Lyon County, Kentucky Eviction Risk: Low

Lyon County sits at the western edge of Kentucky's Land Between the Lakes region, home to roughly 3,485 residents spread across two small cities. With an eviction risk score of 3.6/10, the county ranks 110th out of 120 Kentucky eviction laws counties - meaning 109 counties carry higher eviction risk and only 10 are calmer for landlords. That places Lyon firmly in the lower-risk third of the state, a reflection of modest rents, stable tenant finances relative to state norms, and Kentucky eviction laws's landlord-oriented statutory framework.

Average rent in the county runs $724/month, with renters spending an average of 28.6% of income on housing - below the 30% threshold that analysts typically flag as cost-burdened. About 41.4% of Lyon County households rent rather than own, a share that is substantial for a rural county of this size, and the average poverty rate sits at 11.3%. The county's two cities show tight score clustering: Eddyville (population 2,897, score 3.6/10) anchors the county seat, while Kuttawa (population 588, score 3.4/10) is the slightly higher-risk of the two - though both scores are well within the low-risk band.

Kentucky's governing statute, KRS § 383.500 et seq. (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act), gives landlords a clear, time-bound eviction path. A non-payment notice triggers a 7-day cure-or-quit window; lease violations allow 14 days to cure; no-cause end-of-term notices require 30 days. Court filing fees run $150-$250 and sheriff lockout fees add $40-$150. Uncontested cases typically close in 21-45 days; contested matters can run 45-120 days. Kentucky does not require just cause for eviction, source-of-income protections are not extended under state law, and KRS preempts any local rent control - a landlord in Lyon County faces no city-level rent cap exposure. The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights handles fair housing complaints under state law. Retaliation protections for tenants fall under KRS § 383.705 and habitability standards under KRS § 383.595, but neither provision materially complicates a straightforward eviction for non-payment or lease breach in this market.

Lyon County's low eviction risk reflects a combination of below-burden average rents, a small and relatively stable rental population, and a state legal environment that provides landlords with short notice periods and a predictable court process.