In Committee
2026 Regular Session

HB617

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AN ACT relating to planning and zoning.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 100 to define "qualifying planning unit," "qualifying residential development," "small lot," "service document," and "transitional buffer"; prohibit a qualifying planning unit from establishing certain restrictions on a qualifying residential development or small lot; allow a qualifying planning unit to adopt generally applicable regulations related to specified environmental features, and other matters for which a planning unit is authorized to regulate; establish that there is no effect on property owner's associations; establish a cause of action and recovery costs and awarding of attorney's fees if successful; establish limitations on when a qualifying planning unit may deny a development; allow a developer to modify and resubmit development plans after a denial; require a qualifying planning unit alleging substantial negative impacts to articulate those impacts and demonstrate them under clear and convincing evidentiary standard; establish a cause of action by a developer to bring suit for a development plan denial; permit a local government to require a transitional buffer between existing development and a qualifying residential development; create a new section of KRS Chapter 100 to prohibit a planning unit from adopting certain space requirements for parking; direct that the prohibition does not alleviate responsibility to provide accessible parking; allow a planning unit to deny a development if there would be substantial negative impacts; allow a developer to modify and resubmit plans to remediate negative impacts; require a planning unit alleging substantial negative impacts to articulate those impacts and demonstrate them under clear and convincing evidentiary standard; establish a cause of action by a developer for a denial due to a substantial negative impact; create a new section of KRS Chapter 100 to define "mixed-use residential development," "multifamily residential development," and "qualifying planning unit"; direct that in a qualifying planning unit mixed-use and multifamily developments are permitted use in commercial zones; prohibit a qualifying planning unit from imposing requirements on those developments more restrictive than other uses in the zone or to have certain parking requirements; EFFECTIVE July 1, 2027.

Planning and ZoningLocal MandateCitiesCivil ActionsConsolidated Local GovernmentsCountiesCounties, UrbanEffective Dates, DelayedHousing, Building, and ConstructionLand Use

Introduced: February 11, 2026

Last action: March 13, 2026

Returned To Local Government (H)
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Legislative History

Feb 11, 2026 · House
Introduced In House
Feb 11, 2026 · House
To Committee On Committees (H)
Feb 19, 2026 · House
To Local Government (H)
Mar 13, 2026 · House
Taken From Local Government (H) (clerical)
Mar 13, 2026 · House
1st Reading (clerical)
Mar 13, 2026 · House
Returned To Local Government (H) (clerical)

Primary Sponsor

Portrait of Susan Tyler Witten
Susan Tyler Witten

Representative · House District 031

Primary sponsor
susan.witten@kylegislature.gov
BallotpediaOfficial profile

Co-sponsors (3)

Portrait of Thomas Huff
Thomas Huff

Representative · House District 049

Co-sponsor
Thomas.Huff@kylegislature.gov
Portrait of T.J. Roberts
T.J. Roberts

Representative · House District 066

Co-sponsor
tj.roberts@kylegislature.gov
Portrait of Richard White
Richard White

Representative · House District 099

Co-sponsor
Richard.White@kylegislature.gov