Outdoor Lighting in Kentucky (2026)
8 rules on the books across Kentucky, 4 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Dark Sky Rules
Ordinances designed to reduce light pollution, including requirements for shielded fixtures, limits on brightness, and curfews for decorative lighting.
Louisville
Some RestrictionsLouisville Metro caps light trespass at property lines and requires bright fixtures to be fully shielded under the Land…
Read full rule →Owensboro
Some RestrictionsThe City of Owensboro has no freestanding dark-sky or site-lighting ordinance, but Appendix F Section 9-3(g)(2)-(3) of…
Read full rule →Light Trespass & Shielding
Rules preventing outdoor lights from shining onto neighboring homes, shielding and full-cutoff fixture requirements, aiming standards, and footcandle caps at the property line.
Campbell County
Some RestrictionsEvery unincorporated zoning district in Campbell County, from the A-1 Agriculture Zone to the R-1A Residential Zone…
Read full rule →Louisville
Some RestrictionsLouisville Metro caps spillover light at 0.25 footcandles on low- to medium-density residential borders and 0.5…
Read full rule →Franklin County
Light RestrictionsIn unincorporated Franklin County, Kentucky, exterior lighting at a parking facility must be designed, erected and…
Read full rule →Owensboro
Light RestrictionsIn the City of Owensboro, off-street parking area lighting must be arranged to reflect away from adjoining residential…
Read full rule →Billboard Lighting
Lighting standards for outdoor advertising, luminance limits, dwell time, sky-glow mitigation, and curfew hours after which billboards must dim or shut off.
Franklin County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Franklin County, Kentucky, billboards can be lit only by external lights aimed at the sign, and each…
Read full rule →Louisville
Some RestrictionsLouisville Metro allows illuminated billboards up to 330 square feet only along major or minor arterial highways in…
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