# Sign Regulations in Ashland, Kentucky

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Ashland, Kentucky (KY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/kentucky/ashland
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-10
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/ashlandky/latest/ashland_ky/0-0-0-10255)

## At a glance

Ashland, Kentucky regulates 31 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Permanent Identification Sign - Multi-family Residential - Freestandings in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 6 feet above ground level tall and 15 square feet, with a 10 feet from property line setback (Sec. § 158.05(A)(2)). Most commercial signs in Ashland require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 16 | — | 600 cubic feet | — |
| Residential Districts | 6 | Minimum 10 feet above ground level | 20 square feet | — |
| Neighborhood Business District (B-1), Public Hospital District (P-H) | 3 | 15 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| General Business District (B-2) | 5 | 40 feet | 300 square feet per facing | — |
| Downtown Business District (B-3) | 3 | 20 feet | 60 square feet | — |
| Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2) | 6 | 40 feet | 300 square feet per facing | — |
| Nonresidential Zones | 3 | — | 64 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Private Traffic Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 3 per zoning lot | On private property | — | § 158.04(E) |
| Gasoline Price Sign - Auto Service Station | — | 8 square feet | — | — | 1 per public street frontage | Affixed to an existing sign structure, a canopy support or flat-mounted on the building | — | § 158.04(G) |
| Service/Pump Island Sign - Auto Service Station | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per service/pump island | Per service/pump island | — | § 158.04(G) |
| Real Estate Sale/Rental Sign | — | 8 square feet in residential zones; 64 square feet maximum in nonresidential zones | — | — | 1 per zoning lot | — | — | § 158.04(H) |
| Construction Sign | — | 8 square feet in residential zones; 64 square feet maximum in nonresidential zones | — | — | 1 per zoning lot | — | — | § 158.04(I) |
| Public/Semi-public Identification Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | § 158.04(J) |
| Public/Semi-public Directional Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | Up to 3 per institution or event | Off premises | — | § 158.04(J) |
| Open House Directional Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | Up to 3 | Off premises | — | § 158.04(M) |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Identification Sign - Subdivision, Mobile Home Park, Travel Trailer Campground | Minimum 10 feet above ground level | 15 square feet | — | — | 1 at each major entrance | Parallel to the street frontage, at each major entrance | — | § 158.05(A)(1) |
| Permanent Identification Sign - Multi-family Residential - Wall Mounted | — | 15 square feet | — | — | 1 at each major entrance | Flat-mounted against the wall of an apartment building, at each major entrance | — | § 158.05(A)(2) |
| Permanent Identification Sign - Multi-family Residential - Freestanding | 6 feet above ground level | 15 square feet | — | 10 feet from property line | 1 at each major entrance | Parallel to the street frontage, at each major entrance | — | § 158.05(A)(2) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 | Mounted flat against the wall of the principal building | — | § 158.05(A)(3) |
| Freestanding Sign - Nonresidential Use | 6 feet above ground level | 20 square feet | — | 10 feet from any property line | 1 | Parallel to the street frontage | — | § 158.05(A)(4) |
| Wall Sign - Nonresidential Use | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | Flat-mounted | — | § 158.05(A)(5) |

### Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 feet | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 per zoning lot | — | — | § 158.05(E)(1) |
| Industrial Park Identification Sign | 30 feet | 200 square feet | — | — | 1 per park frontage | On each park frontage | — | § 158.05(E)(2) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Flat-mounted, permanent, for each separate business | — | § 158.05(E)(3) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | 10 feet clearance above sidewalk; 10 feet projection max | 1 per street frontage per business establishment | Projecting from a building facade, per street frontage, totally on/over private property | — | § 158.05(E)(4) |
| Canopy or Marquee Suspended Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | 10 feet clearance above sidewalk | 1 per business establishment | Suspended from or attached to the underside of a canopy or marquee, not over public right-of-way | — | § 158.05(E)(5) |
| Outdoor Advertising Sign Structure | 40 feet | 300 square feet per facing | — | Meet all building setback and yard requirements of the zoning district or at least 10 feet from all property lines; no closer than 75 feet to a residential zone; 500 feet separation | 1 per zoning lot plus 1 per additional 500 feet of street frontage on lots over 300 feet | On zoning lot abutting a federal or state highway | — | § 158.05(E)(6) |

## Prohibited signs in Ashland

- Signs advertising an activity, business, product or service no longer conducted on the premises (except balloon signs at community events)
- Signs which, because of location, nature, color, shape or message, confuse or obstruct traffic/emergency signals
- Signs displaying immoral or indecent copy (determined by local standards)
- Roof signs (except balloon signs)
- Mobile signs
- Signs conflicting with traffic control signs by color, wording or location
- Signs creating safety hazards by obstructing views of pedestrians, vehicles or vice versa
- Rotating, moving, scintillating, blinking or flashing illumination signs (except randomly blinking Tivoli lights or conditional use permits)
- Electronic reader boards exceeding 32 square feet
- Signs attached to trees, utility poles, or traffic signals
- Signs advertising off-premises uses or services (except balloon signs at community events)
- Signs obstructing fire escapes, required exits, windows or doors
- Signs interfering with openings required for ventilation or light
- Signs or structures interfering with surface/underground utilities, drainage, or water
- Roofs of canopies, awnings or similar structures over 50 sq ft not properly drained
- Signs or structures impairing visibility at intersecting streets/drives
- Signs located on or over public rights-of-way (unless specifically regulated otherwise)
- Illuminated signs with flashing, intermittent or moving lights (except public info like time/temperature or theater marquees)
- Self-illuminated signs not limited to internal lighting with glass/plastic faces or permitted exposed neon/incandescent bulbs
- Flood/display lighting casting direct rays/glare into residential areas or onto approaching vehicles, or allowing direct view of light source from residences/vehicles

## Signs exempt from permit in Ashland

- Property identification signs (2 sq ft per occupant, 8 sq ft max per lot, unlighted, name/address only)
- Flags and governmental insignia (except commercial promotions)
- Legal notices, informational and directional signs by public agency (1 sq ft per 5 sq ft lot frontage, max 64 sq ft)
- Integral structural features (name, date, address cut/set into building)
- Private traffic signs (up to 3 signs, 4 sq ft each, directing traffic/parking on private property)
- Sign repair and maintenance for conforming signs (including copy replacement)
- Auto service station signs (1 gasoline price sign per street frontage, 8 sq ft max; up to 6 sq ft per pump island)
- Real estate sale/rental and political campaign signs (8 sq ft max in residential; 1 sq ft per 5 linear front ft in nonresidential, max 64 sq ft)
- Construction signs (1 per lot during construction, unlighted, removed within 2 weeks of completion; 8 sq ft in residential, 1 sq ft per 5 linear front ft in nonresidential, max 64 sq ft)
- Public and semi-public signs (1 per street frontage for institutions/events, 32 sq ft max; up to 3 off-premises directional, unlighted, 6 sq ft max each)
- Historical plaques (1 per lot by recognized agencies)
- Temporary interior signs (painted/displayed on interior windows/spaces)
- Open house signs (up to 3 off-premises directional on open house days, 4 sq ft each)
- Political campaign signs (in accordance with general and prohibited sections)
- Balloon signs (permit required, max 600 cubic ft, up to 60 days/year; off-premises at events if under 60 days total, removed post-event)

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Sign plans must be submitted to and approved by the Code Enforcement Officer prior to issuance of any sign permit
- Applications for sign permits require drawings and plot plans showing design, dimensions, attachment, illumination, and location relative to property lines, structures, etc.
- The Board of Commissioners may hear appeals of Code Enforcement Officer determinations and waive or modify technical requirements in the public interest
- For signs in public rights-of-way (via waiver), proof of liability insurance is required
- Permits are required for all signs under § 158.05 and specific special signs like balloon signs
- No explicit master sign plan mentioned; however, unified developments (e.g., shopping centers, industrial parks) have collective sign area limits implying coordinated planning

## 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 7 zoning districts in Ashland — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Ashland+KY&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-ashland

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