The SOLAR Project - Sex Offender Legal Advocacy & Reform
📍 STATE GUIDE

Kentucky — Registry Rules

Official-source summary for Kentucky.

10/14/2025

Key Highlights

  • Residency Restrictions: Kentucky bars registrants from living within 1,000 feet of schools, playgrounds, or daycare centers; state law preempts stricter local ordinances, though some municipalities still list redundant zones; see KRS §17.545(1), OAG 10-005 (2010), and Commonwealth v. Baker, 295 S.W.3d 437 (Ky. 2009).
  • Presence / Proximity Rules: Presence near schools, parks, or daycares is restricted for individuals with offenses involving minors or while under supervision; see KRS §17.545(2).
  • Duration of Registration: Registration lasts 20 years or life, depending on statutory classification; see KRS §17.520(2).
  • Tiering / Level System: Kentucky uses two classifications—20-year and lifetime—that determine registration length, verification frequency (annual vs. every 90 days), and relief eligibility; see KRS §17.520 and KSP Registry Portal.

At a Glance

  • Who: Adults with a qualifying sex crime or crime against a minor and certain out-of-state equivalents must register; see KRS 17.510 and definitions in KRS 17.500.
  • Initial deadline: Deadline: Register on or before the date of release; movers and nonresident workers/students must register within 5 working days; see KRS 17.510(2), (6)–(7).
  • Verification: Verification: State verifies at least every 90 days for lifetime registrants and annually for 20-year registrants; persons without a fixed residence must report every 30 days; see KRS 17.510(14), (10) and mailer rules in 502 KAR 31:020.
  • Primary method: Method: Registration is in person at the local probation & parole office; ongoing address checks are conducted by mail per KRS 17.510 and 502 KAR 31:020.
  • ⚠️ Changing counties triggers two steps: notify current office on/before move and register in new county within 5 working days; see KRS 17.510(11).
  • ⚠️ International travel requires notice 21 days before departure and within 5 working days after return; see KRS 17.510(11)(e).
  • ⚠️ Residency & presence zones: 1,000-ft bans and school-ground presence limits apply; see KRS 17.545.
  • ⚠️ Social media: Minor-victim registrants must use their full legal name on covered platforms; see KRS 17.544.
  • ⚠️ Missed duties are felonies; first failure is a Class D felony; see KRS 17.510(12)–(13).

Official Links

What this means in practice

  • Register at release; movers, workers, and students have a 5-day window.
  • State checks your address by mail; lifetime = every 90 days, 20-year = yearly.
  • Some places are off-limits (schools, daycares, playgrounds).

Watch-outs

  • If you lack a fixed address, you must report in person every 30 days.
  • International trips require 21-day advance notice and a 5-day return update.

Summarized from KRS 17.510, KRS 17.520, KRS 17.545, KRS 17.544, and 502 KAR 31:020.

Reviewed 10/14/2025

Who Must Register & Duration

Scope: Residents convicted of a sex crime or criminal offense against a victim who is a minor and nonresidents who move to Kentucky or enter for employment/vocation or as a student must register; see KRS 17.510(2), (6)–(7) and terms in KRS 17.500.

Duration: Registration lasts 20 years or life, depending on statutory classification; see KRS §17.520(2).

What this means in practice

  • Kentucky uses broad categories: sex crimes and crimes against minors.
  • Out-of-state convictions that match Kentucky’s categories usually must register when moving, working, or studying here.

Watch-outs

  • Juvenile adjudications that would not require registration in Kentucky do not trigger duties here.

See definitions in KRS 17.500 and duties in KRS 17.510(2), (6)–(7).

Deadlines & Reporting Triggers

  • Initial: Register on/before release with probation & parole; see KRS 17.510(2)–(4).
  • Move in from out of state: Register within 5 working days of relocation; see KRS 17.510(6).
  • Nonresident worker/student: Register within 5 working days in county of residence, employment, vocation, or schooling; thresholds include >14 days or >30 days aggregate in a year; see KRS 17.510(7).
  • Address change (same county): Register the new address on or before the change; see KRS 17.510(11)(a).
  • Address change (new county): Notify current office on/before the move and register in new county within 5 working days; see KRS 17.510(11)(b).
  • ID changes: Report driver’s license or other government ID changes within 5 working days; see KRS 17.510(11)(c).
  • No fixed residence: Report in person every 30 days and upon county changes; see KRS 17.510(10).
  • International travel: Provide itinerary 21 days before and return info within 5 working days; see KRS 17.510(11)(e).

What this means in practice

  • Register on/before release.
  • Report moves, ID changes, and international travel on the statutory timelines.

Watch-outs

  • Moving counties has two steps: same-day notice to current office and 5-day registration in the new county.
  • Mail any verification forms promptly to stay compliant.

Deadlines consolidated from KRS 17.510(10)–(11), (14) and mail rules in 502 KAR 31:020.

Verification & In-Person Requirements

  • Registration & photos: Initial and photo updates handled in person at probation & parole; photo updated at least every 2 years and registrant pays photo cost; see KRS 17.510(4).
  • Ongoing checks: Address verification is by mail at the state-set cadence; see 502 KAR 31:020.
  • Unhoused: Must report every 30 days in person; see KRS 17.510(10).

What this means in practice

  • You register and update your photo in person at probation & parole.
  • Regular address checks are handled by mail.

Watch-outs

  • Keep proof of every visit and form you send.
  • If you are unhoused, expect monthly in-person reporting.

Photo and in-person duties in KRS 17.510(4), (10); mail verification in 502 KAR 31:020.

Residency, Presence, & Loitering Restrictions

Zones: Registrants may not reside within 1,000 feet of schools, preschools, licensed daycares, or publicly owned/leased playgrounds; presence and loitering/work near school grounds and listed child-areas are restricted; see KRS 17.545.

What this means in practice

  • There is a 1,000-ft rule for living near schools/daycares/playgrounds.
  • Being on or loitering near listed child areas is also restricted.

Watch-outs

  • You must check distances yourself and adjust within 90 days if a new child facility opens nearby.
  • Some restrictions are not retroactive; read the statute carefully.

See KRS 17.545 for distances, duties to ascertain, and retroactivity notes.

Employment, Education, & Internet Use

  • Work/School duty: Entering Kentucky for employment, vocation, or as a student triggers registration within 5 working days; see KRS 17.510(7).
  • Social media: Minor-victim registrants must use their full legal name on covered platforms (retroactive); violations are a Class A misdemeanor (first) then Class D felony; see KRS 17.544.

What this means in practice

  • Working or studying in Kentucky triggers 5-day registration in the relevant county.
  • Minor-victim registrants must use full legal names on social media.

Watch-outs

  • Online rules apply retroactively and carry criminal penalties.
  • Work thresholds include >14 days or >30 days aggregate in a year.

See work/school rules in KRS 17.510(7) and social-media rule in KRS 17.544.

Public Website Exposure

  • Display: The KSP site shows registrant info, residence (no SSN, DL#, or victim IDs), conviction elements, supervision and compliance status; see KRS 17.580 and the public portal at KSP Registry.
  • Misuse warning: Using registry info to harass is a criminal offense; the notice appears on the KSP site; see KRS 17.580.

What this means in practice

  • The public site shows identifying info (with protections), conviction details, and compliance.
  • There is a harassment warning about misuse of registry data.

Watch-outs

  • Check your listing for accuracy and use Open Records if corrections are needed.

Published items and warning are in KRS 17.580; portal at KSP Registry.

Travel & Relocation (Interstate Moves)

  • Move out of Kentucky: Duties continue until properly registered elsewhere; notify Kentucky per address-change rules in KRS 17.510(11).
  • Short visits: Kentucky law does not impose a pure visitor registration, but work/school or relocation triggers duties; presence restrictions may still apply in Kentucky; see KRS 17.510(7) and KRS 17.545(2).

What this means in practice

  • Relocation or work/school activates duties; pure short visits do not automatically trigger registration.
  • Presence restrictions still apply while in Kentucky.

Watch-outs

  • Always verify the other state’s rules when moving.

See move/work/school triggers in KRS 17.510(6)–(7) and presence limits in KRS 17.545(2).

Visiting or Traveling in the State

  • Nonresident in Kentucky: If not working/schooling and not relocating, registration may not be triggered, but 1,000-ft presence limits apply to all registrants on school and child-area grounds; see KRS 17.545(2).
  • International trips: 21-day pre-notice and 5-day post-return reporting are mandatory; see KRS 17.510(11)(e).

What this means in practice

  • Visitors not working, studying, or moving usually do not register.
  • All registrants must follow school-ground and child-area rules while present in Kentucky.

Watch-outs

  • International travel has extra notices before and after trips.

Visitor and presence nuances from KRS 17.510(7), (11)(e) and KRS 17.545.

Compliance & Enforcement

Penalties: Knowingly violating registration/notification duties is a Class D felony (first) and Class C felony (subsequent); false information is the same; see KRS 17.510(12)–(13). Agencies verify and notify prosecutors under KRS 17.510(14).

What this means in practice

  • Failure to register/notify is a felony.
  • Agencies verify and can refer for revocation or prosecution.

Watch-outs

  • Submit forms early and keep copies; mail delays do not excuse deadlines.

Penalties and verification/referral process appear in KRS 17.510(12)–(14).

Relief Paths

  • Duration only: Registration lasts 20 years or lifetime depending on offense category; no general early-termination statute; see KRS 17.520.
  • Expungement (limited): Many sex offenses and offenses against children are not eligible for expungement; general expungement rules at KRS 431.073 and process guidance at AOC Expungement.

What this means in practice

  • Most people either register 20 years or for life, depending on offense.
  • Kentucky offers limited expungement, and many sex/child offenses are excluded.

Watch-outs

  • A pardon or expungement for a non-sex offense does not automatically change registry duties for a registrable offense.

Durations in KRS 17.520; expungement framework and exclusions in KRS 431.073 and court guidance at AOC Expungement.

Special Populations

  • Unhoused registrants: In-person every 30 days reporting and county-change notices; see KRS 17.510(10).
  • Living with minors: Certain minor-victim registrants cannot reside with a minor except narrow family exceptions; see KRS 17.545(4).
  • Youthful offenders: Presence restrictions do not apply to a youthful offender probated/paroled during minority or while in elementary/secondary school; see KRS 17.545(9).

What this means in practice

  • Unhoused persons report monthly in person.
  • Minor-victim registrants have household limits about living with minors.

Watch-outs

  • Youthful-offender carve-outs exist for certain school attendance situations.

Monthly reporting in KRS 17.510(10); household/minor rules and exceptions in KRS 17.545(4), (9).

Costs & Payments

  • Photo update: Registrant pays the cost of the photo taken during periodic updates; see KRS 17.510(4).
  • Mail verification: Return address-verification forms as required; no specific fee stated in rule; see 502 KAR 31:020.
  • Expungement (if eligible): Certification and filing costs apply; process overview at KSP/AOC Expungements.

Recent Changes & Litigation

  • Statute: 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 204 (KRS 17.544) — 2024 Regular; effective 2024-07-15. Creates social-media rule requiring minor-victim registrants to use full legal name on covered platforms; retroactive; first offense Class A misdemeanor. link
  • Statute: 2023 Ky. Acts ch. 109 (KRS 17.510) — 2023 Regular; effective 2024-01-01. Updates verification framework, including 30-day cadence for persons without a fixed residence and inter-agency notification steps. link
  • Statute: 2023 Ky. Acts ch. 109 (KRS 17.545) — 2023 Regular; effective 2023-06-29. Clarifies presence/loitering/work limits within 1,000 feet of schools, child-areas, pools, and splash pads; preserves certain non-retroactivity provisions. link
  • Case: Doe v. Burlew — U.S. District Court, W.D. Ky. (2024-07-12) — Ongoing challenge to KRS 17.544 on First Amendment grounds (legal-name requirement on social media); court analyzed likelihood of success at preliminary stage. link

Compliance Checklists & Scripts

New Arrival: First 30 Days

  • Call or visit the local Probation & Parole office to schedule registration on/before release/arrival; see KRS 17.510(2).
  • Bring ID (DL/ID, docs with physical address); PO Boxes do not count; see KRS 17.510(9).
  • Confirm your registration duration (20-year vs lifetime) from the judgment or by statute; see KRS 17.520.
  • Ask when your next photo update is due and keep the receipt; see KRS 17.510(4).
  • Record the address-verification cadence and mail-back steps; see 502 KAR 31:020.

Moving Out / Traveling

  • Before moving counties, file the same-day notice and then register in the new county within 5 working days; see KRS 17.510(11).
  • If leaving Kentucky to reside elsewhere, confirm registration with the destination state and document your Kentucky notifications; see KRS 17.510(6), (11).
  • Update DL/ID numbers within 5 working days if they change; see KRS 17.510(11)(c).

Records Request Template

Subject: Kentucky Open Records Request (KRS 61.870–61.884) — Sex Offender Registry File\n\nTo: Official Custodian of Records, Kentucky State Police (Open Records Portal)\n\nUnder the Kentucky Open Records Act, KRS 61.870–61.884, I request copies of records reflecting my sex offender registration file, including address-verification mailers, compliance notes, and current duration designation under KRS 17.520. I am a Kentucky resident. I request electronic delivery. If fees exceed $25, please advise before fulfilling.\n\nSignature\nName, Address, Email, Phone\nDate

Relief Petition Outline

- Goal: Confirm duration or eligibility for other post-conviction relief.\n- Statutes: Duration per KRS 17.520; limited expungement framework at KRS 431.073.\n- Exhibits: Judgment (with registration designation), KSP printout from KRS 17.580 site, proof of mailer compliance per 502 KAR 31:020.\n- Requested relief: Clarify statutory duration or other relief allowed by law; if expungement is sought for non-sex eligible offense, attach AOC certification steps from AOC Expungement.

Tips for using these checklists

  • Use the Open Records portal to get your file and verify duration.
  • Keep a binder with receipts, forms, and mail proofs.

Records access via KSP portal and standardized form under 40 KAR 1:040 and KSP’s portal at NextRequest.

Citations

🤝 This guide was created from official legal sources and checked with the help of AI-assisted research. We strive for accuracy and clarity — if you spot something that seems off or out of date, please let us know so we can correct it for everyone.

Informational only; not legal advice.