NKY Eviction Guide
Northern Kentucky & Greater Cincinnati
County-specific rules, real court addresses, exact filing fees, and required forms — for landlords and tenants in NKY and the Cincinnati metro.
Each county has its own court, filing process, and fee schedule. Select your county for specific addresses, hours, and local rules.
The eviction process is entirely different on each side of the river. Understanding which state you're in determines everything about your timeline, notice, and court.
Non-payment: 7-day written notice. Lease violation: 15-day notice to cure or vacate. Month-to-month tenancy termination: 30-day notice.
File at your county District Court. Bring the signed notice, lease agreement, and proof of service. Pay filing fee (~$113 residential). Court assigns a hearing date — typically 7–14 days out.
The court issues a summons. The Sheriff's Office serves it on the tenant. Landlord pays a separate service fee (approx. $30–$50 per county).
Bring all documentation. If tenant doesn't appear, you typically get a default judgment. If tenant appears, judge hears both sides same day in most NKY counties.
If judgment is in landlord's favor, request a Writ of Possession. Tenant has a brief appeal window (typically 7 days). After that, the Sheriff enforces the writ and removes tenant.
Non-payment: 3-day written notice. Lease violation: varies — check your lease. Month-to-month: 30-day notice. Notice must be personally served or posted AND mailed.
File at the Municipal Court serving your property. In Hamilton County: Hamilton County Municipal Court at 1000 Main St, Cincinnati. Filing fee: $135–$175. First hearing set for 7–30 days out.
Court bailiff serves the summons. This is included in Ohio's process — no separate service fee to the Sheriff in most municipal courts.
Ohio splits eviction into two parts: possession and money damages. First hearing is possession only. If landlord wins, tenant typically has 10 days to vacate before a writ issues.
If tenant doesn't vacate, court issues a Writ of Execution. Bailiff carries out the removal — not the Sheriff in municipal court jurisdictions.
Serving the wrong notice — or serving it incorrectly — is the #1 reason eviction cases get dismissed. These are the specific notice requirements for NKY and Cincinnati counties.
| Reason for Eviction | Kentucky (NKY Counties) | Ohio (Hamilton Co.) | How to Serve |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-payment of rent | 7-day written notice to pay or vacate | 3-day written notice to pay or vacate | Personal service or posting on door |
| Lease violation (curable) | 15-day notice to cure or vacate | Varies — check lease; often 30-day | Personal service or posting on door |
| Lease violation (uncurable) | Immediate notice to vacate | Immediate notice to vacate | Personal service or posting on door |
| End of lease (month-to-month) | 30-day written notice | 30-day written notice | Personal service or certified mail |
| End of fixed-term lease | No notice required — lease expires | No notice required — lease expires | N/A |
| Drug/criminal activity | Immediate — no notice period | Immediate — no notice period | Personal service recommended |
In Ohio, a 3-day notice for non-payment must be served by personal delivery OR posting on the door AND also mailed via first-class mail. Posting alone without the mailing step can invalidate your notice and result in case dismissal at Hamilton County Municipal Court.
Eviction filing costs vary by county and whether you're claiming back rent. Use this calculator for a quick estimate.
| County | State | Filing Fee | Sheriff/Bailiff Service | Writ of Possession | Typical Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boone County | KY | $113 | ~$40 (Sheriff) | ~$25 | ~$178 |
| Kenton County | KY | $113 | ~$40 (Sheriff) | ~$25 | ~$178 |
| Campbell County | KY | $113 | ~$35 (Sheriff) | ~$25 | ~$173 |
| Grant County | KY | $113 | ~$35 (Sheriff) | ~$25 | ~$173 |
| Hamilton County | OH | $135–$175 | Included (Bailiff) | ~$45 | ~$180–$220 |
| Clermont County | OH | ~$123 | Included (Bailiff) | ~$40 | ~$163 |
* Fees verified as of 2024–2025. Court fees change periodically — confirm current fees with your county court before filing. Additional fees may apply if back rent is claimed as a money judgment.
Official forms from Kentucky Courts and Ohio Courts. Always verify you have the current version before filing.
Receiving an eviction notice doesn't mean you've lost your home yet. Here's what you should know about your rights in Kentucky and Ohio.
No. Kentucky law requires a court judgment before a landlord can remove a tenant. Even if the tenant has clearly abandoned the property, changing locks without a court order exposes the landlord to damages. The Forcible Detainer process through District Court is the only legal path to removal.
In both Kentucky and Ohio, if the tenant is properly served and fails to appear, the court will typically issue a default judgment in the landlord's favor. The landlord should still appear with all documentation. In Kenton and Boone County KY, default judgments are commonly granted the same day.
Accepting any rent payment after filing a Forcible Detainer in Kentucky can be interpreted as waiving your right to proceed with that case — effectively "forgiving" the breach. If you need to file again, you may need to restart the notice process. Do not accept partial payment unless you're willing to dismiss the case.
In both Kentucky and Ohio, an eviction filing becomes a matter of public court record and may appear on tenant screening reports for 7 years. This is true even if the tenant later paid or the case was dismissed — the filing itself is on record. Some tenant screening companies report it differently, but landlords doing manual court record searches will see it.
Not immediately. In Kentucky, after a judgment the tenant has a brief window to appeal (typically 7 days). After the appeal window closes and no appeal is filed, the landlord can request a Writ of Possession and the Sheriff schedules the removal — often 5–10 additional days. In Ohio (Hamilton County), the tenant typically has 10 days after judgment before the court issues a Writ of Execution for the bailiff to enforce.
Yes. Florence is located within Boone County, so evictions for Florence properties are filed at Boone County District Court in Burlington. Jurisdiction for eviction is determined by the county where the rental property is located — not the city. This applies to all NKY cities: Covington and Florence residents file based on their county (Kenton or Boone), not their city.
These are the same concept with different names by state. Kentucky uses "Forcible Detainer" — a civil action to recover possession of real property. Ohio uses "Forcible Entry and Detainer" (FED) — same purpose, different statutory basis. Both result in a court-ordered removal if the landlord prevails. The procedures, timelines, and courts differ significantly between the two states.
For residential evictions, individual landlords in Kentucky can represent themselves (pro se) in District Court. However, if you own property through an LLC, corporation, or other entity, Kentucky law typically requires an attorney to represent the entity in court. In Ohio, individuals can also self-represent in municipal court. For complex cases involving habitability counterclaims or significant back rent claims, an attorney is strongly recommended.
Free legal assistance for low-income tenants in Northern Kentucky (Boone, Kenton, Campbell counties).
legalaidkentucky.org ↗Free civil legal services for eligible Hamilton County Ohio residents facing eviction.
lascinti.org ↗Official Kentucky Court of Justice resource for landlord-tenant forms and general process guidance.
courts.ky.gov ↗Ohio's official legal aid resource — plain-language guides to eviction rights and process for both landlords and tenants.
ohiolegalhelp.org ↗Handles Writ of Possession enforcement for Boone County, KY eviction orders.
Handles Writ of Possession enforcement for Kenton County, KY eviction orders.