Louisville, KY Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum heat requirement
- 65°F in habitable rooms
- Heating season
- October 1 to May 1
- Cold-snap floor
- 60°F below 0°F outside
- Enforcing agency
- Department of Property Maintenance Inspection
- Governing chapter
- LMCO Chapter 156
Summary
Louisville Metro's Property Maintenance Code sets minimum habitability standards for rental housing, including a mandatory 65°F heat floor landlords must supply every winter, enforced by the Department of Property Maintenance Inspection.
Every owner and operator of any building who rents, leases or lets one or more dwelling unit, rooming unit, dormitory or guestroom on terms, either expressed or implied, to furnish heat to the occupants thereof shall supply heat during the period from October 1 to May 1 to maintain a temperature of not less than 65ºF. (18ºC.) in all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet rooms except in circumstances when the exterior temperature falls below 0ºF. (-18ºC.) and the heating system is operating at its full capacity, a minimum room temperature of 60ºF. (16ºC.) shall be maintained at all times.
(D) Room temperature measurement. The required room temperatures shall be measured three feet (914 mm) above the floor near the center of the room and two feet (610 mm) inward from the center of each exterior wall. (Jeff. Ord. 37-2002, adopted and effective 11-12-2002; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 125-2007, approved 7-2-2007)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-47: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ordinances passed by the Council and approved by the Mayor as of July 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 156 of the Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances requires every dwelling to have heating facilities capable of holding 65°F in habitable rooms and bathrooms. Landlords who furnish heat under the lease must supply it from October 1 to May 1, keeping units at 65°F minimum (60°F only when it's below 0°F outside and the system is running full-out). The chapter also sets minimum plumbing, electrical, structural and sanitation standards, enforced by the Code Official within the Department of Property Maintenance Inspection. This applies inside Louisville Metro's jurisdiction; home rule cities like St. Matthews or Jeffersontown enforce their own property codes.
Violations & Fines
Most Chapter 156 violations draw a civil penalty under the Appendix A penalty schedule; violators can pay within 7 days or request a Code Enforcement Board hearing. Fire-safety violations (§156.203) carry a separate misdemeanor track of $25-$500 or up to 60 days, or a $100-$1,000 civil penalty, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the minimum temperature a Louisville Metro landlord must provide?
Does this apply in cities like St. Matthews or Jeffersontown?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Louisville
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