# Sign Regulations in Mayfield, Kentucky

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Mayfield, Kentucky (KY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/kentucky/mayfield
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/KY/Mayfield/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH13.5SI)

## At a glance

Mayfield, Kentucky regulates 19 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Detached Sign (Aggregate)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Max size per sign: 300 sq ft; combined max for detached at site: 500 sq ft, with a 25 ft between signs; 15 ft from adjoining property lines setback (Sec. Sec. 13.5-8(17)). Most commercial signs in Mayfield require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | Vertical width display not to exceed 12 ft | One per site, unless site has more than 6,000 sq ft of exterior wall area, then one per 6,000 sq ft of wall area | — |
| Residential Zones (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 6 | — | 48 sq ft | — |
| B-3 Zone | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Banner | — | One per site, unless site has more than 6,000 sq ft of exterior wall area, then one per 6,000 sq ft of wall area | — | — | One per site or one per 6,000 sq ft wall area | Attached to the existing surface of main building (other locations require director approval) | — | Sec. 13.5-7(a), Sec. 13.5-8(10) |
| Off-premises Advertising Sign (Digital/Static/Billboard) | — | Over 51 sq ft | — | — | No more than 5 permitted city-wide outside certain corridors | Not allowed in historical area as defined in Sec. 13.5-16 | — | Sec. 13.5-7(d), Sec. 13.5-16 |
| Wall Bulletin | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | — | Front, rear, side court wall of any building | — | Sec. 13.5-7(e) |
| Roof Sign | Vertical width display not to exceed 12 ft | — | — | Minimum 10 ft or 5 ft from property lines | — | On or above roof line of building or structure | — | Sec. 13.5-7(f) |
| Directional Sign | — | 6 sq ft unless director approved | — | — | — | Location/setbacks to be director-approved | — | Sec. 13.5-8(11) |
| Bench Sign | — | — | — | — | No more than two per site | Must not obstruct sidewalk handicap accessibility; location director approved | — | Sec. 13.5-8(13) |
| Detached Sign (Aggregate) | — | Max size per sign: 300 sq ft; combined max for detached at site: 500 sq ft | — | 25 ft between signs; 15 ft from adjoining property lines | No more than two per site | Detached from building, on property | — | Sec. 13.5-8(17) |
| Event Sign (Off-premises) | — | 32 sq ft (4 ft x 8 ft) | — | Not within 15 ft of pavement | Max 4 per event city-wide | Not within 15 ft of pavement; not in public right-of-way | — | Sec. 13.5-15 |

### Residential Zones (R-1, R-2, R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Political or Election Sign | — | Total area allowed for all political/issue signs on premises: 34 sq ft | — | 15 ft back of pavement or flat against a structure. | — | — | — | Sec. 13.5-10(1), Sec. 13.5-9(9) |
| Nameplate | — | 18 in x 24 in (3 sq ft) | — | — | One per dwelling unit | Affixed to exterior wall of structure | — | Sec. 13.5-10(2) |
| Premises Identification Sign (Multiple-family or Group Dwelling) | — | — | — | 10 ft from property line | One per multiple/unit/group dwelling | At each multiple family or group dwelling | — | Sec. 13.5-10(3) |
| Identification or Church Bulletin Board (Churches only) | — | 48 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line unless attached to building | — | At church | — | Sec. 13.5-10(4) |
| Conditional Use Sign (Attached Non-Illuminated) | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | One per conditional use | Attached | — | Sec. 13.5-10(5) |
| Signs allowed in all zones (Exempt List) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 13.5-9 |

### B-3 Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projection Sign | — | — | — | 3 ft back of edge of pavement | One per building facade | May come within 3 ft back of edge of pavement (vs 10 ft for other zones) | — | Sec. 13.5-8(4), (14): Exception |

## Prohibited signs in Mayfield

- No sign shall be erected or maintained at any location where it may obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with the view of or be confused with any traffic control sign, signal or device.
- No sign shall contain or make use of any word, phrase, symbol, shape, form, or character in such a manner as to interfere with or confuse vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
- No sign shall contain statements, words or pictures of an obscene, indecent, or immoral character, such as will offend public morals or decency.
- No sign shall obstruct any door or window leading to a fire escape or be attached to any part of a fire escape.
- No sign shall advertise a use which is not permitted (illegal by local or state law) in the zoning district wherein the sign is located.
- No sign shall be permitted which is placed in any public right-of-way, curb, sidewalk, post, pole, hydrant, bridge, tree, or other surface located on public property, or over or across any street or public thoroughfare except as may otherwise be expressly authorized by this chapter.
- No portion of any sign and no portion of the mounting of any mast of any sign within the public right-of-way shall be placed at an elevation less than eight feet above the sidewalk, surfaces of adjoining streets at intersections, or above the surface of the land adjacent to the roadway, whichever is higher.
- No portion of any such sign, mast, or mounting (in the space above ten feet) shall be placed nearer to the traveled portion of the roadway or the vertical space above the traveled portion of the roadway than ten feet, as measured from the face of the curb or if there is no curb, from the edge of the pavement.
- Signs with base support having a diameter of more than 12 inches or less than eight foot ground clearance must be a minimum of 15 feet back from edge of pavement.
- No revolving or rotating beam or beacon of light that simulates an emergency light or device shall be permitted as part of any sign.
- No sign having flashing, intermittent, or animated illumination shall be permitted within 150 feet of any residential zone boundary unless all written or graphic portions of that sign and all direct sources of illumination of that sign are shielded from view from all portions of that residential zone located within 150 feet thereof.
- No sign shall be permitted as a main or accessory use except in accordance with provisions of this chapter.
- No sign shall be permitted that does not meet all current state adopted building codes, fire codes, and electrical codes.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mayfield

- This chapter does not regulate official traffic or government signs.
- This chapter does not regulate the copy and message of signs.
- This chapter does not regulate signs not intended to be viewed from a public right-of-way.
- This chapter does not regulate window displays.
- This chapter does not regulate product dispensers and point of purchase displays.
- This chapter does not regulate scoreboards on athletic fields.
- This chapter does not regulate flags of any nation, government or noncommercial organization.
- This chapter does not regulate gravestones.
- This chapter does not regulate barber poles.
- This chapter does not regulate religious symbols.
- This chapter does not regulate commemorative plaques.
- This chapter does not regulate the display of street numbers.
- This chapter does not regulate any display or construction not defined herein as a sign.
- Signs in existence when this chapter is adopted (grandfather exemption clause) will not be affected except as required under maintenance, repair, or removal of dangerous signs.
- Integral signs: Names of buildings, dates of erection, monumental citations, commemorative tablets, and the like when carved into stone, concrete or similar material or made of bronze, aluminum or other permanent type construction and made an integral part of the structure are permitted in all zones, no permit required.
- Signs located wholly within a building or structure are permitted in all zones, no permit required.
- Signs affixed to a motor vehicle operating upon public thoroughfares are permitted in all zones, no permit required.
- Any sign painted on the windows of any industrial, business, or commercial building (subject to additional visibility requirements) is permitted in all zones, no permit required.
- Any sign created or erected by any governmental body or agency while acting in the scope of its governmental authority is permitted in all zones, no permit required.
- Any unlighted sign denoting the architect, engineer or contractor when placed upon work under construction (within specified size and other limits) is permitted in all zones, no permit required.
- Any unlighted sign advertising the sale, rental or lease of real estate, not exceeding nine square feet in area, is permitted in all zones, no permit required.
- Auction signs (with time/place/size restrictions) are permitted in all zones, no permit required.
- No permit is required for yard-type signs, within size/location limitations, as specified in section 13.5-9.
- The number of signs located in the drive-through areas of businesses that promote impulse purchases shall not be limited (subject to compliance with other requirements), no permit required.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit application must include a scaled detail drawing showing illumination method, construction materials, dimensions, building and lot size, location of proposed and all existing signs, footings/supports detail, and distances from property lines, pavement/curb, and existing structures.
- For certain types of signs (such as street banners), BZA approval is required.
- Code enforcement director may require sign permit applications to be submitted to the board of zoning adjustments if the proposed sign is in conflict with the intent of the code.
- Variances must have prior BZA board approval.
- All proposed street banners require BZA approval.
- Signs over certain heights require plans signed by a licensed engineer or architect.
- General maintenance issues brought before the BZA will require the owner to obtain a repair permit and complete the repair in an allotted time period.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Mayfield, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Mayfield+KY&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-mayfield

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