Scott County, Kentucky Eviction Risk: Very Low

Scott County carries an average eviction-risk score of 2.3/10, placing it in the Moderate tier, yet that number demands a closer read: this county ranks 1st of 120 Kentucky eviction laws counties for eviction risk, meaning every other county in the state is less risky than Scott County. Landlords and investors operating here face conditions that are materially more challenging than the statewide norm, even if the raw score looks middling on a national scale. Across the county's 3 cities, scores range from 2.1 to 2.3, and the average rent sits at $1,248 per month against a rent-burden rate of 27.4%, a combination that signals real payment-pressure on many tenants.

With roughly 37.6% of households renting, Scott County has a meaningful renter base, and a 12.2% poverty rate suggests a non-trivial slice of that base is financially stretched. Investors who are accustomed to operating in lower-risk markets elsewhere in Kentucky should factor in that Scott County's standing at the top of the state risk table reflects structural conditions, not a temporary blip.

The cities inside Scott County

Georgetown is the dominant market in Scott County, home to 39,117 people and carrying the county's highest risk score of 2.3/10. As the county seat and by far the largest city, Georgetown eviction risk accounts for the overwhelming share of rental activity here, which means its score effectively sets the tone for the entire county. Investors underwriting deals in Georgetown should price in the full range of outcomes a Moderate-risk market at the top of the Kentucky rankings can produce.

Stamping Ground, with a population of 994 and a score of 2.3/10, sits just below Georgetown and offers a marginally lower risk profile, though the difference is narrow in practice. Sadieville, the smallest city in the county at 370 residents, posts the lowest score at 3.8/10, making it the most landlord-friendly corner of Scott County, though its thin rental market limits scale. The spread from 3.8 to 4.2 across three cities underscores how hyper-local eviction risk is even within a single county boundary.

State-level laws that apply here

All Scott County landlords operate under KRS § 383.500 et seq., Kentucky's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. For non-payment of rent, state law requires a 7-day notice to pay or vacate; lease-violation cure notices run 14 days; and end-of-term or no-cause terminations require 30 days. Once a case is filed, an uncontested eviction resolves in 21 to 45 days, while a contested proceeding can stretch 45 to 120 days. Understanding the Kentucky eviction process from notice through lockout is essential before underwriting cash-flow projections, particularly given the county's position at the top of the state risk table.

On the cost side, court filing fees run $150 to $250, sheriff lockout fees add $40 to $150, and attorney fees range $500 to $2,500 depending on case complexity. Kentucky eviction costs can therefore total anywhere from roughly $690 to $2,900 in out-of-pocket expenses before lost rent is counted. Kentucky imposes no rent control and no just-cause eviction requirement, and state law preempts any local rent-control ordinance, so landlords here face a consistent, statewide statutory framework with no patchwork of local rent caps to navigate.

With a poverty rate of 12.2% and a renter share of 37.6%, financial stress is a real background condition for a portion of Scott County tenants; review the city-level scores in the grid above to identify which specific markets within the county best match your risk tolerance.