Ky. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 65
Kentucky Revised Statutes

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 65.870 (2026)

Local firearms control ordinances prohibited -- Exemption from immunity -

✓ current as of May 2026
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- Declaratory and injunctive relief. (1) No existing or future city, county, urban-county government, charter county, consolidated local government, unified local government, special district, local or regional public or quasi-public agency, board, commission, department, public corporation, or any person acting under the authority of any of these organizations may occupy any part of the field of regulation of the manufacture, sale, purchase, taxation, transfer, ownership, possession, carrying, storage, or transportation of firearms, ammunition, components of firearms, components of ammunition, firearms accessories, or combination thereof. (2) Any existing or future ordinance, executive order, administrative regulation, policy, procedure, rule, or any other form of executive or legislative action in violation of this section or the spirit thereof is hereby declared null, void, and unenforceable. (3) Any person or organization specified in subsection (1) of this section shall repeal, rescind, or amend to conform, any ordinance, administrative regulation, executive order, policy, procedure, rule, or other form of executive or legislative action in violation of this section or the spirit thereof within six (6) months after July 12, 2012. (4) Pursuant to Section 231 of the Constitution of Kentucky, insofar as any person or organization specified in subsection (1) of this section is considered an agent of the Commonwealth, it is the intent of the General Assembly to exempt them from any immunity provided in Section 231 of the Constitution of Kentucky to the extent provided in this section. A person or an organization whose membership is adversely affected by any ordinance, administrative regulation, executive order, policy, procedure, rule, or any other form of executive or legislative action promulgated or caused to be enforced in violation of this section or the spirit thereof may file suit against any person or organization specified in subsection (1) of this section in any court of this state having jurisdiction over any defendant to the suit for declaratory and injunctive relief. A court shall award the prevailing party in any such suit: (a) Reasonable attorney's fees and costs in accordance with the laws of this state; and (b) Expert witness fees and expenses. (5) If any person or organization specified in subsection (1) of this section violates this section or the spirit thereof, the court shall declare the improper ordinance, administrative regulation, executive order, policy, procedure, rule, or other form of executive or legislative action specified in subsection (1) of this section null, void, and unenforceable, and issue a permanent injunction against the person or organization specified in subsection (1) of this section prohibiting the enforcement of such ordinance, administrative regulation, executive order, policy, procedure, rule, or any other form of executive or legislative action specified in subsection (1) of this section. (6) A violation of this section by a public servant shall be a violation of either KRS 522.020 or 522.030, depending on the circumstances of the violation. (7) The provisions of this section shall not apply where a statute specifically authorizes or directs an agency or person specified in subsection (1) of this section to regulate a subject specified in subsection (1) of this section. Effective: July 12, 2012 History: Amended 2012 Ky. Acts ch. 117, sec. 1, effective July 12, 2012. -- Created 1984 Ky. Acts ch. 42, sec. 1, effective July 13, 1984.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 2002–2025 · leading case: Peter Garrett Gunsmith, Inc. v. City of Dayton, 98 S.W.3d 517 (Ky. Ct. App. 2002).
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Peter Garrett Gunsmith, Inc. v. City of Dayton, 98 S.W.3d 517 (Ky. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 10× “In addition, he filed separate complaints in the Campbell Circuit Court claiming the zoning ordinances were invalid as being preempted by KRS 65.870. The two circuit court cases were consolidated by agreement of the parties, and the issue was submitted to the circuit court on…”
Wisconsin Carry, Inc. v. City of Madison, 2017 WI 19 (Wis. 2017). “"); Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 65.870 (1) (West 2012) (prohibiting a ban by "any person acting under the authority of any .”
Kentucky Restaurant Ass'n v. Louisville/Jefferson Cnty. Metro Gov't, 501 S.W.3d 425 (Ky. 2016). “Se KRS 65.870 (expressly forbidding local governments from regulating firearms); and Dannheiser, 4 S.”
Kentucky Concealed Carry Coalition, Inc v. City of Pikeville, Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 22× “In its complaint, Appellant sought a declaratory judgment from the Pike Circuit Court that particular rules, policies, and lease provisions prohibiting all weapons within certain properties owned, leased, and/or controlled by the City violated KRS 65.870. Appellant also sought…”
City of Pikeville, Kentucky v. Kentucky Concealed Carry Coalition, Inc. (Ky. 2023). · cites it 12× “870(4), KC3 has standing to file suit to enforce the provisions of Ky. Rev. Stat. § 65.870. Additionally, Paragraph 100 of the complaint broadly states, “Plaintiff, and its individual members, are adversely affected by the Constitutional and statutory violations enumerated above…”
Albert Marshall v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2025). “His prosecution for violation of the ordinances was to continue, but the district court’s original order meant he could not be sentenced to imprisonment for the violation. Because of the appeals to the circuit court and now this Court, Marshall’s prosecution has yet to resume.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 65.870(1) — 1 case
Kentucky Concealed Carry Coalition, Inc v. City of Pikeville, Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2021). “In its complaint, Appellant sought a declaratory judgment from the Pike Circuit Court that particular rules, policies, and lease provisions prohibiting all weapons within certain properties owned, leased, and/or controlled by the City violated KRS 65.870. Appellant also sought…”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 65.870(2) — 1 case
Kentucky Concealed Carry Coalition, Inc v. City of Pikeville, Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2021). “In its complaint, Appellant sought a declaratory judgment from the Pike Circuit Court that particular rules, policies, and lease provisions prohibiting all weapons within certain properties owned, leased, and/or controlled by the City violated KRS 65.870. Appellant also sought…”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 65.870(4) — 2 cases
City of Pikeville, Kentucky v. Kentucky Concealed Carry Coalition, Inc. (Ky. 2023). “870(4), KC3 has standing to file suit to enforce the provisions of Ky. Rev. Stat. § 65.870. Additionally, Paragraph 100 of the complaint broadly states, “Plaintiff, and its individual members, are adversely affected by the Constitutional and statutory violations enumerated above…”
Kentucky Concealed Carry Coalition, Inc v. City of Pikeville, Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2021). “In its complaint, Appellant sought a declaratory judgment from the Pike Circuit Court that particular rules, policies, and lease provisions prohibiting all weapons within certain properties owned, leased, and/or controlled by the City violated KRS 65.870. Appellant also sought…”
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