# Sign Regulations in Elizabethtown, Kentucky

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Elizabethtown, Kentucky (KY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/kentucky/elizabethtown
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-20
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/elizabethtownky/latest/elizabethtown_ky/0-0-0-8148)

## At a glance

Elizabethtown, Kentucky regulates 19 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Construction Signs in the Commercial Zones (C-3, C-4) zoning district are capped at 8 ft. tall and 64 sq. ft., with a 10 ft. off paved surface setback (Sec. § 154.217 Table 1, § 154.210(C)). Most commercial signs in Elizabethtown require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 25 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential Zones | 8 | 20 ft. | 72 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial Zones (C-3, C-4) | 13 | 45 ft. | 300 sq. ft. excluding structural supports; may be placed back to back or in a V type construction | — |
| Industrial Zones (I-1, I-2) | 11 | 45 ft. | 300 sq. ft. excluding structural supports; may be placed back to back or in a V type construction | — |
| Specialized Use Zones | 11 | 20 ft. | 72 sq. ft. | — |
| Interstate Highway Service Business Overzone (IHSB) | 8 | 125 ft. | 225 sq. ft. for signs between 45 ft. and 74 ft. in height; 325 sq. ft. for signs between 75 ft. and 99 ft. in height; 400 sq. ft. for signs between 100 ft. and 125 ft. in height | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Commercial Zones (C-3, C-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | 8 ft. | 64 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. off paved surface | 1 per street | Monument or Pole | — | § 154.217 Table 1, § 154.210(C) |
| Tract Sign | 12 ft. | 72 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. off paved surface | 1 per street frontage | Monument or Pole | — | § 154.217 Table 1, § 154.210(K) |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Monument, Pole or Wall | — | § 154.217 Table 1, § 154.210(G) |
| Directional Sign - Commercial | 3 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 per entrance | Monument or Pole; may not project into right-of-way | — | § 154.217 Table 1 |
| Booth Sign (Flea Market and Farmers Market) - Wall Mount | 3 ft. | 15 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | Wall mount directly adjacent to booth space | — | § 154.217 Table 1, § 154.208(O) |
| Sidewalk Food Vendors Sign | 5 ft. | 15 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | Pole or Cart; must be located directly adjacent to vending cart | — | § 154.217 Table 1 |
| Off-Premises Sign | 45 ft. | 300 sq. ft. excluding structural supports; may be placed back to back or in a V type construction | — | 20 ft. off street right of way | — | Monument or Pole; 20 ft. off street right of way; in C-3, C-4 | — | § 154.217 Table 2, § 154.212, § 154.213 |
| Message Board | — | Not to exceed 50% of total allowed sign face when pole or monument, maximum of 75 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. off paved surface for Monument and Pole | 1 per type (Wall, Monument, Pole) | Wall, Monument or Pole; for Monument and Pole: 10 ft. off paved surface | — | § 154.217 Table 1 |

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

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | 8 ft. | 64 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. off paved surface | 1 per street | Monument or Pole | — | § 154.217 Table 1, § 154.210(C) |
| Tract Sign | 12 ft. | 72 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. off paved surface | 1 per street frontage | Monument or Pole | — | § 154.217 Table 1, § 154.210(K) |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Monument, Pole or Wall | — | § 154.217 Table 1, § 154.210(G) |
| Directional Sign - Industrial | 10 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 per entrance | Monument or Pole | — | § 154.217 Table 1 |
| Industrial Park Identification Sign | 25 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. off paved surface | 1 per entrance to industrial area | Monument or Pole; 10 ft. off paved surface | — | § 154.217 Table 1 |
| Off-Premises Sign | 45 ft. | 300 sq. ft. excluding structural supports; may be placed back to back or in a V type construction | — | 20 ft. off street right of way | — | Monument or Pole; 20 ft. off street right of way; in I-1, I-2 | — | § 154.217 Table 2, § 154.212, § 154.213 |
| Message Board | — | Not to exceed 50% of total allowed sign face when pole or monument, maximum of 75 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. off paved surface for Monument and Pole | 1 per type (Wall, Monument, Pole) | Wall, Monument or Pole; for Monument and Pole: 10 ft. off paved surface | — | § 154.217 Table 1 |
| Projecting Sign | 20 ft. | 15% of wall face | — | — | 1 per wall | Wall; cannot project into right-of-way | — | § 154.217 Table 1 |

### Specialized Use Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | 8 ft. | 64 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. off paved surface | 1 per street | Monument or Pole | — | § 154.217 Table 1, § 154.210(C) |
| Incidental Sign | — | 10 sq. ft. | — | — | N/A | Wall, Monument or Pole | — | § 154.217 Table 1, § 154.210(E) |
| Tract Sign | 12 ft. | 72 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. off paved surface | 1 per street frontage | Monument or Pole | — | § 154.217 Table 1, § 154.210(K) |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Monument, Pole or Wall | — | § 154.217 Table 1, § 154.210(G) |
| Booth Sign (Flea Market and Farmers Market) - Wall Mount | 3 ft. | 15 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | Wall mount directly adjacent to booth space | — | § 154.217 Table 1, § 154.208(O) |
| Sidewalk Food Vendors Sign | 5 ft. | 15 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | Pole or Cart; must be located directly adjacent to vending cart | — | § 154.217 Table 1 |
| Message Board | — | Not to exceed 50% of total allowed sign face when pole or monument, maximum of 75 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. off paved surface for Monument and Pole | 1 per type (Wall, Monument, Pole) | Wall, Monument or Pole; for Monument and Pole: 10 ft. off paved surface | — | § 154.217 Table 1 |
| Projecting Sign | 20 ft. | 15% of wall face | — | — | 1 per wall | Wall; cannot project into right-of-way | — | § 154.217 Table 1 |

## Prohibited signs in Elizabethtown

- Abandoned signs
- Any sign which emits any noise, odor or visible matter for the purpose of attracting attention to the sign
- Flashing or blinking signs, except for permitted informational signs
- Mobile or portable signs
- Off-site real estate signs
- Rotating or moving signs
- Signs attached or placed on a tent structure, where the placement of such signs adversely affects the fire resistance rating of the structure
- Streamers, pennants, balloons, inflatables and similar signs or devices
- Tag signs
- Temporary signs
- Vehicle signs, when attached to a vehicle not normally driven daily
- No light, sign or other advertising device shall be designed or erected in such a manner or location as to imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal or device, or use words, phrases, symbols or characters implying the existence of danger, the need to stop or maneuver the vehicle or create an unsafe distraction for the vehicle operator
- No sign shall be placed or located in or extend over a street, right-of-way, roadway, sidewalk, public or private access easement, or alley except as provided herein
- No sign shall be attached to or painted on the surface of any tree, utility pole, streetlight standard or dilapidated structure
- No sign shall be allowed to be illuminated except as expressly provided herein. Signs which are otherwise allowed to be illuminated are not allowed if it is determined that the lighting causes glare or otherwise interferes with the vision of persons operating motor vehicles on any public way or interferes with any adjacent property
- No sign may be located or constructed so as to obstruct sight lines for persons using streets, alleys, pedestrian rights-of-way and driveways

## Signs exempt from permit in Elizabethtown

- Changing copy of off-premises signs, attraction board, marquee or electronic message display system
- Church directional signs
- Community identification signs and community beautification project signs
- Construction signs
- Government signs, including, but not limited to, traffic signs and traffic control signs
- Historic markers
- Incidental signs
- Nameplates
- Non-commercial signs
- On-site real estate signs, including auction signs
- Public utility warning signs for the safety and welfare of the public, including, but not limited to, signs identifying high voltage, public telephone or underground cable
- Signs not visible from the public right-of-way provided however that if the sign becomes visible from the right-of-way at any time, it shall meet all the applicable requirements of this chapter
- Special events signs associated with community festivals or events of a cultural, civic or educational nature
- Tract signs
- Booth (flea market and farmers market) signs

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

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