Fayette County, Kentucky — Tax Sale & Surplus Procedure
Local operations layer. The legal framework (redemption periods, surplus rights, statutes, case law) lives on the parent page → kentucky. This page covers how Fayette County actually runs it. Legal information, not legal advice. Last verified: 2026-06-02.
Fayette County is a consolidated city-county government — the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) — making it one of only two consolidated governments in Kentucky (along with Louisville Metro). With a population of ~322,564 (2020 census), it is the second-largest county in Kentucky. The county clerk (now Susan Lamb, 2023–present) conducts the annual certificate-of-delinquency sale under KRS 134.128. The Master Commissioner of the Fayette Circuit Court (James H. Frazier, III) conducts all judicial/commissioner foreclosure sales. Lexington does not operate a formal land bank; vacant and blighted property concerns are handled through the Vacant Property Review Commission under LFUCG ordinances and KRS 99.700–99.730.
C0. Identity
- County seat: Lexington, KY
- Population: ~322,564 (2020 Census)
- FIPS: 21067
- Recording unit: County (Fayette County Clerk)
- Judicial district: Fayette Circuit Court (Circuit Civil Division)
- Government form: Consolidated city-county (Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government — LFUCG); the Fayette County Clerk, Fayette County Sheriff, Fayette County Attorney, Fayette County PVA, and Fayette Circuit Court each retain separate statutory roles.
- Parent legal framework: kentucky
C1. Local Tax Sale
Conducts own sale? Yes — the Fayette County Clerk (Susan Lamb) conducts an annual certificate-of-delinquency sale in person at the clerk’s office under KRS 134.128.
Platform / venue: No statewide or third-party online auction platform. Sale is conducted in person at:
Fayette County Clerk’s Office, 162 E. Main Street, Lexington, KY 40507 Phone: (859) 253-3344
A delinquent-tax search and payoff calculator is available at www.fayettedeeds.com (the clerk’s integrated records portal). Source: https://fayettecountyclerk.com/web/landrecords/delinquenttaxes
Sale calendar (confirmed from official sources):
- 2025 sale date: July 18, 2025 — confirmed in Kentucky DOR 2025 County Clerk Delinquent Tax Sale schedule (https://revenue.ky.gov/ClerkNetwork/Documents/2025%20County%20Clerk%20Delinquent%20Tax%20Sale%20Updated%207.1.2025.pdf, retrieved 2026-06-02)
- 2026 sale date: July 24, 2026 — per hometaxsale.com referencing the Fayette County Clerk’s current schedule (https://hometaxsale.com/auction/ky/fayette, retrieved 2026-06-02); needs_verification against the official clerk’s page
- Statutory window: No earlier than 90 days and no later than 135 days after bills are turned over to the clerk’s office (KRS 134.128)
- Advertising: Delinquent bills must be advertised no more than 45 days and no less than 30 days before the sale
- Source: https://fayettecountyclerk.com/web/landrecords/delinquenttaxes (retrieved via search 2026-06-02; direct fetch returns 403 — see needs_verification)
Delinquent collection timeline:
- Bills issued by the Sheriff’s Office in October; discount period October 1 – November 1 (2% discount); full amount November 2 – December 31; 5% penalty January 1–31; 10% penalty + 10% add-on February 1 – April 15.
- Bills unpaid after April 15 become delinquent with a 21% total penalty and transfer to the Fayette County Clerk.
- Source: https://www.fayettesheriff.com/?page_id=2190 (retrieved 2026-06-02)
Delinquent list location: The list of certificates of delinquency is published at the clerk’s website at least 30 days before the sale and also posted on the clerk’s records portal at www.fayettedeeds.com. A direct PDF of Tax Year 2024 certificates was confirmed at https://www.fayettecountyclerk.com/web/landrecords/delinquenttaxes/cod.pdf (retrieved via search 2026-06-02).
Registration and deposit — state (DOR): TPPs who will buy >3 certificates in Fayette County, >5 statewide, or invest >$10,000 must register with the Kentucky Department of Revenue; DOR registration fee: $250; application must arrive at DOR ≥60 days before the first target county sale (by approximately May 15, 2026 for 2026 summer sales). Source: https://revenue.ky.gov/Property/pages/third-party-purchaser.aspx (retrieved 2026-06-02)
Registration and deposit — Fayette County Clerk:
- TPPs must also register separately with the Fayette County Clerk; the clerk advertises specific registration deadlines at least 30 days before the sale.
- County-level registration fee: capped at $250 (KRS 134.128).
- Deposit requirements: 100% of face value for priority certificates; 25% deposit for non-priority certificates — per hometaxsale.com citing Fayette County Clerk procedures (https://hometaxsale.com/auction/ky/fayette, retrieved 2026-06-02). See needs_verification — direct primary-source text of clerk’s current procedures document not retrieved (fayettekyclerk.gov returns 403).
- Source (state framework): https://revenue.ky.gov/Property/pages/third-party-purchaser.aspx; KRS 134.128 — https://law.justia.com/codes/kentucky/2021/chapter-134/section-134-128/
Bidding mechanics: Kentucky’s statewide framework (103 KAR 5:180) sets the procedures; specific county clerk procedures govern the rotation/lottery method. The exact lottery/rotation/priority-list mechanics for Fayette County are not confirmed from a directly retrieved primary source — see needs_verification. State interest rate on certificates: 12% per annum (KRS 134.125).
Unsold certificates: Any certificate not sold at the annual sale remains available for purchase from the Fayette County Clerk throughout the year. Source: https://fayettecountyclerk.com/web/landrecords/delinquenttaxes (via search, 2026-06-02).
C2. Local Redemption → framework: right-of-redemption
Where/how to redeem pre-sale: The owner (or anyone liable) may pay the certificate of delinquency directly to the Fayette County Clerk’s Office (162 E. Main Street, Room 132, Lexington, KY 40507; phone (859) 253-3344) or to the TPP at any time before foreclosure judgment (KRS 134.490(4)). Payments are by money order, cashier’s check, or certified check. A payoff calculator is at www.fayettedeeds.com. Source: https://www.fayettesheriff.com/?page_id=2190 (retrieved 2026-06-02); https://fayettecountyattorney.com/services/delinquent-tax-collection/ (retrieved 2026-06-02).
Installment plan: Before the clerk’s sale, the Fayette County Attorney’s Delinquent Tax Division can negotiate an installment payment plan. If agreed before the clerk’s sale and payments remain current, the bill cannot be purchased by a TPP. Contact: Dianne McKenna, (859) 226-1825, dianne.mckenna@fayettecountyattorney.com; 201 East Main Street, Suite 600, Lexington, KY 40507. Source: https://fayettecountyattorney.com/services/delinquent-tax-collection/ (retrieved 2026-06-02).
Post-sale (judicial sale) redemption: The Fayette Circuit Court Clerk (120 N. Limestone, Lexington, KY 40507; Civil Division: (859) 246-2141) receives redemption payments on behalf of the court. The redeeming owner/defendant pays the original bid + 10% per annum interest + purchaser’s documented post-sale costs to the clerk of the circuit court that rendered the foreclosure judgment (KRS 426.530(2)). The 6-month redemption period (if triggered by a sub-2/3 sale price) runs from the day of the master commissioner sale. Source: KRS 426.530 — https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=45200
Deviations from state default: None confirmed. Fayette County follows the standard Kentucky framework (KRS 134.490, KRS 426.530). The installment plan through the County Attorney is consistent with 103 KAR 5:220.
C3. Local Surplus / Excess Proceeds → framework: surplus-funds
Claim filing venue: Surplus from a master commissioner foreclosure sale is held by the Fayette Circuit Court / Master Commissioner and must be claimed by motion in the civil foreclosure case in the Fayette Circuit Court, Civil Division:
Robert F. Stephens Circuit Courthouse, 120 N. Limestone, Suite C-103, Lexington, KY 40507 Civil Division phone: (859) 246-2141
The circuit court judge (not the master commissioner) approves distribution by court order. Source: https://www.bankruptcy-divorce.com/claim-kentucky-commissioner-foreclosure-surplus-funds/ (retrieved 2026-06-02); https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Fayette/Pages/Fayette-Circuit.aspx (retrieved 2026-06-02).
Master Commissioner contact:
James H. Frazier, III, Master Commissioner Robert F. Stephens Courthouses, Fayette Circuit Court Building, 120 North Limestone, Lexington, KY 40507 Phone: (859) 246-2127 Email: faycominfo@gmail.com (per third-party sources; see needs_verification for official email) Website: www.FAYCOM.info (returns 403 on direct fetch) Source: https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Fayette/Pages/Fayette-Master-Commissioner.aspx (retrieved 2026-06-02)
Claim form: No specific Fayette County-specific surplus claim form confirmed from a directly retrieved primary source. The claim is filed as a motion for distribution of surplus funds in the foreclosure civil action (by civil-rules motion practice). See needs_verification.
Local deadline notes: No fixed statutory bar while surplus remains with the master commissioner/court. Unclaimed funds eventually remit to the Kentucky State Treasurer as unclaimed property under KRS Chapter 393A (1-year minimum, 5-year maximum dormancy period before court-held funds must be remitted — KRS 393A.040). After remittance the former owner may still claim from the State Treasurer (perpetual custodian). Source: kentucky Module 3b; KRS 393A.040.
Unclaimed list published: The Kentucky State Treasurer publishes unclaimed property after remittance at https://treasury.ky.gov/unclaimedproperty/Pages/overview.aspx. No Fayette County-specific pre-remittance unclaimed-list published on the master commissioner’s website confirmed from a directly retrieved source.
Contact for surplus claims (County Attorney — pre-sale): Dianne McKenna, Fayette County Attorney’s Delinquent Tax Division 201 East Main Street, Suite 600, Lexington, KY 40507 Phone: (859) 226-1825 | Email: dianne.mckenna@fayettecountyattorney.com Source: https://fayettecountyattorney.com/services/delinquent-tax-collection/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
▸ For Investors / Operators — Fayette County conducts its certificate-of-delinquency sale in person at the County Clerk’s Office (162 E. Main Street; (859) 253-3344) with no online platform; the 2026 sale is tentatively July 24, 2026. State (DOR) TPP registration costs $250 and must arrive at least 60 days before the target sale. Judicial/master-commissioner foreclosure sales are held at 120 N. Limestone at 12:00 noon with a 10%-of-bid deposit option (balance within 30 days). The 6-month KRS 426.530 redemption period may apply where the bid is below two-thirds of appraised value; the purchaser receives a writ of possession immediately upon confirmation.
▸ For Former Owners — Surplus from a master-commissioner foreclosure sale is held by the Fayette Circuit Court and released by court order after a motion for distribution in the foreclosure civil action (120 N. Limestone, Suite C-103; Civil Division (859) 246-2141). No fixed claim deadline applies at the circuit court level, but unclaimed funds remit to the Kentucky State Treasurer as unclaimed property under KRS 393A.040 (1–5 year dormancy) and are searchable at treasury.ky.gov/unclaimedproperty. Before a TPP purchases the certificate, an installment plan negotiated through the Fayette County Attorney’s Delinquent Tax Division (Dianne McKenna, (859) 226-1825) can stop the certificate from being sold.
C4. Offices & Contacts
| Office | Name | Address | Phone | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| County Clerk (Tax Sale, Delinquent Certs, Deeds) | Susan Lamb | 162 E. Main Street, Lexington, KY 40507 | (859) 253-3344 | https://fayettekyclerk.gov/ |
| Circuit Court Clerk (Foreclosure cases, Surplus, Redemption) | Fayette Circuit Court Civil Division | 120 N. Limestone, Suite C-103, Lexington, KY 40507 | (859) 246-2141 | https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Fayette/Pages/Fayette-Circuit.aspx |
| Master Commissioner (Judicial Sales, Surplus) | James H. Frazier, III | 120 N. Limestone, Lexington, KY 40507 | (859) 246-2127 | https://www.faycom.info/ |
| PVA (Property Assessment) | David O’Neill, PVA | 101 E. Vine Street, Suite 600, Lexington, KY 40507 | (859) 246-2722 | https://fayettepva.com/ |
| Sheriff (Current-Year Tax Collection) | Kathy H. Witt | 150 N. Limestone, Room 236, Lexington, KY 40507 | (859) 252-1771 | https://www.fayettesheriff.com/ |
| County Attorney (Delinquent Tax Collection) | Fayette County Attorney — Delinquent Tax Div. | 201 E. Main Street, Suite 600, Lexington, KY 40507 | (859) 226-1825 | https://fayettecountyattorney.com/services/delinquent-tax-collection/ |
Sources:
- Clerk: https://fayettekyclerk.gov/ (main); https://www.yelp.com/biz/fayette-county-clerks-office-lexington (address confirmed 162 E. Main, retrieved 2026-06-02)
- Circuit Court: https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Fayette/Pages/Fayette-Circuit.aspx (retrieved 2026-06-02)
- Master Commissioner: https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Fayette/Pages/Fayette-Master-Commissioner.aspx (retrieved 2026-06-02)
- PVA: https://fayettepva.com/ (David O’Neill confirmed; address per https://fayettepva.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/homesteadapplication_new_and_improved-1.pdf, retrieved 2026-06-02)
- Sheriff: https://www.fayettesheriff.com/ (Kathy H. Witt; 150 N. Limestone confirmed per property tax FAQ, retrieved 2026-06-02)
- County Attorney: https://fayettecountyattorney.com/services/delinquent-tax-collection/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
C5. Local Procedure Notes
- No online auction platform: Fayette County conducts its certificate-of-delinquency sale in person at the clerk’s office (162 E. Main Street), consistent with the standard Kentucky in-person sale framework. No RealAuction, GovEase, or Bid4Assets platform used.
- Master commissioner sales — in person or online: The master commissioner’s judicial foreclosure sales are held at the Robert F. Stephens Fayette Circuit Courthouse, 120 North Limestone, at 12:00 noon on the advertised date. The master commissioner’s page notes that sales may alternatively be conducted “via online auction at a time and website to be advertised by the Master Commissioner.” Source: https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Fayette/Pages/Fayette-Master-Commissioner.aspx (retrieved 2026-06-02).
- Payment terms at master commissioner sales: Successful bidders may (a) pay cash in full at the sale or (b) deposit 10% of the purchase price at the sale with the balance due within 30 days; bidders paying on credit must post bond and provide an acceptable surety (bond bears interest at the judgment rate from sale date). Source: https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Fayette/Pages/Fayette-Master-Commissioner.aspx (retrieved 2026-06-02).
- Prior-year delinquent taxes at master commissioner sale: Purchasers assume all current fiscal-year taxes (through June 30 of the applicable year) and subsequent years. Delinquent prior-year taxes are paid from sale proceeds if “properly claimed in writing and filed of record” within ten days. Source: https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Fayette/Pages/Fayette-Master-Commissioner.aspx (retrieved 2026-06-02).
- Consolidated government: LFUCG consolidation means there is no separate city-level property tax administration; the county-level entities (clerk, sheriff, PVA, attorney) serve the entire county including the urban core.
- Vacant Property Review Commission: LFUCG maintains a Vacant Property Review Commission that identifies and certifies “abandoned urban property” for additional taxation (LFUCG Code ch. 7, Art. IV; KRS 132.012; KRS 99.700–99.730). Properties on the list are subject to higher tax rates. This is a tool to pressure remediation of blighted properties, not a formal land bank. Source: https://www.lexingtonky.gov/government/boards-commissions/vacant-property-review-commission (retrieved 2026-06-02).
- Delinquent Tax Collection by County Attorney: Unlike some Kentucky counties where the TPP market is primary, Fayette County’s delinquent tax recovery generates “over $1 million annually” for the county through its dedicated County Attorney Delinquent Property Tax Division — a sign of active in-house collection alongside the TPP market. Source: https://fayettecountyattorney.com/services/delinquent-tax-collection/ (retrieved 2026-06-02).
C6. Records Access
- Delinquent tax search / payoff calculator: https://www.fayettedeeds.com (Fayette County Clerk’s integrated portal — free search, no subscription; land records from 1970 to present; also supports delinquent bill search and tax payoff calculation)
- Deed / land records search: https://www.fayettedeeds.com/landrecords/index.php (search by name, doc type, date, book/page; records from 1970+; digitized historical records back to late 1700s also available)
- Parcel / PVA search: https://fayettepva.com/ (David O’Neill PVA; property owners, assessments, sales, exemptions — free public search)
- GIS / parcel map: https://maps.lexingtonky.gov/mapit/ (LFUCG MapIt — official GIS portal; zoning, parcels, council districts, historic overlays); also https://data.lexingtonky.gov/maps/lfucg::parcel (parcel data hub, 115,000+ parcels)
- Tax payment portal (current-year): https://secure2.kentucky.gov/PropertyTax/Fayette (Kentucky.gov portal — online ACH/credit card; available October–April 15 annual window); also https://www.fayettesheriff.com/ for sheriff’s direct payment
- Court records / case search: https://kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ (KY Court of Justice statewide docket; eFiling and case lookup for Fayette Circuit Court); in-person records at the Fayette Circuit Court Clerk, 120 N. Limestone, Lexington, KY 40507
- Upcoming/past commissioner sales: https://www.faycom.info/ (Master Commissioner James Frazier’s site — direct fetch returns 403; accessible via browser)
Sources: https://fayettecountyclerk.com/web/landrecords/delinquenttaxes (via search 2026-06-02); https://www.lexingtonky.gov/departments/geographic-information-services (search 2026-06-02); https://secure2.kentucky.gov/PropertyTax/Fayette (retrieved 2026-06-02); https://kcoj.kycourts.net/dockets/ (via search 2026-06-02).
C8. Title & Quiet Title
Title type: Redeemable tax-lien certificate state — the Fayette County Clerk issues a certificate of delinquency (a lien, not a deed). Title passes only after judicial foreclosure and a master commissioner’s deed is issued on court confirmation. See kentucky Module 7 for full title-marketability analysis.
Deed issued: Master commissioner’s deed — no warranty; conveys the foreclosed interest. Issued by James H. Frazier, III, Master Commissioner of the Fayette Circuit Court.
Quiet title action:
- Required? Not statutorily mandatory after a properly conducted master-commissioner judicial foreclosure, but advisable where any party was not served/joined or where a federal tax lien was present. See kentucky Module 5b.
- Type: Judicial — circuit court (equity side), under KRS 411.120.
- Court: Fayette Circuit Court, Civil Division, 120 N. Limestone, Suite C-103, Lexington, KY 40507; (859) 246-2141. Source: https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Fayette/Pages/Fayette-Circuit.aspx (retrieved 2026-06-02).
- Typical timeline: 6–12 months for uncontested cases; longer for contested matters (practitioner estimate; not confirmed from a primary-source data point — see needs_verification).
- Typical cost range: $2,000–$8,000 in attorney and filing fees for uncontested cases in Lexington; more for contested (practitioner estimate; see needs_verification). Filing fee for civil cases in Fayette Circuit Court is typically in the $200–$500 range per the court fee schedule. Source (fee schedule reference): https://www.fayetteclerk.com/Court/CourtFeeSchedule.pdf (not directly retrieved; see needs_verification).
Deed seasoning: Master commissioner’s deeds carry no warranty; title insurers in Kentucky commonly apply informal seasoning of 2–5 years or require a prior quiet-title action before issuing a clean ALTA policy. See kentucky Module 5b.
Title insurers active in Lexington / Fayette County: The following underwriters are confirmed as active in Lexington through local title agencies:
- First American Title (via Bluegrass Land Title, 2800 Palumbo Drive, Suite 102, Lexington, KY 40509)
- Fidelity National Title (via Bluegrass Land Title)
- Stewart Title (via Bluegrass Land Title and Eastern KY Title)
- Old Republic Title (via Bluegrass Land Title and Old Republic’s Kentucky office) Source: https://bluegrasslandtitle.com/ (retrieved 2026-06-02 — four named underwriters confirmed); https://www.oldrepublictitle.com/kentucky (search 2026-06-02).
Note: Title insurer willingness to underwrite master-commissioner deeds without exception depends on the specific policy, quiet-title status, and individual underwriter guidelines — see needs_verification for specific underwriting requirements.
C9. Purchaser Obligations
Subsequent tax payment office: Subsequent-year tax bills are payable to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Tax Division:
Room 236, Fayette District Courthouse, 150 North Limestone, Lexington, KY 40507 Phone: (859) 252-1771 | Email: fayettesheriff@fayettesheriff.com Online: https://secure2.kentucky.gov/PropertyTax/Fayette (available October–April 15) In person also at any Lexington Republic Bank location through January 31 Source: https://www.fayettesheriff.com/?page_id=2190 (retrieved 2026-06-02)
After April 15 of any given year, delinquent bills for subsequent years transfer to the Fayette County Clerk’s Office (162 E. Main Street; (859) 253-3344) — payable via the clerk’s office with payoff calculator at www.fayettedeeds.com.
Notice to owner procedure: Kentucky does not require the master-commissioner-sale purchaser to send a separate certified-letter notice to the former owner before the 6-month KRS 426.530 redemption period expires. The period lapses automatically by operation of law. See kentucky Module 10b. No Fayette-specific local rule requiring additional notice was confirmed — see needs_verification.
Redemption payment office: The redeeming owner/defendant pays the redemption amount to the clerk of the Fayette Circuit Court that issued the foreclosure judgment:
Fayette Circuit Court Clerk, Civil Division 120 N. Limestone, Suite C-103, Lexington, KY 40507 Phone: (859) 246-2141 Source: KRS 426.530(2) — https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=45200; https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Fayette/Pages/Fayette-Circuit.aspx (retrieved 2026-06-02)
Occupancy and access during redemption: Under KRS 426.530(3), the master-commissioner-sale purchaser receives a writ of possession immediately upon the sale/confirmation, entitling them to physical possession. The former owner has no statutory right to remain during the redemption period. In practice, secondary sources indicate a 10-day notice before the purchaser may execute the writ (exact statutory provision not separately confirmed — see needs_verification). The purchaser may enter to make maintenance and repairs; costs are recoverable from a redeeming owner under KRS 426.530(1). Source: KRS 426.530(3) — https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=45200.
C10. Local Restrictions
Right of first refusal active? No — neither LFUCG nor any other local entity is confirmed to exercise a formal right of first refusal at the annual Fayette County Clerk certificate-of-delinquency sale or at master-commissioner sales. The LFUCG Vacant Property Review Commission (contact: 101 E. Vine St., Suite 500; (859) 425-2179) works to pressure rehabilitation of blighted properties through additional taxation (KRS 132.012), but does not hold a statutory ROFR at tax sales. Source: https://www.lexingtonky.gov/government/boards-commissions/vacant-property-review-commission (retrieved 2026-06-02).
Land bank active? No formal land bank confirmed for Fayette County. Unlike Jefferson County (which has the Jefferson County Land Reutilization Corporation under KRS 65.350–65.375), Fayette County/LFUCG does not appear to operate a dedicated land bank authority as of 2026. The city’s vacant-property strategy centers on the Vacant Property Review Commission (KRS 99.700–99.730; LFUCG Code ch. 12-82) and the Kentucky Abandoned and Blighted Property Conservatorship Act (SB 105, 2024) which allows court appointment of a conservator for blighted abandoned property — but no land bank entity was confirmed in Fayette County from retrieved official sources. Source: https://www.lexingtonky.gov/government/boards-commissions/vacant-property-review-commission (retrieved 2026-06-02); search for “Fayette County land bank” returned no dedicated entity (2026-06-02).
Entity / insider notes: Kentucky’s standard TPP registration framework (KRS 134.129) applies — entities (LLCs, corporations) may register as TPPs if (a) registered and in good standing with the Kentucky Secretary of State and (b) the entity’s officers/directors/members are current on Kentucky taxes. Related-entity circumvention of registration thresholds is prohibited (KRS 134.128(2)(f)). No Fayette-specific entity restrictions beyond the state framework. Source: kentucky Module 11b; KRS 134.129.
C7. Meta
- parent_state: kentucky
- last_verified: 2026-06-02
- confidence: 0.82
- completeness_score: 0.85
- gap_score: 9
sources:
- {type: agency, url: “https://fayettecountyclerk.com/web/landrecords/delinquenttaxes”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # Fayette County Clerk delinquent taxes page — tax sale dates, procedures, delinquent list (search result content; direct fetch redirects to fayettekyclerk.gov which returns 403)
- {type: agency, url: “https://revenue.ky.gov/ClerkNetwork/Documents/2025%20County%20Clerk%20Delinquent%20Tax%20Sale%20Updated%207.1.2025.pdf”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # KY DOR 2025 Tax Sale Schedule — Fayette County sale date confirmed July 18, 2025 (PDF parsed via pdftotext)
- {type: agency, url: “https://www.fayettesheriff.com/?page_id=2190”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # Fayette County Sheriff property tax FAQ — payment schedule, delinquency timeline, office address/phone (full page retrieved)
- {type: agency, url: “https://fayettecountyattorney.com/services/delinquent-tax-collection/”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # Fayette County Attorney delinquent tax collection — installment plans, transfer process, contact info (full page retrieved)
- {type: agency, url: “https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Fayette/Pages/Fayette-Master-Commissioner.aspx”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # KY Court of Justice — Fayette Master Commissioner James Frazier, III; sale location/procedures/payment terms (full page retrieved)
- {type: agency, url: “https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Fayette/Pages/Fayette-Circuit.aspx”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # Fayette Circuit Court — address, phone, civil division foreclosure jurisdiction (full page retrieved)
- {type: commentary, url: “https://hometaxsale.com/auction/ky/fayette”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # Hometaxsale.com — Fayette County 2026 sale date July 24, 2026; deposit requirements (100%/25%); registration info (secondary source — needs_verification against primary)
- {type: agency, url: “https://revenue.ky.gov/Property/pages/third-party-purchaser.aspx”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # KY DOR TPP registration — $250 fee, ≥60-day lead, thresholds, May 15 2026 deadline (full page retrieved)
- {type: agency, url: “https://fayettepva.com/”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # Fayette PVA — David O’Neill; 101 E. Vine St. Suite 600; (859) 246-2722 (via search; direct fetch 403)
- {type: agency, url: “https://www.lexingtonky.gov/government/boards-commissions/vacant-property-review-commission”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # LFUCG Vacant Property Review Commission — no land bank; blighted-property taxation; contact info (full page retrieved)
- {type: commentary, url: “https://www.bankruptcy-divorce.com/claim-kentucky-commissioner-foreclosure-surplus-funds/”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # Kentucky commissioner surplus funds — motion process, court filing, timing (secondary source; no Fayette-specific content)
- {type: agency, url: “https://bluegrasslandtitle.com/”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # Bluegrass Land Title Lexington — title underwriters: First American, Fidelity, Stewart, Old Republic (full page retrieved)
- {type: statute, url: “https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=45200”, retrieved: “2026-06-01”} # KRS 426.530 — 6-month redemption; 10% interest; writ of possession; redemption paid to court clerk
- {type: statute, url: “https://law.justia.com/codes/kentucky/2021/chapter-134/section-134-128/”, retrieved: “2026-06-01”} # KRS 134.128 — clerk sale 90-135 days; $250 clerk fee cap; bankruptcy bar
needs_verification:
- Fayette County Clerk’s 2026 tax sale date (July 24, 2026) — cited from hometaxsale.com (secondary); official clerk page fayettekyclerk.gov returns 403 on fetch; confirm against official source
- Exact Fayette County Clerk deposit requirements (100% priority / 25% non-priority) — cited from hometaxsale.com; clerk’s procedures PDF redirects to 403; confirm from official source
- Fayette County Clerk’s specific lottery/rotation/priority-list mechanics for annual certificate sale — state framework applies (103 KAR 5:180) but county-specific procedure not confirmed from directly retrieved primary source
- 2026 sale date (July 24, 2026) — confirm once fayettekyclerk.gov is accessible or against DOR 2026 schedule when published
- faycom.info Master Commissioner website content — direct fetch returns 403; bidder FAQ, upcoming sales, and surplus procedures not independently confirmed
- Email address for Master Commissioner James Frazier, III (faycominfo@gmail.com cited in search results) — not confirmed from an official primary-source page
- Quiet title timeline and cost in Fayette County — practitioner estimate only; no primary-source data point
- Fayette Circuit Court civil filing fee for quiet title — referenced fee schedule URL not directly retrieved
- Whether LFUCG or any entity exercises a formal ROFR at the annual tax sale — no positive confirmation; no confirmed negative from an official Fayette source
- Whether any local ordinance in Fayette County/LFUCG creates additional TPP restrictions beyond the state framework
- 10-day notice to vacate before purchaser executes writ of possession — referenced in secondary sources; specific KRS provision not confirmed; no Fayette-specific local rule confirmed
- Title insurer-specific willingness to underwrite master-commissioner deeds in Fayette County without quiet title — practitioner norm but no primary source retrieved
cross_links: kentucky, right-of-redemption, surplus-funds, tyler-v-hennepin-county, farmers-national-bank-v-commonwealth, smith-v-apex-fund-services-2025, federal-tax-lien-redemption, heirs-property, bankruptcy-automatic-stay, due-process-notice, quiet-title-after-tax-sale, hoa-lien-priority, land-bank-authority
changelog:
- 2026-06-02 — Initial population. Sources retrieved: Fayette County Clerk (delinquent taxes, via search and search result content); KY DOR 2025 Tax Sale Schedule PDF (Fayette County = July 18, 2025); Fayette County Sheriff property tax FAQ; Fayette County Attorney delinquent tax division; KY Courts Master Commissioner page; Fayette Circuit Court page; hometaxsale.com (2026 date, deposit requirements); DOR TPP program page; Fayette PVA; LFUCG Vacant Property Review Commission; Bluegrass Land Title (title underwriters). Direct fetches of fayettekyclerk.gov and faycom.info return 403; procedures and procedures PDF not directly retrieved. gap_score 9 (all remaining points from needs_verification Row 2 flags).
▸ For Investors / Operators — Fayette County conducts its certificate-of-delinquency sale in person at the County Clerk’s Office (162 E. Main Street; (859) 253-3344) with no online platform; the 2026 sale is tentatively July 24, 2026. State (DOR) TPP registration costs $250 and must arrive at least 60 days before the target sale. Judicial/master-commissioner foreclosure sales are held at 120 N. Limestone at 12:00 noon with a 10%-of-bid deposit option (balance within 30 days). The 6-month KRS 426.530 redemption period may apply where the bid is below two-thirds of appraised value; the purchaser receives a writ of possession immediately upon confirmation.
▸ For Former Owners — Surplus from a master-commissioner foreclosure sale is held by the Fayette Circuit Court and released by court order after a motion for distribution in the foreclosure civil action (120 N. Limestone, Suite C-103; Civil Division (859) 246-2141). No fixed claim deadline applies at the circuit court level, but unclaimed funds remit to the Kentucky State Treasurer as unclaimed property under KRS 393A.040 (1–5 year dormancy) and are searchable at treasury.ky.gov/unclaimedproperty. Before a TPP purchases the certificate, an installment plan negotiated through the Fayette County Attorney’s Delinquent Tax Division (Dianne McKenna, (859) 226-1825) can stop the certificate from being sold.
Legal information, not legal advice. This page summarizes Kentucky and Fayette County procedures for educational purposes and may be incomplete or out of date. Statutes, court procedures, and local practices change. Verify every cited primary source and consult a licensed Kentucky attorney before acting. Last verified: 2026-06-02.