Outdoor Lighting in Asheville, NC (2026)
3 verified outdoor lighting rules for Asheville, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Asheville requires every new exterior light fixture to use full cutoff distribution, meaning no light is emitted at or above the horizontal plane. Pole heights are capped at 37 feet, LED color temperature can't exceed 4,300 Kelvin, and upward-aimed or unshielded lighting is banned outright.
Dark-Sky Lighting Standards in Asheville
Some RestrictionsAsheville City Code Sec. 7-11-10(g)(1), (5), (6), (8)
(g) General standards for new outdoor lighting. Unless otherwise exempted or allowed by this ordinance, the following standards shall apply to all outdoor lighting. (1) All exterior light fixtures shall be classified as providing full cutoff light distribution. ... (5) All pole mounted lights shall not exceed 37-foot mounting height above grade. (6) All new dusk-to-dawn security lights shall be...
Light Trespass & Shielding
Asheville caps outdoor light spilling onto neighboring property at 0.5 footcandle measured at the property line. The city defines light trespass as unwanted light or glare crossing onto an adjacent lot, and the planning director can order fixtures re-aimed, re-shielded, relocated, or removed to fix an offending installation.
Light Trespass Rules in Asheville
Some RestrictionsAsheville City Code Sec. 7-11-10(b), (g)(2), (g)(7)
Light trespass. Unwanted light spilling onto an adjacent property and/or an excessive brightness (i. e. glare) is occurring in the normal field of vision. ... (2) The maximum light level at any property line shall be 0.5 footcandle maintained. ... (7) Where land elevations to be lighted are higher or lower than a nearby street, residential dwelling or other type of facility and the lighting ins...
Billboard Lighting
Asheville shields billboard lighting rather than banning it outright. Off-premises sign illumination must be shielded so its beams never shine directly into surrounding areas or onto the public roadway, and it can't create a traffic hazard or distraction.
Asheville Billboard Lighting Rules
Some RestrictionsAsheville Code of Ordinances § 7-13-5(a)(3)
(3) Illumination. Illuminated signs shall be subject to the following conditions: a. Any light used for the illumination shall be shielded so that the beams or rays of light will not shine directly into surrounding areas or on the public roadway. b. Neither direct nor reflected light from any light source shall create a traffic hazard or distraction to operators of motor vehicles on publi...
Looking for Buncombe County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Asheville city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Buncombe County →