Chapter 8 Sign Regulations Outdoor Advertising Signs

8.4.1 Unilluminated Outdoor Advertising Signs

An unilluminated outdoor advertising sign of less than seventy two (72) square feet shall be allowed if:

  1. Editor’s note: Outdoor advertising signs are prohibited in the city of Middletown

    Editor’s note: *“Designated parkways” as referenced in the section of Chapter 10, Part 3.
    Located in a C N, C 1, C 2, C M, M 1, M 2 or M 3 District;
  2. Set back at least fifteen (15) feet from the front or street side property lines if in a C N, C 1, C 2 or C M Districts;
  3. Located not less than four hundred fifty (450) feet from any existing billboard of any size on the same side of the same street, and not less than nine hundred (900) feet from any existing billboard of any size on the same side of a controlled access highway or designated parkway*;
  4. Located not less than two hundred twenty five (225) feet from any existing billboard of any size on the opposite side of the same street (measured from the point of intersection on the same side of the street with the line from the existing sign perpendicular to the roadway), and not less than four hundred fifty (450) feet from any existing billboard of any size on the opposite side of the same controlled access highway or designated parkway (as so measured);
  5. Located not less than seventy five (75) feet from the centerline of an intersecting roadway;
  6. In a C N District, located not less than two hundred (200) feet measured radially from the nearest edge of a residentially zoned or residentially developed lot in the metropolitan area, in a C 1 through M 3 district, located not less than one hundred fifty (150) feet measured radially from the nearest edge of a residentially zoned or residentially developed lot in the metropolitan area, and located not less than six hundred (600) feet measured radially between the sign and the nearest edge of a residentially zoned or residentially developed lot in the non metropolitan area
  7. Located not less than seventy five (75) feet from the nearest edge of the right of way of a controlled access highway or designated parkway passing through the metropolitan area and not less than six hundred sixty (660) feet from the nearest edge of a controlled access highway or designated parkway passing through the non-¬metropolitan area;
  8. Placed so that the highest point of the advertising sign does not exceed sixteen (16) feet above ground;
  9. Located not less than two hundred fifty (250) feet measured radially from any public park or any designated parkway or any landmark property or historic district designated as such by the Louisville Landmark's Commission or the Jefferson County Preservation Commission or from any property listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

8.4.2 Illuminated Outdoor Advertising Signs

An illuminated or non illuminated outdoor advertising sign of less than three hundred thirty (330) square feet shall be allowed if:

  1. Located in a C 1, C 2, C M, M 1, M 2 or M 3 District;
  2. Set back at least thirty (30) feet from the front or street side property lines if located in a C 1, C 2 or C M District;
  3. Located along a major or minor arterial highway as designated in the Comprehensive Plan;
  4. Located not less than six hundred (600) feet from any existing billboard of any size on the same side of the same major or minor arterial highway and not less than twelve hundred (1,200) feet from any existing billboard of any size on the same side of a controlled access highway or designated parkway;
  5. Located not less than three hundred (300) feet from any existing billboard of any size on the opposite side of the same major or minor arterial highway (measured from the point of intersection on the same side of the major or minor arterial highway with the line from the existing sign perpendicular to the roadway), and not less than six hundred (600) feet from any existing billboard of any size on the opposite side of the same controlled access highway or designated parkway (as so measured);
  6. Located not less than seventy five (75) feet from the centerline of an intersecting roadway;
  7. Located not less than three hundred (300) feet (measured radially) between the sign and the nearest edge of a residentially zoned or residentially developed lot in the metropolitan area and not less than six hundred (600) feet measured radially between the sign and the nearest edge of a residentially zoned or residentially devel¬oped lot in the non metropolitan area;
  8. Located not less than one hundred fifty (150) feet from the nearest edge of the right of way of a controlled access highway or desig¬nated parkway passing through the metropolitan area and not less than six hundred sixty (660) feet from the nearest edge of the right of way of a controlled access highway or designated parkway passing through the non metropolitan area;
  9. Constructed so the highest point of the sign (including embellishments shall not exceed forty (40) feet above the ground, except that for signs located in the C 1 District the highest point of the sign (including embellishments) shall not exceed thirty five (35) feet above the ground;
  10. Located not less than five hundred (500) feet measured radially from any public park or any designated parkway or any landmark property or historic district designated as such by the Louisville Landmark's Commission or the Jefferson County Preservation Commis¬sion or from any property listed in the National Register of His¬toric Places;
  11. Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph i. hereof the high¬est point of an outdoor advertising sign (including embellishments) located along an elevated section of a controlled access highway may be fifty (50) feet above the ground, provided that the lowest point of the sign shall be not less than ten (10) feet above the grade of the elevated controlled access highway;

8.4.3 Illuminated/Non-Illuminated Outdoor Advertising Sign 330-750 Square Feet

An illuminated or non illuminated outdoor advertising sign of greater than or equal to three hundred thirty (330) square feet but less than seven hundred fifty (750) square feet shall be allowed if:

  1. Located in a C 2, C M, M 1, M 2 or M 3 Districts;
  2. Set back at least sixty (60) feet from the front or street side property lines if in a C 2 or C M District;
  3. Located along a major or minor arterial highway as designated in the Comprehensive Plan;
  4. Located not less than twelve hundred (1,200) feet from any existing billboard of any size on the same side of the same major or minor arterial highway and not less than fifteen hundred (1,500) feet from any existing billboard of any size on the same side of a controlled access highway or designated parkway;
  5. Located not less than six hundred (600) feet from any existing billboard of any size on the opposite side of the same major or minor arterial highway (measured from the point of intersection on the same side of the major or minor arterial highway with the line from the existing sign perpendicular to the roadway), and not less than nine hundred (900) feet from any existing billboard of any size on the opposite side of the same controlled access highway or designated parkway (as so measured);
  6. Located not less than seventy five (75) feet from the centerline of an intersecting roadway;
  7. Located not less than four hundred (400) feet (measured radially) between the sign and the nearest edge of a residentially zoned or residentially developed lot in the metropolitan area and not less than six hundred (600) feet measured radially between the sign and the nearest edge of a residentially zoned or residentially developed lot in the non metropolitan area;
  8. Located not less than one hundred fifty (150) feet from the nearest edge of the right of way of a controlled access highway or designated parkway passing through the metropolitan area and not less than six hundred sixty (660) feet from the nearest edge of the right of way of a controlled access highway or designated parkway passing through the non metropolitan area;
  9. Constructed so the highest point of the sign (including embellishments) does not exceed forty (40) feet above the ground:
  10. Located not less than five hundred (500) feet measured radially from any public park or any designated parkway or any landmark property or historic district designated as such by the Louisville Landmark's Commission or the Jefferson County Preservation Commission or from any property listed in the National Register of Historic Places;
  11. Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph I. hereof the highest point of an outdoor advertising sign (including embellishments) located along an elevated section of a controlled access highway may be fifty (50) feet above the ground, provided that the lowest point of the sign shall be not less than ten (10) feet above the grade of the elevated controlled access highway;

8.4.4 Outdoor Advertising Signs Greater Than 750 Square Feet

No outdoor advertising sign greater than seven hundred fifty (750) square feet shall be allowed in any district.

8.4.5 Extensions and Embellishments for Outdoor Advertising Signs

  1. Allowable Shapes for Outdoor Advertising Signs

    Outdoor advertising signs of all sizes shall be rectangular in shape except that extensions are allowed if such extensions are not greater than five (5) feet at the top, two (2) feet at the sides and/or eighteen (18) inches at the bottom of the sign and comprise in the aggregate an area not more than 12.5 percent as great as the basic rectangular shape to which such extensions are attached. Such embellishments are included in the calculation of the sign area restrictions.
  2. Extension of Outdoor Advertising Signs

    No attached outdoor advertising sign shall extend past the exterior wall of the building to which it is affixed.
  3. Double-Faced/V-Type/Back to Back Outdoor Advertising Signs

    Double faced, V type or back-to-back outdoor advertising signs shall be considered as one sign for spacing purposes.

8.4.6 Form District Specific Outdoor Advertising Sign Restrictions

  1. The prohibition of new billboards in certain form districts (Section 8.4.6 A) is not subject to the LDC waiver process.
    New outdoor advertising signs shall not be permitted within the Neighborhood, Traditional Neighborhood, Traditional Marketplace Corridor, Traditional Workplace, Town Center, and Downtown Form Districts