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Lexington council adopts ordinance allowing internally lit canopy signs downtown
Summary
The Lexington City Council unanimously approved ordinance 2025‑03 to permit internally illuminated canopy signs in C‑1 and C‑2 zoning districts with size, lumen and design limits intended to protect downtown character.
The Lexington City Council voted unanimously to adopt zoning ordinance 2025‑03, allowing internally illuminated canopy signs in the city’s C‑1 (historic downtown) and C‑2 districts under specific limits.
City planner Arnie presented the ordinance during a public hearing, explaining the planning commission’s multi‑meeting review and recommendation. Under the approved rules, canopy signs on buildings up to three stories may have up to 7.5 square feet of display and channel letters up to 12 inches high; buildings taller than three stories may use up to 10 square feet of display and 16‑inch letters. The ordinance requires canopy signs to be mounted on buildings with at least 40 feet of frontage, limits individual channel letters to 800 lumens and sets a maximum color temperature of 2,700 kelvin. The city’s Architectural Review Board will retain discretion over color and design detail.
Council members asked staff about time‑of‑day restrictions and comparisons to existing street lighting; staff noted downtown street lamps produce about 1,300 lumens and said the lumen cap per letter reduces the need for mandatory curfews. Council also noted the applicant did not provide detailed sign specifications and that staff relied on comparable ordinances and planning commission review to set numeric limits.
A council member moved to approve the ordinance and a second was received; the mayor called a roll‑call vote and Mister Driscoll, Miss Strahan, Mister Smith, Mister Sigler, Mister Betts and Miss Alexander all voted in favor. The motion carried unanimously.
The ordinance changes zoning ordinance Article 13 (signs) and Article 20 (definitions); staff said draft ordinance language and visuals were included in the meeting packet. Council thanked the planning commission and staff for their work and emphasized the limits are intended to allow business visibility while protecting downtown character. No public speakers addressed the hearing before it closed.
The council’s action takes effect according to the city’s standard ordinance effective‑date rules; staff will post the final ordinance and update the zoning code as required.
