A Bardstown Road motel was fined $2,000 and ordered to staff overnight security after Louisville's Code Enforcement Board upheld the city's nuisance finding following a hearing. Budgetel Inn & Suites, located at 3304 Bardstown Road, now must keep security on-site between 2 and 5 a.m., a measure the city first ordered back in September.
According to WDRB, Louisville Metro Police said it has cited the motel at least five times since December 2025, and during the board hearing on October 23, LMPD listed at least seven infraction dates tied to the property. Three of the five cited instances reportedly came from proactive patrols in the area rather than calls placed by the motel itself. The Louisville Courier Journal reports that the motel's underlying citation and order, dated September 15, described alleged trespassing, loitering, suspected narcotics activity, recovered drugs and paraphernalia, disorderly conduct, threats, property damage, and a reported sexual assault — incident reports and arrest citations the city says cumulatively prompted the nuisance action.
How the Case Reached the Board
Per the Courier Journal, the Louisville Metro Department of Codes and Regulations first issued a notice of criminal activity nuisance violation back on April 2, which included an opportunity for the motel to reach an agreement with the department. The city and Budgetel were unable to reach that agreement, according to the paper. The department's citation was dated September 15.
The Louisville Metro Department of Codes and Regulations formally deemed Budgetel a public nuisance on September 15, the same date it ordered the motel to hire on-site security between 2 and 5 a.m. for 90 days. Budgetel requested a hearing before the Code Enforcement Board to contest that finding, but the board upheld the penalty on October 23.
The Ordinance Behind the Order
The Louisville public-nuisance ordinance bars owners from allowing a property to become or remain a criminal activity nuisance. In Budgetel's case, the city cited at least five qualifying enforcement actions within a 12-month period.
Motel Says It Cannot Police Its Guests
Budgetel's attorney, Nader George Shunnarah, said the owners plan to appeal the Code Enforcement Board's decision in court. He argued that his client should not be held responsible for crimes committed by others.
Police testified that Budgetel had no knowledge of or authorization for the alleged criminal activity. The motel told WDRB it does not believe it has done anything wrong and said it cannot control the people who visit or stay there.
Police Describe a Narrow Role
Matt Sanders, a Louisville Metro Police spokesperson, said the department's role in cases like this is limited to responding to service calls, investigating criminal activity, and documenting incidents — not making nuisance determinations itself. Sanders said Codes and Regulations reviewed police reports and calls-for-service data in building the case against Budgetel. He added that high-call locations can burden police resources and affect the quality of life and public safety in surrounding neighborhoods.
The nuisance fight is not Budgetel's only open dispute with the city. The Louisville Metro Department of Health and Wellness moved to suspend the motel's hotel permit in November 2025 after failed inspections, and Budgetel has appealed that suspension as well. The motel continues to operate while that permit appeal awaits a ruling, which both health officials and Shunnarah describe as still ongoing.
