Louisville, KY Outdoor Lighting: Billboard Lighting (2026)
Key Facts
- Illuminated size cap
- 330 sq ft in C-1 to M-3
- Unlit size cap
- 72 sq ft, no arterial required
- Height limit
- 40 ft (35 ft in C-1)
- Absolute size cap
- 750 sq ft, any district
- Governing code
- Land Development Code § 4.3.12
Summary
Louisville Metro allows illuminated billboards up to 330 square feet only along major or minor arterial highways in commercial and industrial districts, with tighter setbacks, spacing, and height limits than unlit billboards under the Land Development Code.
B. 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... 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;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-47: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ordinances passed by the Council and approved by the Mayor as of July 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Louisville Metro's Land Development Code splits billboards into unlit and illuminated tiers. An illuminated (or non-illuminated) outdoor advertising sign under 330 square feet is allowed only in C-1, C-2, C-M, M-1, M-2, or M-3 districts, set back at least 30 feet, sited along a major or minor arterial highway, spaced at least 600 feet from the next billboard on the same highway, and capped at 40 feet high (35 feet in C-1). Illuminated signs between 330 and 750 square feet face even wider spacing requirements. No billboard over 750 square feet is allowed in any district, lit or not.
Violations & Fines
Building a billboard over 330 square feet without meeting the arterial-highway, setback, spacing, and height rules, or any billboard over 750 square feet, draws a stop-work order and code enforcement citation from Planning and Design Services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a billboard in Louisville be illuminated?
Is there a maximum size for any billboard, lit or not?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Louisville
Compare Louisville to another location·View the Kentucky outdoor lighting overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.