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Kentucky · Snapshot 09/05/2026

KRS 81.380: Relocation of corporate boundaries of a city located in a county containing

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. KRS Chapter 81

a city of the first class or consolidated local government -- Effects of relocation

-- Filing with Secretary of State -- Renaming of relocated or relocating city.

(1) Any city, located in a county containing a city of the first class or a consolidated

local government, which is located within an area which is adversely affected by a

public project that was initiated by a city of the first class, or by action of a joint

agency of a city of the first class and its county, after June 30, 1998, or upon the

expiration of the initial twelve (12) year term provided in KRS 79.310(2) of a

cooperative compact which is in effect in the county pursuant to KRS 79.310 to

79.330, may by ordinan ce relocate the corporate boundaries of the city to an

unincorporated area of the county. The ordinance shall set out by metes and bounds

that unincorporated area of the county where the city will be relocated. The area

designated for relocation shall not exceed the acreage within the then existing

boundaries of the relocating city.

(2) All financial assets and legal obligations of the city shall not be altered or

interrupted by a relocation.

(3) A city of the first class or a consolidated local government shall relinquish all

priority rights or any rights pursuant to the terms of a cooperative compact for

annexation to that unincorporated area which is designated for the relocation of a

city as provided for in subsection (1) of this section. Any priority rights or any rights

pursuant to the terms of a cooperative compact for annexation which are

relinquished for the relocation of a city shall then be attached in the name of the city

of the first class or the consolidated local government to that area which h as been

abandoned by the relocating city pursuant to subsection (5) of this section. The

relocating city shall forward a copy of the ordinance adopted pursuant to subsection

(1) of this section to the mayor of the consolidated local government or the mayor

of the city of the first class and the county judge/executive of the county.

(4) The right of a city to relocate is in no way meant to amend any provision of the

statutes which govern the formation and operation of a cooperative compact created

pursuant to KRS 79.310 to 79.330.

(5) Upon the relocation of a city, the city clerk shall forward to the Secretary of State

within one (1) year from the date of the relocation, a document listing the name of

the city, the date of the relocation, the present classifi cation of the city, and a

certified copy of the ordinance adopted pursuant to subsection (1) of this section. If

a city fails to comply with this subsection, it shall be barred from receiving state

moneys until the city complies.

(6) Until ninety percent (90%) of the residential properties located within the relocating

city's boundaries are acquired for the public project, the boundaries of the city shall

include both the old city site and the area designated for the location of the new site

of the city.

(7) After ninety percent (90%) of the residential properties have been acquired as set

forth in subsection (6) of this section, the boundaries of the city shall no longer

include the area where the city existed before relocation.

(8) A city that is relocatin g, or has been relocated, according to the provisions of this

section may change the name of the city by the adoption of an ordinance by the city

legislative body. Any person objecting to renaming the relocating or relocated city

under this section may pre sent a petition objecting to the renaming of the city by

submitting the petition to the county clerk of the county in which the city is located.

The petition shall be in the following form: "The registered voters living within

(provide the name of the exis ting relocating or relocated city) hereby object to the

question of the renaming of the city." If the petition is signed and dated by at least

twenty-five percent (25%) of the registered voters residing in the relocating or

relocated city, an election shal l be held on the question of renaming the city. The

county clerk shall examine the petition and verify the validity of the signatures. If a

petition containing at least twenty -five percent (25%) of the registered voters

residing in the relocating or reloca ted city is submitted to the county clerk, and

certified by the county clerk as sufficient, by the second Tuesday in August, the

question of renaming the relocating or relocated city shall be placed on the ballot for

the next general election. The ballot s hall contain at least two (2) but no more than

four (4) names as potential new names for the relocating or relocated city.

(9) Upon the act of renaming a city, the city clerk shall forward to the Secretary of

State, within one (1) year from the date of the renaming, a document listing the new

name of the city, the date of the renaming, the present classification of the city, and

a certified copy of the ordinance adopted in accordance with KRS 83A.060. If a city

fails to comply with the provisions of this su bsection, it shall be barred from

receiving state moneys until the city complies.

Collected 2026-09-05T20:49:42Z. Source file · JSON

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