Outdoor Lighting in Charlotte, NC (2026)
3 verified outdoor lighting rules for Charlotte, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Charlotte caps outdoor light spillover at zero foot-candles at the lot line next to Neighborhood 1 or 2 areas, and one foot-candle elsewhere. Fixtures on multi-family, mixed-use and nonresidential lots must use full cut-off or semi cut-off luminaires under UDO Section 16.2.
Charlotte Exterior Lighting Shielding Rules
Some RestrictionsCharlotte UDO § 16.2 (Exterior Lighting)
The maximum allowable foot-candle is as follows: 1. Any lot abutting a Neighborhood 1 or Neighborhood 2 Place Type: Zero foot-candle at the lot line. 2. Any lot abutting any other Place Type: One foot-candle at the lot line. ... All lighting shall be of full cut-off or semi cut-off luminaire design in accordance with the definitions of Lighting, Full Cut Off and Lighting, Semi Cut Off in Articl...
Light Trespass & Shielding
Outdoor recreational field lights in Charlotte, like ballfields and driving ranges, are capped at 65 feet unless a taller pole would actually cut light trespass onto neighboring lots, and the lights must go dark an hour after the event ends.
Charlotte Recreational Field Light Trespass Rule
Some RestrictionsCharlotte UDO § 16.2.C.3 (Exterior Lighting, Recreational Field Exception)
a. Recreational fields are permitted a total luminaire height of 65 feet in any zoning district. Luminaires greater than 65 feet in total height may only be approved by the Zoning Administrator when a taller height will result in less light trespass to adjacent lots. b. All lighting shall be directed onto the field or range. c. The recreational field lighting shall be extinguished one hour foll...
Billboard Lighting
Charlotte caps electronic billboard brightness at 7,500 nits by day and 500 nits from dusk to dawn, and requires an automatic dimmer with a photo cell sensor under UDO Section 22.10.C.
Billboard Lighting Limits in Charlotte
Some RestrictionsCharlotte UDO § 22.10.C, Table 22-5
the outdoor advertising sign shall have an automatic dimmer (factory set to the illumination intensities set below) and a photo cell sensor to adjust the illumination intensity or brilliance of the sign so that it does not cause glare or impair the vision of motorists, and does not interfere with any driver's operation of a motor vehicle... The sign cannot exceed a maximum illumination of 7,500...