# Sign Regulations in Glasgow, Kentucky

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Glasgow, Kentucky (KY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/kentucky/glasgow
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-15
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/glasgow/latest/glasgow_ky/0-0-0-14888)

## At a glance

Glasgow, Kentucky regulates 19 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Outdoor Advertising Display (Adjacent to Interstate Highway)s in the Agricultural District (AG) zoning district are capped at 25 ft tall and 50 ft wide, with a ≥25 ft from ROW for signs >12 sq ft; ≥50 ft from adjoining property lines. setback (Sec. § 158.058(B)(1)-(6)). Most commercial signs in Glasgow 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 | 4 | 12 ft | — | — |
| Agricultural District (AG) | 3 | 25 ft | — | — |
| R-1, Low Density Residential District; R-2, Medium Density Residential District | 2 | — | 6 sq ft | — |
| R-3, Small Lot Medium Density Residential District | 3 | — | 6 sq ft | — |
| R-4, Medium Density Multi-Family Residential District | 2 | ≤ Building height (max 40 ft in B-2 standard referenced) | 2 sq ft | — |
| B-1, Central Business District | 2 | — | — | — |
| B-2, General Business District; B-3, Highway Service Business District; I-1, Light Industrial District; I-2, Heavy Industrial District | 1 | ≤ Building height (B-2/B-3: 40 ft; I-1: 50 ft building height limit; I-2: 100 ft building height limit; however sign must not exceed maximum building height established in the respective district’s height section) | — | — |
| Office and Professional District (OP); P-Public District | 1 | 30 ft (two and one-half stories) | — | — |
| Mixed Use Overlay District (MU) | 2 | — | — | — |
| Planned Unit Development (PUD) | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Off-Premises Directional Sign (Standard) | 6 ft | — | 10 ft | — | — | Not in residential zones; allowed in non-residential zones subject to all applicable regulations. | — | § 158.005(A),(C),(D),(E),(F),(I) |
| Off-Premises Directional Sign (Permanent – Larger) | 12 ft | — | 20 ft | — | — | Not in residential zones; in other zones subject to all applicable planning and zoning regulations. | — | § 158.005(J) |
| Off-Premises Outdoor Advertising Display (Standard) | 6 ft | — | 10 ft | — | — | Prohibited in residential zones; allowed elsewhere subject to regulations. | — | § 158.005(C),(G),(I) |
| Off-Premises Outdoor Advertising Display (Permanent – Larger) | 12 ft | — | 20 ft | — | — | Prohibited in residential zones; allowed elsewhere subject to regulations. | — | § 158.005(J) |

### Agricultural District (AG)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| On-Premises Identification/Bulletin/Institution/Stand Signs | — | — | — | — | — | On-premises only. | — | § 158.058(A) |
| Outdoor Advertising Display (Adjacent to Interstate Highway) | 25 ft | — | 50 ft | ≥25 ft from ROW for signs >12 sq ft; ≥50 ft from adjoining property lines. | — | On land adjacent to an interstate highway. | — | § 158.058(B)(1)-(6) |
| Outdoor Advertising Display (Adjacent to Other Public Roads) | 15 ft | — | 25 ft | ≥25 ft from ROW for signs >12 sq ft; ≥50 ft from adjoining property lines. | — | On land adjacent to public roads other than interstate highways. | — | § 158.058(B)(1)-(6) |

### R-3, Small Lot Medium Density Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation/Advertising Sign (Residential Use) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per dwelling for home occupation. | On-premises only. | — | § 158.122(B) |
| Bed and Breakfast Advertising Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One | On-premises only. | — | § 158.118(A) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On-premises only. | — | § 158.118(B) |

## Prohibited signs in Glasgow

- No sign or other structure may be placed within the sight distance triangle at street, alley, or driveway intersections (applies in any zone except the Central Business District) (§158.022; signs are treated as structures under §158.004).
- Signs must not be placed where they obstruct driver sightlines or constitute a traffic hazard (recurring across sign sections for business and industrial districts and in off‑premises sign rules) (§158.183(B)-(C), §158.203(B)-(C), §158.253(B), §158.263, §158.005(E)).

## Signs exempt from permit in Glasgow

- Small identification signs not exceeding one square foot that bear only property numbers, post box numbers, names of occupants, or other identification of premises without commercial connotations (§158.004, SIGN definition(a)).
- Flags and insignias of any government, except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion (§158.004, SIGN definition(b)).
- Legal notices and identification, information, or directional signs erected or required by government bodies (§158.004, SIGN definition(c)).
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings (excluding letters, trademarks, moving parts, or moving lights) (§158.004, SIGN definition(d)).
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, provided they bear no advertising matter (§158.004, SIGN definition(e)).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No master sign plan requirement is stated in the ordinance.
- Off-premises signs (including directional and outdoor advertising displays and special event signs) require a construction permit pursuant to §111.29 before construction (§158.005(C)).
- Agricultural district advertising devices (large roadside advertising signs) require a sign permit from the City of Glasgow Building Inspector’s Office (§158.058(B)(6)).
- Business signs in B-1, B-2, and B-3 districts require written approval by the administrative official before installation (§158.162(D), §158.183(A), §158.203(A)).
- In I-1 and I-2 districts, permitted signs follow B-2 sign requirements, including the need for administrative approval and visibility restrictions (§158.253(A)-(B), §158.263).
- In the Public Square Historic Overlay District, exterior alterations visible to the public (which can include signage) require a Certificate of Appropriateness prior to work (§158.495–§158.499).
- Variances from zoning regulations (including any sign-related relief) are heard by the Board of Adjustment under the general variance procedures (§158.466); no sign-specific variance process is stated.

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

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