Lexington Site Plan Requirements | Permits & Zoning Guide

By Site Plan Creator Team •

Everything you need to know about creating a site plan for building permits in Lexington, KY. Covers zoning requirements, setbacks, stormwater management, and submission procedures.

Lexington Site Plan Requirements: Complete Guide for Building Permits

Creating a site plan for a building permit in Lexington, Kentucky requires meeting specific requirements set by the Division of Building Inspection. Lexington is a merged city-county government (Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, LFUCG) and is governed by the Lexington Zoning Ordinance, with unique considerations for horse farm preservation through the Rural Service Area and Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program, karst topography (sinkholes and caves), historic districts in downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, and Kentucky's bluegrass landscape protection.

Required Site Plan Elements

  • Property boundaries with dimensions and total lot area
  • Setbacks per Zoning Ordinance
  • Existing and proposed structures
  • Lot coverage
  • Parking per Zoning Ordinance
  • Karst features if applicable (sinkholes, springs)
  • Urban Service Area boundary confirmation
  • Stormwater management
  • North arrow, scale, vicinity map
  • Fayette County PVA parcel ID

Lexington Zoning and Setback Requirements

  • R-1A (Single-Family, large lot): Front 30 feet, side 10 feet, rear 25 feet. Lot coverage max 25%. Height max 35 feet.
  • R-1C (Single-Family, 6,000 sq ft lot): Front 25 feet, side 5 feet, rear 20 feet. Lot coverage max 40%.
  • R-1D (Single-Family, small lot): Front 20 feet, side 5 feet, rear 15 feet. Lot coverage max 45%.
  • R-2 (Two-Family): Front 25 feet, side 5 feet, rear 20 feet. Lot coverage max 45%.
  • R-3 (Multi-Family, townhouse): Front 25 feet, side 5-10 feet, rear 20 feet.
  • R-4/R-5 (Multi-Family, apartment): Front 30 feet, side 15 feet, rear 25 feet.
  • MU (Mixed-Use): Variable by subzone.

Rural Service Area and Horse Farm Preservation

Lexington's Urban Service Area (USA) boundary is a nationally recognized growth management tool:

  • Urban Service Area: Development with full urban services (sewer, water) allowed only within the USA boundary
  • Rural Service Area: Outside the USA — agricultural zoning protects horse farms and rural character
  • Purchase of Development Rights (PDR): LFUCG purchases development rights from horse farm owners to permanently preserve agricultural land
  • Agricultural districts: A-R (Agricultural-Rural) zone with minimum 10-acre lots
  • Bluegrass landscape: Protection of historic rural landscape, stone fences, and scenic viewsheds

Karst Topography

  • Sinkholes: Fayette County has numerous sinkholes formed in the underlying limestone — geotechnical assessment required for development near karst features
  • Sinkhole setbacks: Minimum setback from sinkhole rim required; no construction over active sinkholes
  • Karst springs: Protection of springs and groundwater connections through karst systems
  • Stormwater and karst: Stormwater management must account for karst — direct discharge into sinkholes prohibited

Historic Preservation

  • Historic Preservation Commission: Reviews exterior work in local districts
  • H-1 overlay districts: Including Gratz Park, Northside, Ashland Park, South Hill, and others
  • Certificate of Appropriateness: Required for exterior modifications
  • Kentucky historic tax credits: State credits available for qualified rehabilitation

Stormwater Management

  • LFUCG Stormwater Manual: Governs all stormwater design
  • Water quality: BMPs per MS4 permit
  • Detention: On-site detention for post-development runoff
  • Karst considerations: Stormwater must not discharge directly into sinkholes or karst features

How to Submit

Submit through LFUCG's online portal at lexingtonky.gov/permits. Walk-in at 101 E. Vine Street, Suite 700.

Fees and Timeline

  • Fees: Per fee schedule; includes impact fees for roads and parks
  • Timeline: Residential 2-4 weeks. Commercial 4-8 weeks. Historic review adds 2-4 weeks.

Creating Your Lexington Site Plan with Site Plan Creator

Site Plan Creator makes it easy to generate a professional, permit-ready site plan for your Lexington property. Simply enter your address, and the tool automatically loads your property boundaries, building footprints, and aerial imagery. You can then add setback lines, label structures, draw proposed construction, and export a scaled PDF ready for submission.

ADU Details for Lexington

  • Accessory dwelling units: LFUCG has adopted ADU regulations to support housing diversity
  • Permitted zones: ADUs allowed in single-family residential zones with specific size and design standards
  • Owner occupancy: Owner must reside in either the primary dwelling or the ADU
  • Parking: One additional off-street parking space required unless within walking distance of transit
  • Design compatibility: ADU must be compatible with the primary structure and neighborhood context per design guidelines

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the typical residential setbacks?
R-1C zones (6,000 sq ft) have 25-foot front, 5-foot side, 20-foot rear with 40% coverage. R-1D small lots have 20-foot front, 5-foot side with 45% coverage. R-1A large lots have 30-foot front, 10-foot side with 25% coverage.
What is the Urban Service Area boundary?
Development with urban services (sewer, water) is only allowed within the USA boundary. Outside is the Rural Service Area with agricultural zoning protecting horse farms. PDR program purchases development rights for permanent preservation.
What karst/sinkhole requirements exist?
Fayette County has numerous sinkholes in limestone geology. Geotechnical assessment required near karst features. Setbacks from sinkhole rims required. No construction over active sinkholes. Stormwater cannot discharge into sinkholes.
What historic district requirements apply?
Historic Preservation Commission reviews exterior work in H-1 overlay districts including Gratz Park, Northside, Ashland Park, and South Hill. Certificate of Appropriateness required. Kentucky historic tax credits available.
What horse farm protection rules exist?
The Rural Service Area protects horse farms with A-R zoning (10-acre minimum). PDR program purchases development rights. Bluegrass landscape, stone fences, and scenic viewsheds are protected.
What stormwater is required?
LFUCG Stormwater Manual governs design. On-site detention required. Water quality BMPs per MS4 permit. Critical requirement: stormwater cannot discharge into sinkholes or karst features.
How do I submit?
Submit through lexingtonky.gov/permits. Walk-in at 101 E. Vine Street, Suite 700. Residential 2-4 weeks.
How long does review take?
Residential 2-4 weeks. Commercial 4-8 weeks. Historic review adds 2-4 weeks. Karst and stormwater reviews concurrent. Kentucky has efficient permitting.

How to Create a Site Plan in Lexington

  1. Look Up Property: Use Fayette County PVA to find zoning, Urban Service Area status, karst features, historic district, and lot dimensions. Note your PVA parcel ID.
  2. Assess Constraints: Confirm you're within the Urban Service Area. Check for sinkholes, karst features, historic H-1 overlay, and stormwater requirements.
  3. Create Site Plan: Enter your Lexington address in Site Plan Creator to load property data. Add setback lines per Zoning Ordinance. Note karst features.
  4. Include Required Elements: Include boundaries, setbacks, lot coverage, parking, karst features with setbacks, historic overlay, stormwater, and north arrow with scale.
  5. Prepare Documents: Geotechnical study for karst areas. Certificate of Appropriateness for historic districts. Stormwater management plan.
  6. Submit: Upload through lexingtonky.gov/permits. Pay fees.
  7. Obtain Permit: Respond to comments. Attend Historic Preservation Commission if applicable. Once approved, receive permit, schedule inspections.