Roswell's Outdoor Lighting: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles outdoor lighting a little differently. In Roswell, Georgia, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Dark Sky Rules

Roswell's outdoor lighting code exists to curb glare and preserve the dark night sky, requiring shielded, full-cutoff fixtures for most nonexempt lighting under UDC § 10.4.1 and § 10.4.4. Light spilling across a property line is capped at 1.0 foot-candle next to a residential or agricultural use and 1.5 foot-candles next to office, institutional, commercial or industrial property.

Key details: Residential property-line limit: 1.0 foot-candle maximum. Commercial property-line limit: 1.5 foot-candles maximum. Sports field curfew: Off by 10:30 p.m.. Prohibited lighting: Lasers, mercury vapor, searchlights. Fixture requirement: Full cutoff, aimed below horizontal.

Noncompliant outdoor lighting is enforced through Roswell's standard permitting and inspection process: a certified illumination engineer or professional must confirm as-installed lighting matches approved plans before a Certificate of Occupancy issues, and that certification is withheld until compliance is shown (§ 10.4.7(D)). A property owner can seek relief only through a variance application to the Board of Zoning Appeals, which must show the fixture's design is superior and that light trespass and glare will be limited (§ 10.4.6).

Light Trespass & Shielding

Roswell requires security lighting to be aimed only at the area it protects, and sensor-activated fixtures must be positioned so they don't glare onto neighboring property or trigger from off-property activity.

Key details: Aiming rule: Directed at targeted area only. Sensor placement: No glare onto neighboring lots. Trigger limit: Can't activate from off-property motion. Related exemption: 10-min motion lights exempt (10.4.3.B.7).

Security fixtures aimed off the protected area, or sensor lights that glare onto neighbors or trigger from off-site motion, fail § 10.4.5.C and are subject to the same permit review and Certificate of Occupancy certification process as the rest of § 10.4.

The Bottom Line

Roswell'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 Roswell is broadly strict or permissive.

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