Bardstown Road motel faces $2,000 fine after code enforcement hearing

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB+WAVE) — A motel on Bardstown Road has been the center of complaints and criminal activity for months, according to Louisville Metro Police and the Department of Codes and Regulations.

The owners and attorneys for Budgetel Inn & Suites appeared Friday before the Louisville Metro Code Enforcement Board.

Budgetel does not believe it has done anything wrong and said it cannot control the people who visit or stay at the motel.

LMPD said it has cited the motel at least five times since December 2025. Based on the ordinance, if LMPD finds five qualifying events within a 12-month period, the business can be cited.

During the hearing, LMPD listed at least seven infraction dates.

The board believes this shows a pattern of criminal activity at the property. Louisville Metro Ordinance Chapter 149.03 states that no owner shall allow their premises to become or remain a “criminal activity nuisance.”

In September, the motel received an order to have security from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m.

Leading up to the hearing, it was unclear whether Budgetel fulfilled that request. Based on incidents involving crime, drugs and complaints dating back almost a year, the board believes Budgetel’s owners should be doing more.

“We had multiple conversations, I cannot remember if the occurrences that were being sent to us from LMPD were being relayed to Budgetel at that time,” a manager for Louisville Code Enforcement said. “But there were multiple conversations that were happening between the Metro and Budgetel.”

An attorney for Budgetel does not believe the owners should be held responsible for crimes others commit on their property. The owners have not been charged with a crime, but the board believes there is a pattern of criminal activity that should have been prevented.

“This case is so unusual all the police officers testified that Budgetel had no knowledge and did not authorize anyone to come on their property and commit crime,” Budgetel attorney Nader Shunnarah said. “The attorney for the board read the ordinance and said you can only hold them responsible if they allowed things to happen.”

Officers from LMPD’s Sixth Division testified and shared details about what they encountered at Budgetel. Three of the five cited instances came from proactive patrols in the area.

The Louisville Metro Code Enforcement Board found enough evidence and fined Budgetel $2,000. Shunnarah said the owners plan to appeal the decision in court.