# Sign Regulations in Edgewood, Kentucky

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Edgewood, Kentucky (KY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/kentucky/edgewood
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-24
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/edgewood-ky/doc-viewer.aspx#secid-5)

## At a glance

Edgewood, Kentucky regulates 40 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Pole or Principal Ground Sign (Principal)s in the PROFESSIONAL OFFICE BUILDING ZONE (PO) zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 25 sq ft, with a 5 ft from front property line; 10 ft from any other property line setback (Sec. Sec. 14.10.B(1) (table)). Most commercial signs in Edgewood require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | 6 ft (if freestanding) | Electronic/electro-mechanical message board elements may not constitute more than 200 sq ft of a sign | — |
| CONSERVATION ZONE (CO); RESIDENTIAL RURAL ESTATE ZONE (R-RE) | 9 | 6 ft | Up to 150 sq ft (and 2 sq ft per linear foot of building width) | — |
| RESIDENTIAL ONE - B/C/D/DD/E/F ZONES (R-1B, R-1C, R-1D, R-1DD, R-1E, R-1F) | 10 | 6 ft | Up to 150 sq ft (and 2 sq ft per linear foot of building width) | — |
| INSTITUTIONAL - ONE ZONE (INST-1); INSTITUTIONAL - TWO ZONE (INST-2) | 5 | Poles used only for banners: ≤24 ft | 60 sq ft | — |
| PROFESSIONAL OFFICE BUILDING ZONE (PO) | 10 | 8 ft | Up to 150 sq ft; 2 sq ft per lf of building width | — |
| NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL ZONE (NC) | 8 | 20 ft | Up to 150 sq ft; 2 sq ft per lf of building width | — |
| NEIGHBORHOOD SHOPPING CENTER ZONE (NSC) | 8 | 20 ft | Up to 150 sq ft; 2 sq ft per lf of building width | — |
| COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL ZONE (CC) | 8 | 20 ft | Up to 150 sq ft; 2 sq ft per lf of building width | — |
| HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL ZONE (HC) | 9 | 20 ft | Up to 150 sq ft; 2 sq ft per lf of building width | — |
| SHOPPING CENTER ZONE (SC) | 9 | 30 ft | Up to 300 sq ft per sign (cap) | — |
| INDUSTRIAL PARK ZONE (IP) | 8 | 10 ft | Up to 150 sq ft; 2 sq ft per lf of building width | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### RESIDENTIAL ONE - B/C/D/DD/E/F ZONES (R-1B, R-1C, R-1D, R-1DD, R-1E, R-1F)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Dwelling Unit) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | One per dwelling unit | For each dwelling unit | — | Sec. 14.8.A(1) |
| Wall Sign (Other permitted uses) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per use | For permitted uses other than single-family residences | — | Sec. 14.8.A(2) |
| Detached Sign - Permanent | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | Not more than one permanent detached sign; up to four detached signs (total temporary+permanent) at any time | On each lot in a residential district | — | Sec. 14.8.B(1) |
| Detached Sign - Temporary | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | Up to four detached signs at any time (including the permanent) | On each lot in a residential district | — | Sec. 14.8.B(1)-(2); Sec. 14.4.G(3) |
| Temporary Subdivision Entrance Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per principal entrance; limit one per 50 lots | At each principal subdivision entrance | — | Sec. 14.8.C(1)(a)-(c) |
| Permanent Entrance Monument Sign (Neighborhood/Multi-family/Mobile Home Park) | 6 ft | 50 sq ft total (may be one or split between two signs) | — | — | Up to two per entrance (sharing 50 sq ft total) | Only at principal entrance(s) from arterial or collector street (per comp plan) | — | Sec. 14.8.D(1) |
| Detached Sign - Institutional Principal | 6 ft (illustration indicates 6' max) | 40 sq ft | — | — | One detached sign per institutional use | For schools, houses of worship, recreation centers, or other institutional uses permitted in the zoning district | — | Sec. 14.8.E(1) |
| Detached Sign - Institutional (School/House of Worship Special 25 sq ft) | — | 25 sq ft | — | ≥50 ft from property zoned and used exclusively for single-family uses | One per school/house of worship (in addition to E(1) where applicable) | For any school or house of worship in these districts | — | Sec. 14.8.E(3) |

### PROFESSIONAL OFFICE BUILDING ZONE (PO)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window area | — | — | Area limit only | On windows of the wall bearing the sign | — | Sec. 14.10.A(1) (table) |
| Wall Sign | — | Limited by total: 2 sq ft per linear foot of building width | — | — | One per building street frontage | On wall; may not extend above top of wall including parapets/architectural extensions | — | Sec. 14.10.A(1) (table) |
| Wall Sign - Directory (Multi-tenant additional; not legible from ROW) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | One additional wall sign at each public entrance | At each public entrance; not legible from public right-of-way | — | Sec. 14.10.A (paragraph after table) |
| Pole or Principal Ground Sign (Principal) | 8 ft | 25 sq ft | — | 5 ft from front property line; 10 ft from any other property line | One per street frontage per site | Per street frontage per site | — | Sec. 14.10.B(1) (table) |
| Pole or Ground Sign - Directory (Freestanding) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 15 ft from nearest property line | One per vehicle entrance | One per vehicle entrance | — | Sec. 14.10.B(1) (table) |
| Pole or Ground Sign - Other (Freestanding) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 25 ft from nearest property line | One per public entrance | One per public entrance | — | Sec. 14.10.B(1) (table) |
| Directory (Wall) Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per public entrance | On wall at each public entrance for a nonresidential building | — | Sec. 14.10.C(1) |
| Detached Sign - Institutional Principal | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | One detached sign per institutional use | For schools, houses of worship, recreation centers or other institutional uses permitted in district | — | Sec. 14.10.D(1) |

### HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL ZONE (HC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window area | — | — | Area limit only | On windows | — | Sec. 14.11.A(2) (HC table) |
| Wall Sign | — | Limited by total: 2 sq ft/lf of building width | — | — | One per building street frontage | On wall; may not extend above top of wall | — | Sec. 14.11.A(2) (HC table) |
| Pole or Principal Ground Sign (Principal) | 20 ft | 60 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from nearest right-of-way; ≥5 ft from any other property line; ≥50 ft from nearest single-family residential district | One per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 14.11.B(2) (HC table) |
| Pole or Ground Sign (Other) - Vehicle Entrance | 4 ft | 4 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from nearest right-of-way; ≥5 ft from any other property line; ≥15 ft from nearest single-family residential district | One per vehicle entrance | One per vehicle entrance | — | Sec. 14.11.B(2) (HC table) |
| Detached Sign - Interior Wayfinding (Not Legible From ROW) | 6 ft | 20 sq ft | — | ≥50 ft from public right-of-way; ≥30 ft from any other property line; ≥50 ft from a residential zoning district | One per 10 separate nonresidential uses or per vehicle entrance (whichever is less); plus one additional per two drive-through lanes | Not legible from public right-of-way; allowed for each ten separate nonresidential uses or per vehicle entrance, whichever is less | — | Sec. 14.11.C(1) |
| Wall Sign - Directory (Not Legible From ROW; Multi-use buildings) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | One additional wall sign at each public entrance | At each public entrance; not legible from public right-of-way | — | Sec. 14.11.D |
| Detached Sign - Institutional Principal | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | One per institutional use | For institutional uses permitted in district | — | Sec. 14.11.E(1) |
| Wall Sign - Institutional Public Entrance | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | One per public entrance | At each public entrance | — | Sec. 14.11.E(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Edgewood

- It is unlawful to fasten, place, paint, or attach any sign, handbill, poster, advertisement, or notice of any kind in or upon any curb-stone, lamp post, utility pole, hydrant, bridge, culvert, public drinking fountain, public trash container, courtesy benches, rest room, bus stop kiosk or shed, station building, tree, or any portion of any public sidewalk, street, or sign, except as specifically allowed by the ordinance (Section 14.4.D).
- New billboards are prohibited at all times and in all zones (Section 14.5.A.1; reinforced by Section 14.17.A.4).
- Any freestanding sign with an area exceeding ten percent of the site area or two percent of the lawful, as-built floor area of the principal building on the site is prohibited (Section 14.5.A.2).
- Portable signs, including folding portable signs and flashing portable signs, are prohibited (Section 14.5.A.3).
- Pennants, banners, streamers, balloons, and similar devices are prohibited unless specifically authorized elsewhere in the ordinance (Section 14.5.A.4).
- Animated, projecting, revolving, and moving signs; signs which create the appearance of movement; and signs utilizing flashing or intermittent lights or lights of changing intensity are prohibited, except for automatic changeable copy signs that conform to Section 14.6.D (Section 14.5.A.5).
- Signs that are not traffic control or safety signals but by their shape, color, or manner of mounting or display appear to be such signals and create confusion, and signs which create or constitute traffic hazards, are prohibited (Section 14.5.A.6).
- Signs on vacant lots in non-residential zones larger than 12 square feet are prohibited (Section 14.5.A.7).
- Signs for which a separate structure is mounted on a roof or parapet are prohibited (does not prevent signs integral to the building) (Section 14.5.A.8).
- Signs using sounds, music, sound effects, noises, or other sound/noise-making or transmitting devices are prohibited (Section 14.5.A.9).
- No sign shall be located closer than five feet to any property line (Section 14.6.A.1).
- No sign shall be located so that it obstructs access to or from a doorway, fire escape, or required escape window (Section 14.6.A.2).
- No sign shall be located so that it blocks free air flow through windows in residential units (Section 14.6.A.3).
- No sign located within a clear sight triangle shall obstruct motorists’ or pedestrians’ vision between heights of 30 inches and 108 inches above ground (Section 14.6.A.4).
- No wall sign shall extend above the top of the wall of the building, including parapets and architectural extensions (Section 14.6.A.5).
- No sign shall be located within eight vertical feet or four horizontal feet of overhead electrical or other wires (Section 14.6.A.6).
- No sign shall project over a public right-of-way unless an encroachment permit is obtained, and no sign shall project over any portion of a right-of-way used for vehicular travel (encroachment permits are limited to allowing projections over sidewalks) (Section 14.6.B).

## Signs exempt from permit in Edgewood

- Signs installed inside a building or enclosed space and not legible from the public right-of-way or from other property are exempt from this Article (Section 14.4.E.1).
- Signs less than 4 square feet in area and less than 4 feet in height (if freestanding), that are not separately illuminated and not legible from the public right-of-way or other property are exempt (Section 14.4.E.2).
- Signs on mass transit vehicles operating in or passing through the City are exempt (Section 14.4.E.3).
- Signs on vehicles and watercraft regularly used in the operation of a business are exempt; vehicles parked long periods, non-operational, or not regularly used at the same location are treated as detached signs (long period defined as continuous 30 days, or 40 or more days in any 60-day period) (Section 14.4.E.4).
- Signs conforming to the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and bearing no commercial message are exempt from permit but subject to other standards (Section 14.4.F.1).
- Governmental signs posted by City, County, state or federal employees in the course of their duties are exempt from permit but subject to other standards (Section 14.4.F.2).
- Signs required by state or federal statute are exempt from permit but subject to other standards; size or standards may deviate as expressly required by the statute (Section 14.4.F.3).
- Signs required by a court order are exempt from permit but subject to other standards; size or standards may deviate as expressly required by the order (Section 14.4.F.4).
- Signs installed by public utilities in their rights-of-way or on their facilities and bearing no commercial message other than necessary identification/contact information are exempt from permit but subject to other standards (Section 14.4.F.5).
- Signs installed by a transit company with a franchise/right to operate in the City, installed along its routes and relating to schedules or route information, are exempt from permit but subject to other standards (Section 14.4.F.6).
- Address numbers used to identify a building are allowed without a permit and do not count toward allowed sign area (Section 14.4.G.1).
- Detached signs smaller than 4 sq ft in area and less than 4 ft in height, with no more than 25% of area used for a commercial message, are allowed without a permit (Section 14.4.G.2).
- Detached signs smaller than 7 sq ft are allowed without a permit in residential, conservation, and agricultural zoning districts (Section 14.4.G.3).
- Temporary signs not greater than 12 sq ft are allowed without a permit in non-residential zones (Section 14.4.G.4).
- Wall signs with no commercial message and not larger than 4 sq ft are allowed without a permit (Section 14.4.G.5).
- Noncommercial cultural decorations or displays on private residential property pertaining to cultural observances are allowed without a permit (Section 14.4.G.6).
- Cornerstones, foundation stones, and memorial signs/tablets integrated into building materials (or bronze/incombustible), up to 6 sq ft and not separately illuminated, are allowed without a permit (Section 14.4.G.7).
- Symbols with no commercial message integrated into building architecture are allowed without a permit (Section 14.4.G.8).
- Gravestones in lawful cemeteries or graveyards are allowed without a permit (Section 14.4.G.9).
- Graphic images visible only from aircraft flying above are allowed without a permit (Section 14.4.G.10).
- Changing copy/message on existing compliant signs (including electronic message boards that adhere to change-frequency limits in Section 14.6.D) is allowed without a permit (Section 14.4.H.1).
- Painting, repainting, cleaning, or normal maintenance and repair of a sign not involving structural alterations is allowed without a permit (Section 14.4.H.2).
- Installation of permanent signs smaller than 4 sq ft, containing no commercial message and with no electrical installation, where allowed, is allowed without a permit (Section 14.4.H.3).
- Installation of temporary signs not larger than 4 sq ft, where allowed and compliant, is allowed without a permit (Section 14.4.H.4).
- Outdoor product displays are not limited by this Article (though any sign/banner/pennant affixed to displayed products is regulated) (Section 14.4.I.1).
- Signs on gasoline pumps, vending machines, news racks, and similar sales devices are allowed without a sign permit if they do not flash and either are not legible from off-site or consist entirely of letters/numerals/symbols less than 4 inches high; all other such signage is regulated (Section 14.4.I.2).
- Menu boards or instructional/informational devices for drive-through/drive-up facilities are allowed without a sign permit if less than 12 sq ft and any off-site legible content is limited to noncommercial identification (e.g., “menu,” “directory,” “instructions,” “information”) or a logo no larger than one foot; directional information/logos on drive-through canopies are permitted and not considered signs (Section 14.4.I.3).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Master Signage Plan is required: The owner of any site that includes more than one tenant or occupant must apply for approval of a Master Signage Plan before applying for a sign permit for any detached sign (Section 14.13.B.1).
- Master Signage Plan process: Submittal is considered a Stage II Development Plan; applications are submitted to the planning commission’s duly authorized representative and may be processed together with any Stage II Development Plan; properties not under common ownership require signatures/authorizations from all owners; minor adjustments from an approved Stage I Development Plan may be authorized (Section 14.13.C.1–4).
- If a Master Signage Plan application is denied, the applicant may submit a new revised application at any time; decisions on Master Signage Plans may be appealed to the Planning Commission (Section 14.13.C.5–6).
- Master Signage Plan application must include site/building conditions, proposed signage design, calculations of maximum allowed area/height/number (including incentives), allocation among tenants/occupants, locations of present/future signs, color schemes/design features, and owners’/agents’ signatures (Section 14.13.D).
- Master Signage Plan must include a schedule to bring nonconforming signs on the property into conformance by a specified date; the schedule becomes a condition of approval (Section 14.13.F).
- Effect of approval: After approval of a Master Signage Plan, no permit shall be issued for a sign on the site except in accordance with the plan, and no sign shall be erected or maintained except in accordance with the plan; in any conflict, the ordinance prevails (Section 14.13.H).
- Institutional districts: The maximum number of principal and other detached signs in INST-1 and INST-2 shall be as approved on the Stage II/Master Signage Plan (Section 14.9.B).
- Discretionary review of variances/conditional uses/exceptions/special use permits for signs: When such approvals are sought, review is limited to structural, location and other non-communicative aspects, without regard to the graphic design or visual image (Section 14.17.A.1).
- Appeals of sign decisions: Decisions on sign permit applications and other sign-related decisions by the Zoning Administrator may be appealed to the Board of Adjustment; the Board holds a public hearing, issues a written decision, and status quo is maintained pending appeal unless there is an immediate threat (Section 14.15).
- Encroachment permits: Projecting signs may not extend over public right-of-way without an encroachment permit, and may not project over areas used for vehicular travel (Section 14.6.B).

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

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