Virginia Beach's Outdoor Lighting: The Rules That Matter
Every city handles outdoor lighting a little differently. In Virginia Beach, Virginia, there are 3 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.
Light Trespass & Shielding
Virginia Beach requires outdoor lighting fixtures to be full cutoff, with wall pack security lights fully shielded and aimed at least 45 degrees below horizontal to keep glare off neighboring properties.
Key details: Standard: Full cutoff fixtures required. Wall pack lights: Fully shielded, aimed 45° from horizontal. Property line max: 0.5-5.0 foot-candles by adjacent use. Effective date: September 20, 2022. Residential exemption: Floodlights on 1-2 family homes exempt.
Noncompliant lighting can block site plan approval, and the planning director may require alternative designs or corrective changes; fixtures deemed a public hazard lose any exemption status entirely.
Billboard Lighting
Virginia Beach requires every illuminated sign, including billboards, to be shielded from glare, banned from blinking or flashing lights, and dimmed so brightness never disturbs neighboring homes or drivers.
Key details: Governing provision: City Zoning Ord. § 213. Blinking/flashing lights: Prohibited on all signs. Digital billboards: Banned unless Council-approved (§ 218). First offense: Misdemeanor, fine up to $1,000. Repeat violation: Up to $2,000 per 10 days.
Violating the illumination or no-blink rule is a misdemeanor carrying up to a $1,000 fine; failure to correct it adds separate $1,000-$2,000 fines for each following ten-day period under Sec. 104.
Dark Sky Rules
Virginia Beach requires full cutoff outdoor light fixtures on most new and replacement installations, aiming light downward to cut sky glow and glare, and caps illumination at 0.5 to 5.0 foot-candles at property lines depending on adjacent land use.
Key details: Effective date: September 20, 2022. Fixture type required: Full cutoff, source concealed. Max illumination at residential line: 0.5 foot-candle. Max parking-area fixture height: 30 feet. Key exemption: Oceanfront Resort District exempt.
Enforced through Planning Department site plan review; a required lighting plan (photometric, point-by-point foot-candle grid) must show compliance before approval, and the Director of Planning must approve any alternative design that deviates from the standards.
The Bottom Line
Virginia Beach'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 Virginia Beach is broadly strict or permissive.
Keep in mind that Virginia Beach can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.