kentucky Department of Revenue, Property Valuation: revenue.ky.gov/property
- Kentucky State Police, Criminal Records: kentuckystatepolice.org
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