Lexington City Council Updates Drive-Thru and Drive-Up Window Regulations for the First Time Since 1983
Lexington's General Government and Planning Committee has approved significant amendments to the city's zoning ordinance concerning drive-thru facilities and drive-up windows. These changes, the first major update since 1983, differentiate between various types of drive-through operations, such as quick-service restaurants, banks, pharmacies, and dry cleaners, each with specific vehicle stacking requirements. The previous 'one-size-fits-all' approach mandated five stacking spaces for all drive-thrus, regardless of their actual needs. The new regulations, influenced by Kentucky House Bill 443 passed in 2024, aim to provide more tailored requirements. For instance, quick-service restaurants will now need six stacking spaces for the first lane and three for each additional lane, while banks and pharmacies will require three spaces. Drive-up windows, like those for pickup restaurants, will also need three stacking spaces. Planning Services Manager Traci Wade indicated that these updated standards would apply t... 
