McCracken County, KY Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Chapter 72 of the McCracken County Code, Hazardous Buildings, defines an UNSAFE STRUCTURE as one dangerous to the life, health, property or safety of the public or its occupants because it is dilapidated, deteriorated, decayed, faulty in construction, fire-damaged to the point it no longer provides shelter, or at risk of partial or complete collapse; UNSAFE PREMISES extends the same idea to attractive-nuisance conditions like abandoned wells, basements, swimming pools or mobile homes. The chapter exempts structures used primarily for active agriculture, and structures at least 200 feet from any neighboring property line or public right-of-way.

Under § 72.02 the Fiscal Court designates a Code Enforcement Officer to enforce the chapter, who under § 72.03 may go onto private property, pursuant to KRS 67.083(3)(j), to inspect fire-, explosion- or collapse-damaged structures intended for human or commercial occupancy. Section 72.04 requires a written report filed with the County Judge/Executive within five days of inspection, identifying the owner, the deed's book and page number, the inspection date, whether the structure can be repaired or must be demolished, the owner's appeal rights to the Fiscal Court, and a 60-day deadline to repair, prove repairs are coming, or demolish.

The Sheriff serves resident owners; nonresident owners get certified mail; unreachable owners are noticed by publication under KRS Chapter 424. If the owner does not comply within 60 days, § 72.05 lets the Code Enforcement Officer demolish the structure with the Judge/Executive's approval, and § 72.06 makes the demolition cost, less any salvage credit, a lien on the property plus interest. Section 72.08 gives owners 30 days from the report to file a written appeal, which stays the process until resolved. Like Chapter 70, this authority under § 72.07 excludes the City of Paducah.