Kentucky Revised Statutes, Chapter 306 — Hotels

Title XXV — Business and Financial Institutions

Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session.

The KRS database was last updated on 2026-09-01.

Title XXV Business and Financial Institutions

Chapter 306 Hotels

306.010 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise:

(1) "Hotel" means any hotel or inn, and includes an apartment hotel wherein furnished or unfurnished apartments are rented for fixed periods of time and the proprietor, if required, supplies food to the occupants; and

(2) "Proprietor" means the proprietor, manager, lessee or operator of a hotel.

Effective: October 1, 1942

History: Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. sec. 2176a-2.

306.020 Limited liability when safe is provided.

(1) The proprietor of any hotel may provide a safe in a convenient place, for the safekeeping of money, jewelry, furs, securities or other valuable papers or other valuable property of small compass belonging to the guests, and post a copy of this section in a public and conspicuous place and manner in the office, public rooms and public parlors of the hotel, notifying the guests that a safe is provided in which such property may be deposited. Then, if the guests neglect to deliver such property to the person in charge of the office for deposit in the safe, the proprietor shall not be liable for any loss of such property sustained by the guests by negligence of the proprietor or hotel employees, or by fire, theft, burglary or any other cause.

(2) However, no proprietor of any hotel shall be obligated to receive property on deposit for safekeeping exceeding three hundred dollars ($300) in value. If guests deliver property of a greater value to the person in charge of the office for deposit in the safe, the proprietor shall not be liable for the loss or damage thereof sustained in any sum exceeding three hundred dollars ($300), notwithstanding the property may be of greater value, unless the guests make a special agreement in writing with the proprietor.

Effective: October 1, 1942

History: Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. sec. 2176a.

306.030 General liability for loss or damage to guests' property -- Limitations on.

(1) Except as provided in KRS 306.020:

(a) The proprietor of a hotel shall not be liable in excess of one hundred dollars ($100) for the loss or damage to personal property brought into the hotel by guests, unless the loss or damage is occasioned by the negligence of the proprietor or hotel agents or employees.

(b) He shall not be liable for the loss or damage to any merchandise samples or merchandise for sale unless the guest has given prior written notice of having the merchandise in his possession, and its value, and obtained written acknowledgement of the receipt of such notice.

(c) In no event shall the liability provided for in this subsection exceed two hundred dollars ($200), unless the proprietor has contracted in writing with the guest to assume a greater liability.

(2) The hotel proprietor shall not in any event be liable for the loss or damage to property brought into the hotel by guests caused by fire, unless occasioned by negligence of the proprietor or hotel agents or employees.

(3) After a guest departs and ceases to be a guest, if any property left by him is lost or damaged, the liability of the proprietor shall be that of a gratuitous bailee and limited to not more than one hundred dollars ($100).

(4) If property is lost or destroyed while in transport to or from a hotel on behalf of a guest, the liability of the proprietor shall be limited to one hundred dollars ($100), unless the guest has given prior written notice of the value thereof and obtained written acknowledgment of the receipt of such notice. In no event shall such liability exceed two hundred dollars ($200), unless the proprietor has contracted in writing with the guest to assume a greater liability.

Effective: October 1, 1942

History: Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. sec. 2176a-1.

306.040 Boarding of guest in private home presumed gratuitous.

Any person who without an agreement for compensation entertains another in his house or furnishes him with meals or storage for his goods shall be considered as doing it as a courtesy and shall not recover anything therefor, unless the person so entertaining or furnishing is a hotel proprietor or one who makes a practice of furnishing lodging or meals to others for compensation.

Effective: October 1, 1942

History: Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. secs. 2178, 2179.