KLC City Census: The Origins of an Ordinance

Every Kentucky city governs through ordinances—local laws that determine everything from when councils meet to how golf carts may be used on city streets. These decisions are made by mayors, councils, and commissions who live in the communities they represent. By making these decisions locally, city officials ensure that cities are managed in ways that reflect local needs, values, and priorities. 

KRS 83A outlines the powers, duties, and composition of Kentucky’s cities. Local elected officials are either members of a 6-to-12-member council or a 4-member commission. Under the council form of government, the chief elected official is the mayor.  

There are 255 mayor-council forms of government, 131 mayor-commission, 19 city manager, 4 commission, and 2 mayor-alderman forms of government, according to the Kentucky Secretary of State’s records. Of the 255 mayor-council forms of government, 24 cities have more than six council members. Most elected officials are nonpartisan. Only four cities still elect local officials by partisan election. 

KRS 83A.130 outlines the powers and duties for a mayor-council form of government. The mayor serves as the executive authority of a city but does not vote unless needed to break a tie at council proceedings. The local council must meet at least once a month and has all legislative authority.  

KRS 83A.140 outlines the powers and duties for a mayor-commission form of government. Under this form of government, all legislative, executive, and administrative authorities of a city are exercised and vested within the commission. However, unlike mayor-council, a mayor may vote in all the proceedings of the city commission. The commission determines which member will serve as the mayor pro tempore when the mayor is unable to attend to their official duties, and the commission determines all personnel decisions.   

Kentucky’s two largest cities, Louisville and Lexington, operate under unique city-county merged forms of government, known as a consolidated local government and an urban county government. These two cities are permitted to have larger local representation, as Louisville has 26 district council members and Lexington has 15 council members (12 district council members, 2 at-large, and a vice mayor). The vice mayor of Lexington is the at-large candidate who has received the largest number of votes in a local election.  

KRS 83A.040 outlines the qualifications of Kentucky’s local elected officials. Mayors in Kentucky must reside in the city they are elected for no less than one year before their election, be at least 21 years of age, be a qualified voter of the city, and reside in the city they are elected throughout their term of office. An elected local official of a legislative body must follow the same qualifications as the mayor. However, local representatives must be at least 18 years of age to be eligible to run for office.  

As outlined in KRS 83A, all Kentucky local governments are required to meet at least once a month. These meetings are set by ordinance (i.e., the third Monday of each month). However, special meetings may also be called, but no business may be considered other than what is on the agenda.  

According to the KLC City Census, approximately 98% of legislative bodies communicate with their cities either through mail or electronically. Over 40% of Kentucky cities publish state-required publications either on their website or on their city’s social media pages. State law requires various items, such as ordinances, bids, and budgetary summaries, to be advertised in a local newspaper. The results show that the majority of responding cities spend more than $20,000 annually on publication fees.  

Local officials are not distant policymakers. They are neighbors, business owners, and community leaders who understand the challenges and opportunities their cities face. Because of this connection, decisions are best made at the local level, with the state providing cities the tools and flexibility needed to serve residents effectively. 

This concludes the KLC City Census series. A comprehensive report of survey results and expanded municipal research will be released soon, providing further insight into how Kentucky cities govern, innovate, and serve.