Kentucky do not call list: what callers and consumers need to know

Last updated 2026-07-09

What is the Kentucky Do Not Call Registry and who runs it?

Kentucky's Do Not Call Registry is a state list of residential phone numbers whose owners asked to stop getting unsolicited telemarketing calls. The Kentucky Attorney General's office runs it under the Kentucky Consumer Protection Act, at KRS 367.46951 through 367.46991 ^[1]. It has operated since 2003.

The state list sits on top of the federal National Do Not Call Registry, which the FTC manages ^[2]. A Kentucky consumer who registers gets both layers of protection at once. A telemarketer who scrubs the federal list but skips the state side is still exposed to state enforcement.

Here is the part that changes the math for callers. The AG's office can sue violators directly in state court. Federal enforcement runs through the FTC or FCC and moves on a federal timeline. The Kentucky AG does not need to wait on a federal agency or share a case with one, so state action can land faster.

So you need two scrubs, not one. That's the whole idea. The do not call list article covers how state and federal registries fit together.

How does a Kentucky consumer register on the Do Not Call list?

Kentucky residents register a number through the state Attorney General's site at ago.ky.gov, or by calling the federal line 1-888-382-1222 from the number they want listed ^[1]. Both routes cover state and federal registration, because Kentucky uses the national registry program.

It's free. There is no renewal step. The FTC made registrations permanent starting in 2008 ^[2], and Kentucky follows the same permanent model.

After you register, callers have 31 days to pull your number from their lists under federal rules. You may still get calls during that window. If a telemarketer with no exemption keeps calling past 31 days, that's a reportable violation.

Cell phones qualify. You register a mobile number the exact same way. People still get confused about this, thanks to a "number portability" argument that floated around in the early 2000s and made folks think cell numbers were off-limits. They aren't. The mobile phone do not call list article breaks it down.

What telemarketers are exempt from the Kentucky Do Not Call law?

Not every caller has to honor the Kentucky registry. The statute names specific categories that fall outside it ^[1]:

• Calls by or for charitable organizations, as long as they qualify as 501(c)(3) nonprofits and the call is fundraising.
• Calls from a business with an established business relationship (EBR). Under Kentucky law the EBR window runs 18 months from the last purchase or transaction, and 3 months from an inquiry or application.
• Calls from political campaigns and candidates. Political speech has First Amendment protection that puts it outside consumer-protection statutes.
• Calls from survey firms doing market research with no sales pitch during the call.
• Calls from banks, insurers, and healthcare providers to existing customers on regulated matters.

These exemptions are narrower than they sound. Claim an EBR but fail to show the transaction date or how the consumer's contact got into your system, and the exemption falls apart in an enforcement action. The AG's office does not take your word for it.

Watch this trap. Federal TCPA exemptions and Kentucky's state exemptions don't line up perfectly. A call that's exempt under federal law can still be a state violation, and the reverse happens too. Check both, every time.

What are the fines for violating the Kentucky Do Not Call law?

Kentucky's statute allows civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation ^[1]. Each call to a registered number is a separate violation. A campaign that dials 50 registered numbers isn't one $10,000 problem. It's potentially $500,000.

The AG can also seek an injunction, meaning a court order to stop calling, plus restitution to consumers who took actual damages. Attorney's fees can land on top.

Federal exposure stacks. TCPA statutory damages run $500 per negligent violation and $1,500 per willful violation under 47 U.S.C. § 227 ^[3]. The FTC can seek up to $51,744 per violation under the Telemarketing Sales Rule as of 2024 ^[4]. Those figures sit alongside the state penalty, not in place of it.

Private plaintiffs can sue under the TCPA directly. That's the engine behind most TCPA class actions, which routinely settle in the millions. Kentucky's DNC statute does not give consumers a private right of action the way the TCPA does at the federal level. But a Kentucky plaintiff can still file federally while the AG runs a state case at the same time. Two fronts, one campaign.

The penalties and lawsuits section has a full breakdown of how these damages compound.

How do telemarketers access and scrub against the Kentucky registry?

Kentucky uses the FTC's national registry, so callers pull Kentucky numbers through the same portal as the federal list: donotcall.gov ^[2]. You subscribe, pick the area codes you need, download the data, and scrub your list before you dial.

Access is free for callers below a set call volume. Larger commercial operations pay on a fee schedule tied to how many area codes they pull ^[2]. The how do i get the do not call list article walks the whole process step by step.

How often you scrub matters more than most people think. The FTC's rule under 16 CFR Part 310 says telemarketers must re-scrub against the registry at least every 31 days ^[4]. Download data in January, run a campaign in March off that stale file, and you're out of compliance.

For a small team running its own outbound, the workflow is short. Download the updated data. Match it against your call list with a DNC scrubbing tool or a CRM integration. Suppress the matches. Log the suppression date. That log is what saves you when a complaint shows up. An undocumented scrub gets treated as if it never happened.

LeadCompliant's free DNC checker lets you verify individual numbers against the federal and major state registries before you dial. Good for spot-checks and short lists.

Does Kentucky have a separate law on top of the federal TCPA?

Yes. The TCPA is a federal statute (47 U.S.C. § 227) enforced by the FCC ^[3]. The Kentucky Consumer Protection Act's telemarketing provisions (KRS 367.46951 et seq.) are state law enforced by the Kentucky AG ^[1]. They run in parallel.

The TCPA lets states impose greater restrictions than the federal floor, and Kentucky does. The residential EBR window for telemarketing was set at 18 months after the 2003 Do-Not-Call Implementation Act, and Kentucky mirrors that timeframe. The state AG needs no FCC cooperation to bring a case.

Here's the requirement small teams miss most. Kentucky law makes telemarketers register with the AG's office and pay a fee before calling into the state, unless they qualify for an exemption ^[1]. That's separate from scrubbing the DNC list. Skipping registration is its own violation, even if every call you made would otherwise have been fine.

Most teams focus on the list scrub and assume that's the whole job. It isn't. Check the AG's current fee schedule at ago.ky.gov before you launch any Kentucky outbound campaign.

How does the Kentucky registry compare to other state DNC lists?

States fall into three buckets: those with a standalone registry, those relying entirely on the federal list, and those with hybrid rules that add requirements on top of the federal one. Kentucky is a hybrid.

The table below compares states callers ask about most:

State	Own Registry?	Per-Violation Fine	Private Right of Action?	AG Enforcement?
Kentucky	Yes (via federal portal)	Up to $10,000 [1]	No (state law)	Yes
Florida	Yes (standalone)	Up to $10,000 [5]	Yes	Yes
Indiana	Yes	Up to $5,000 [6]	Yes (limited)	Yes
Pennsylvania	Yes	Up to $1,000 [7]	No	Yes
Oregon	Yes	Up to $25,000 [8]	Yes	Yes
Federal (FTC/TCPA)	Yes	$500-$1,500 (TCPA); $51,744 (TSR) [3][4]	Yes (TCPA)	Yes

Oregon deserves a note, because callers covering the Pacific Northwest ask about it right alongside Kentucky. The Oregon Do Not Call list is run by the Oregon DOJ and carries one of the steepest per-call penalties of any state, up to $25,000 under ORS 646A.362 ^[8]. Oregon also requires a separate telemarketer registration with its AG. Run a multi-state campaign that touches both Kentucky and Oregon and you're dealing with two of the more active state-enforcement shops in the country.

For more state comparisons see florida do not call list, indiana do not call list, and do not call list pa.

Can Kentucky residents report Do Not Call violations, and what happens next?

Yes. Consumers report two ways: through the FTC's complaint portal at donotcall.gov, or straight to the Kentucky AG's Consumer Protection Division at ago.ky.gov ^[1][2]. Both matter. The FTC aggregates complaint data to spot patterns that trigger enforcement sweeps. The AG reviews individual Kentucky complaints for possible state action.

A complaint doesn't guarantee a lawsuit. The AG's office goes after cases with a pattern of violations, a large pool of affected consumers, or fraud layered on top of the DNC breach. One call from a telemarketer with an arguable exemption rarely turns into a prosecution.

Complaints still drive enforcement. The FTC's Do Not Call Data Book reports millions of complaints each year, and that data feeds which industries and companies get investigated ^[2]. Robocall and auto-dialer complaints carry extra weight, because the TCPA's rules on automated calls are tighter than its DNC rules.

Want to check whether a number already shows up on complaint data? The do not call list report article explains how that data gets published and searched.

What about robocalls and autodialers under Kentucky law?

Kentucky's DNC statute covers telemarketing calls broadly, but autodialer and prerecorded-voice calls carry extra federal exposure. Under 47 U.S.C. § 227(b), a call using an automatic telephone dialing system (ATDS) or a prerecorded voice needs prior express consent from the called party, no matter whether the number sits on any DNC list ^[3].

The FCC's ATDS definition has been fought over in court for years. In 2021 the Supreme Court decided Facebook, Inc. v. Duguid and narrowed it to devices that use "a random or sequential number generator" to store or produce numbers ^[9]. That helps some callers. But predictive dialers and power dialers that work from imported lists still carry risk depending on your circuit and the facts.

For Kentucky callers the rule of thumb is blunt. If your software does anything other than a human dialing each number by hand, get legal advice on whether it counts as an ATDS under current FCC guidance. The dnc registry article covers how the registry and ATDS rules interact.

Prerecorded messages to residential lines are generally barred without prior written consent, even for numbers not on any DNC list. Prerecorded calls to cell phones are barred without prior express written consent.

What records should telemarketers keep to defend a Kentucky DNC complaint?

Recordkeeping is the line between a complaint that dies quietly and one that becomes a judgment. At a minimum, Kentucky telemarketers should keep:

1. Proof of telemarketer registration with the Kentucky AG, including the date and fee payment. 2. DNC scrub logs showing when each list download was pulled and when each outbound list was scrubbed against it. Export these from your dialer or CRM. Don't rely on memory. 3. Consent records for any consumer who gave express permission, with date, method, and the exact language shown to them. 4. Documentation of any EBR claimed as an exemption, including the transaction date and the consumer's account number or order confirmation. 5. Do-not-call request logs. If a consumer asks your callers to stop, record the request and the removal date, and honor the number within 30 days under both federal rules and the Kentucky statute.

The FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule at 16 CFR 310.5 requires records to be kept for 24 months from the date they're produced ^[4]. Kentucky law sets no shorter period, so the 24-month federal standard is your floor.

For small teams building this from scratch, LeadCompliant's one-time compliance kit includes a DNC policy template, a scrub-log spreadsheet, and a consent-capture checklist built around both the federal TSR and common state rules, Kentucky included.

Do the same rules apply to text messages and SMS marketing in Kentucky?

Mostly, with a few wrinkles. The TCPA covers texts sent via ATDS the same way it covers calls. The FCC has said so repeatedly ^[10]. A text to a DNC-listed number sent without consent is a violation.

Kentucky's state DNC statute was written with voice calls in mind and lacks the specific SMS provisions some newer state laws carry. SMS campaigns aimed at Kentucky consumers still face federal TCPA exposure, and the AG can pursue unfair or deceptive trade practices under the broader Consumer Protection Act no matter the channel.

The TCPA rule for text marketing is clear. Prior express written consent is required for any promotional text sent via ATDS to a cell phone. That consent has to be clear, has to describe what the consumer is agreeing to, and can't be bundled with consent to buy a product or service ^[10]. The sms compliance section covers the consent requirements in detail.

The do not call telemarketer list article also shows how DNC rules carry across calling and messaging in a multi-channel program.

How should a small sales team build a Kentucky-compliant calling process?

Small teams often assume compliance is a big-company problem. That assumption gets expensive. TCPA plaintiffs' attorneys hunt small businesses on purpose, because they're less likely to have documented processes and more likely to settle.

Here's a workable process for a team of 2 to 20 people calling into Kentucky.

Step 1: Register as a telemarketer with the Kentucky AG before your first call. Check the current fee at ago.ky.gov. This is a prerequisite, not an afterthought.

Step 2: Subscribe to the national registry at donotcall.gov and pull the Kentucky area codes (270, 364, 502, 606, 859 cover the state; pull every code your target geography touches). Re-pull every 31 days.

Step 3: Scrub every outbound list before dialing. Log the date. Keep the log.

Step 4: Keep an internal DNC list. Anyone who tells your callers to stop goes on it right away, and stays off every campaign you run.

Step 5: Train callers on identification. Kentucky's telemarketing law requires them to identify themselves, name the company, and state the purpose of the call at the start ^[1].

Step 6: If you use a dialer, get clear on whether it counts as an ATDS under post-Facebook v. Duguid analysis.

Step 7: Keep all records at least 24 months.

The government do not call list and ftc do not call list articles cover the federal side in more depth.

Frequently asked questions

How do I register my Kentucky phone number on the Do Not Call list?

Go to donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222 from the number you want to register. Both methods put you on the national list, which Kentucky uses as its state registry. Registration is free and permanent. Calls should stop within 31 days. If they don't, report the caller to the Kentucky AG at ago.ky.gov or through donotcall.gov.

Is there a separate Kentucky state DNC list or just the federal list?

Kentucky uses the federal National Do Not Call Registry rather than keeping a fully separate database, but it has its own state statute (KRS 367.46951 to 367.46991) with its own penalties and enforcement by the Kentucky AG. So one registration protects you under both state and federal law. Telemarketers, though, have to comply with both sets of rules.

What is the fine for calling a number on the Kentucky Do Not Call list?

The Kentucky AG can seek civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation, with each illegal call counted separately. On top of that, federal TCPA violations run $500 to $1,500 per call, and the FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule allows penalties up to $51,744 per violation. These are cumulative exposures, not alternatives.

How long does it take for a number to be protected after registering in Kentucky?

Federal law gives telemarketers 31 days to update their lists after you register. During those 31 days you may still get compliant calls from telemarketers who downloaded the registry before your registration date. After 31 days, calls from telemarketers without a valid exemption are violations. Kentucky state law adds no shorter grace period.

Do telemarketers in Kentucky need to register with the state before calling?

Yes. Kentucky requires telemarketers to register with the Attorney General's office and pay a fee before calling into the state. That's separate from scrubbing the DNC list. Failing to register is itself a violation of KRS 367.46951, even if the calls would otherwise have been lawful. Check the current fee and form at ago.ky.gov.

Are political calls and charitable calls exempt from the Kentucky DNC law?

Yes to both, with conditions. Political campaign calls are exempt on First Amendment grounds. Charitable calls from qualified 501(c)(3) organizations are exempt when the call is genuinely for fundraising and no commercial sale is involved. If a for-profit telemarketer is hired to make the charitable call, they may lose the exemption. Document the nature of each call campaign.

Does an existing customer relationship (EBR) let me call a Kentucky number on the DNC list?

Yes, if the relationship is recent. Kentucky's EBR exemption mirrors the federal standard: 18 months from a purchase or transaction, or 3 months from a written inquiry or application. The relationship has to be documented. After those windows close, the DNC registration controls. If the consumer registers and explicitly asks not to be called, the EBR exemption ends immediately.

Can I text a Kentucky consumer instead of calling them to avoid Do Not Call rules?

No. Texts sent via automated dialing systems are covered by the federal TCPA just like voice calls. Sending a promotional text to a number on the DNC list without prior express written consent is a TCPA violation with the same $500 to $1,500 per-message exposure. Kentucky's state statute focuses on voice calls, but the federal exposure for unwanted texts is large and heavily litigated.

What should I do if a Kentucky consumer asks to be put on my company's internal do not call list?

Honor the request within 30 days under the federal Telemarketing Sales Rule, and log it immediately. Your internal DNC list has to be company-wide, not per-campaign. A consumer who asks one of your callers not to call can't be called again by any campaign you run. Keep the removal record at least 24 months per 16 CFR 310.5.

How often do I need to re-scrub my call list against the Kentucky DNC registry?

At least every 31 days under the FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule (16 CFR Part 310). Many compliance teams re-scrub more often, especially for fast-moving lead lists. The scrub date has to be documented. If a complaint is filed and your most recent scrub was more than 31 days before the call, you have no safe-harbor defense for that call.

How does the Kentucky DNC law compare to Oregon's state Do Not Call rules?

Both states enforce actively and require telemarketer registration. Oregon's maximum per-call penalty is higher, up to $25,000 under ORS 646A.362, versus Kentucky's $10,000. Oregon also gives consumers a private right to sue directly under state law, which Kentucky's DNC statute does not. Both states require separate scrubs on top of the federal list.

Where do I report a Do Not Call violation in Kentucky?

Report to the FTC at donotcall.gov or to the Kentucky Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at ago.ky.gov. File in both places for maximum visibility. Include the calling number, the date and time, what was said, and whether your number was registered before the call. The AG's office takes reports online, by phone, and by mail.

Does the Kentucky DNC law apply to calls from out of state?

Yes. If the call goes to a Kentucky residential number, the caller must comply with Kentucky law no matter where they're calling from. That's standard for state consumer protection laws. A telemarketer based in Florida or Texas dialing a 502 area code is fully subject to KRS 367.46951 et seq. and the Kentucky AG's enforcement authority.

What is the do not call list number to register in Kentucky?

Call 1-888-382-1222 from the number you want to register. That's the federal National DNC Registry hotline, and it covers Kentucky's state registry at the same time. You can also register online at donotcall.gov. For questions specific to the state, contact the Kentucky AG's Consumer Protection Division through ago.ky.gov.

Sources

1. Kentucky Legislature, KRS Chapter 367.46951–367.46991 (Kentucky Consumer Protection Act, Telemarketing provisions): Kentucky's state Do Not Call Registry statute, penalties up to $10,000 per violation, and telemarketer registration requirement
2. Federal Trade Commission, National Do Not Call Registry (donotcall.gov): Registration is free and permanent; telemarketers must re-scrub every 31 days; registration via 1-888-382-1222
3. U.S. Government Publishing Office, 47 U.S.C. § 227 (Telephone Consumer Protection Act): TCPA statutory damages of $500 per negligent violation and $1,500 per willful violation; ATDS and prerecorded voice call restrictions
4. Federal Trade Commission, 16 CFR Part 310 (Telemarketing Sales Rule): FTC civil penalty up to $51,744 per violation; 31-day scrub requirement; 24-month recordkeeping requirement
5. Florida Legislature, Florida Do Not Call Act (§ 501.059, Florida Statutes): Florida state DNC law carries penalties up to $10,000 per violation
6. Indiana Attorney General, Indiana Do Not Call Law (IC 24-4.7): Indiana DNC violations carry penalties up to $5,000 per call
7. Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Telemarketer Registration Act (73 P.S. § 2241 et seq.): Pennsylvania DNC violations carry civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation
8. Oregon Legislative Assembly, ORS 646A.362 (Oregon Telephone Solicitation Law): Oregon state DNC violations can carry penalties up to $25,000 per call; separate telemarketer registration required with Oregon AG
9. U.S. Supreme Court, Facebook, Inc. v. Duguid, 592 U.S. 395 (2021): Narrowed ATDS definition to devices using a random or sequential number generator to store or produce numbers
10. Kentucky Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division (ago.ky.gov): Kentucky AG administers state DNC enforcement; consumers can report violations and telemarketers register at ago.ky.gov