Mason County, Kentucky Eviction Risk: Very Low

Mason County sits along the Ohio River in northeastern Kentucky, anchored almost entirely by Maysville (population 8,737), which accounts for the overwhelming majority of the county's 9,304 residents. The county scores 2.4/10 on the Eviction Risk Map - a Low rating that places it 75th out of 120 Kentucky eviction laws counties, meaning 74 counties carry higher risk for landlords. That middle-third ranking reflects a market that is neither the most challenging in the state nor entirely without stress points: a poverty rate of 23.7% sits well above national averages, and nearly half of all residents - 46.2% - rent rather than own their homes, which creates a sizable tenant base relative to the county's small total population.

Rent levels in Mason County are low by nearly any measure. The average monthly rent across the county is $721, producing an average rent burden of 26.5% of income. That figure stays just below the conventional 30% affordability threshold, which helps explain why the county's eviction risk remains restrained despite the elevated poverty rate. Maysville holds a score of 2.4/10 - matching the county average - while smaller communities like Dover (2.3/10) and Mays Lick (2.1/10) track slightly lower. Germantown, the county's second-largest community by population at 232 residents, scores 1.5/10, the lowest figure in the county, reflecting a more stable local rental dynamic. For landlords operating in Mason County, the data suggests that while tenant financial stress is real, it has not translated into the high filing rates seen in many other parts of Kentucky eviction laws.

Kentucky eviction laws's landlord-tenant framework, codified under KRS § 383.500 et seq. (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act), governs every tenancy in Mason County. Non-payment of rent triggers a 7-day pay-or-quit notice, lease violations carry a 14-day cure period, and no-cause terminations require 30 days' notice. Landlords who must file should budget for court costs of $150 to $250, sheriff lockout fees of $40 to $150, and attorney fees ranging from $500 to $2,500 depending on whether the case is contested. Uncontested cases typically resolve in 21 to 45 days; contested matters can run 45 to 120 days. Kentucky eviction laws preempts local rent control, so no city or county in the state - including Mason - can cap rent increases, and there is no just-cause eviction requirement at the state level. Retaliation protections for tenants are codified at KRS § 383.705, and habitability standards fall under KRS § 383.595. Fair housing complaints are handled by the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights.

With a total population of 9,304 and four incorporated places, Mason County is a compact, river-town market where Maysville dominates activity and smaller communities like Germantown and Mays Lick serve a largely rural renter base.