Outdoor Lighting in Durham, NC (2026)
2 verified outdoor lighting rules for Durham, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Durham's UDO requires outdoor accent lighting, fixtures that highlight architecture, landscaping or artwork on nonresidential and multifamily sites, to be located, aimed or shielded so light does not spill into the night sky. The rule sits alongside the ordinance's full cut-off and glare standards in Sec. 7.4.3 and applies wherever the development lighting standards themselves apply.
Durham Accent Lighting Dark-Sky Shielding Rule
Some RestrictionsDurham UDO Sec. 7.4.3, Standards (Accent Lighting)
Lighting fixtures used to accent architectural features, landscaping or art shall be located, aimed or shielded to minimize light spill into the night sky.
Light Trespass & Shielding
Durham's Unified Development Ordinance caps directional and full cut-off security lighting at 30 feet above grade when the fixture sits 50 feet or more from a residential lot line, dropping to 15 feet within that buffer. Fixtures must be designed so no light escapes above a horizontal plane, and storage-area security lighting on nonresidential and multifamily sites is separately capped at 10.0 foot-candles on the pavement below.
Durham Security Light Height and Shielding Rules
Some RestrictionsDurham UDO Sec. 7.4.3.A, C (Outdoor Lighting Standards)
C. Full-Cutoff Lighting The maximum height for directional or full cut-off lighting fixtures (fixtures designed to ensure that no light is emitted above a horizontal line parallel to the ground) shall be: Thirty feet above grade if located at least 50 feet from a residential property line; and Fifteen feet above grade if located within 50 feet of a residential property line.
Looking for Durham County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Durham city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Durham County →