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

Sections 150.035 through 150.041 cover "Dilapidated Structures in Unincorporated Areas," defined to include the City of Crestwood along with the rest of unincorporated Oldham County. The process starts under § 150.036 when a public authority or at least five county residents petition the Fiscal Court alleging a structure is a hazard to public health, safety or morals, or otherwise harmful to residents' welfare. If a preliminary investigation supports the charge, the Fiscal Court serves the owner and other parties in interest with the complaint and schedules a hearing 20 to 30 days out; the owner may answer, appear, and give testimony, and the Fiscal Court's own evidentiary rules apply rather than formal courtroom rules.

Under § 150.037, the Fiscal Court then issues findings on whether the structure is a hazard and, if so, orders the owner to repair, alter or improve it, or in the alternative to remove or demolish it, within a specified time. Section 150.038 lets the county step in and do the repair, alteration or demolition itself if the owner doesn't comply, securing its costs with a lien on the real estate; if the county demolishes the structure, it sells salvageable materials and credits the proceeds against the cost, with any balance held for whoever the Circuit Court later determines is entitled to it.

Complaints and orders are served personally, by certified mail, or by publication under KRS Chapter 424 if the owner can't be located, and must be posted on the property and recorded with the County Court Clerk under § 150.039.