Kentucky Fair Housing Laws: What's on the Real Estate Exam

Fair housing is tested on both sections of the Kentucky PSI sales associate exam. Kentucky law generally mirrors federal fair housing, with some local cities adding additional protections. Know the federal foundation, what Kentucky adds, and how the exam tests prohibited acts.

Federal Protected Classes (7 Classes)

The federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibits discrimination based on:

Race
Color
National origin
Religion
Sex
Familial status (families with children under 18; pregnant women)
Disability (physical and mental)

These seven apply in all states, including Kentucky.

Kentucky State Fair Housing

Kentucky's state fair housing law generally mirrors the federal Fair Housing Act. The Kentucky Civil Rights Act (KRS Chapter 344) governs fair housing at the state level and covers the same protected classes as federal law.

Local additions: - Louisville Metro (Louisville/Jefferson County) has adopted a broader human rights ordinance adding sexual orientation, gender identity, and other classes - Lexington-Fayette Urban County has similar local protections

For the PSI state exam, the focus is on the statewide Kentucky Civil Rights Act, which mirrors federal classes. Know that local cities may add more.

Prohibited Acts in Kentucky

The following are prohibited under both federal and Kentucky fair housing law:

Refusing to sell or rent to any member of a protected class
Steering — directing buyers or renters to/from areas based on protected class characteristics
Blockbusting — inducing owners to sell by suggesting that protected class members are moving into an area
Redlining — denying mortgages or insurance based on neighborhood demographics
Discriminatory advertising — indicating preference or restriction based on a protected class
Misrepresenting availability — falsely claiming a property is unavailable based on the prospective buyer's or renter's protected class

Exemptions to Fair Housing Law

Federal exemptions (mirrored in Kentucky):

Single-family homes sold by owner without an agent (advertising must remain non-discriminatory)
Owner-occupied buildings with 4 or fewer units (Mrs. Murphy exemption)
Religious organizations that restrict housing to members
Private clubs that restrict housing to members

Important: Real estate licensees in Kentucky are NEVER exempt, even when assisting a seller who personally qualifies for an exemption.

Enforcement in Kentucky

Fair housing complaints in Kentucky can be filed with:

Kentucky Commission on Human Rights (KCHR) — state enforcement
HUD — federal enforcement
Federal district court — private right of action

Remedies include: injunctive relief, actual damages, civil penalties, and attorney fees.

Disability Accommodations

Under federal law (and Kentucky law), landlords must:

Allow reasonable modifications to the property at the tenant's expense
Make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, or practices
Provide units accessible under accessibility guidelines in covered multi-family housing

Refusing a disabled tenant's request for a reasonable modification or accommodation is a fair housing violation.

Kentucky Exam Focus

The PSI state exam typically tests:

That Kentucky's statewide law mirrors federal (7 classes)
That Louisville Metro and Lexington-Fayette add local protections
Scenario identification: steering vs. blockbusting vs. redlining
Whether a licensee can claim exemption (they cannot)
The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights as the state enforcement body

Practice Kentucky fair housing questions at [CARealestate.com/states/kentucky](https://carealestate.com/states/kentucky).