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Paducah adopts new rental-occupancy code with registration, inspections and per-unit fees
Summary
Paducah's Board of Commissioners adopted an ordinance replacing Chapter 42 to require annual registration and inspections of rental units, set a $50 per-unit annual permitting fee (capped at $500 per owner) and establish fines and appeals; a moratorium allows pre-March 1, 2026 units to register without fine until Jan. 1, 2027.
The Paducah City Board of Commissioners on Feb. 24 adopted a repeal-and-replace ordinance updating Chapter 42 of the Paducah Code of Ordinances to require registration, permitting and inspection of rental dwelling units.
The ordinance, read into the record by the city clerk, requires one- and two-family rental dwelling units to register annually with the fire prevention office by July 1 each year and imposes an annual permitting and inspection fee of $50 per unit, not to exceed $500 in aggregate for units owned by a single property owner. New rental units must be registered within 30 days of availability. The ordinance establishes inspection standards (building, electrical, fire and property maintenance codes), authorizes an annual inspection cycle with discretionary self-certification alternatives, and prioritizes inspections by geographic distribution, tax delinquency, landlord compliance history and police reports.
Failure to register will result in a $100 fine per unit, though the ordinance includes a moratorium allowing units occupied before March 1, 2026 to register without fine by Jan. 1, 2027. Procedures cover follow-up inspections, fines, denial, suspension or revocation of permits, tenant-vacating requirements, public posting on premises and appeal rights; appeals of local determinations may be made under procedures referencing KRS chapter 227.
During discussion, Mayor Bray thanked Deputy Chief Greg Cherry and staff for meeting with landlords, described operational staffing plans to divide the city for inspections, and emphasized the ordinance's safety objective while saying it does not impose rent controls.
The ordinance passed on a unanimous roll call: Commissioners Henderson, Smith, Thomas, Wilson and Mayor Bray voted in favor.
