Outdoor Lighting in Cary, NC (2026)
2 verified outdoor lighting rules for Cary, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Cary's Land Development Ordinance limits outdoor light poles to 18 feet for non-cutoff fixtures and 35-37 feet for shielded cutoff fixtures, reviewed at development-plan approval; single-family homes in the Wake County town are exempt.
Cary Outdoor Lighting Height & Shielding Limits
Some RestrictionsCary Land Development Ordinance § 7.9.3(A)
(A) Maximum Lighting Height Outdoor lighting shall be designed, located and mounted at heights no greater than: (1) Eighteen (18) feet above grade for non-cut-off lights; (2) Thirty-five (35) feet above grade for cut-off lights, unless a raised foundation is required to protect the poles, in which case the maximum height shall not exceed thirty-seven (37) feet above grade.
Light Trespass & Shielding
On Town of Cary sites subject to development plan review, floodlights and spotlights must be aimed and shielded away from neighboring properties; single-unit homes are exempt from this Land Development Ordinance standard.
Cary Floodlight & Spotlight Shielding
Some RestrictionsCary Land Development Ordinance § 7.9.3(F), current through local ordinance 2025-CODE-02 (eff. 5-22-25)
Lighting fixtures shall be selected, located, aimed, and shielded so that direct illumination is focused exclusively on a portion of the building facade or other intended site feature and away from adjoining properties or the right-of-way. On-site lighting may be used to accent architectural elements but shall not be used to illuminate entire portions of building(s). Such lighting shall be inst...
Looking for Wake County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Cary city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Wake County →