Louisville Metro's Land Development Code Chapter 4, Part 1 regulates outdoor lighting with full-cutoff fixture requirements for nonresidential uses, spillover limits at property lines, and specific standards near residential zones and parkways.
Louisville Metro regulates outdoor lighting primarily through the Land Development Code (LDC) Chapter 4, Part 1 (Landscape, Buffer Area, Tree Canopy and Lighting Regulations), adopted under KRS Chapter 100 zoning authority. All new or replacement nonresidential outdoor luminaires must be full-cutoff (IESNA classification) directing light downward. Maximum illumination at a shared property line with a residential district is 0.1 footcandle; maximum at any right-of-way line is 1.0 footcandle. Parking lot pole heights are capped at 25 feet in most zoning districts and 16 feet within 100 feet of residential zones. Canopy lighting (gas stations, drive-throughs) must be recessed so no lamp or lens extends below the canopy. Olmsted Parkway corridors have enhanced protections per LDC Chapter 10. Louisville has not adopted a formal IDA Dark-Sky ordinance, but LDC standards align with dark-sky principles. LED color temperature is not regulated locally, though 3000K or lower is recommended.
Non-compliant fixtures on new installs: correction notice with 30-day cure period. Failure to comply: fines $100–$500 per day under LMCO enforcement provisions. Commercial projects may face certificate of occupancy delays. Repeat violations can trigger conditional use permit review.
Jefferson County, KY
Jefferson County (Louisville Metro) regulates barking dogs under LMCO Chapter 91. Dogs that bark, howl, or whine persistently in a manner unreasonably distur...
Jefferson County, KY
As part of Louisville Metro Government since 2003, Jefferson County follows LMCO § 99.03. Exterior construction within 100 feet of residential property is pr...
Jefferson County, KY
Jefferson County and Louisville merged in 2003 to form Louisville Metro Government, so all unincorporated Jefferson County areas fall under LMCO Chapter 99 (...
Jefferson County, KY
Jefferson County (Louisville Metro) LDC requires residential driveways in front or street-side yards to be no wider than 20 feet and surfaced with a hard or ...
Jefferson County, KY
Jefferson County (Louisville Metro) LDC restricts RV and trailer parking in residential districts. RVs/boats over 25 feet or trailers over 16 feet are classi...
Jefferson County, KY
Jefferson County (Louisville Metro) LDC restricts large commercial vehicles in residential zones. Heavy Trucks (multi-axle vehicles, trailers over 16 feet) a...
See how Jefferson County's dark sky rules rules stack up against other locations.
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