Outdoor Lighting in Atlanta, GA (2026)
2 verified outdoor lighting rules for Atlanta, Georgia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Atlanta's Neighborhood Commercial zoning requires cutoff luminaires that block glare beyond a 90-degree cone and stand at least eight feet high wherever commercial lighting sits near residential properties.
Atlanta Outdoor Lighting Shielding Near Homes
Some RestrictionsAtlanta Code of Ordinances § 16-32.017(1)-(2)
Security, decorative, parking deck, service station canopy and other lighting adjacent to residential uses shall reduce light spillage onto residential properties by providing cutoff luminaries which have a maximum 90 degree illumination. Any security, decorative, parking deck, gasoline station canopy or other lighting luminaries shall be located a minimum height of eight feet above the sidewal...
Light Trespass & Shielding
In Atlanta's Neighborhood Commercial zoning districts, parking lot and structure lighting next to residential buffer areas must use cutoff-style fixtures capped at 90-degree illumination to stop light spillage onto homes.
Atlanta Commercial Parking Lot Light Spillage Limits
Some RestrictionsAtlanta Code of Ordinances § 16-32.021(2)
Parking lots adjacent to residential buffer areas shall reduce light spillage onto residential properties by providing cutoff luminaries which have a maximum 90 degree illumination.3.[Reserved.]4.Parking facilities shall be maintained in a clean, safe, sanitary and attractive condition. Parking spaces and driving lanes shall be clearly defined and maintained as such. Parking lots shall not be o...
Looking for Fulton County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Atlanta city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Fulton County →