Lexington Chapter 14 sets decibel thresholds by zoning district and time of day, with stricter limits in residential areas at night than in commercial or industrial zones.
Chapter 14 of the Lexington Code of Ordinances establishes measurable sound limits at the property line of the receiving property, with separate daytime and nighttime tiers. Residential receiving properties typically carry the lowest allowed levels, while commercial and industrial receiving properties carry progressively higher ceilings. Nighttime limits are generally about 10 decibels lower than daytime limits to protect sleep. Measurements are taken with a calibrated meter on the A-weighted scale, and certain sources such as emergency signals, permitted events, and safety-required devices are exempt. Property owners can commission independent sound studies to support or refute a complaint, and LFUCG Code Enforcement can conduct its own readings.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Lexington, KY
Lexington imposes no general restriction on year-round lawn ornaments, statuary, or religious displays on private residential property. The Zoning Ordinance ...
Lexington, KY
Lexington has no ordinance specifically regulating residential inflatable holiday displays. Size, motor noise, and lighting hours are not capped by city code...
Lexington, KY
Lexington has no ordinance limiting the duration, brightness, or hours of residential holiday lighting on private property. The Zoning Ordinance Article 17 (...
Lexington, KY
An outdoor kitchen in Lexington typically requires a building permit when the structure exceeds 200 sq ft, is attached to the house, or includes a roof or pe...
Lexington, KY
Lexington has no code section specifically targeting residential smokers, pellet grills, or wood-fired ovens beyond the general Kentucky Fire Code open-flame...
Lexington, KY
Lexington adopts the Kentucky Fire Code, which is based on NFPA 1 (2018 edition with Kentucky amendments), via LFUCG Code Chapter 9 (Fire Prevention). NFPA 1...
See how Lexington's decibel limits rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.