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Kentucky · Northern Kentucky · Cincinnati Metro South · #346 Most Populous County in the US
Kenton County, Kentucky
Covington, Florence, Independence, and the heart of Northern Kentucky - across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, connected by the Roebling Suspension Bridge (prototype for the Brooklyn Bridge), home of the Roebling Suspension Bridge, MainStrasse Village, and one of the most dynamic components of the Greater Cincinnati metro. Property tax, courts, public records, probate, and senior services for Kenton County residents.
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Office: Kenton County Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HSEM) – 1840 Simon Kenton Way, Suite 2400, Covington, KY 41011. Coordinates emergency response across all 19 cities within Kenton County under a compact agreement.
Sheriff: Kenton County Sheriff’s Office – Covington office: 1840 Simon Kenton Way, Suite 1200, Covington, KY 41011 | (859) 392-1800 | Fax (859) 392-1829. Independence office: 5272 Madison Pike, Independence, KY 41051 | (859) 392-1882 | Fax (859) 392-1887; Sheriff Chuck Korzenborn. Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 AM-4 PM (both offices).
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: I-71/75 and the Combs-Hehl Bridge connect Covington, one of two county seats, to Cincinnati, Ohio across the Ohio River. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) is located within Kenton County (Boone County generally cited nearby but the airport itself sits in Kenton/Boone).
Notes: Kenton County, formed in 1840, is named for frontiersman Simon Kenton. Uniquely, Kenton County had two legally recognized county seats – Covington and Independence – until this arrangement was formally simplified on November 24, 2010; it remains the only Kentucky county with dual government office locations for many county functions. Kenton is Kentucky’s third most populous county (behind Jefferson and Fayette).
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Kenton County Government Center – 1840 Simon Kenton Way, Covington, KY 41011 (also a government center in Independence, KY).
Notes: Kenton County anchors much of the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati metro area, with Covington’s riverfront skyline directly facing downtown Cincinnati across the Ohio River.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Kenton County Veterans Affairs – confirm current contact via kentoncounty.org.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Kenton County Public Library – multiple branches including the William E. Durr Branch (Independence area, opened 2007, 100,000+ item collection); confirm current locations via kentonlibrary.org.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Covington’s riverfront (MainStrasse Village, the Roebling Suspension Bridge – a precursor design to the Brooklyn Bridge) is the county’s premier historic and scenic attraction.
Notes: The genuine dual-county-seat history is a distinctive Kentucky governmental fact covered in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Kenton County Property Valuation Administrator – confirm current contact via kentoncounty.org.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Kenton County Animal Services – 1020 Mary Laidley Drive, Covington, KY 41017 | (859) 356-7400 | Emergency/after-hours (859) 356-3191 | Email: [email protected]. The primary law enforcement and sheltering agency for domestic animals countywide; mission includes ending euthanasia of healthy, adoptable animals. Adoption fees: dogs $60 (already altered)/$120, cats $40 (already altered)/$80. Hours vary by source – generally Tue-Fri 12-6 PM, Sat-Sun 11 AM-4 PM (confirm current hours directly, as several sources list slightly different schedules).
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Kenton County Public Works – confirm current contact via kentoncounty.org.
NOTES: Kenton County is the second county in Kentucky’s ninth batch under the Round 3 A+ sourced standard. The genuine dual-county-seat arrangement (Covington and Independence) is a distinctive Kentucky governmental structure fact covered in this project. All contact information above was sourced via web search as of early August 2026 and should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit, deadline-sensitive filing, or emergency-adjacent decision.
About Kenton County
Heritage | Covington is the county seat and one of the finest Ohio River cities in Northern Kentucky; Covington’s MainStrasse Village (a beautifully preserved German immigrant neighborhood with outstanding restaurants, shops, and the iconic Carroll Chimes Bell Tower); the Roebling Suspension Bridge (Covington — the 1867 John A. Roebling suspension bridge connecting Covington to Cincinnati was the prototype for the Brooklyn Bridge; Roebling refined his cable suspension technology here before building his masterpiece; crossing the bridge on foot is a moving experience); Northern Kentucky University (Highland Heights — a comprehensive public university with about 14,000 students; strong business, law, nursing, and informatics programs; the Chase College of Law is quality); the BB&T Arena (NKU’s arena hosts major concerts and events); the Creation Museum (Petersburg — one of the most visited attractions in the region; the Genesis Ark encounter connection); Covington’s Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption is architecturally magnificent Outdoors | Ohio River (northern border — stunning Cincinnati skyline views; Riverside Drive is one of the most beautiful urban river drives in the Midwest; the Devou Park overlook offers outstanding views of Cincinnati and the river); Devou Park (one of the finest urban parks in Northern Kentucky; beautiful overlooks; golf; amphitheater; boating on the small lake); Big Bone Lick State Historic Site (Union — adjacent Boone County; significant paleontological heritage); hunting and fishing Notable | Roebling Suspension Bridge (Covington to Cincinnati — the 1867 bridge is the direct forerunner of the Brooklyn Bridge; John Augustus Roebling designed this bridge as a proof-of-concept for the cable suspension technology he would use in Brooklyn; the bridge is beautiful and the walk across offers excellent river and skyline views; a genuinely important piece of American engineering heritage); MainStrasse Village (one of Northern Kentucky’s finest heritage neighborhood destinations — the German immigrant architecture, the Carroll Chimes Bell Tower, and the excellent restaurants and shops make it outstanding); Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption (Covington — one of the finest Gothic Revival cathedrals in America; the stained glass windows are extraordinary; the exterior is modeled on Notre Dame de Paris; free tours; genuinely magnificent); Northern Kentucky University (a quality comprehensive university; the Chase College of Law is quality; growing rapidly); St. Elizabeth Healthcare is one of the region’s dominant hospital systems with multiple campuses; the county is one of Kentucky’s most prosperous Library | Kenton County Public Library — (859) 962-4000 | kentonlibrary.org (one of the finest county library systems in Northern Kentucky)
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK (Records, Elections, Marriage Licenses)
303 Court St., Covington, KY 41011
(859) 392-1650
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK (Court Records)
303 Court St., Covington, KY 41011
(859) 292-6513
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
303 Court St., Covington, KY 41011
(859) 392-1650
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Kenton County District Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Kenton County Public Library holds significant local historical and genealogical materials.
Local societies
No dedicated Kenton County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Kenton County District Court Kenton County Justice Center, 230 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor, Covington, KY 41011 (859) 292-6521
Kenton County is across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, one of Kentucky’s most populous counties, seated in Covington.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Kentucky has NOT adopted the Uniform Probate Code; probate is governed by KRS Chapter 395 (Administration of Estates), handled by the District Court in the county where the decedent resided (KRS 24A.120).
Dispensing with Administration – Kentucky’s simplified small-estate procedure, governed by KRS 395.450, 395.455, and 395.470. Available when the value of the personal estate, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed $30,000, and the petitioner is a surviving spouse, adult child, or other qualifying heir/preferred creditor. The petitioner files a Petition to Dispense with Administration (Form AOC-830) with an affidavit listing assets, debts, and proposed distribution – no personal representative or full administration is required. Real estate is generally not covered by this procedure.
Regular (Full) Administration – for larger or more complex estates, the District Court appoints a personal representative (executor if named in a will, administrator if intestate), who gathers assets, pays debts, and distributes what remains under court oversight.
Step 2: filing for formal probate
File a Petition for Probate of Will and Appointment of Executor/Administrator (Form AOC-805) with the District Court in the county of residence.
If there’s a will, the court admits it to probate; it is then recorded with the county clerk (KRS 394.140).
The personal representative files an Inventory and Appraisement (Form AOC-841) of estate assets.
Notice to creditors is published; creditors generally have 6 months from appointment to file claims.
The personal representative pays valid debts, taxes, and expenses.
A Settlement of Estate (Form AOC-846) is filed, and the court closes the estate upon approval.
What it costs
Filing fees and publication costs are collected by the clerk and vary somewhat by county.
Kentucky does not require an attorney for probate, though it is commonly recommended, especially for formal administration.
Typical timelines: full probate generally takes 6-12 months; the creditor claims period is 6 months. Dispensing with Administration can move significantly faster once the estate qualifies.
Before distribution, a surviving spouse may petition for release of up to $2,500 from the estate as an exempt charge against estate property.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
303 Court St., Covington, KY 41011
(859) 392-1800
SHERIFF / TAX COLLECTOR
303 Court St., Covington, KY 41011
(859) 392-1800
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK (Records, Elections, Marriage Licenses)
303 Court St., Covington, KY 41011
(859) 392-1650
ELECTIONS (County Clerk)
303 Court St., Covington, KY 41011
(859) 392-1650
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Kenton County Health Dept
(859) 341-4199
KY CHFS — Northern KY Region
(859) 344-7900
KY Medicaid
(855) 306-8959
St. Elizabeth Healthcare (Edgewood/Covington/Florence)
uchealth.com (Cincinnati — Level I Trauma; world-class academic medical center)
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Northern Kentucky Independent District Health Department – confirm current contact via nkyhealth.org.
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Covington
Population: 170,000
Area: 163 mi²
Established: 1840
Tier: 2
Inmate Services
Care Packages
Send care packages to inmates in Kenton County facilities via Amazon.
