Outdoor Lighting in Chapel Hill, NC (2026)

Dark Sky Rules

Outdoor lighting in Chapel Hill is governed by Section 5.11 (Lighting Standards) of Appendix A (Land Use Management Ordinance, or LUMO) of the Chapel Hill Code of Ordinances, administered by the Town of Chapel Hill Planning Department. Sec. 5.11 limits increases in illumination on off-site property to 0.3 foot-candles measured at ground level. Outdoor lighting (except sports and athletic field lighting) shall be mounted at heights no greater than 15 feet for non-cutoff lights and no greater than 35 feet for full cutoff lights. Each application for a zoning compliance permit for development other than a single-family or two-family dwelling shall include a lighting plan showing existing and proposed lighting fixture types and locations, indicating by isolux contour diagram and grid points the measured and calculated pre-development and post-development foot-candles at grade both on the development site and on adjacent property where lighting impacts are expected. The lighting plan must be sealed by a professional engineer with demonstrable expertise in lighting design and mitigation strategies, or a lighting specialist who is Lighting Certified (LC) by NCQLP. Sports and athletic field lighting must include glare-control features (louvers, shields) and must be aimed so beams fall within the primary playing or performance area. North Carolina has no statewide dark-sky statute, and Chapel Hill 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 in Yancey County, NC, IDA designated 2014).