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Kentucky · Snapshot 09/05/2026

KRS 503.080: Protection of property.

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. KRS Chapter 503

(1) The use of physical force by a defendant upon another person is justifiable when the

defendant believes that such force is immediately necessary to prevent:

(a) The commission of criminal trespass, robbery, burglary, or other felony

involving the use of force, or under those circumstances permitted pursuant to

KRS 503.055, in a dwelling, building or upon real property in his or her

possession or in the possession of another person for whose protection he or

she acts;

(b) Theft, criminal mischief, or any tre spassory taking of tangible, movable

property in his or her possession or in the possession of another person for

whose protection he or she acts; or

(c) The commission of unlawful camping in violation of KRS 511.110, when:

1. The offense is occurring on property owned or leased by the defendant;

2. The individual engaged in unlawful camping has been told to cease; and

3. The individual committing the offense has used force or threatened to

use force against the defendant.

(2) The use of deadly physical for ce by a defendant upon another person is justifiable

under subsection (1) of this section only when the defendant believes that the

person against whom such force is used is:

(a) Attempting to dispossess him or her of his or her dwelling otherwise than

under a claim of right to its possession; or

(b) Committing or attempting to commit a burglary, robbery, or other felony

involving the use of force, or under those circumstances perm itted pursuant to

KRS 503.055, of such dwelling; or

(c) Committing or attempting to commit arson of a dwelling or other building in

his or her possession.

(3) A person does not have a duty to retreat if the person is in a place where he or she

has a right to be.

Collected 2026-09-05T21:00:00Z. Source file · JSON

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