Outdoor Lighting in Jackson, MS

If you live in Jackson or are thinking about moving there, outdoor lighting are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Jackson has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of outdoor lighting, and some of them might surprise you.

Light Trespass & Shielding

Jackson's zoning ordinance requires that any lit parking lot with ten or more spaces direct and reflect its light away from adjacent property and public ways, while illuminating the pavement to at least one-half foot-candle for safety. Zoning Ordinance Section 1108.07 applies citywide to every zoning district, unlike the C80-only shielding rule.

Key details: Governing section: Zoning Ordinance Section 1108.07. Trigger: Parking lots with 10+ spaces. Minimum illumination: 0.5 foot-candle at pavement surface. Direction requirement: Light directed away from adjacent property. Scope: Citywide, all zoning districts.

The Zoning Administrator enforces Section 1108.07 under Article XIV-A, Administration and Enforcement; a parking-lot lighting layout that fails the photometric standard or glares onto adjacent property can be rejected at site plan review or, once built, ordered corrected through re-aiming, shielding, or fixture replacement. Continued noncompliance is prosecutable as a misdemeanor under Article XXII-A, Penalties for Violation, with each day of violation a separate offense.

Billboard Lighting

Jackson caps digital electronic sign brightness at 5,000 NITS in daylight and 1,000 NITS from sunset to sunrise, requires automatic dimmers tied to ambient light, and bans glare or beams directed at the roadway on any sign, digital or not.

Key details: Daytime brightness cap: 5,000 NITS maximum. Nighttime brightness cap: 1,000 NITS maximum. Dimmer requirement: Automatic, ambient-light adjusting. General lighting standard: IES Lighting Handbook ceiling. Correction window: 30 days notice, 90 days to remove.

A sign found in violation, including one exceeding the NITS caps or lacking a functioning dimmer, is subject to a 30-day correction notice under Section 102-33(d); if not corrected or removed within 90 days, the building official removes it and assesses the cost against the owner. Article-wide, violations of Chapter 102 carry a misdemeanor fine of $100.00 to $1,000.00 under Section 102-38, with each day a separate offense.

Dark Sky Rules

Within the Corridor 80 (C80) Highway 80 corridor district, Jackson's zoning ordinance requires exterior building lighting to use hooded, low-level fixtures and caps freestanding light poles at 45 feet, so beams don't glare onto neighboring lots or public streets. The Site Plan Review Committee enforces the standard under Zoning Ordinance Section 706.12.7-B, carried in the December 31, 2024 edition.

Key details: Governing section: Zoning Ordinance Section 706.12.7-B, C80 District. Max lighting standard height: 45 feet, absent a City exception. Fixture requirement: Hooded, low-level spotlights or floodlights. Canopy lighting: Recessed flush with canopy underside. Applies to: Corridor 80 (C80) district only.

The Zoning Administrator and Site Plan Review Committee enforce this section under Article XIV-A, Administration and Enforcement. A development found out of compliance with Section 706.12.7-B can be denied site plan approval or ordered to retrofit non-conforming fixtures before a certificate of occupancy issues. Willful or continuing violations of the zoning ordinance are prosecutable as a misdemeanor under Article XXII-A, Penalties for Violation, with each day of noncompliance counted as a separate offense.

The Bottom Line

Jackson'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 Jackson is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Jackson's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.