Lexington, KY Holiday Decorations: Lawn Ornament Rules (2026)

Lawn ornaments - statuary, religious displays, garden art, seasonal figures - are not regulated by LFUCG code on private residential property. The Zoning Ordinance Article 17 (Signs) defines a sign by its communicative function and exempts non-commercial residential displays from permit and size requirements. Religious displays additionally receive First Amendment and Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) protection. Political signs on residential property receive First Amendment protection, and Kentucky case law (consistent with Reed v. Town of Gilbert, 2015) prohibits content-based restrictions; sign-code limits in Article 17 generally cap size for residential zones but do not impose election-tied time restrictions. Items placed in the public planter strip or sidewalk require permission under LFUCG Code Chapter 17 (Sidewalks). Sight-distance rules at corner lots may require removal of anything obstructing driver visibility at intersections. HOA communities frequently require architectural review for permanent statuary and may impose material or quantity limits, particularly in master-planned developments like Hartland, Andover, and Beaumont. Code Enforcement focuses on weeds, junk vehicles, and obvious blight rather than ornamental displays under Chapter 12 (Housing).