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Lexington-Fayette County, KY Overview
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Code of Ordinances
CHARTER AND CODE OF ORDINANCES LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY GOVERNMENT
SUPPLEMENT HISTORY TABLE
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE - URBAN COUNTY GOVERNMENT CHARTER
Chapter 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS
Chapter 2 - ADMINISTRATION1
Chapter 2A - AIRPORTS AND AIRCRAFT1
Chapter 2B - CODE ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING BOARDS
Chapter 3 - ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES1
Chapter 4 - ANIMALS AND FOWL1
Chapter 5 - BUILDINGS AND BUILDING REGULATIONS1
Chapter 5A - CIVIL DEFENSE: CIVIL EMERGENCIES
Chapter 6 - EMPLOYEES AND PENSIONS1
Chapter 7 - FINANCE AND TAXATION1
Chapter 8 - MINING AND/OR QUARRYING1
Chapter 9 - FIRE PREVENTION1
Chapter 9A - FIREWORKS
Chapter 10 - FOOD AND DRUGS1
Chapter 11 - HEALTH AND SANITATION1
Chapter 12 - HOUSING1
Chapter 13 - LICENSES AND REGULATIONS1
Chapter 13A - MINIMUM WAGE
Chapter 14 - OFFENSES AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS1
Chapter 15 - PEDDLERS AND SOLICITORS1
Chapter 16 - SEWAGE, GARBAGE, REFUSE AND WEEDS1
Chapter 16A - HAZARDOUS MATERIALS1
Chapter 17 - STREETS AND SIDEWALKS1
Chapter 17A - SUBDIVISIONS1
Chapter 17B - STREET TREES1
Chapter 17C - PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY
Chapter 17D - DOCKLESS VEHICLES
Chapter 18 - TRAFFIC1
Chapter 18B - SNOW EMERGENCIES1
Chapter 18C - EMERGENCY AMBULANCE, TRANSPORTATION AMBULANCE LICENSING, REGULATIONS1
Chapter 19 - WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Chapter 20 - ZONING1
Chapter 21 - COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR CLASSIFIED CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM1
Chapter 22 - UNCLASSIFIED CIVIL SERVICE1
Chapter 23 - DIVISIONS OF FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES AND POLICE1
Chapter 24 - DETENTION CENTER1
Chapter 25 - ETHICS ACT
Chapter 26 - RURAL LAND MANAGEMENT
APPENDIX A RULES AND PROCEDURES OF THE LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY COUNCIL1
CODE COMPARATIVE TABLE - ORDINANCES
STATE LAW REFERENCE TABLE
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Zoning Code
Sec. 8-4. - Agricultural Urban (A-U) Zone.
(a)   Intent. This zone is intended to control the development of rural land within the Urban Service Area over a period of time so as to manage the growth of the community. In order to avoid premature or improper development, land should remain in this zone until public facilities and services are or will be adequate to serve urban uses.
(b)   Principal Uses. (Other uses substantially similar to those listed herein shall also be deemed permitted.)
1.   The principal permitted uses in the A-R zone.
2.   Farm tours and hayrides.
(c)   Accessory Uses. (Uses and structures which are customarily accessory, clearly incidental and subordinate to permitted uses.)
1.   The permitted accessory uses in the A-R zone.
(d)   Conditional Uses. (Permitted only with Board of Adjustment approval.)
1.   Sections 8-1(d)1. through 5., 8., 9., 11. through 13. (but excluding outdoor rifle and other firearm ranges), and 19 through 23 of the permitted conditional uses in the A-R zone, provided the square footage limitations shall not apply unless required by the Board of Adjustment.
2.   Cemeteries, crematories, columbariums, and mausoleums for human burial; but only when adjacent to, or extensions of, existing cemeteries.
3.   Garden centers, only when operated in conjunction with a commercial greenhouse or plant nursery on the same premises, and only when all conditions required of commercial greenhouses in Section 8-1(d)5 above are met.
4.   Offices of veterinarians, and animal hospitals and clinics.
5.   Radio or television studios, offices and associated equipment used in conjunction with an existing transmitting or relay tower, provided that such studios, offices and associated equipment are entirely enclosed within a building any part of which is located within five hundred (500) feet of such existing tower.
6.   Funeral homes.
7.   Mining of non-metallic minerals, but only when the proposal complies with the requirements of the Mining/Quarrying Ordinance (Code of Ordinances #252-91) and the conditions and requirements as set forth therein. The Board of Adjustment shall specifically consider and be able to find:
a.   That the proposed use will not constitute a public nuisance by creating excessive noise, odor, traffic, dust, or damage to the environment or surrounding properties;
b.   That a reasonable degree of reclamation and proper drainage control is feasible; and
c.   That the owner and/or applicant has not had a permit revoked or bond or other security forfeited for failure to comply with any federal, state or local laws, regulations or conditions, including land reclamation, pertaining to the proposed use.
8.   Commercial and non-commercial outdoor recreational facilities, including golf courses; golf driving ranges; and outdoor athletic facilities, such as baseball fields; soccer fields; or polo fields.
9.   Sewage disposal plants.
10.   Private clubs, including accessory restaurants and/or the serving of alcoholic beverages.
11.   Hospitals, nursing homes, rest homes, assisted living facilities, orphanages, community residences.
12.   Schools for academic instruction, including dormitories, fraternity and sorority houses.
13.   Any uses that are clearly incidental and subordinate to a small farm winery operation licensed as such by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, other than those specifically outlined in KRS 100, and permitted by Section 8-1(c)2, which may include special events with or without live entertainment or a small bistro/restaurant of up to two (2) seats per one thousand (1,000) gallons of wine, brandies and cordials produced or compounded on-site per year. For special events, documentation shall be provided that arrangements have been made with the LFUCG Division of Fire and Emergency Services for approval for fire suppression and control; that Fayette County Health Department approval has been obtained for the septic system and/or portable toilets; that Fayette County Health Department approval has been obtained for any food services offered, whether it be provided on-site or catered for each event; and that approval be obtained from the Division of Building Inspection for any temporary structures used (i.e., tents).
14.   Agritourism activities, to include corn mazes; special events, parties and festivals; concerts; children's rides; farm gift shops (limited to five hundred (500) square feet); educational classes related to agricultural products or skills; horse shows involving more than seventy (70) participants; and seasonal activities.
15.   Ecotourism activities, to include commercial hiking, bicycling trails; equine trails; zip line trails; tree canopy tours; canoeing and kayaking launch sites; primitive and vehicular or trailer campgrounds; fishing and hunting clubs; botanical gardens; nature preserves; and recreational outfitters.
16.   Youth camps.
(e)   Prohibited Uses. (All uses, other than those listed as principal, accessory, or conditional uses or substantially similar to principal, accessory, or conditional uses, shall be prohibited. The uses below are provided for illustration purposes and for the purpose of limiting permitted uses, and are not intended to be a total listing of all the uses that are prohibited.)
1.   The prohibited uses in the A-R zone, except as permitted herein.
2.   Extraction of crude petroleum or natural gas.
3.   Quarrying of non-metallic minerals.
4.   Airports.
5.   Radio, telephone or television transmitting towers, antennas and line-of-sight relays, except as permitted herein.
6.   Penal or correctional institutions.
7.   Outdoor rifle and other firearm ranges.
8.   Concrete mixing.
9.   Asphalt plants.
10.   Adult entertainment establishments or other similar adult uses.
11.   Museums.
12.   Commercial farm markets.
13.   Medicinal cannabis tier IV cultivators, dispensaries, producers, processors, and safety compliance facilities.
Lot, Yard, and Height Requirements. (See Articles 3 and 15 for additional regulations.)
(f)   Minimum Lot Size. No limitation, except for single-family detached residences as a principal permitted use; commercial greenhouses, garden centers and equine hospitals as conditional uses, then ten (10) acres minimum.
(g)   Minimum Lot Frontage. Two hundred fifty (250) feet.
(h)   Minimum Front Yard. Fifty (50) feet from the right-of-way.
(i)   Minimum Each Side Yard. Twenty-five (25) feet.
(j)   Minimum Rear Yard. Twenty-five (25) feet.
(k)   Minimum Open Space. No limitation.
(l)   Maximum Lot Coverage. No limitation.
(m)   Maximum Height of Building. No limitation.
(n)   Off-Street Parking. (See Articles 16 and 18 for additional parking regulations.)
No minimum requirements.
Conditional Uses: The Board of Adjustment may establish additional requirements, as needed.
(Code 1983, § 8-4; Ord. No. 263-83 , § 1, 12-15-1983; Ord. No. 244-86 , § 1, 11-20-1986; Ord. No. 183-89 , § 1, 9-21-1989; Ord. No. 30-92 , §§ 5, 6, 3-3-1992; Ord. No. 86-92 , § 5, 5-28-1992; Ord. No. 42-95 , § 1, 2-23-1995; Ord. No. 226-98 , § 1, 8-27-1998; Ord. No. 50-2004 , § 1, 3-18-2004; Ord. No. 341-2006 , §§ 14—16, 12-7-2006; Ord. No. 137-2016 , § 2(8-4), 7-7-2016; Ord. No. 22-2017 , § 3(8-4), 3-2-2017; Ord. No. 166-2017 , § 3(8-4), 11-16-2017; Ord. No. 113-2022, § 3, 10-27-2022; Ord. No. 004-2023, § 4, 1-31-2023; Ord. No. 057-2024, § 5, 6-27-2024)