Lexington, KY Holiday Decorations: Holiday Light Rules (2026)

Lexington does not regulate when residential holiday lights may go up or come down, how bright they may be, or whether they may be animated. The Zoning Ordinance Article 17 (Sign Regulations) defines signs by commercial messaging and exempts non-commercial residential displays from permit and size requirements. The city does intervene in three narrow scenarios. First, amplified outdoor sound synced to lights must comply with LFUCG Code Chapter 14 (Noise Disturbance) Section 14-71, which sets a 10 pm-7 am quiet period for residential areas, and Section 14-75 (Order of Abatement) which empowers police to issue abatement orders. Lexington's ordinance does not use specific decibel limits; instead it relies on a reasonable-person standard for noise disturbance. Second, lights aimed directly into a neighbor's bedroom or onto streets that interfere with traffic safety can be enforced as a nuisance under Chapter 12 (Housing) with Code Enforcement issuing a Notice of Violation. Third, displays that draw crowds blocking streets or sidewalks may need a temporary event permit through the Division of Planning. HOA-controlled communities in Fayette County (Hartland, Andover, Beaumont, Masterson Station) often require lights down by mid-January and may cap brightness through architectural review.