Louisville Metro Policy Hub — Center for Neighborhoods

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ORDOrdinance — a permanent law or rule RESResolution — a formal statement or one-time action PLANPlanning Case — a zoning or land use decision CIFCapital Infrastructure Fund — a capital project investment NDFNeighborhood Development Fund — neighborhood spending item DISCDiscussion Item — a topic under council review APPOAppointment — a nomination to a board or commission

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NDF & CIF Summary — FY27

Citywide overview of Neighborhood Development Fund (NDF) and Capital Infrastructure Fund (CIF) spending across all 26 council districts. FY27 begins July 1, 2026.

NDF — Neighborhood Development Fund $0 spent of $1,950,000 total · 0% deployed

0 of 26 districts active · 0 passed ordinances · $1,950,000 remaining

CIF — Capital Infrastructure Fund $0 spent of $2,600,000 total · 0% deployed

0 of 26 districts active · 0 passed ordinances · $2,600,000 remaining

Spending by District Click column headers to sort

District ↕	Council Member ↕	NDF Spent ↕	CIF Spent ↕	Total ↓

NDF Top Recipients

CIF Top Recipients

⚠️ Louisville's Land Development Code is currently under revision. Information on this page reflects the current LDC. Follow the LDC revision process →

What is the Land Development Code?

Louisville's Land Development Code (LDC) is the set of legally binding rules that determines what can be built where in Jefferson County — and how it must look. Adopted by Metro Council and administered by the Office of Planning, it governs everything from how many homes can fit on an acre of land, to how close a building can sit to the street, to what kinds of businesses can operate in your neighborhood.

The LDC is one of the most powerful tools shaping the physical character of Louisville's neighborhoods. When a developer proposes a new apartment building, a warehouse, or a data center, the LDC determines whether it's allowed, what review process it must go through, and what standards it must meet. When a homeowner wants to add an accessory dwelling unit or convert their garage, the LDC sets the rules. Understanding the LDC means understanding who has power over what gets built — and how residents can engage that process.

View LDC Chapter 1 — General Provisions ↗

How the Three Layers Work Together

Louisville's zoning system operates in three overlapping layers. Every parcel of land in Jefferson County sits inside all three at once:

Layer 1

Use Zone

What can be built here?

Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Special Purpose

Layer 2

Form District

How should it look?

Building height, setbacks, placement, streetscape

Layer 3

Overlay District

Any special rules here?

Historic preservation, waterfront design, environmental protection

What Gets Built

The combination of all three layers determines what development is allowed, how it must be designed, and what additional protections apply

For example: a property zoned M-2 (Industrial) in the Suburban Workplace Form District with no overlay can accommodate a medium-sized data center by right with special standards. That same property in the Traditional Workplace Form District would face different design requirements. And if it were inside the Floyds Fork Overlay, additional environmental standards would apply on top of both.

How the LDC is Organized

Ch. 1General rules and definitions — LDC Chapter 1 ↗

Ch. 2Zoning districts — residential, office, commercial, industrial, and special purpose — LDC Chapter 2 ↗

Ch. 3Special districts and overlay regulations — LDC Chapter 3 ↗

Ch. 4Development standards, conditional uses, and approval processes — LDC Chapter 4 ↗

Ch. 5Form district regulations — LDC Chapter 5 ↗

Ch. 7Subdivision regulations

Ch. 10Tree canopy, landscaping, and open space

Ch. 11Development review procedures — LDC Chapter 11 ↗

Last reviewed: August 2026 · Reflects LDC as of August 2026 · Official LDC source →

Zoning Districts

Zoning districts define what activities are allowed on any given parcel of land. Every property in Jefferson County is assigned to a zoning district — and that assignment determines whether you can build a house, open a business, or operate a warehouse on that land. Zoning districts are established in Chapter 2 of the LDC and are grouped into four main categories: residential, office/residential, commercial, and industrial. Special purpose districts handle uses that don't fit neatly into standard categories. Read LDC Chapter 2 ↗

🏘 Residential Zones

Residential zones are designed for where people live. Louisville's residential districts span a wide range — from large rural lots where farming is common, to dense urban blocks with apartments stacked several stories high. The key variable across residential zones is density — how many dwelling units are allowed per acre — which directly determines the character of a neighborhood. Residential zones are found in Chapter 2, Parts 2 and 3 of the LDC.

Note: In Louisville, a boarding house in any single-family zone (R-R through U-N) is limited to a maximum of four boarders.

Rural & Estate

The least dense residential zones in Louisville — large lots of half an acre or more, agricultural uses common. Think long driveways, pastures, wooded properties, and significant distance between homes. Typical of eastern and southern Jefferson County. A 10-acre parcel in R-R could hold about 10 homes, each with nearly an acre of land.

R-R

Rural Residential

Min. Lot: 40,000 sq ft (~1 acre)

Density: ~1.08 units/acre

Typical uses: Single-family homes, small farms, agricultural uses, community facilities (churches, fire stations). Allows up to 4 boarders in a boarding house.

R-E

Residential Estate

Min. Lot: Large (varies)

Density: Very low

Typical uses: Single-family estate homes, some community facilities. Think Glenview or Anchorage-area character — spacious, heavily wooded, estate-scale lots.

Single-Family Residential

Louisville's primary single-family zones, ranging from large suburban lots (R-1) to compact urban blocks (R-4). These zones make up the bulk of Louisville's residential neighborhoods. As the number increases, lot sizes shrink and density rises — R-4 neighborhoods have homes close together on small lots, while R-1 neighborhoods feel suburban and spacious. Think Audubon Park, Shawnee, Germantown, and the South End for the denser end; eastern suburbs for R-1 and R-2.

R-1

Single-Family (large lot)

Min. Lot: 40,000 sq ft

Density: ~1.08 units/acre

Typical uses: Single-family homes with large yards. Substantial setbacks and open space between homes — suburban character similar to R-R but without agricultural uses.

R-2

Single-Family

Min. Lot: 20,000 sq ft (~½ acre)

Density: ~2.17 units/acre

Typical uses: Single-family homes. Standard suburban lots — moderate front yards, two-car garages common. St. Matthews fringes, Douglass Hills area.

R-3

Single-Family (compact)

Min. Lot: 9,000 sq ft

Density: ~4.84 units/acre

Typical uses: Single-family homes on smaller lots. More compact — homes closer together, smaller yards. Common in established inner suburbs and parts of the South End.

R-4

Single-Family (urban)

Min. Lot: 5,000 sq ft

Density: ~8.71 units/acre

Typical uses: Single-family homes in dense urban settings. Narrow lots, homes close to the sidewalk — Shawnee, Germantown, Smoketown. A 1-acre parcel holds about 8–9 homes.

Multi-Family Residential

Louisville's multi-family zones allow apartments, duplexes, and higher-density housing. R-5A and R-5B sit at the lower end — duplexes and small apartment buildings that often serve as transitions between single-family blocks and commercial corridors. R-6 through R-8A scale up to mid-rise and high-rise urban living, with R-8A allowing the densest residential development in the city. Found in urban neighborhoods, along major corridors, and in the downtown core.

R-5A

Multi-Family

Density: Up to 12 units/acre

Typical uses: Two-family and multi-family dwellings. Small apartment buildings and duplexes — transition zones between single-family blocks and commercial corridors.

R-5B

Two-Family

Density: Max 2 units/lot

Typical uses: Duplexes, semi-detached homes, carriage houses. Side-by-side units sharing a wall — common in Portland, Clifton, and similar older neighborhoods.

R-6

Multi-Family

Density: Up to 17.42 units/acre

Typical uses: Multi-family dwellings, assisted living facilities. Small to mid-rise apartments — a half-acre lot could hold 8–9 units. Common along urban corridors.

R-7

Multi-Family (dense)

Density: Up to 34.8 units/acre

Typical uses: Apartments, bed & breakfasts, boarding houses. Mid-rise apartment buildings — a 1-acre site could hold 34–35 units.

R-8A

Multi-Family (very dense)

Density: Up to 58.08 units/acre

Typical uses: High-density apartments, high-rise living. Urban high-rises — a half-acre lot could hold 29 units. Downtown Louisville and dense urban neighborhoods.

Urban Neighborhood

A flexible zone designed specifically for Louisville's established urban neighborhoods — allowing a mix of housing types side by side on the same block. The U-N district supports density and walkability while reflecting the organic mix of single-family homes, duplexes, and small apartments already common in many of Louisville's inner neighborhoods.

U-N

Urban Neighborhood

Density: Higher density

Typical uses: Single-family homes, duplexes, small multi-family, and mixed housing types on the same block. Walkable urban character — designed to support the variety of housing already found in established Louisville neighborhoods.

🏢 Office / Residential Zones

Office/Residential zones blend housing with lower-intensity professional and office uses. They serve as transition areas between residential neighborhoods and more intensive commercial districts — allowing a doctor's office, law firm, or residential care facility alongside apartments or homes. Found in Chapter 2, Part 3 of the LDC. Read LDC Chapter 2 ↗

Office/Residential

Density: Up to 12 units/acre

Typical uses: Small professional offices, single-family homes, residential care facilities. What it looks like: A converted Victorian home housing a law office next to a residence — transitional scale between neighborhoods and commercial corridors.

OR-1 / OR-2

Office/Residential

Density: OR-2 up to 58 units/acre

Typical uses: Multi-family and two-family dwellings, small offices. What it looks like: Urban mixed buildings — ground-floor offices or services with apartments above, increasing scale from OR to OR-2.

OR-3

Office/Residential (intensive)

Density: Up to 435 units/acre (0-bedroom)

Typical uses: Apartment hotels, medical labs, business schools. What it looks like: Mid-to-high-rise mixed-use buildings near hospitals or universities — think medical district character.

OTF

Office/Tourist Facility

Density: Similar to OR-3

Typical uses: Hotels, apartments, and office buildings combined. What it looks like: Mixed hospitality and residential — often found near downtown or tourist destinations.

🏪 Commercial Zones

Commercial zones are for business, retail, and service uses. They range from small neighborhood corner stores to large regional shopping centers. Some commercial zones also allow residential uses, recognizing that vibrant commercial areas benefit from people living nearby. Found in Chapter 2, Part 4 of the LDC. Read LDC Chapter 2 ↗

C-R

Commercial Residential

Character: Mixed-use urban

Typical uses: Mixed-use redevelopment, adaptive reuse of urban structures, residential uses similar to R-7. What it looks like: Older commercial buildings converted to mixed-use — ground-floor retail or restaurant with apartments above, common in transitional urban corridors.

C-N

Commercial Neighborhood

Density: Up to 17.42 units/acre

Typical uses: Neighborhood convenience shops, grocery stores, laundromats, personal services, residential uses. What it looks like: Corner stores and small strip centers serving immediate neighborhood needs — walkable scale, no big-box retail.

C-1

Commercial

Character: Retail & services

Typical uses: Retail stores, restaurants, banks, personal services, medical offices. What it looks like: Neighborhood and community-scale commercial strips — smaller shopping centers, local restaurants, service businesses.

C-2

Commercial (general)

Character: General commercial

Typical uses: Broader range of retail, auto repair, drive-throughs, larger restaurants, entertainment uses. What it looks like: Commercial arterial corridors — the kind of strip development common along Dixie Highway or Preston Highway.

C-3

High Intensity Commercial

Character: High-intensity retail and services

Typical uses: Large-scale retail, auto dealerships, telecom facilities (including small data centers for FCC-regulated carriers). What it looks like: Major commercial nodes — regional shopping centers, big-box retail, car lots.

C-M

Commercial Manufacturing

Character: Mixed commercial/light industrial

Typical uses: Light manufacturing, commercial services, contractors, small data centers (≤50k sq ft under proposed code). What it looks like: Transitional areas between commercial corridors and industrial zones — auto body shops, lumber yards, small fabrication businesses.

🏭 Industrial Zones

Industrial zones are where Louisville's manufacturing, warehousing, and heavy operations are concentrated. They allow uses that generate noise, traffic, or environmental impact that would be incompatible with residential neighborhoods. Industrial zones are significant in the current policy moment because they are where data centers are currently sited — and where proposed regulations would concentrate large-scale data center development. Found in Chapter 2, Part 5 of the LDC. Read LDC Chapter 2 ↗

M-1

Light Industrial

Character: Light manufacturing and warehousing

Typical uses: Light manufacturing, warehousing, distribution centers, printing facilities, small data centers (≤50k sq ft under proposed code). What it looks like: Lower-intensity industrial areas — smaller warehouses, flex-space buildings, operations that produce limited noise or environmental impact. Often found adjacent to commercial zones as a buffer.

M-2

Industrial

Character: General industrial

Typical uses: General manufacturing, processing plants, heavy commercial operations, medium-sized data centers (50k–250k sq ft under proposed code). What it looks like: Industrial parks and logistics facilities — larger warehouses, manufacturing plants, truck terminals. Common in Louisville's industrial corridors along Cane Run Road and the Riverport area.

M-3

Heavy Industrial

Character: Heavy industrial — fewest restrictions

Typical uses: Heavy manufacturing, processing facilities, hazardous material operations. Under the proposed LDC revision, large data centers (250k–500k sq ft) would require a CUP here — the only zone where they'd be permitted. What it looks like: The Rubbertown/Portland corridor, Cane Run industrial area, and Riverport — Louisville's most intensely industrial land. These M-3 zones are concentrated in West Louisville communities already bearing significant environmental burden. See CFN's data center analysis ↗

⭐ Special Purpose Zones

Special purpose zones are designed for uses that don't fit neatly into standard residential, commercial, or industrial categories. They cover economic development corridors, research parks, transit-oriented development, and water-related uses. Found in Chapter 2, Parts 6–8 and Chapter 3 of the LDC. Read LDC Chapter 2 ↗ Chapter 3 ↗

EZ-1

Enterprise Zone

Typical uses: Manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, medium data centers. Economic development district with incentives for job creation. What it looks like: Designated economic development corridors — often older industrial areas targeted for reinvestment.

PRO

Planned Research/Office

Typical uses: Large-scale office campuses, research facilities, technology parks, small data centers. What it looks like: Planned office and research parks — organized campuses with shared amenities, landscaping, and coordinated design.

PEC

Planned Employment Center

Typical uses: Business parks, industrial uses, medium data centers. Employment-focused districts for coordinated development. What it looks like: Large planned employment campuses — think UPS Worldport-adjacent areas or major logistics hubs.

W-1 / W-2 / W-3

Water-Related Districts

Typical uses: River-dependent uses, marinas, port facilities, water recreation. What it looks like: Louisville's Ohio River waterfront areas — varying intensity from recreational (W-1) to port operations (W-3).

PVD

Planned Village Development

Typical uses: Compact mixed-use developments designed as self-contained village communities. What it looks like: New urbanist-style communities with a central gathering space, walkable streets, and a mix of housing and retail.

PTD

Planned Transit Development

Typical uses: Transit-oriented development near advanced transit facilities — higher density, walkable, mixed use. What it looks like: Dense mixed-use development clustered around transit stops — designed to reduce car dependence and support public transportation.

Last reviewed: August 2026 · Reflects LDC as of August 2026 · Official LDC source → · LDC Chapter 2 ↗

Understanding Density

Density is one of the most important concepts in zoning — and one of the most misunderstood. At its simplest, density refers to how many homes or buildings can exist per acre of land. Higher density means more units closer together; lower density means more space between buildings. But density is also a proxy for neighborhood character, infrastructure demand, walkability, and affordability.

In Louisville, the LDC sets maximum density for each residential zone, measured in dwelling units per acre (DU/acre). A single-family home on a half-acre lot represents about 2 units per acre. A six-story apartment building on that same half-acre might house 30 or more units — 60+ units per acre.

Why does density matter for neighborhoods? Density shapes who can live in a neighborhood and at what cost. Lower-density zoning — large minimum lot sizes — tends to produce more expensive housing and limits the number of people who can live in a given area. Higher-density zoning allows more housing on less land, which can support affordability, transit, and neighborhood services like corner stores and schools. In Louisville's historically disinvested West and South Louisville neighborhoods, how density is regulated directly affects what gets built and who benefits. Read LDC Chapter 2 on density ↗

Density Spectrum — From Rural to Dense Urban

Rural / Estate

1–2 DU/acre

R-R · R-E · R-1

Large lots of ½ acre or more. Agricultural uses common. Long driveways, pastures, heavily wooded properties. Houses are far apart. Think: eastern Jefferson County, Anchorage-area communities.

Example: A 10-acre parcel could hold about 10 homes in R-R — each with nearly an acre of land.

Suburban

2–5 DU/acre

R-2 · R-3

Moderate lot sizes. Typical suburban character — front lawns, garages, sidewalks. Predominantly single-family. Think: St. Matthews fringes, parts of the South End.

Example: A 1-acre parcel in R-3 could hold about 4-5 homes with reasonable yard space.

Urban Single-Family

5–12 DU/acre

R-4 · R-5A · R-5B · U-N

Compact lots, homes closer together. Walkable character, sidewalks, narrower streets. Mix of single-family and small multi-family. Think: Shawnee, Germantown, Smoketown, Portland.

Example: A 1-acre parcel in R-4 could hold about 8-9 homes — small front yards, close neighbors, urban character.

Multi-Family

12–35 DU/acre

R-6 · R-7 · OR-1 · OR-2

Apartment buildings, townhouses, assisted living. Multiple units per building. Found along urban corridors and near commercial areas. Think: apartment complexes along major streets, urban neighborhoods transitioning to denser housing.

Example: A 1-acre parcel in R-7 could hold a 34-unit apartment building — 3-4 stories with shared amenities.

Dense Urban / High-Rise

35–435+ DU/acre

R-8A · OR-3 · OTF

High-rise apartments, dense urban development. Minimal private outdoor space. Maximum urban density. Think: downtown Louisville, medical corridor, major urban nodes.

Example: A half-acre parcel in R-8A could hold 29 apartments — a multi-story building with underground or structured parking.

Density and Equity in Louisville

Density is not a neutral technical concept — it has a history in Louisville. Exclusionary zoning practices, including large minimum lot sizes and single-family-only restrictions, have historically been used to limit who can live in certain neighborhoods. West and South Louisville — CFN's priority communities — have often been zoned for denser, more intense uses while wealthier eastern suburbs maintained low-density protections.

The current LDC revision is an opportunity to examine whether Louisville's density rules are producing equitable outcomes — distributing both opportunity and burden fairly across all 26 council districts. How density rules change in the revision will directly affect housing affordability, neighborhood character, and who can live where in Louisville.

Last reviewed: August 2026 · Reflects LDC as of August 2026 · Official LDC source → · LDC Chapter 2 ↗

Form Districts

Form Districts are Louisville's answer to a fundamental limitation of use-based zoning: two properties can have the same zoning designation but look completely different depending on where they are. A commercial strip in a suburban corridor and a ground-floor shop on a historic downtown block might both be "C-1" — but residents expect very different things from each.

Form Districts address this by regulating the physical design and layout of buildings — not what gets built, but how it's arranged in relation to the street, neighboring properties, and the broader neighborhood. They govern building setbacks, height limits, building placement relative to the street, parking placement, and streetscape elements like sidewalk widths and street trees.

Every parcel in Louisville sits inside both a use zone (which determines permitted uses) and a form district (which determines how development must look and relate to its surroundings). The two work in tandem: use zones answer "what can be built here?" — form districts answer "how should it meet the street?" Louisville has established 11 Form Districts, each tailored to reinforce the desired character of its area. Read LDC Chapter 5 — Form Districts ↗

Downtown

Downtown Form District

Character goal: Vibrant, dense urban core with active street life. Key standards: High-density development, buildings placed close to or at the sidewalk, ground-floor active uses, pedestrian-friendly streetscapes, managed parking. Where: Central Louisville downtown area.

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Form District

Character goal: Preserve the existing scale and character of established residential neighborhoods. Key standards: Compatible infill, building scale matching neighbors, front porches and setbacks consistent with existing patterns. Where: Established residential neighborhoods throughout Louisville.

Trad. Neighborhood

Traditional Neighborhood

Character goal: Support walkability and mixed use in older grid-pattern neighborhoods. Key standards: Buildings close to the sidewalk, mixed uses encouraged, architectural styles compatible with historic context. Where: Older Louisville neighborhoods like Germantown, Butchertown, Crescent Hill.

Village

Village Form District

Character goal: Reinforce a small, walkable village center atmosphere. Key standards: Central gathering space, pedestrian connectivity, mixed uses, village-scale buildings. Where: Small distinct communities within the metro area — Middletown, Jeffersontown, Pleasure Ridge Park village centers.

Town Center

Town Center Form District

Character goal: Create walkable focal points for surrounding neighborhoods with a mix of commercial, residential, and civic uses. Key standards: Pedestrian accessibility, public spaces, concentration of activity. Where: Areas planned as neighborhood commercial hubs.

Trad. Marketplace

Traditional Marketplace Corridor

Character goal: Enhance established commercial corridors while preserving traditional development patterns. Key standards: Buildings close to the street, mixed uses, improved pedestrian experience, limited surface parking in front of buildings. Where: Older commercial streets like Bardstown Road, Frankfort Avenue.

Suburban Marketplace

Suburban Marketplace Corridor

Character goal: Manage growth along newer commercial corridors with more cohesive development. Key standards: Integrated uses, improved transportation access, landscaping requirements, reduced visual clutter. Where: Suburban commercial strips like Dixie Highway, Preston Highway.

Trad. Workplace

Traditional Workplace

Character goal: Promote adaptive reuse of older industrial and employment areas compatible with adjacent neighborhoods. Key standards: Traditional urban form, buffering requirements, compatible with nearby residential uses. Where: Older industrial areas in Louisville's urban core.

Suburban Workplace

Character goal: Designate areas for large-scale industrial and employment uses in suburban settings. Key standards: Adequate access and loading, buffering from incompatible uses, high-quality site design. Where: Suburban industrial and business park areas — Riverport, Bluegrass Industrial Park.

Regional Center

Character goal: Support high-intensity development at major commercial hubs serving the broader region. Key standards: High-intensity mixed use, infrastructure for significant traffic and transit, coordinated development. Where: Major regional commercial centers — Oxmoor area, Jefferson Mall area.

Campus

Campus Form District

Character goal: Create cohesive, accessible campus environments for large institutions. Key standards: Integrated campus design, pedestrian connectivity, interface with surrounding neighborhoods. Where: University of Louisville, Norton Healthcare, Jewish Hospital, and other major institutional campuses.

Last reviewed: August 2026 · Reflects LDC as of August 2026 · Official LDC source → · LDC Chapter 5 ↗

Overlay Districts

Overlay Districts add a third layer of regulation on top of the existing use zone and form district. While use zones determine what can be built and form districts determine how it must look, overlay districts add area-specific rules that reflect something unique about a particular location — its history, its environment, its relationship to a waterway, or its position along an important corridor.

A property inside an overlay district must comply with all three layers simultaneously: the use zone, the form district, AND the overlay. Overlays can restrict what's otherwise permitted by the base zone, or they can require additional review, design standards, or environmental protections. Read LDC Chapter 3 — Special Districts ↗

How to find out if your property is in an overlay: Louisville's LOJIC mapping portal allows residents to search any address and view all applicable zoning layers, including overlay districts. The Office of Planning can also confirm which overlays apply to a specific property.

Design Overlay Districts

Design overlay districts focus on the visual character and design quality of specific areas. Each has its own committee that reviews development proposals for compliance. Louisville currently has four design overlay districts:

Downtown Development Review Overlay District (DDRO)

Purpose: Ensure new development in downtown Louisville contributes positively to the urban environment. Key standards: Building setbacks, open spaces, parking placement, landscaping, lighting, signage, and overall urban design. Administered by: The Downtown Development Review Overlay Committee, which reviews all proposed development for compliance with established guidelines. Where: Central downtown Louisville.

Bardstown Road / Baxter Avenue Corridor Review Overlay

Purpose: Maintain and enhance the distinctive character of this major Louisville commercial and residential corridor. Key standards: Preservation of historical and architectural features, streetscape improvements, signage design, pedestrian-friendly development. Administered by: The Bardstown Road/Baxter Avenue Corridor Review Overlay Committee. Where: Along Bardstown Road and Baxter Avenue from downtown to the Highlands.

Waterfront Review Overlay District

Purpose: Oversee development along Louisville's Ohio River waterfront to enhance aesthetic and recreational value. Key standards: Building design compatibility, public access to the waterfront, landscaping, open space integration, creating a cohesive waterfront environment. Where: Along Louisville's Ohio River waterfront corridor.

NuLu Review Overlay District

Purpose: Preserve and promote the unique character of the NuLu (New Louisville) neighborhood — known for historic architecture and a vibrant arts scene. Key standards: Historic preservation compatibility, appropriate new development, signage standards, streetscape enhancements. Administered by: The NuLu Review Overlay Committee. Where: The NuLu neighborhood along East Market Street.

Environmental Overlay Districts

Environmental overlay districts add development standards to protect sensitive natural areas or manage environmental risk. Louisville currently has one major environmental overlay:

Floyds Fork Special Zoning Overlay District

Purpose: Protect the Floyds Fork watershed — one of the most environmentally significant waterways in eastern Jefferson County — from incompatible development. Key standards: A second level of development standards that restricts density, requires additional setbacks from the creek and its tributaries, limits impervious surface, and protects tree canopy and floodplain areas. How it works: Any development in the overlay area must first comply with the underlying use zone and form district, then meet the additional Floyds Fork standards. These are among the most protective environmental standards in Louisville's LDC. Where: Properties within a defined boundary around the Floyds Fork stream corridor in eastern Jefferson County — including portions of Districts 21, 23, 24, and 25. Recent update: Metro Ordinance 73-2024 (June 2024) amended the Floyds Fork overlay regulations. Read LDC Chapter 3 ↗

Why overlays matter for equity: Overlay districts concentrate additional regulatory attention and protection on specific areas. The four design overlays are all located in higher-income or gentrifying Louisville neighborhoods (Downtown, Highlands, Waterfront, NuLu). West and South Louisville neighborhoods — which often face greater development pressure and environmental burden — have fewer overlay protections. The LDC revision is an opportunity to evaluate whether overlay coverage reflects community need equitably.

Last reviewed: August 2026 · Reflects LDC as of August 2026 · Official LDC source → · LDC Chapter 3 ↗

Conditional Uses

Not every use is automatically permitted in a zoning district. Some uses — because of their potential impact on surrounding properties — can only operate if they go through a public review process and meet specific conditions. These are called Conditional Uses, and they require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) from the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BOZA).

Conditional uses are listed in Chapter 4, Part 2 of the LDC for each zone. A CUP is not guaranteed — BOZA weighs the proposed use against its potential impact on neighbors. Conditions attached to a CUP can include limitations on hours, required buffering, noise limits, or operational restrictions. Read LDC Chapter 4 ↗

Application to BOZA — The property owner or developer submits an application explaining the proposed use and how it meets the standards for a CUP in that zone.

Public Notice — Neighbors within a specified distance are notified by mail. A public hearing date is set and advertised.

Public Hearing — Any resident can attend and speak for or against the application. BOZA members consider the impact on the surrounding neighborhood, traffic, noise, and compatibility.

BOZA Decision — BOZA approves, denies, or approves with conditions. Conditions are legally binding — a business operating outside them can lose its permit.

Why this matters for data centers: Under the proposed LDC revision (Case 25-LDC-0014), large data centers (250,000–500,000 sq ft) would require a CUP in M-3 zones — meaning residents could attend a public hearing and weigh in before approval. Under the current code, data centers have been approved without any public hearing through the telecommunications hotel classification. See CFN's data center analysis ↗

Variances

A variance is permission to deviate from the LDC's standard requirements — for example, building a deck closer to a property line than rules normally allow, or exceeding a height limit. Variances are not a way around zoning rules — they require proof that strict application would create an unnecessary hardship specific to the property's unique conditions (like an unusual lot shape or topography). They are also heard by BOZA. Read LDC Chapter 11 — Procedures ↗

Application to BOZA — The property owner explains why strict application of the code creates a specific hardship unique to their property — not just inconvenience.

Public Hearing — Neighbors are notified. Residents can attend and speak in support or opposition.

BOZA Decision — The board weighs hardship against neighborhood impact. Approval requires meeting specific legal standards — variances cannot be granted simply because a developer prefers a different design.

Zoning Map Amendments

A rezoning — changing the zoning designation of a property — is a more significant process than a CUP or variance. Rezonings are reviewed by the Planning Commission, which makes a recommendation to Metro Council. Metro Council then votes on whether to approve the change. Rezonings must be consistent with Louisville's Comprehensive Plan (Plan 2040) and require neighborhood notification and a public hearing before the Planning Commission. Read LDC Chapter 11 ↗

Appeals

If a BOZA decision is unfavorable, it can be appealed to Circuit Court — generally within 30 days of the decision. Administrative zoning decisions (like permit denials) may be appealed to BOZA itself. Louisville's LDC Chapter 11 outlines the specific timelines and filing requirements for appeals.

Last reviewed: August 2026 · Reflects LDC as of August 2026 · Official LDC source → · LDC Chapter 4 ↗ · Chapter 11 ↗

The LDC Revision — What's Coming

Louisville's Land Development Code is currently under a comprehensive revision — one of the most significant updates to how land use is regulated in Jefferson County in decades. The revision will touch nearly every aspect of the code: zoning district definitions, permitted uses, density allowances, design standards, and review procedures. Cases like the data center regulations (25-LDC-0014) are examples of the individual amendments moving through Metro Council even as the broader comprehensive revision takes shape.

CFN's position: Major code revisions shape neighborhoods for generations. Residents — especially in historically disinvested communities in West and South Louisville — deserve a meaningful seat at the table in this process. The LDC revision is an opportunity to advance equity in how land is used in Louisville. It is also a risk: without resident engagement, decisions get made by developers, industry groups, and professionals who navigate zoning daily while most residents don't.

How to Stay Informed and Get Involved

📋

Follow the official revision process — Louisville Metro's LDC revision portal has documents, public meeting schedules, and ways to submit comments: engage-tswdg.com/LouisvilleLDC →

📣

Attend public hearings on LDC amendments — Individual LDC amendment cases appear in the Legislation tab of this hub as they move through Metro Council. Use the Attend Meeting button on relevant cards to find hearing dates and show up in person.

✉️

Contact your council member — Your district council member votes on all LDC changes. Use the Find My District button above to identify your representative and connect with them directly.

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Know your zoning — Understanding what zone your property and neighborhood are in puts you in a stronger position to engage the revision process. Use Louisville's LOJIC mapping portal to look up any address and see its current zoning designation.

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Connect with CFN — Center for Neighborhoods works with community leaders on exactly these kinds of policy processes. We offer training, technical assistance, and support for neighborhood organizations engaging zoning and land use. Reach out at centerforneighborhoods.org.

Last reviewed: August 2026 · Reflects LDC as of August 2026 · Official LDC source →