# Sign Regulations in Alexandria, Kentucky

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Alexandria, Kentucky, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Alexandria, Kentucky (KY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/kentucky/alexandria
- **Data last verified:** 2025-12-10
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/alexandria/latest/alexandria_ky/0-0-0-6506)

## At a glance

Alexandria, Kentucky regulates 38 sign types across 10 zoning districts. A-Frame/Sandwich Boards in the Old Town Business Zone (B-1) zoning district are capped at 48 inches tall, 8 sq ft per panel, and 24 inches wide (Sec. § 9.8(F)(4); § 9.2(B) A-Frame/Sandwich Board definition). Most commercial signs in Alexandria require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | — | 100 sq ft per use where non-rigid materials are used; 32 sq ft per use where rigid materials are used | — |
| Conservation Zone (CO); Residential Rural Estate and Agricultural Zone (R-RE) | 9 | 8 ft (if monument) | One sign up to 50 sq ft OR two signs up to 25 sq ft each | — |
| Low Density Residential Zones (R-1A, R-1B, R-1C, R-1D, R-1V) | 7 | 8 ft (if monument) | One sign up to 50 sq ft OR two signs up to 25 sq ft each | — |
| High Density Residential Zones (RMHP, R-2, R-3) | 5 | ID sign monument: 8 ft; Bulletin board: 8 ft | One sign up to 50 sq ft OR two signs up to 25 sq ft each | — |
| Professional Office Building Zone (PO); Public Facilities (PF); Continuing Care Retirement Communities Zone (CCRC) | 7 | Height of canopy signs shall not exceed 20 ft; min clearance for under-awning signs is 8 ft (general rule for under-awning signs) | 150 sq ft max (based on frontage formula) | — |
| Neighborhood Shopping Center Zone (NSC); Highway Commercial Zone (HC); Industrial Park Zone (IP) | 10 | 20 ft (freestanding sign limit) | 150 sq ft max (based on frontage formula) | — |
| Old Town Business Zone (B-1) | 9 | 48 inches | 150 sq ft max (based on frontage formula) | — |
| Industrial Park Zone (IP) – Additional Sign Restriction | 1 | — | — | — |
| Corridor Transition Overlay Zone (CT) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Planned Unit Development District (PUD) | 2 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### Conservation Zone (CO); Residential Rural Estate and Agricultural Zone (R-RE)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate (Residence or Permitted Use) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per residence or permitted use | Wall-mounted or monument | — | § 9.8(A)(1); § 9.5(B) |
| Home Occupation Identification | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Wall-mounted | — | § 9.8(A)(2) |
| Farm or Estate Identification (Parcel > 5 acres) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Monument or wall-mounted | — | § 9.8(A)(3) |
| Identification Sign (Kindergarten/Nursery/Day Care/Child Care) | Mounted not more than 7 ft above ground level (wall) | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Wall-mounted | — | § 9.8(A)(4) |
| Identification Sign (Church or School) | 8 ft (if monument) | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 identification sign; plus 1 bulletin board | Monument or wall-mounted | — | § 9.8(A)(5) |
| Bulletin Board (Church/School) | 8 ft (if freestanding/monument) | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Freestanding, monument, or wall-mounted | — | § 9.8(A)(5) |
| Identification Sign (Other Permitted Use) | 8 ft (if monument) | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Monument or wall-mounted | — | § 9.8(A)(6) |
| Subdivision Entrance Identification | 6 ft (if monument) | One sign up to 50 sq ft OR two signs up to 25 sq ft each | — | — | Max 2 per entrance; max 2 entrances identified | Entrance(s) to subdivision; monument or wall-mounted | — | § 9.8(A)(8) |

### Neighborhood Shopping Center Zone (NSC); Highway Commercial Zone (HC); Industrial Park Zone (IP)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Business Sign (Individual Business, not in cluster) | 10 ft (monument limit) | 64 sq ft per sign | — | — | Max 1 per street frontage; max 2 total | Street frontage | — | § 9.8(E)(1)(a) |
| Monument Business Sign (Clustered Uses: ≥3 businesses incl. outlots) | 10 ft (monument limit) | 150 sq ft max (based on frontage formula) | — | — | Max 1 per street frontage; max 2 total | Per street frontage | — | § 9.8(E)(1)(b) (monument portion) |
| Freestanding Business Sign (Clustered Uses: ≥3 businesses incl. outlots) | 20 ft (freestanding sign limit) | 100 sq ft max (based on frontage formula) | — | — | Max 1 per street frontage; max 2 total | Per street frontage | — | § 9.8(E)(1)(b) (freestanding portion) |
| Canopy/Awning Sign; Under-Awning/Under-Canopy Identification Sign | Height of canopy signs shall not exceed 20 ft; min clearance for under-awning is 8 ft | Under-awning/under-canopy: max 4 sq ft; canopy face vertical dimension counted up to 3 ft; sign cabinet vertical max 3 ft | — | — | — | On/suspended from awning/canopy | — | § 9.8(E)(1)(f); § 9.4(M); § 9.2(C)(b) |
| Marquee (Indoor Theater) | — | 24 sq ft per theater | — | — | 1 marquee per theater; 1 attraction board/EMDS per theater attached to freestanding sign | Attached to theater building | — | § 9.8(E)(2) |
| Directional Sign | 3 ft | 3 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per entrance (if freestanding) | Entrances/internal circulation | — | § 9.8(E)(3); § 9.2(B) Directional Sign |
| Nameplate (Tenant/Lessee) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant/lessee | Wall-mounted | — | § 9.8(E)(4); § 9.5(B) |
| Menu Board (Restaurant) | 8 ft (if freestanding) | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 per restaurant use | Freestanding or wall-mounted at drive-through/order area | — | § 9.8(E)(5) |

### Old Town Business Zone (B-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Business Sign (Individual Business, not in cluster) | 10 ft (monument limit) | 64 sq ft per sign | — | — | Max 1 per street frontage; max 2 total | Street frontage | — | § 9.8(F)(1)(a) |
| Monument Business Sign (Clustered Uses: ≥3 businesses incl. outlots) | 10 ft (monument limit) | 150 sq ft max (based on frontage formula) | — | — | Max 1 per street frontage; max 2 total | Per street frontage of the development | — | § 9.8(F)(1)(b) |
| Wall-Mounted Business Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per wall | Building elevation(s) per restrictions | — | § 9.8(F)(1)(c) |
| Canopy/Awning Sign; Under-Awning/Under-Canopy Identification Sign | Height of canopy signs shall not exceed 20 ft; min clearance for under-awning is 8 ft | Under-awning/under-canopy: max 4 sq ft; canopy face vertical dimension counted up to 3 ft; sign cabinet vertical max 3 ft | — | — | — | On/suspended from awning/canopy | — | § 9.8(F)(1)(e); § 9.4(M); § 9.2(C)(b) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | Per business as allowed | Attached to building; projects outward | — | § 9.8(F)(1)(f); exception to prohibition § 9.6(E) |
| Directional Sign | 3 ft | 3 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per entrance (if freestanding) | Entrances/internal circulation | — | § 9.8(F)(2); § 9.2(B) Directional Sign |
| Nameplate (Tenant/Lessee) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant/lessee | Wall-mounted | — | § 9.8(F)(3); § 9.5(B) |
| A-Frame/Sandwich Board | 48 inches | 8 sq ft per panel | 24 inches | — | 1 per business | Sidewalk/pedestrian way in front of business | — | § 9.8(F)(4); § 9.2(B) A-Frame/Sandwich Board definition |

## Prohibited signs in Alexandria

- Mobile signs are prohibited in all zones
- Any sign attached to or placed on a parked vehicle or trailer for display purposes is prohibited; vehicles whose primary purpose is the display of signs are considered mobile signs and are prohibited
- Advertising signs (off-premises signs) are prohibited
- Projecting signs are prohibited except as expressly allowed in the Old Town Business Zone (B-1)
- Roof signs are prohibited
- Flashing or blinking signs, and signs with motion, shimmering, graphics, photographic images, or animation are prohibited
- Rotating or moving signs are prohibited
- Abandoned signs are prohibited
- Streamers, pennants, tag signs, or similar devices made of wood, plastic, metal or similar material (other than cloth), except when attached to a permitted temporary sign, are prohibited
- Any sign that emits noise, odor, or visible matter to attract attention is prohibited; devices emitting noise for advertising are prohibited
- Any freestanding sign that overhangs any part of a building is prohibited
- Signs that constitute a nuisance due to light, glare, focus, noise, animation, flashing, or intensity that unduly disturb surrounding properties or cause a traffic hazard are prohibited
- Signs that are misleading, fraudulent, obscene, immoral, indecent, or unsightly are prohibited
- No sign may imitate or resemble official traffic signs, signals, or devices, or use words/phrases implying danger or the need to stop or maneuver
- No sign may be attached to or painted on trees, utility poles, street light standards, or dilapidated structures
- No sign may be located within required sight triangles or within/projecting into public or private street rights-of-way, except government signs or as otherwise specifically permitted
- Neon/exposed light sources may not be used to outline buildings, structures, or ornamental features
- Incidental signs may not be attached to freestanding or monument advertising, business, identification, or directional signs
- No signs are allowed within 660 feet of the right-of-way of any interstate highway, limited access highway, or turnpike except as allowed under KRS 177.830–177.890 with Kentucky Transportation Cabinet approval

## Signs exempt from permit in Alexandria

- Signs not visible beyond the boundaries of the lot or from any public thoroughfare/right-of-way are exempt from the article’s provisions
- Official governmental notices and government traffic/regulatory signs are exempt from the article’s provisions (identification/bulletin board signs accessory to government buildings are not exempt)
- Flags, pennants, or insignia of nations, states, counties, cities, religious/civic/fraternal organizations, or educational institutions are exempt when not used for commercial promotion or advertising
- Works of fine art that do not depict, identify, or advertise a product or business are exempt
- Temporary decorations or displays associated with national/local/religious holidays or celebrations are exempt
- Temporary or permanent utility or construction company danger/hazard signs (e.g., underground cable/gas line) are exempt
- Merchandise, pictures, or models incorporated as an integral part of a window display are exempt
- Signs on vehicles operated in the normal course of business (magnetic/decals/painted integral to the vehicle, not breaking the silhouette) are exempt when incidental to bona fide business use and appropriately parked; signs on inoperable/unlicensed vehicles must be covered
- Political signs are exempt from permit requirements
- Nameplates are exempt from permit requirements
- Government signs are exempt from permit requirements
- Real estate signs are exempt from permit requirements
- Incidental signs are exempt from permit requirements
- Window signs are exempt from permit requirements
- Changing copy on billboards, attraction boards, marquees, informational signs, or electronic message display systems is exempt from permit requirements

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Sign permit applications must include a site plan and/or building elevation showing sign location and setbacks, detailed sign construction/illumination/dimensions/copy/mounting information, and owner consent; signs must be installed in compliance with the approved permit (Article 9 § 9.3)
- Corridor Transition (CT) Overlay: Stage I development plan must show the location of signs, indicating orientation and approximate size and height; Stage II development plan must include the location of signs with orientation, size, and height (Article 4 § 4.21(D)(1)(a)13 and § 4.21(E)(1)(a)5)
- Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC): Signs proposed for a continuing care retirement community must be included in the development and/or site plans and are reviewed and approved as part of the development (Article 4 § 4.25(C)(3)
- Planned Unit Development (PUD): Design standards require a consistent signage theme; building-mounted signs should predominate; freestanding signs should be monument style and limited; signage design guidelines are required for multi-phased projects (Article 4 § 4.24(I)(14)

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 10 zoning districts in Alexandria — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Alexandria+KY&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-alexandria

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