For Kentucky’s 2026–2027 license year, an annual fishing license costs $24.31 for residents and $58.14 for nonresidents. Short-term and multiyear options vary by residency, and trout fishing requires a separate $10.57 permit for anglers who need one.
Kentucky fishing license prices for 2026–2027
Kentucky Fish & Wildlife lists the following fees for the 2026–2027 license year. Its notice says these fees stayed the same as 2025–2026 after an inflation-based fee increase in January 2026.
| License or permit | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fishing | $24.31 | $58.14 |
| One-day fishing | $7.40 | $15.86 |
| Seven-day fishing | Not available | $37.00 |
| Three-year fishing | $58.14 | Not available |
| Joint married-couple annual fishing | $44.38 | Not available |
| Trout permit | $10.57 | $10.57 |
Source: Kentucky Fish & Wildlife License and Permit Fees; 2026–2027 fee notice: Kentucky fishing and hunting licenses available.
Which license duration is likely to cost less?
The right comparison depends on how often you plan to fish and whether you qualify as a Kentucky resident.
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- Resident fishing for one day: The one-day license is $7.40 and is for the date selected when purchased.
- Resident fishing during the license year: The annual license is $24.31. The resident-only three-year license costs $58.14.
- Nonresident visiting briefly: A one-day license costs $15.86; a seven-day license costs $37.
- Nonresident fishing throughout the license year: The annual license costs $58.14.
The listed $44.38 joint annual option is for a married couple who qualify as Kentucky residents; the fee schedule does not list a nonresident joint option.
When to add the trout permit
The trout permit is a separate $10.57 charge for residents and nonresidents. Kentucky Fish & Wildlife says trout fishermen must also have a trout permit, so add it to the applicable fishing license when your plans include trout fishing. For example, a resident buying an annual license and trout permit would pay $34.88; a nonresident buying an annual license and permit would pay $68.71. The agency’s license and permit descriptions explain the permit requirements.
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Who qualifies for resident prices or an exemption?
Kentucky generally defines a resident as someone with permanent legal residence in the state who has lived there for 30 days before applying. The definition also includes qualifying full-time students enrolled for at least six months and military personnel permanently assigned in Kentucky. Anglers who do not meet the state’s resident definition pay nonresident fees.
People age 15 and younger may fish without a license. Other exemptions have specific conditions, including fishing on qualifying farmland by owners, their spouses or dependent children; certain tenants who live and work on a farm; Kentucky resident service members on furlough for more than three days with required documentation; Free Fishing Days on the first Saturday and Sunday in June; and fishing within Mammoth Cave National Park. Check Kentucky Fish & Wildlife’s license requirements and exemptions for the exact rules before relying on an exemption.
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At a pay lake licensed by Kentucky Fish & Wildlife, an angler needs either a Kentucky fishing license or the free permit issued by the operator.
How long is a Kentucky fishing license valid?
Kentucky’s annual license year starts March 1 and ends on the last day of February. New annual licenses are required each year; the exception listed by the state is the resident three-year fishing license.
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Where to buy a Kentucky fishing license
Buy online through Kentucky Fish & Wildlife’s license and permit sales information, or purchase through a local license agent or by phone. Online buyers receive an authorization number rather than a paper license mailed to them. Follow the agency’s instructions for carrying or presenting that authorization while fishing.
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