Outdoor Lighting in Apex, NC (2026)

Dark Sky Rules

Outdoor lighting in Apex is governed by Sec. 8.6 (Exterior Lighting) of the Apex Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), administered by the Town of Apex Planning Department. Sec. 8.6.4(D) limits maximum spillover light measured in initial foot-candles at the property line to 0.3 onto adjacent residential sites and 1.0 onto adjacent non-residential sites and public rights-of-way. All fixtures shall be fully shielded full-cutoff type fixtures with a concealed lamp/light source. Sec. 8.6.3(B) caps correlated color temperature (CCT) at 3,500 Kelvins (athletic field lighting exempt). Sec. 8.6.4(A) caps mounting height at 35 feet above grade for full-cutoff fixtures. Sec. 8.6.4(B)(1) requires fixtures be located at least 10 feet from any property or right-of-way line. Sec. 8.6.4(E) caps pole-mounted lamp output at 15,500 lumens; building-mounted lights at 2,500 lumens. Sec. 8.6.4(F)(5) prohibits flashing, moving, rotating, scintillating, blinking, flickering, or intermittent lighting and continuous roofline/edge tube/string lighting. North Carolina has no state dark-sky statute, and Apex is not listed on DarkSky International's roster of certified dark-sky communities; the nearest International Dark Sky Park is Mayland Earth to Sky Park (Yancey County, 2014 designation).