Lexington Setbacks & Height Limits — Residential Zones

Fact-checked against the current Lexington-Fayette County Zoning Ordinance on September 21, 2026.

Lexington's R-1 series contains several distinct single-family residential zones. The previous page's R-1D example was materially incorrect.

Current R-1D Standards

Current §8-8 provides:

The previous page listed R-1D as roughly 25-ft front, 5-ft side, and 25-ft rear. Those values do not match the current ordinance.

Infill and Redevelopment Areas Use Special Rules

Section 8-8 contains separate provisions for existing R-1D lots in defined Infill and Redevelopment Areas.

Depending on existing lot frontage:

• the front yard can follow the average of adjoining existing front yards, subject to the ordinance's minimum;
• side yards can reduce to 3 ft or 5 ft on qualifying narrow lots;
• rear yard becomes 20% of lot depth under the special infill rules;
• some narrow-lot conditions use a 28-ft / 2.5-story maximum instead of the ordinary 35-ft standard;
• FAR limits apply in the infill provisions.

Do not apply the ordinary R-1D table blindly to a qualifying infill lot.

Other R-1 Zones Are Different

R-1A, R-1B, R-1C, R-1E, and R-1T have their own lot, yard, and height requirements.

For example, R-1A uses much larger lots and yards than R-1D. The zoning suffix therefore materially changes the envelope.

ADUs

The current R-1D section expressly includes Accessory Dwelling Units as accessory uses subject to Article 3-12.

Kentucky does not impose a statewide zoning rule that substitutes one universal ADU setback or height for Lexington's local ordinance.

See the Lexington ADU rules page for ADU-specific guidance.

Overlays and Special Conditions

Historic H-1, Neighborhood Design Character, major-roadway corridor, floodplain, agricultural, and other regulations can add requirements.

How to Check a Property

1. Confirm the exact R-1 suffix or other zoning district.
2. Read the current Article 8 section for that district.
3. Determine whether the parcel is in a defined Infill and Redevelopment Area.
4. Check Article 15 and Article 20 where referenced.
5. Check H-1, ND-1, corridor, floodplain, and other overlays.
6. Confirm parcel-specific questions with LFUCG Planning.

Official Sources

• Lexington Zoning Ordinance — §8-8 R-1D
• Lexington Planning Resources
• Lexington Development and Zoning

This guide is informational only. The current Zoning Ordinance, infill provisions, overlays, and parcel-specific approvals control.