Non-compete laws · KY
Kentucky physician non-compete law
As of October 21, 2026, Kentucky has no statute specific to physician non-competes; general non-compete law and court decisions apply.
No physician-specific statuteChecked 2026-10-21 · medium confidence
No statute addresses physician noncompetes. Courts generally enforce covenants that are reasonable in duration, geography, and purpose, and may modify overbroad terms. (Kentucky LRC, 2026 RS bill index (only 'Covenant not to compete' entry: HB 813))
Who it covers
All employees under common law; no physician- or clinician-specific statute. KRS 216.724 limits noncompete clauses only for temporary direct-care staff of health care services agencies, not physicians.
Notes
No statute; the reasonableness rule comes from case law summarized in secondary sources. Bills in 2024 (SB 324, health providers), 2025 (HB 690, SB 234) and 2026 (HB 813) did not pass. KRS 216.724 limits noncompetes only for health care staffing-agency workers (not verified on the official site).
Bills that have not become law
Non-compete bills from the 2025 and 2026 sessions that had not become law as of 2026-10-21, furthest along first. A bill that died has to be filed again to move in 2027. The 2027 session starts 2027-01-05 and ends 2027-03-30.
- SB 234 (2025) · All workers
Would make non-compete clauses unenforceable (KRS Ch. 337) with notice requirements.
Introduced · Died. Introduced 2025-02-18; to Senate Judiciary 2025-02-20; no further action; died at end of 2025 RS
Sources
- Kentucky LRC, 2026 RS bill index (only 'Covenant not to compete' entry: HB 813) (bill)
- Kentucky LRC, 2026 RS HB 813 (general noncompete restriction; died in committee) (bill)
- Kentucky LRC, 2024 RS SB 324 (health service provider noncompete ban; died in committee) (bill)
- Practical Law / Frost Brown Todd, Non-Compete Laws: Kentucky (law stated as of Jul 16, 2024) (secondary)
Questions to ask about your contract
- Is the radius measured from your practice site or from every location the employer owns?
- Does the restriction apply if the employer terminates you without cause?
- Is there a buyout, and how is the amount calculated?
- What does your state's law say about physician non-competes?
Not legal advice. This page summarizes the law as written. Whether a particular agreement is enforceable depends on its wording, when it was signed and court decisions. Ask an attorney licensed in Kentucky.