Outdoor Lighting in Hendersonville, TN: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Hendersonville or are thinking about moving there, outdoor lighting are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Hendersonville has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of outdoor lighting, and some of them might surprise you.

Light Trespass & Shielding

Hendersonville caps light spilling from a commercial property onto a neighboring residential lot at one foot-candle measured at the property line, and requires any fixture over 150 watts to be fully shielded against glare and spillover under the city's 2025 Zoning Ordinance.

Key details: Light trespass cap: 1.0 foot-candle max at adjoining residential lot line. Shielding trigger: Fixtures over 150 watts must be fully shielded. Parking lot lighting: 0.2 to 10 foot-candles minimum/maximum. Canopy/fuel center lighting: Capped at 30 foot-candles, fully recessed. Penalty: $50.00 fine, each day a separate offense.

Chapter 4.13 of the Zoning Ordinance makes any violation of the ordinance, including the Chapter 11.3 lighting standards, a misdemeanor punishable by a $50.00 fine, with additional daily penalties available as provided by law. Each day a lighting violation continues is treated as a separate offense, so an unshielded fixture or a light exceeding the one foot-candle trespass cap left uncorrected accrues a new $50.00 penalty daily until it is brought into compliance.

Dark Sky Rules

Non-residential light poles and building-mounted fixtures in Hendersonville must use fully shielded luminaires, capped at 22 feet (30 feet with Planning Commission approval) to cut sky glow and glare onto neighboring properties.

Key details: Pole height cap: 22 feet (30 with approval). Wallpack height cap: 12 feet. Fixture type required: Fully shielded luminaires. Applies to: Non-residential districts, Site Plan. Governing section: Zoning Ordinance § 11.3.4.1.

Violating the ordinance is a misdemeanor: a $50 fine per day the fixture remains out of compliance, with each day treated as a separate offense under Zoning Ordinance § 4.13.

The Bottom Line

Hendersonville's outdoor lighting rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Hendersonville is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Hendersonville's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.